As the group that introduced me to the wonderful world of STARTO ENTERTAINMENT, Naniwa Danshi occupies a very special place in my heart. For the past three years, these seven bright and sparkly young men have colored my world with a type of sound I never knew existed. So, anytime I get the chance to write about them, it’s an automatic yes.
Outside the Yokohama Arena, the heat of the Tokyo afternoon would have been unbearable had it not been for the sea of color. Over 15,000 fans – each representing their favorite members of Naniwa Danshi – created a rainbow of energy. As I stood watching them with the friend I was attending with, I had a realization: Daigo Nishihata, Ryusei Onishi, Shunsuke Michieda, Kyohei Takahashi, Kento Nagao, Joichiro Fujiwara, and Kazuya Ohashi had brought the same kind of hope and happiness to these fans that they did to me.
The power of music is incredible – and Naniwa Danshi has learned how to harness it for the good of humankind.Celebrating their third studio album + Alpha, the group promised an “Out of this world!” experience, and they more than delivered. With 30 songs, 2.5 hours of non-stop energy, and a billion sequences of pure magic, out of this world, it was.
It was a night glistening with a kind of candy-coated magic that only Naniwa Danshi is capable of, as they took us on a journey to outer space. Leaving the restrictive atmosphere of a planet in peril, we joined them within the ethereal harmony of the stars. From the moment they stepped out on stage, they entranced and enchanted the audience with a rainbow of sound. They truly do shine with all the light in the universe.
Opening with one of their most recent releases, “NEW CLASSIC” – the commercial song for AOKI’s 2024 spring graduation wear campaign – a song of change and hope, it was a perfect choice to start this journey into a brave new world, where Naniwa Danshi promised to rule with kindness, cuteness, and fun.
With the energy rising, the group jumped into “Join us!”, one of my favorite new tracks. A touch of techno added a splash of neon to their already vibrant sound, and I couldn’t help but move (as much as I could) to the sound.
Shifting to “Kick Start”, one of my favorites from the new album, had them interacting with the crowd, which of course got us even more excited. Then, it was time to get lost. Captivated by their cuteness, the only thing I could think about was the purity of the innocent joy they were bringing to their fans.
“I Wish”, “Wanna Be Yours”, and “Happy Happy Birthday!!” led the audience to the spritely MC segment (which was also streamed on YouTube) and the announcement that not only was the group going on an Asian tour, but a large part of their catalog would soon be available on all streaming platforms worldwide.
Before the live stream ended, the group performed their newest single “コイスルヒカリ” (“Koisuru Hikari”), which not only showcases their youthful energy but also embraces (and even highlights) the fact that they’re maturing both as individuals and as a group.
As the electric sounds of “Snap!” pulsed around us, a second wave of energy not only seemed to sizzle through the guys but the crowd as well. “Precious One”, the duet between Shunsuke Michieda and Joichiro Fujiwara on the west album, was one of my favorite moments of the concert. Michi on guitar and Jo-kun on the harmonica somehow pulled memories of the moments I spent with friends around the campfire in Montana. Not something one would normally think of half a world away, but again, that’s the power of music.
Of course, when “初心LOVE” (“Beginner’s LOVE”) began to play, I could feel my energy level up. It’s such a pristine and perfect pop song.
As the concert came to a close, I was left shimmering with emotion and lost in memories. Naniwa Danshi (and STARTO ENTERTAINMENT as a whole) has a gift – the ability to bottle joy and encapsulate imagination while at the same time offering us our dreams. What an incredible gift.
There will be more Naniwa Danshi soon, so…
Stay Tuned!
Life In Cartoon Motion 