KAMIGATA BOYZ are an enigma. A Crazy, Funny, and incredibly sexy enigma.

A collaboration of four generations of STARTO ENTERTAINMENT’S beloved Kansai family–20-year industry veterans SUPER EIGHT, comically chaotic WEST., sweet and sparkly Naniwa Danshi, and the 2024-debuted quintet Ae! group–they’re a mix of incredible sound and that inimitable, rambunctious West Japan charm. 

In September, the 24-member supergroup took over Osaka’s Yanmar Stadium Nagai for KAMIGATA BOYZ DREAM IsLAND 2024. A revival of a 2020 concert kicking off preparations for (and showing off STARTO’s involvement in) the Osaka 2025 World Expo, the two-day spectacle, held on September 21-22 for 110,000 in-person attendees, was broadcast live to the world (with an additional archive screening) through the company’s own Family Club Online website. 

In addition to KAMIGATA BOYZ “debut” song  “無責任でええじゃないかLOVE” (“Isn’t Love Great with No Responsibility”)–a goofy upbeat number that’s incredibly catchy and showcases Kansai humor with plenty of good, clean, crossdressing fun–the event’s setlist featured hits from each individual group as well as plenty of intermingled performances–i.e., so-called “shuffle medleys”–often with the backing support of their fresh-faced Kansai Junior (trainee) units Lil Kansai, AmBitious, and Boys be. Even further underscoring their inter-group love and spirit of Kansai unity, the entire event was produced by senior members of SUPER EIGHT with additional support provided by former Kansai Juniors-turned-Tokyo superstars Koji Mukai (Snow Man) and Ren Nagase (King & Prince). 

The groups’ recently released second single, ｢世界を明るく照らしましょう｣ (English: “Let’s light up the world!”) was also a highlight of the setlist. The music video for this feel-good track, now available on the Storm Labels official YouTube channel, includes elements from not only the Dream IsLAND stage performance but also intimate behind-the-scenes snippets of them getting ready for the big day(s). One thing that I particularly noticed was just how MASSIVE this venue is. It holds 55,000 people – and was sold out. Both nights.

While the groups did perform some of their own biggest hits, some other highlights included some pretty interesting mashups. These songs included the hauntingly sexy “Midnight Devil” (Nishihata, Fujiwara, Ohashi, Masakado, and Kojima) and the adorably danceable “SUPER ROCKET” (Onishi, Michieda, Takahashi, Nagao and Sano).

Honestly, Ae! group’s introductory song, “僕らAぇ! groupって言いますねん” (“We Are Ae! group”), was a personal highlight. There’s something about these songs that always brings me joy. It was particularly amusing to see the newest STARTO group introduced as if they weren’t already chart-topping global superstars.

The concert ended with an encore of “無責任でええじゃないかLOVE.” KAMIGATA BOYZ DREAM ISLAND 2024 was unforgettable, and I’m grateful to have watched it from home. STARTO ENTERTAINMENT’s streaming releases are a fantastic way to include international fans in the fun. 

For more about KAMIGATA BOYZ and the DREAM IsLAND concert series, follow their Official X account here.

More KAMIGATA BOYZ soon so… 

Stay Tuned!