Since their formation Travis Japan has been nothing but authentically themselves. The seven members each work in unison to maintain a well-oiled machine that is greater than the sum of its parts.  Through trials and tribulations, with years of blood, sweat and tears poured into their career they were finally ready to release their debut album – which they announced during the OC Japan Fair on the first anniversary of their debut. 

ROAD TO A.

There are two meanings to A. The first is Authenticity, the second Artistry. Two things Travis Japan is very, VERY passionate about. “They want to show the world that they are not just an idol group,” a source close to the group said about the album. “They are artists ready to take the wheel of their own career. This is just the starting point.”

🎮GENRE-BENDING TRACKLIST🌈

In addition to their previous singles, the first song released from the album was ｢LEVEL UP｣. Inspired by the world of video games with lines like “I’m the final boss, and you’re beginning mode… so if you wanna win, better find yourself some cheat codes!” and “Watch me level up, play it like a Gameboy!” It’s an incredibly fun song with an equally entertaining music video that features the guys in various gamer-inspired scenarios, including boss fights, dance-offs, and UMI in skintight motocross gear. 

｢Okie Dokie｣ followed as the album’s first official single. Shot in Los Angeles while in town for the OC Japan fair, the song is an anthem to new beginnings and a promise that everything is going to be alright.  It’s also Chaka’s favorite song, as he stated in an exclusive interview with Life in Cartoon Motion. “It’s a song that’s a bit different from our usual style. When we perform (any song), we always try to be in the world of that song and express ourselves accordingly. This particular song enables us to show our personal side and really allows us to enjoy ourselves. I think it’s a song that fans, and listeners in general, will really enjoy.”

｢99 PERCENT｣ Featured in the drama The Date of Marriage, starring group member Genta Matsuda, the music video added a bit of an edge to TJ’s colorful sound. Taking place on a rooftop in Tokyo, the video features the boys doing what they do best, dancing. Dressed in jerseys, they’ve got the whole “Hot jock” thing down!

While the entire album is filled with incredible songs the one that has always stood out ot me is ｢Seasons of Gold｣. It’s a softer sort of sound than most of the group’s releases, but it’s so beautiful. Other standouts included ｢Paranoia｣ produced by group member Kaito ‘Umi’ Nakamura and ｢Bro｣ written by Machu about his friendship with Genta.

🌍GLOBAL SUCCESS📈

Road to A  debuted at number one on the Oricon Weekly Album Ranking, selling an impressive 153,000 copies in its first week. It also claimed the top spot on the Oricon Weekly Combined Album Ranking, accumulating 162,750 points. This total included 153,457 points from CD sales, 7,885 points from digital album downloads, and 1,408 points from streaming. 

On the Billboard Japan charts, Road to A achieved equally impressive results. The album topped the Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales chart with 172,596 copies sold in its debut week. This strong showing highlights Travis Japan’s successful foray into the music scene and the overwhelming enthusiasm of their fanbase.

These numbers underscore the strong support of the fans and the group’s undeniable popularity in Japan – and abroad.

Road to A was released digitally in both a standard and Global edition that featured English versions of all of the standard songs. Physically there was Limited edition T and J which featured additional songs and bonus video footage as well as a Family Club exclusive version that housed the three unit songs and additional video footage. 

It was a wild first year for the members of Travis Japan, and while they covered a lot of ground, there was still plenty left of the journey.

There will be more Travis Japan soon so…

Stay Tuned!!!