New Year. New Look. New STARTO! 

While I was deep in slumber here in Los Angeles, STARTO ENTERTAINMENT—Japan’s most prominent male-idol factory (and arguably, the most influential in the world)—dropped a seismic announcement!

In a bold reconstruction, some of the most promising Junior groups have been reshuffled into three newly-formed units.

ACEes

  • Hidaka Ukisho (Formerly Bishonen)
  • Yuto Nasu (Formerly: Bishonen)
  • Ryuto Sakuma (Formerly: HiHi Jets)
  • Ryusei Fukada (Formerly: Shonen Ninja )
  • Ryuga Sato (Formerly: Bishonen)

KEY TO LIT

  • Taisho Iwasaki (Formerly: Bishonen)
  • Mizuki Inoue (Formerly: HiHi Jets)
  • Reia Nakamura (Formerly: 7 MEN Samurai)
  • Soya Igari (Formerly: HiHi Jets)
  • Taiko Sasaki (Formerly: 7 MEN Samurai)

B&ZAI

  • Ryo Hashimoto (Formerly: HiHi Jets)
  • Rei Yabana (Formerly: 7 MEN Samurai)
  • Taiki Konno (Formerly:7 MEN Samurai)
  • Rinne Sugeta (Formerly: 7 MEN Samurai)
  • Katsuki Motodaka (Formerly:7 MEN Samurai)
  • Yujin Suzuki (Formerly: Shonen Ninja)
  • Hoshiki Kawasaki (Formerly: Shonen Ninja)
  • Michiharu Inaba (Formerly:Shonen Ninja)

The last time STARTO Entertainment initiated a major reshuffle like this was in 2019—and within months, made their first duo-debut announcement of SixTONES and Snow Man, who have become two of the biggest groups in J-pop history.

Could 2025 be another era-defining year? There’s only one way to find out!

More STARTO Entertainment soon so…

Stay Tuned!