This is the one I’ve been most excited about: the Blu-ray/DVD release of Travis Japan’s 2025 tour — ｢VIIsual｣.

I first became aware of Travis Japan a few short months before their debut, and watching these J-pop underdogs rise to become the Kings of the Jungle has been one of the coolest experiences of my career as an entertainment journalist.

I remember how it all began back in 2021, when a professional contact mentioned there was an up-and-coming J-pop group I might be interested in checking out. Part of Japan’s biggest male idol factory, they’d been in Los Angeles honing their career skills with dance, vocal, and English lessons.

Then he asked if I’d like to interview them. I had no idea then what a life-changing question it would be – I just assumed it’d be my chance to be on the ground level of something that sounded cool. I think my response was probably something like “sure, why not. That’d be cool.”

We talked about music, movies, and the differences between life in two of the world’s most famous cities – Tokyo and Japan. I found them sweet, charming, and genuinely interesting. One of the things that struck me most about the group was just how humble, personable, and down-to-earth they were.

There’s a certain magnetism, yes, like all idols—especially those under the umbrella of STARTO ENTERTAINMENT—but also a humility. Beyond the glamour and glitter, behind the music and magic that surround the unique tigers, they’re just seven guys doing what they love and hoping to make the world a brighter place with the power of their sound.

I celebrated the first anniversary of their debut album ｢Road to A｣ at the OC Japan Fair, which was my first time seeing them perform live and in person.  To my delight (and honest surprise) as I interviewed them for a second time, they remembered me. Again, it’s the humility and personality behind the personalities that really make these tigers shine. 

When I scheduled my first trip to Japan in April 2025, I didn’t get to see Travis Japan, though I did see them at the El Rey Theatre in October for the Los Angeles stop on their Road to Authenticity World Tour.

Noel, the group’s most senior member, had a major hand in producing the look, feel, and sound for the album and tour, and It was a fantastic experience and one I knew I had to see repeated as it was meant to be seen.

434 days later, on 4 January 2025, I finally got my chance. I was there at the Yokohama Arena, standing with 17,000 other TraJa-TAN (トラジャ担). I was lost in the rush of the music.

This chapter, produced by Umi, was everything I hoped it would be—almost. As mentioned in my review of the Yokohama show on Genius, there was a Noel-sized hole in the experience, but it was still something truly outrageous.

In fact, I was so lost in the rush of the music that honestly the entire thing is a great big blur—which is one of the reasons why I love these Blu-ray releases so much. They give me a chance to relive those moments from a different perspective.

And what great moments they are.

To be honest, I love it even more now, and not just because I can enjoy it close up in spectacular 1080 HD—though that does help, especially with songs like ｢Rush｣ and ｢Warm it Up｣.  Perhaps it’s time to bring back the UmiGenta vs. GentaUmi debate?

It was also nice to see clips from Noel’s return performance and parts of world tour. Seeing him back with the group at the Grove in Anaheim was more emotional then I thought it would be, but in the best way possible.  

Like their albums, the concerts come in a variety of different editions. I chose the Travis Japan Concert Tour 2025 VIIsual [Limited Edition] as it came with trading cards, and I have been collecting them since the release of Road to A. This edition also included a photo book and a VIIsual keychain charm set. Honestly, I live for these first-press extras. They’re cute, high quality, and really help make the physical media worth the purchase.

As TJ gears up for their third album and tour, I’m putting the finishing touches on another trip to Japan. I can’t wait to see what this next chapter in their story sounds like.There will be more Travis Japan soon, so…
Stay tuned.