If there’s one thing STARTO Jr. concerts consistently remind me of, it’s just how much promise exists at the very beginning of an artist’s journey. Long before polish replaces nerves, before branding overtakes instinct, there’s something electric about watching young performers figure out who they are in real time — especially when that journey is led by groups like AmBitious and Boys be.

Last year, Kansai Junior Concert 2025: Boys be AmBitious left a lasting impression on me. Between the constant fan interaction and the easy confidence the boys brought to the stage, it was one of the most engaging Jr. shows I’d ever experienced. At the time, the age range of the performers — from just 9 to 22 — made the level of talent even more impressive. 

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This year, I found myself back in Osaka — which is one of the most beautiful cities on earth — and given the opportunity to attend A HAPPY NEW ERA PARTY, featuring the same two groups alongside another band of crazy-talented youngsters. Among other things, the show solidified for me that this needs to become an annual occurrence.

Seeing how far they’ve grown over the last twelve months was nothing short of awe-inspiring.

The show opened ｢NEW ERA｣ from SixTONES – which was the perfect choice to get the crowd ready for the party ahead. As my favorite of the STARTO ENTERTAINMENT groups, I thoroughly enjoyed the juniors’ take on this massive hit (featured as the opening theme of the anime series Half Demon Nightshade Princess).

Rather than relying on imitation, the juniors reshaped the song through their own lens, leaning into Kansai flair and youthful confidence.

｢Monster｣ from ARASHI worked in much the same way. While I may not be as familiar with the J-pop juggernaut as I am with SixTONES, I’ve heard the original, and honestly, the Jr. version — in my opinion — gives it a real run for its money.

As the set progressed, the emotional pacing of the show began to shift as they went into ｢Kimi eno carol｣ from SUPER EIGHT, before spicing things up again with a playfully cheeky cover of ｢YSSB｣ from WEST. – which was another FANTASTIC cover! 

As an original Jr. song, ｢Dream Catcher｣ was one I’d never heard before, but I loved it. It’s catchy, fun, and — most importantly — uplifting.

Other notable songs included ｢Sweet Parade｣, another SUPER EIGHT banger led by AmBitious’ Takeyuki Mayumi as the ringleader of a group of adorable, sweet-treat-holding juniors.

｢HOTTER & HOTTER｣ by King & Prince was one of the steamiest songs of the night. Rion “don’t call me Lion” Ouchi from AmBitious had a perfectly coiffed mane of curls that felt cool as ice, yet packed with heated goodness. That fire roared on with another SixTONES cover, ｢ABARERO｣ — already a scorcher, but once again seasoned with the group’s unique Kansai flavor and transformed into something exciting and new.

｢Because I Just Love You｣ from Kansai senpai group Naniwa Danshi was adorably done, while Ae! group’s ｢Joyato｣— the latest Kansai unit to debut — was simply beautiful. ｢Keep the Faith｣ by KAT-TUN really got the crowd moving.

One of the standout performances of the night, however, came with ｢耽美-TANBI-｣, an original song written specifically for AmBitious.

What ultimately elevated the night, though, was the individual presence each performer brought to the stage.

From AmBitious, Mayumi once again proved he has boundless energy. He started the concert at 100% and somehow managed to turn the dial up over the show’s two-hour runtime. Ichita Inoue has clearly been working on his voice — and his muscles — but his choreography has leveled up as well. The kid has moves.

There’s an edge to the sweetness of Itsuki Yamanaka (the group’s newest member, having joined in 2024). He has the look of a bad boy with a heart of gold, and watching him interact with the youngest juniors was absolutely adorable.

From Boys be, Shintaro Sumi bubbled with energy, only growing brighter whenever he spotted fans in the crowd. Kosuke Uegaki was the same, constantly drawing hearts and waving. Ito Atsushi was all smiles — except when he was dancing. Fiercely focused, with flawless lines, he’s clearly someone who devotes himself completely to his craft.

As the crowd filtered out of Osaka-jō Hall, snippets of conversation floated through the air — some of them even in English. Excitement, wonder, a sense of having witnessed something special. I caught one fan remark that it was among the best Jr. shows she’d ever seen, and her friend didn’t hesitate to agree – in Japanese. 

STARTO ENTERTAINMENT has always cultivated a deep bench of talent, but concerts like A HAPPY NEW ERA PARTY highlight something more specific: a generation of performers actively stepping into their own identities. Watching AmBitious and Boys be grow, refine, and test their limits over the course of a single year was a genuinely inspiring experience.

So, I stand by what I said earlier, because attending this particular showcase needs to become an annual event.

There will be more concert reviews soon so… 

Stay Tuned!