Since 2021, Travis Japan has occupied a very special place in my heart.
They were the first STARTO group I got to personally witness rise from the underdogs of the Juniors to a globally embraced debut unit. They were also the first STARTO group I got to see live, and the first group I got to cover in person. While I enjoy all of the groups from the agency I’ve come in contact with, those simple facts put Travis Japan in a different category for me.
I am proudly one of the Traja-Tan, and while I haven’t been with them on their journey as long as some of their OG fans—the group was formed in 2012—walking this road with them has been one of the most interesting and rewarding parts of my career as an entertainment journalist. That’s one of the reasons I find their newest music video for ｢On My Road -Stadium ver.-｣ so emotional. There’s something incredibly moving about seeing how far they’ve come.
Released on 3 August, the music video represents the fact that the group has been appointed as Special Ambassadors for the 2026/27 Season of J.League – Japan’s professional association football (soccer) league system (basically Japan’s equivalent of England’s Premier League or the MLS in the states).
The song is a brand-new mix of ｢On My Road｣, originally featured on the group’s second physically released single (eighth overall), ｢陰ニモ日向ニモ｣ ( 5 April 2026). A song written around gratitude and finding the courage to take that first step toward an unknown future, it feels tailor-made to be a sports anthem. The Stadium version keeps the warmth of the original but expands it into a much bigger, more open sound, specifically arranged to feel like something audiences can sing together.
What makes the song particularly emotional for me is how much it reflects Travis Japan’s own journey: where they started, where they are now, and the long road of blood, sweat, and tears that has made them who they are.
It’s a beautiful song and a fantastic video.
There will be more Travis Japan soon, so…
Stay tuned!
