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West. (stylized as WEST.), formerly known as Johnny's West (ジャニーズWEST, Janīzu Uesuto) (stylized Johnny's WEST), was a boy band consisting of seven members formed under Johnny & Associates, now managed under Starto Entertainment. The members are Daiki Shigeoka, Junta Nakama, Takahiro Hamada, Akito Kiriyama, Tomohiro Kamiyama. The group's name comes from the fact that it originated within the Johnny's talent agency and that the members are from Kansai, the west region of Japan. They were the first group from Kansai Johnny's Junior. to debut. They debuted in 2014 with the single "Eejanaika (ええじゃないか)".
In 2023, the group changed their name to West., before the 10th anniversary of their debut. Their new name was announced through an online stream on October 18. The period (.) in the new name was added to declare that they are (people from) the west (Kansai), and that "though it's (a) small (dot), it's filled with infinite possibilities". The name change occurred in the midst of Johnny Kitagawa's sexual abuse scandal revelations, which saw many of the agency's groups as well as the agency itself undergoing similar rebranding.
Ryusei Fujii, and Nozomu Kotaki announced their departure from the group in August 2026. The remaining members announced the group's September 30 disbandment on September 24, 2026.
Members
Created based on the official website profile and sorted after birthdays. The member colors are used in costumes, CDs, albums, DVDs jackets, and TV shows.
At the New Year's event "Johnny's Countdown Live," held at Tokyo Dome on December 31, 2013, 4 members of Kansai Johnny's Junior groups (B.A.D.'s Junta Nakama and Akito Kiriyama and 7 West's Daiki Shigeoka and Nozomu Kotaki) were told they would debut under the name "Johnny's West4". The decision for the group's debut was sudden, having occurred only 30 minutes before they were told. By the time of the announcement, the debut song was still being decided.Their group would be the first to debut after the debut of Kanto (Tokyo) Junior's Sexy Zone and A.B.C-Z.
Initially, the group's name was supposed to be "Johnny's West 4". However, the name was changed to "Johnny's West" because it "sounded bad" (having the number "4" in their name was inappropriate due to the Japanese superstition that the number was unlucky). Three more members, Takahiro Hamada, Tomohiro Kamiyama and Ryusei Fujii were later added. This announcement was made during the members' rehearsal on February 5 for the play "Naniwa Samurai Hello TOKYO!! (なにわ侍 ハローTOKYO!!)", held at the Nissay Theatre from February 5 to 28, 2014. This day is said to be West.'s formation day. It was also revealed that initial four members persuaded Johnny Kitagawa to let the other three join the group. They wanted the group to be nationally famous, so they believed that those three members were absolutely essential.
2014
On April 2, it was decided that Akito Kiriyama served as MC with Fumito Kawai from A.B.C-Z at "Shounen Club," where Johnny's West appeared regularly.
On April 20, West had a press conference of debut at Abeno Harukas. After that, they moved to the heliport on the rooftop, 300m (984ft) above the ground, and performed their debut song, "Eejanaika." It was also announced that they would be appointed as the Konamon Ambassador (粉もん大使) of the Nippon Konamon Association (日本コナモン協会).
On April 23, West debuted with the release of their 1st single, "Eejanaika (ええじゃないか)."
From April 26 to May 6, the performance "Naniwa Tomoare, Honmani Arigatou! (なにわともあれ、ほんまにありがとう!)", planned to commemorate the CD debut of West, was held at Osaka Shochikuza. From May 11 to 21, the event's Tokyo edition started at Shinbashi Enbujō.
On April 30, the group's blog "Na-Ni-Wa-Bu-Shi! (な・に・わ・ぶ・誌!)" was started on Johnny's web, updated weekly by one of the members.
On July 22 and 23, "Debut Shitemo Eejanaika ~Banzai!! Sono Saki no Ittosho e~ (デビューしてもええじゃないか〜バンザイ!! その先の一等賞へ〜)" was held at Zepp Namba Osaka, and on July 28 and 29 at Zepp Diver City Tokyo.
On August 2, the play, "Typhoon n Dreamer (台風n Dreamer)," started at Osaka Shochikuza.
On August 6, the 1st studio album, "Go West Yōi Don! (go WEST よーいドン!)," was released. On August 28 and 29, a commemorative party for the release of the 1st album, "Go West Yōi Don!," was held at Yokohama Arena.
On September 3, the play, "Typhoon n Dreamer," started at the Nissay Theatre.
On October 8, the 2nd single, "Zipang Ōkini Daisakusen/Yume wo Dakishimete (ジパング・おおきに大作戦/夢を抱きしめて)," was released.
On December 17, the 1st DVD & Blu-ray, "Naniwa Samurai Hello Tokyo!!," was released.
2015
From January 2 to 6, the group's 1st concert, "Johnny's WEST 1st Concert Ippatsumeeeeeee! (ジャニーズWEST 1stコンサート 一発めぇぇぇぇぇぇぇ!)," was held at Yokohama Arena and Osaka Castle Hall. On October 7, the concert's DVD & Blu-ray was released.
On January 10, the play, "Naniwa Samurai Dangoro Ichiza (なにわ侍団五郎一座)," started at Nissay Theatre.
On February 4, the 3rd single, "Zundoko Paradise (ズンドコ パラダイス)," was released.
On April 22, Extended Album, "Paripipo (パリピポ)," was released.
On April 20, the 5th single, "Gyakuten Winner (逆転Winner)," was released. It was used as the first season opening of the Ace Attorneyanime.
On May 18, 4th DVD & Blu-ray, "West 1st Tour Paripipo," was released.
On July 24, West's official fan club was established.
On July 27, the 6th single, "Jinsei wa Subarashī (人生は素晴らしい)," was released.
On September 27, it was announced that West's first dome performance would be held. On December 24 and 25, the 1st dome concert "Johnny's WEST 1st Dome Live 24 (Nishi) kara Kansha Todokemasu (ジャニーズWEST 1st ドーム LIVE ♡24(ニシ)から感謝 届けます♡)," was held at Kyocera Dome Osaka.
On October 19, ELOV-Label, a record company, opened a Twitter account to promote the album "Nawest (なうぇすと)".
On November 30, the 3rd studio album, "Nawest," and the 5th DVD & Blu-ray, "West Concert Tour 2016 Luckyyyyyyy7," were released.
2017
From January 3 to May7, the tour, "Johnny's WEST Live Tour 2017 Nawest (ジャニーズWEST LIVE TOUR 2017 なうぇすと)," was held at Yokohama Arena, Sun Dome Fukui, Fukuoka Convention Center, Sekisui Heim Super Arena, Nippon Gaishi Hall, Ecopa Arena, Osaka Castle Hall, Hokkaido Prefectural Sports Center, and Hiroshima Prefectural Sports Center.
On March 25, it was announced that West would appear in Netflix TV show, "Honō no Tenkōsei."
On April 23, Shigeoka announced that the serialization of "Na-Ni-Wa-Bu-Shi!" would be updated once every two days.
On May 24, the 6th DVD & Blu-ray, "West 1st Dome Live 24-kara Kansha Todokemasu," was released.
On June 21, the 7th single, "Osaka Ai Eye Ai/Ya! Hot! Hot! (おーさか☆愛・EYE・哀/Ya! Hot! Hot!)," was released.
On October 25, the 7th DVD & Blu-ray, "West Live Tour 2017 Nawest," was released.
On November 10, "Honō no Tenkōsei REBORN" was started broadcasting on Netflix.
On November 22, the 8th single, "Bokura Kyō mo Ikiteiru/Kangaeru na, Moero!! (僕ら今日も生きている/考えるな、燃えろ!!)," was released.
The band performed "Another 1% (もう1％, Mou 1%)" for the Japanese dub of The Lego Ninjago Movie.
2018
On January 2, the 4th studio album, WESTival, was released.
From January 3 to May 20, the tour, "West Live Tour 2018 WESTival," was held at Yokohama Arena, Fukuoka Convention Center, Ecopa Arena, Nippon Gaishi Hall, Kobe World Memorial Hall, Sekisui Heim Super Arena, Toki Messe, Osaka Castle Hall, Hiroshima Prefectural Sports Center, and Hokkaido Prefectural Sports Center. On October 24, the DVD & Blu-ray for the concert was released.
On May 7, the 9th single, "Principal no Kimi e/Dragon Dog (プリンシパルの君へ/ドラゴンドッグ)" was released.
On August 15, the 10th single, "Start Dash (スタートダッシュ)," was released. It became first opening single from Captain Tsubasa (2018) by David Production.
On December 5, the 5th studio album, "WESTV!," was released.
2019
From January 3 to March 24, the tour, "West Live Tour 2019 WESTV!," was held at Yokohama Arena, Nippon Gaishi Hall, Toki Messe, Fukuoka Convention Center, Osaka Castle Hall, Sekisui Heim Super Arena, Kobe World Memorial Hall, and Hokkaido Prefectural Sports Center. On July 10, the DVD & Blu-ray for the concert was released.
On January 30, the 11th single, "Homechigirisuto/Kizudarakeno Ai (ホメチギリスト/傷だらけの愛)," was released. Kizudarakeno Ai became second opening single from Captain Tsubasa.
On April 24, the 12th single, "Ame Nochi Hare (アメノチハレ)," was released.
On May 29, DVD & Blu-ray, "Honō no Tenkōsei REBORN," was released.
On June 1, due to the termination of the business of ELOV-Label Co., Ltd., which was West's label, they transferred to the label "ELOV-Label Record" of J Storm Co., Ltd.
On July 25, West was appointed as a tournament special supporter for 2019 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Cup (opening on September 14). They were the first time the group had been a special supporter since the debut.
On October 9, the 13th single, "Big Shot!!," was released.
2020
On March 18, the 6th studio album, W trouble, was released.
From March 29 to May 24, the tour "West Live Tour 2020 W trouble" was supposed to be held at Fukuoka Convention Center, Makomanai Ice Arena, Sekisui Heim Super Arena, Toki Messe, Osaka Castle Hall, Saitama Super Arena, and Ecopa Arena. However, all the concerts were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Afterward, the concerts were rescheduled and planned to be held at the same venues, but those were canceled again since Starto Entertainment announced that they would refrain from large-scale concerts until the end of 2020. The tour was held online from December 11 to 13.
On May 13, it was announced that a limited-time unit "Twenty★Twenty" of 75 artists from the Starto Entertainment talent agency, including members of West, was formed as part of the "Smile Up! Project," a support activity to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
On June 24, the 14th single, "Shōko (証拠)," was released.
On July 28, the online streaming event, "Johnny's DREAM IsLAND 2020→2025 ~Daisuki na Kono Machi Kara~," was held at Expo Commemoration Park with Kanjani Eight and Kansai Johnny's Jr. West performed at Osaka Shochikuza on August 1.
2021
On January 13, the 15th single, "Shūkan Umaku Iku Yōbi (週刊うまくいく曜日)," was released.
On March 17, the 7th studio album, "rainboW," was released.
From April 3 to June 20, the tour, "West Live Tour 2021 rainboW," was held at Makomanai Ice Arena, Sekisui Heim Super Arena, Nippon Gaishi Hall, Toki Messe, Saitama Super Arena, and Grand Messe Kumamoto. A concert at Osaka Castle Hall was canceled due to quasi-emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On May 5, the 16th single, "Something New (サムシング・ニュー)," was released.
On July 28, the 17th single, "Dekkai Ai/Kidoairaku (でっかい愛/喜努愛楽)," was released.
On October 6, the 10th DVD & Blu-ray, "West Live Tour 2020 W trouble," was released.
2022
On January 19, the 18th single, "Reimei/Susumushika nē (黎明/進むしかねぇ)," was released.
On March 9, the 8th studio album, "Mixed Juice," will be released.
From March 20 to June 12, the tour, "West Live Tour 2022 Mixed Juice," will be held at Ecopa Arena, Grand Messe Kumamoto, Sekisui Heim Super Arena, Nippon Gaishi Hall, Osaka Municipal Central Gymnasium, Pia Arena MM, Osaka Castle Hall, Toki Messe, and Makomanai Ice Arena.
2026
From October 2026 till January 2027, Akito Kiriyama will star as The Engineer in the musical Miss Saigon.
On August 30, members Ryusei Fujii and Nozomu Kotaki announced their departure from the group. The pair will continue activities within Starto. Starto had been in talks with the remaining members regarding their future, including the possibility of them continuing as a 5–member group. On September 24 it was announced that the members had taken the decision to disband, ceasing their activities on September 30. The five members will continue in the agency under individual contracts starting October 1.
Undercover employee ~ let me be your spy (裏社員。-スパイやらせてもろてます‐, Ura shain - Spy yarasete morotemasu ‐), release on May 2, 2025, is the first movie of the group. Two rival companies' worker teams find themselves involved in the move to demolish a closed shopping street for the construction of a commercial complex. The film is a poignant action comedy with spy-like action and slapstick comedy, and a love story added to it. The film features the group's song Westside Soul (ウェッサイソウル, Uessai souru), written by Tortoise Matsumoto.
Variety shows
West was on Kanjani8 no Janiben (関ジャニ∞のジャニ勉) from May 2, 2007, to March 15, 2017. They had only appeared on VTRs, but from the broadcast on July 29, 2015, two members from West randomly appeared in the studio and were in charge of the segment of "3 Tack No.1."
Ikujani (育ジャニ) was broadcast on August 9, 2014, December 30, 2014, and November 10, 2015, on Mainichi Broadcasting System.
Little Tokyo Live ~Minna de Tsukuru Ippai Ippai Nama Housou~ (リトルトーキョーライブ〜みんなで作るいっぱいいっぱい生放送〜) was broadcast from October 8, 2014, to June 24, 2015, on TV Tokyo. West was in charge of MC with Hey! Say! JUMP on a weekly basis. The title was changed to "Little Tokyo Life" and was broadcast from July 1, 2015, to September 25, 2019.
Go! Go! WEST! Bōken Shitatte Eejanaika (GO！GO！WEST！冒険したってええじゃないか) is a series program on Kansai Telecasting Corporation in which West takes on challenges and adventures all over Japan. The first episode was held in Okinawa and broadcast on September 13, 2014. The second episode was held in Hokkaido and broadcast on March 22, 2015. The third episode was held in Shikoku and broadcast on February 12, 2017. The fourth episode was held in Kita Kantō and broadcast on September 17, 2017. The fifth episode was held in Kyushu and broadcast on August 18, 2019. The sixth episode was held in Shikoku again and broadcast on October 18, 2020. The seventh episode was held in Tōhoku and broadcast on January 29, 2022.
West was on the Doyoru series. Doyoru no Mōsōzoku (ドヨルの妄想族) was broadcast from July 11 to October 10, 2015, on Asahi Television Broadcasting System. Doyoru no Konamon Quest (ドヨルの粉モンクエスト) was broadcast from October 24, 2015, to January 9, 2016. Doyoru no Gotōchi Mon Quest (ドヨルのご当地モンクエスト) was broadcast from January 16 to March 26, 2016. Doyoru no Agent WEST! (ドヨルのエージェントWEST！) was broadcast from April 9 to September 24, 2016. The name was changed to Agent WEST (エージェントWEST), and it was broadcast from October 1, 2016, to June 28, 2020.
Naminori! Jenny (ナミノリ！ジェニー) was broadcast from October 22, 2016, to October 19, 2018, on Mainichi Broadcasting System.
Papajani WEST (パパジャニWEST) was streamed on Paravi from April 26, 2019, to April 10, 2020. It is started broadcasting on TBS Television (Japan) every Tuesday since June 30, 2020.
Johnny's WEST no Syusse Suru Hito Shinai Hito (ジャニーズWESTの出世する人・しない人) was broadcast on September 14, 2019, on Fuji TV.
Anata no Kawari ni Mitekimasu! Ria Totsu WEST (あなたの代わりに見てきます！リア突WEST) is started broadcasting from October 4, 2020, on Asahi Television Broadcasting System. It was broadcast every Saturday only in Kansai region until September 9, 2021. It is broadcasting every Sunday in every region in Japan.
West was invited to the shows LOVE it! (ラヴィット！) as a monthly guest from May 7 to 28, 2021.
TV dramas
Honō no Tenkōsei Reborn started broadcasting on Netflix on November 10, 2017.
Radio shows
Johnny's WEST no Otokomae wo Mezase! (ジャニーズWESTの男前を目指せ!) was broadcast from April 4, 2014, to September 24, 2021, on Asahi Radio Broadcasting Corporation.
Johnny's WEST Mogitate Kan Juice (ジャニーズWEST もぎたて関ジュース) is started broadcasting on April 7, 2007, on Radio Kansai.
bay Janaika (bayじゃないか) is started in April 2014, in Bay FM (Japan).
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all 23 concerts scheduled to be held have been canceled. After that, the concerts were rescheduled. However, they were canceled again since Starto Entertainment announced that they would refrain from large-scale concerts until the end of 2020. The concerts were held online and were broadcast live from December 11 to 13.
A concert in Osaka was canceled due to quasi-emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although it was the first tour with audiences in two years, the capacity was limited to 5,000 people, and measures such as not performing an encore to end the concert at 8 pm.
↑Sources for chart positions are as follows: Go West Yōi Don!, Luckyyyyyyy 7, Nawest, WESTival, WESTV!, W trouble, rainboW, Mixed Juice.
↑The Billboard Japan Hot Albums chart was established in June 2015. Sources for chart positions are as follows: Luckyyyyyyy 7, Nawest, WESTival, WESTV!, W Trouble, rainboW, Mixed Juice, Power, Award, A.H.O. (Audio Hang Out), and Yujitsumuni
↑Sources for chart positions are as follows: "Eejanaika", "Zipang Ōkini Daisakusen/Yume o Dakishimete", "Zundoko Paradise", "Bari Hapi", "Gyakuten Winner", "Jinsei wa Subarashī", "Osaka Ai Eye Ai/Ya! Hot! Hot!", "Bokura Kyō mo Ikiteiru/Kangaeru na, Moero!!", "Principal no Kimi e", "Start Dash", "Homechigirisuto / Kizudarake no Ai", "Big Shot!!" "Shōko" "Shūkan Umaku Iku Yōbi" "Something New" "Dekkai Ai/Kidoairaku" "Reimei/Susumushika nē"
↑Sources for chart positions are as follows: "Eejanaika", "Zipang Ōkini Daisakusen", "Zundoko Paradise", "Bari Hapi" "Gyakuten Winner", "Jinsei wa Subarashī", "Osaka Ai Eye Ai", "Bokura Kyō mo Ikiteiru", "Principal no Kimi e", "Start Dash", "Homechigirisuto / Kizudarake no Ai", "Ame Nochi Hare", "Big Shot!!", "Shōko", "Shūkan Umaku Iku Yōbi", "Something New", "Dekkai Ai/Kidoairaku", "Reimei/Susumushika nē", "Hoshi no Ame", "Shiawasa no Hana", "Zetsumei", "Heart", "Mā Ikka!", "West Side Soul!", "Aishū"
