Thereโs something almost magical about witnessing raw talent as it transforms into something polished, beautiful, and refined. But when that raw talent comes from a STARTO Junior, itโs already glittering with promiseโespecially when weโre talking about the Kansai Juniors.
On January 3rd, the highly anticipated “Kansai Junior Concert 2025 Boys be AmBitious” opened at Osaka-Jo Hall, Osaka. Featuring a total of 77 Kansai Juniors with an average age of 14.2, the concert promised to kick off the new year with youthful energy and excitement.
This marks the first time that the New Yearโs “Akeome“1 concertโa Kansai Junior traditionโis named after two groups: Boys be, formed in 2020, and AmBitious, formed in 2021.
Ahead of the performance, the group held a rare public press conference in front of fans. During the session, AmBitious member Takeyuki Mayumi looked forward to the concert, and shared, “We plan to greet everyone with 100% energy right from the start of the year. Weโre ready to showcase our freshness and vitality.”
Each one of the boys shared their New Year’s resolutions with the press and the fans present, expressing their hopes for personal and group growth and development in the coming year, which included goals such as improving their skills, focusing on their health, and more, much to the delight of their supporters who eagerly listened and cheered for their aspirations.
Takeyuki Mayumi also shared, “Thank you for taking the time to attend the Kansai Junior concert at the start of the new year! In 2025, we will continue to hone our skills to bring energy and power from Kansai to the entire country. We would be grateful if you could watch over our growth!” and Boys be’s Yukiya Ikegawa joined in with “This yearโs New Year concert features younger members than in the past, but the fun and unique personalities remain the same. I believe it will be an incredible concert!”
Despite the weather in Japan, fans eagerly waited for the concert, looking forward for more excitement, laughter, and heartfelt moments from the Kansai Juniors. The “Akeome” concert tradition brings together the best of Kansai’s young talent, setting the stage for another thrilling year ahead.
While in Japan, one of my goals has been to immerse myself in this incredible countryโs vibrant sights and sounds. On 3 January, I had the privilege of attending the Kansai Junior Concert 2025: Boys be AmBitious on behalf of Dumpling Box, and it was a spectacular introduction as my first proper Junior Concert!
Arriving at Osaka-Jo Hall in the crisp afternoon air, I couldnโt help but shiver. Nestled alongside the Daini Neya River and opposite the stunning Osaka Castle, the chill of 50-degree weather was a stark contrast for this California native. Still, I was too excited to complain.
Outside the hall, I was greeted by a dazzling display of blow-up figures of both Boys be and AmBitious, dressed in elegant hakamaโtraditional New Yearโs men’s kimonosโthat were not only adorable but they also served as perfect backdrops for fans to capture memories and create content. So much content.
As I waited, I studied everything around me. Japanese Idol-fan culture is different from anything Iโve experienced in the States, and I love watching how happy these guys make them. Clutching colorful uchiwa featuring their biases, fans huddled together in line, keeping warm by laughing, chatting, and filming TikTok videos. But the moment the boys appeared, making their way toward the steps for the press conference, the energy shifted. Cheers erupted, and the park sparked into action.
Once inside, I was surprised at how intimate the space designed for 16,000 people felt – and there wasnโt an empty seat in the house.
Opening with an original song, โNEXT STAGEโ, the groups appeared in glittering costumes filling the space with shimmering color.
The second song, โLoud-X (New Year’s vers.),โ– another original – brought both Boys be and AmBitious back to the stage, joined by a plethora of other Kansai juniors, the youngest of which was 9 years old! It was a lively and exuberant performance, with the guys running across the stage, shouting โHappy New Year!โ to the cheering crowd.
While I live on the other side of the world and am less familiar with much of the Jr. talentโs original music, AmBitious took the stage with a medley of Snow Manโs โDangerholicโ and timelesz’ “Anthem“โboth of which had me singing along. Their Kansai-inspired twist on these tracks, already in constant rotation on my YouTube Music playlist, was an absolute delight.
They were joined later in the set by the other Junior cast for a shuffle-style medley that included Snow Man’s “Grandeur“ as well as “ใขใชใใซ -With U With Me-” and “Diamond Smile” from Naniwa Danshi, and “WANT!!” from the newest STARTO debut group, Ae! group, themselves from Kansai.
From my picture-perfect seat I also spotted talent-producer Tadayoshi Ohkura of SUPER EIGHT along with Yoshinori Masakado and Ken Kojima of Ae! group in the audience, all of whom were there in support of the next generation of Kansai talent.
One particularly standout moment was the adorable cover of “็ก่ฒฌไปปใงใใใใใชใใLOVE “(Musekinin de Eejanaika LOVE)(English: โIsnโt Love Great with No Responsibilitiesโ) by the pan-Kansai megaunit (and Tadayoshi Ohkura pet project for this year’s World Expo) KAMIGATA BOYZ, opened by two of the cutest mini-Juniors with some of the biggest personalities I have ever seen. Equally charming was their rendition of the supergroupโs second single, “ไธ็ใๆใใ็ งใใใพใใใ“ (Sekai wo Akaruku Terashimashou) (English: โLetโs Light Up the World!โ). “้ข่ฅฟใขใคใฉใณใ” (English: Kansai Island) was another great song that perfectly captures the impish humor of the region, and no Kansai concert is complete without it.
Another thing Iโve always adored about the Kansai boys is their unparalleled sense of humorโrazor-sharp and second to none. Thatโs how they get you. Theyโll hook you with their sense of humor then trap you with their killer-good looks. Perhaps befitting Japanโs Year of the Snake theme for 2025, they coil around your heart and never let go.
Though I speak only minimal Japanese, the MC segments were surprisingly easy to follow, with one of my favorite highlights being Taro Yoshikawa from AmBitiousโwho kept calling himself โAnaconda Boyโ both in reference to this being his personal zodiac year and his ongoing (and very visible) enthusiasm for the gymโput his pumped up pythons to good use in a balloon popping race that sent the audience into fits of laughter (and earned more than a few swoons).
Where Yoshikawa brought the heat with his undeniable physical appeal, Takeyuki Mayumi, also of AmBitious, matched it with breathtaking acrobatics. The fact that he can defy gravity is pretty wicked…which did not go unnoticed at their national OdoROK! Dance Tour last year too!
As the show ended and the groups thanked the crowd for their attendance with a respectful bow, I was genuinely surprised. I was so engaged that I completely lost track of time and couldnโt believe how fast the event had flown by. The concert was an absolute joy from start to finish and filled with so much incredible talent. I loved every single minute of it.
Through the years, the Kansai Juniors have made it a tradition to hold an “Akeome” concertโa chance for the Kansai family to come together and celebrate together with fans as one big family. With AmBitious and Boys be upholding this tradition this year, they took over from Lil Kansai leading the concert last year to them being the leading stars.
Why is this tradition so valued, and why is it so significant that the current generation of Kansai Juniors keep the tradition?
The answer lies in the legacy that is the Kansai Family Valuesโa unique bond between the groups and talents that grew up under the Kansai branchโand to truly grasp this unique connection between the Kansai family, one must first grasp what it means to be a โJuniorโ in the company.
The Junior division includes individuals and groups who have yet to officially debut as idols. They may already have a strong fan following, perform at concerts, and appear in various media such as stage productions, films, dramas, and TV shows. However, until they release their debut single, they are still considered trainees within the company.
In the previous article, Ae! Legacy: The STARTO Kansai Family, we did a deep dive into the Kansai Family of STARTO, but in short, gone are the limited exposure and limitations, and the doors to the world have opened. From the hard work created by their admired and respected seniors, this new generation of talents has the world as their playground to expose their charm and talent!
The determination to succeed and ensure that the future generation wonโt face the same hardships has been at the core of the Kansai talents for years. The love and respect the Kansai STARTO Family has for each other is unrivaled, and itโs not contained to only them but also to everyone who follows them and watches over them. The sheer joy and love one feels when watching any Kansai group from STARTO makes you feel like a part of the family, too.
With AmBitious and Boys be greeting 2025, the torch of these values will continue to be passed down.
This is the legacy of the Kansai STARTO Family.
Check out the Juniors on their various social media platforms!
YouTube | X (Twitter) | X (Twitter)(English) | Instagram | TikTok | Official site
- Derived from ๆใใพใใฆใใใงใจใ๏ผ =ย Akemashite omedetou! = โHappy New Year!โ โฉ๏ธ