A long, long time ago, before Covid-19 ravaged the planet and put the world at a standstill, I was once invited to see 4U. (ふぉ~ゆ~) for the first time in December 2019. I had never heard of the quartet before that moment, but the friend that invited me loved them dearly. On the train ride to Zepp DiverCity Tokyo, I learned a little about them.
4U. is comprised of four men: Fukuda “Fuku-chan” Yuta, Tatsumi “Tatsu” Yudai, Koshioka “Kosshi” Yuki, and Matsuzaki “Matsu” Yusuke. All of their first names start with Yu, and thus 4U. Four Yu. It’s the kind of strangely brilliant group name that only a STARTO group can bring.
My friend had told me we were going to see what she believed to be a sequel of a stage play they did last year. She hadn’t attended the first Enta, but 4U. are known for acting in many stage plays throughout the year as well as their back up dancing for senior STARTO groups like Arashi and Kinki Kids. I had no reason to doubt my friend, for this was one of her favorite groups, and I listened attentively. I was excited to see one of 4U.’s original stage plays and get to know another STARTO group.
Enta 2 was not a stage play.
Perhaps you could call it a stage play if you took a hundred steps back, squinted your eyes, and screamed at the top of your lungs to block out any sound from reaching your ears. That’s not saying it was bad. It was absolutely brilliant and was a kind of stage performance that I had yet to experience in my life. It’s the kind of absolute brilliance that everyone should experience at least once in their life.
Here is every reason I will attend Enta every year.
1. The music
As a 4U. fan, I love their original songs. I still remember hearing Scandalous for the first time at Enta 2, turning to my friend and saying how much I liked it. As I’ve followed them since that fateful day, I’ve only grown to love their music even more. I’ll dance along to Fight Song, groove to Jelly Fish, and mouth the words to S.O.D.A. as 4U. are performing it on stage.
The opening to Enta 2 was what shocked me the most. Fans were whipping out penlights, and, as the lights went down, standing up as if we were going to attend a concert. But it wasn’t a concert? It wasn’t advertised as a concert? I was thoroughly confused as I bumped my fist to each and every song that was performed.
Every Enta show that I’ve attended since then has always started with a small concert portion. It’s the chance for 4U. to perform their beloved original songs as well as introduce new songs to their fans. It’s a wonderful opportunity to be introduced to their music if someone is interested in learning more about them.
2. The MC
4U.’s MCs are some of the best that I’ve ever experienced. 4U. has performed together for over ten years, and, as such, it feels as if they know each other as well as they know themselves. They easily blend in comedic lines with each other. They know when to let each other have their moment to shine but they also know when to step in and extend the joke in another direction.
I’ve never felt bored or wanted to check my watch for when 4U.’s MC time is almost up. I’ve aways sat in my seat hanging onto every word and waiting for the next joke to come out. These little moments are so brilliant and allow fans to grasp their personalities even more.
3. The skit
THIS! This is the moment that I look forward to every year. The Enta skit 4U. perform is easily the highlight of the entire show for me. It’s the largest chunk of time within the show, but it’s always the part that is the most brilliant to me.
Each year for Enta, 4U. prepare costumes and a script to perform for the audience. The story and characters are quite easily to follow, even for those with weak Japanese abilities, so you can enjoy the story that they’re telling on stage. But there is more to this you could ever imagine.
Not only are 4U. masters of comedy, but they’re masters of improv as well. If there’s a small happening on stage, for example a wig falling off or a costume not being buttoned perfectly, 4U. immediately know how to jump in with a joke or are to the rescue to remedy the situation. It leads to a lot of hilarious moments seeing what they’ll do.
But there are also purely improved moments that have me howling in my seat. Matsu is one of the ones that I always look to for those moments. Perhaps the kookiest member of the four, there’s no doubt to how hilarious his jokes are. In one year, where each member had to improv a joke with a new topic at each show, both times I attended Matsu was the clear winner. But when the members go off script and embellish a little, making callback jokes to earlier in the show, are some of the reasons why I love this part so much.
4. The game corner
Besides the ending where 4U. sing more of their original songs, the game corner is the last original segment of the show. Each game that is played differs between shows and is utterly random. I’ve seen everything from replicating difficult poses to trying to touch a body part of the other’s choosing while their left hands are clasped together.
The games are utterly ridiculous but give the audience a chance to see their true personalities and laugh along with the ridiculous things 4U. have to do. It’s one last hurrah before the show inevitably comes to a close.
But after the last song, the waves to the audience and the goodbyes. There’s one more moment where 4U. goes and slaps us in the face with how strange and hilarious of a group that they are.
5. …..what was that?
This moment lasts all of a minute. It’s the type of thing where you could blink and miss it. The music starts. The crowd starts clapping, and a random member of 4U. comes out dressed in some kind of strange outfit and does a little dance. The outfit could be anything. They could be dressed as another celebrity, a maid, or even something more ridiculous than you could ever imagine. When the dance is over, the member says something to the crowd and quickly disappears backstage. It’s one last moment of comedy before the audience goes home, and it is BRILLIANT.
Enta is amazing. It’s wonderful. It’s the reason why I gave 4U. a chance, and it’s the reason that I fell in love with them. The show changes every year, but the overall format stays fairly consistent. It’s something I look forward to as winter creeps closer and closer, and I will always try to get tickets to. It is truly an experience like no other.
Enta is typically performed from late December to early January. Shows are performed in Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya. If you’re ever in Japan during this time, I highly recommend getting a ticket and going. It’s worth the money!
Check out the opening to Enta!4 below!