On July 1, 2025, STARTO ENTERTAINMENT officially announced that Naoki Fujii (่คไบ็ดๆจน), former member of Bishonen, has graduated from the Junior program. With the launch of his personal artist page, Fujii officially steps into a new chapterโas a solo performer under the agency, changing his status from Junior.
This move follows the February reorganization of the Junior system, which saw almost all the established Junior groups disbandโincluding Bishonenโand new units like ACEes and KEY TO LIT formed.
Rather than join a new group, Fujii opted for an independent pathโa decision that both surprised and inspired fans. As the uncertainties were brewing before any official announcements, many saw rumours about Fujii not being included in any potential lineup. In the end, this was the reason why.
During a February radio appearance, he admitted, โIt hasnโt been long since I was told about my solo activities, so Iโm a bit bewildered,โ asking for fansโ continued support as he adjusts to the shift.
That shift, however, is already well underway.
One of Fujiiโs standout recent projects is his lead role in DisGOONie Presents Vol.15: Koihitsukumogami Hira (ๆใฒไปๅช็ฅใฒใ), a stage play that ran from June 6 to 15 at Theater H in Tokyo. Celebrating DisGOONieโs 10th anniversary, the fantastical production explored a love story between two tsukumogamiโspirits that inhabit objectsโset against historical backdrops like the Honnoji Incident. Fujii portrayed Kotemei Hiragumo, a tea kettle spirit brought to life with emotional nuance and commanding swordplay. The final performance sold out instantly, and fans took to social media to praise Fujiiโs range, noting how he brought the character to life with real depth, yet still had that sparkling idol charm.
Fujii himself shared reflections, โI was truly honored to play Kotemei Hiragumo in this amazing cast! The play has a lot of tate (swordplay), and my bodyโs aching, but itโs so fun.โ
With this and other acting credits under his beltโincluding the ongoing stage project Ano Natsu, Kimi to Deaete (ใใฎๅคใๅใจๅบไผใใฆใๅนปใฎ็ฒๅญๅใง่ฆใๆฏ่ฒใ; That Summer, I Met You ~The Scenery at the Phantom Koshien)โFujii is carving out an identity rooted in creative freedom. His recent launch of personal social media accounts, and his decision to continue solo and pursue acting and similar rather than rejoin another group, signals a clear direction: forward.
To mark this transition, STARTO released a brand-new artist photo of Fujii, now live on his official page. Fans have been quick to note the shift in toneโmore mature, self-assured, and reflective of his solo aspirations.
In a recent blog post, Fujii likened his journey to an unfolding story: โWhen I joined this agency, the story of Naoki Fujii the idol began. So many fun and interesting pages were writtenโand yes, some werenโt easyโbut the good pages far outnumbered the tough ones. And you, reading this now, you’re one of the characters in my story, too.โ
He ended with a promise to aim for a happy ending, writing, โI donโt know what the next chapters will bring, but I have a feeling theyโll be fun. Iโd be so happy if you kept watching this story with me. Thank you always. โ
Though some fans are still coming to terms with the end of his idol group era, many are embracing the evolution. But one thing is for sure now, Fujiiโs story isnโt about departureโitโs about momentum. And his solo journey has only just begun, and we’re here to watch this story unfold with him!