On May 31, Lil Kansai (Lil かんさい)—composed of Toa Shimazaki, Takuya Nishimura, Fuga Onishi, Kotaro Okazaki, and Ruku Toma—took to the stage for their inaugural solo performance, “Ichibu Nyukon” (一舞入魂), at the famed Tokyo Garden Theater in Tokyo.
With a mix of witty humor typical of the Kansai region and the irresistible appeal of traditional idols, the group drew in a total crowd of 48,000 over six sold-out shows spanning three days. The two-hour-long performance showcased their talents and charisma as they entertained their fans.
The concert opened with Toa’s determined declaration, “With gratitude in our hearts, we will deliver this live show with all our might.” This heartfelt statement that resonated with the crowd was followed by the introduction of ‘NEXT STAGE‘ set off an explosive energy that filled the concert hall.
The powerful dance number had everyone on their feet, moving to the beat and shouting out in excitement. Takuya’s passionate call of “What’s up? Let’s go, Tokyo!” only added to the hype, while Fuga’s promise of “We’ll make everyone happy!” seemed to be coming true with every note played.
The setlist featured a combination of popular songs from their Kansai predecessors, including SUPER EIGHT, WEST., and Naniwa Danshi, as well as a blend of iconic tunes from Japan’s East and West. They performed 23 songs (counting medleys as one) ranging from emotional ballads to high-energy dances and festival anthems.
The Kansai medley included debut songs like “Aoharu – With U With Me” (Naniwa Danshi), “Gamushara Koshinkyoku” (SUPER EIGHT), and “Big Shot!!” (WEST.) transforming the venue into a space filled with the unique spirit of Kansai groups.
The show had a powerful emotional moment, where the audience was shown nostalgic footage of the group’s early days as the venue echoed with the song “SUPER ROCKET” (Kansai Juniors), and they performed those same songs live on stage, showcasing their growth and strong bonds.
Being a rather young group still in terms of age, Lil Kansai has grown tremendously over the years, learning from their senpais and fellow talents in the agency. With their bright and shining image, they’re carrying on the “idol” image so many of us have come to love and adore, but has also show their growth by leading the next generation of STARTO Junior around them in the KANJU Akeome Live 2024 ~ The Showmon Raifuku show.
In contrast to the emotional sequence, the boys take us another kind of emotional rollercoaster. After the MC section, there was a fun game segment where they wore low-frequency massage devices and played double Dutch and beach volleyball, filling the venue with joyful screams and laughter.
The members of Lil Kansai also banded together to create powerful duos and trios, their voices blending seamlessly and beautifully to perform songs by their senior groups. The audience was captivated by their unique charm as they incorporated clever comedic elements into their performances.
In one particular moment, during their rendition of “Kimi no Kareshi ni Naritai.” (Snow Man), Kotaro asked, “Can I kiss you?” A chorus of high-pitched squeals erupted from the crowd, adding to the fun and excitement of the performance.
The solo performances were a showcase of each member’s unique personality and talents. Takuya mesmerized the audience amidst pink lighting with his rendition of “Think u x.” (Taisuke Fujigaya / Kis-My-Ft2), adding a touch of maturity and sensuality to his dance moves.
Toa’s passionate vocals filled the air as he sang “Kako” (Kazunari Ninomiya/ARASHI), pouring his heart out on stage under a spotlight, and conveying deep emotions through his expression. And Fuga ended the set with a heartfelt performance of “20 -Tw/Nty-” (Fuma Kikuchi/timelesz), accompanied by a handwritten letter displayed on the monitor for all fans to see.
At the end of his solo, before he quietly exited the stage, he said, “I’ll express my feelings in a letter because it’s embarrassing,” and the screen displayed his handwritten message: “Thank you always for your love. I love you.”
The spotlight shone down on the stage as Kotaro, adorned in a flashy, sparkly costume, belted out his rendition of “Oh! my darling” (Ryosuke Yamada/Hey! Say! JUMP). The rest of the members served as backup dancers, their synchronized movements adding to the full idol experience. But it was Kotaro’s incorporation of magic tricks into his performance that truly captured the attention of the audience, who gasped and cheered at each illusion.
Ruku, with his deep, velvety voice and smooth dance moves, further impressed the crowd with his original rap verse, “Toma Rap,” showcasing his unique talent alongside the rest of the group.
Each song was unique, just like the individuals behind them, making it a truly special and unforgettable experience for everyone in attendance.
Lil Kansai then took the stage with a burst of energy, clad in vibrant costumes representing playing cards as they began their rendition of “King & Queen & Joker” (timelesz). The upbeat rhythm and catchy melody had the audience tapping their feet and singing along. As the song reached its climax, members of Lil Kansai stepped forward for the tarai (basin) challenge, flawlessly executing the intricate steps to the beat of “Real Face” (KAT-TUN).
As they performed their original song “Mata Kimi ga Suki,” Toa expressed his joy: “I’m happy that out of all the idols, you chose Lil Kansai and came here today. We aim to be the top among all idols, and it’s heartwarming to think that we might already be number one to those here today.“
Ruku added his own heartfelt words, his voice brimming with emotion, “We’ve always been happy, but performing in the largest venue in our history fills us with gratitude. Lil Kansai will undoubtedly become a group that meets everyone’s expectations, so please watch over us.“
The show’s main set concluded with their original song, “Lil Miracle,” conveying their immense gratitude and love to the audience.
Not a moment was dull as each member brought their own unique flair to the show but also showed the unique and close bonds they have as a group. The crowd erupted into cheers and applause as Toa, adorned with a beaming smile, addressed them with gratitude, “We will continue to bring smiles to everyone as Lil Kansai, so please keep supporting us!“
Toa Shimazaki
Thank you all so much for coming today! I had similar thoughts when I stood here yesterday, and I shared them with the audience then, but I really want to say it again: among all the idols out there, we are truly grateful that you chose Lil Kansai and came here today.
Of course, we in Lil Kansai aim to become the top among all idols, but thinking that we are already number one in your hearts makes me incredibly happy. There are many highly skilled and incredibly cool senior idols, yet you support Lil Kansai, make uchiwas for us, think about what kind of makeup we might like, or what kind of hairstyle we prefer. We are truly grateful to all of you who think about us and act on it.
We, Lil Kansai, will continue to work hard, multiplying this gratitude by tens and hundreds, and give it back to you. So, please keep supporting Lil Kansai! Thank you so much for today!
Ruku Toma
Once again, thank you for coming today. Even though it was raining this morning, it must have been difficult to get here. Yet, there are people who took time off from work on a weekday just to come see the five of us.
We, as Lil Kansai, are truly happy that you came to see us. It makes us incredibly happy. We’ve always been happy, of course, but performing in the largest venue we’ve ever had and knowing that so many people came with these thoughts fills us with immense gratitude.
Lil Kansai will undoubtedly become a group that lives up to your expectations. I, Ruku Toma, will also become a man who meets those expectations, so please keep watching over us. Thank you for today.
Kotaro Okazaki
Once again, I am Kotaro Okazaki. Thank you very much for today. Standing on this stage, I truly feel that we are supported by so many people.
Among the members, we compensate for each other’s shortcomings and showcase our strengths to everyone, supporting each other in those aspects. We are also supported by the staff in many ways, and above all, we are supported immensely by our fans.
Just seeing you wave your penlights… (looking around the venue at the penlights being waved) Thank you. It really gives us so much energy, and just hearing your voices makes us want to perform our best. Thank you for spending your time on us and for coming to see us.
From now on, we will continue to grow and do our best, so please keep supporting us. Thank you very much for today!
Fuga Onishi
Hello, I am Fuga Onishi from Lil Kansai. Thank you very much for coming today. I had a great time today and felt very happy. I hope everyone felt happy together with us as well.
We can’t live without you, and without our fans, I wonder what I would be doing right now. I really love all of you who make us shine. Thank you so much for today.
Takuya Nishimura
Thank you, everyone, for coming to see us today. Every time I stand on this stage, I truly realize that you all show me the best scenery. From your uchiwas and penlights, I feel so much love from everyone, and your expressions really convey how much you love our group. It makes me very happy.
It’s because of all of you that I was able to see such beautiful scenery today. I promise that one day I will show you even more beautiful and amazing scenery. I hope you will continue to support us always. Thank you very much for today.
Lil Kansai will also be performing at the “Kansai Juniors Summer Vacation 2024″ from August 1 to September 1 at Osaka Shochikuza. They will also participate in the new project event by Kansai groups, “KAMIGATA BOYZ DREAM IsLAND 2024,“ held on September 21 and 22 at Yanmar Stadium Nagai in Osaka.
Don’t forget to watch Lil Kansai every Thursday on the official YouTube Junior Channel!
Check out the Lil Kansai and more Juniors on their various social media platforms!
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