SUPER EIGHT’s Tadayoshi Ohkura is stepping behind the editor’s desk. Through his company J-pop Legacy, Ohkura will launch a new entertainment magazine, Zessei, on November 10—a glossy, object-forward project dedicated primarily to STARTO ENTERTAINMENT’s Junior talent. The inaugural cover and lead feature goes to ACEes, with the main shoot captured on location in Los Angeles.
Ohkura’s concept is clear: in an era of digital feeds and fleeting swipes, Zessei is designed to be held. “In an era of accelerating digitalization, I firmly believe in the value of tangible media, and this conviction is at the heart of Zessei,” he comments—promising carefully curated lineups and newly shot, visually driven spreads that introduce next-gen idols through a distinctive editorial lens.
Beyond Juniors, the debut issue threads senior STARTO artists into Junior-themed projects, spotlighting connections across generations. The back cover features selected Kansai Juniors, while interior sections push past group borders with themed collaborations and cross-unit gravure. ACEes also sit for solo interviews charting where they’re headed next.
In a marquee conversation, Ohkura welcomes Fuma Kikuchi (timelesz), someone who’s also nurturing the future generation, for a special sit-down, and a launch photo exhibition is planned to celebrate the imprint’s first issue. Zessei arrives in A4 wide / 144 pages at ¥2,500 (tax incl.), available via Family Club Store (Shibuya, Nagoya, Osaka, Fukuoka) and online (both Japan site and global).
This magazine is the first tangible deliverable from J-pop Legacy, the creative company Ohkura established to shape new content with the next wave of talent—and the latest move since the firm’s 2025 partnership with STARTO to strengthen Junior development and production. For fans tracking the post-reorganization Junior landscape Zessei is poised to become a key archive of where the scene is heading, not just where it’s been.
Full comment from Tadayoshi Ohkura
“I am delighted to announce the launch of Zessei, an new entertainment magazine capturing the Gen Z youth of STARTO through unparalleled visuals. Its mission is to showcase the next generation of idols, especially the up-and-coming Juniors, through a unique perspective and meticulous attention to detail that helps readers fully immerse themselves in the peerless appeal of these rising stars.
In an era of accelerating digitalization, I firmly believe in the value of tangible media, and this conviction is at the heart of Zessei. For those who support idols, I want to create something you can keep close, enjoy repeatedly, and cherish for years to come as you watch them grow and succeed in the world of entertainment. This inaugural volume features both established talents and those perhaps as yet unknown to the wider public, capturing the “now” of each unique individual and radiating their distinct personalities and charms out into the world.
I sincerely hope fans will “touch it, hold it, and keep it” as much as they cherish the boys themselves in their hearts and daily lives.“