SpeciaL: From Start to Last

When it comes to STARTO ENTERTAINMENT, there’s something for everyone. It’s almost like a bowl of candy—dig around a little, find your favorite piece, and you leave sweeter than when you arrived. SpeciaL is that candy—a hidden gem—you don’t notice at first, tucked just a bit deeper, but once you taste it, you wonder how it ever stayed hidden.

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SpeciaL—Ren Hayashi, Tatsuru Matsuo, Yuki Wada, Kodai Nakamura—has never been the group that storms into the room demanding applause. They arrive the way dawn does—quiet, unassuming, but inevitable.

For years, they were known as the “No.1 Junior,” the group whose smiles stayed bright even through exhaustion—proof that sparkle isn’t an aesthetic, but a choice.

SpeciaL: STARTO Entertainment’s Hidden Gems

Before this article, Dumpling Box had already written an introductory piece about SpeciaL—a softer snapshot of who they were at the time: four promising Juniors quietly building their identity through skill, sincerity, and steady growth. Revisiting them now after their successful solo show feels like returning to a familiar page only to find new handwriting layered over the old—evidence of how much they’ve evolved, and how much more clearly their story reads today.

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Formed on May 24th, 2018, the group’s first chapter began under the name Jr.SP, introduced during Johnny’s Ginza 2018. Their name changed as they grew—“スペシャル (Special),” “スペシャリスト (Specialist),” “Jr.SP”—until finally, in December 2022, they stepped into their new era as SpeciaL.

It was a renaming guided by then–company president Yoshihiko Inohara, who wanted to free them from the feeling of being “forever juniors.” True to their new name, each member carries a distinct specialty: acrobatics, ballet, acting/visuals, and vocals/tap dancing.

The decision wasn’t cosmetic—it was a declaration. As Yuki wrote in his blog, the capital S and L were chosen so the name would never be mistaken, so that wherever they appeared, fans would recognize them instantly. It symbolized everything they had become: Small to Large, Short to Long, Start to Last. A journey big enough for every future stage.

And yet, the most touching detail is this: Yuki wrote, “From this Start to the someday Last, I’m going to keep doing what I truly want. Please support me.” It was an invitation into a shared future—not just for him, but for all four members.

SpeciaL’s history is written across the stages of their seniors—Sexy Zone (now timelesz), King & Prince, Hey! Say! JUMP, 20th Century—where they became an essential heartbeat behind the spotlight. In 2019, they appeared in over 180 performances, the most of any group that year. Their craft was trusted, respected, and quietly depended upon. Even when they stood behind someone else’s microphone, they stood out.

But every supporting role eventually leads to a stage of one’s own. In 2022, during JOHNNYS’ Experience, they finally held their long-awaited first solo performance—a dream they had carried since debuting. And with that milestone came another: their fan name. Among options like “Honey,” “Special Lover,” and “Sharity,” they chose VIP—a name borrowed from “SP,” the bodyguards who protect. But in their version, the roles flipped: SpeciaL would protect the fans. A promise of reciprocity. A vow of devotion.

In Tozai Johnnys Jr. Spring Paradise 2023, Yuki said something that stayed with fans: “VIP are stars.” Many would argue that the stars are the four boys themselves, but if fans are the stars, then perhaps SpeciaL is the sky—holding, witnessing, warming. And if VIP are stars, then may the sky above SpeciaL always be full.

Their evolution continued with their first starring play, YABO BROS. & A LITTLE FOX!—a laughter-filled story held together only by the four of them, their chemistry, and their willingness to improvise.

@jr_official_tiktok

目撃せよ💥🌃 #林蓮音 #松尾龍 #和田優希 #中村浩大 #SpeciaL #BANGERNIGHT #HeySayJUMP

♬ BANGER NIGHT（サビVer.） – Hey! Say! JUMP

Then came one of their biggest milestones: an appearance in Takizawa Kabuki ZERO FINAL (2023). Sharing the stage with Snow Man in the final iteration of a legendary production, each member delivered a standout performance shaped by their signature strengths—Ren’s acrobatics, Tatsuru’s classical ballet, Yuki’s vocal presence, and Kodai’s self-choreographed tap. It was the kind of stage that doesn’t just test skill; it tests identity. And SpeciaL passed in a way that felt both humble and triumphant.

They also continued to anchor major STARTO productions—ALL Johnnys’ Jr. 2023 わっしょいCAMP!, the emotional ABC座星劇場2023 ～5 Stars Live Hours～, and 祭 GALA 2024, where Ren, Yuki, and Kodai brought their energy to a new ensemble. They have since appeared in CAMPだGO! (2025) and the Fuga Onishi & Kotaro Okazaki Summer SpeciaL Concert 2025, performances that further solidified their growing presence across the agency’s live landscape.

Perhaps the most defining moment of 2025 was their long‑awaited return to a solo stage with SpeciaL Special LIVE 2025 “4ever SpeciaL”, a concert that felt less like a comeback and more like a long‑promised homecoming. Held at The Globe Tokyo, the show unfurled with the confidence of a group finally stepping into a light they spent years earning.

The performance blended their signatures—roller‑skating, tap, acrobatics, ballet, live vocals—with a warmth that made the theater feel almost too small to contain them. It was a night shaped by intention: a reminder that SpeciaL is strongest not when they imitate, but when they create, weaving sincerity into spectacle until the whole room breathes with them.

These works—layered with humor, discipline, legacy, and risk—form the newest chapter in SpeciaL’s journey. Not loud, not rushed, but deeply earned.

Ren Hayashi

Date of birth	Acrobats, dance, roller skating
Blood type	Type A
Birthplace	Kanagawa Prefecture
Height	170 cm
Special skill	Acrobat, dance, roller skating, cigar box juggling
Member color	Pink

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Ren isn’t just the member in charge of acrobatics—he’s the boy who defies gravity. Widely respected among Juniors for his technique, Ren moves with a fearlessness that feels both effortless and exhilarating. One moment, he’s all soft smiles and gentle charm; the next, he’s twisting through the air with a precision that could cut light. It’s this contrast—the sweet-faced kid and the stage-devouring performer—that keeps fans hooked, breath caught somewhere between awe and affection.

Ren’s journey began long before SpeciaL, shaped by childhood admiration and the spark that only a true idol can ignite. Encouraged by his mother, he grew up enthralled by STARTO idols—most of all Hey! Say! JUMP’s Yuri Chinen. It was Chinen’s acrobatics during the Johnnys’ SUMMARY 2008 concert that changed everything; Ren walked into that venue as a fan and walked out determined. He auditioned alongside his older brother, Takuto, and officially entered the agency on October 23, 2010, at just nine years old. Even then, his instincts were sharp, his discipline unmistakable.

As he grew, Ren began carving out a career that blended stage presence with dramatic storytelling. His acting debut came in the 2020 drama Manatsu no Shonen ~19452020~, and that same year, he appeared in the film We Are Oh! & Yeah!!, showcasing both his expressive range and a youthful sincerity that translated effortlessly on screen.

His stage career soon expanded. In 2022, he took on his first external stage role in Tasogare (黄昏), based on the original play On Golden Pond, playing the 13-year-old Billy—a challenge he approached with the meticulous thoughtfulness he’s known for. A year later, Ren starred alongside his groupmates in YABO BROS. & A LITTLE FOX!, demonstrating a blend of comedic timing and emotional warmth. By 2024, he stepped into the spotlight again as Jonathan Harris/Peter Pan in the Japanese premiere of Peter Pan Goes Wrong, a role so fitting that staff remarked he looked “born to be Peter Pan.”

Across roles and stages, Ren has become known for his craftsmanship—an idol who learns, adapts, and refines. His acrobatics, often described as “weightless,” earned him a place in the special unit Fairy BOYS during the 2021 gymnastics world event, fulfilling a long-held dream of performing alongside Chinen himself. Whether soaring through the air or quietly studying a character’s emotional core, Ren embodies a rare combination of innocence and mastery—a performer who never stops growing, and never stops surprising.

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Tatsuru Matsuo

Date of birth	August 4, 2000
Blood type	Type B
Birthplace	Kanagawa Prefecture
Height	165cm
Special skill	Classic ballet, acrobatics, hair styling, positive thinking
Member color	Yellow

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Tatsuru’s path to the stage began long before he ever stepped inside the agency—rooted in a childhood steeped in classical ballet.

Following his older sister into the studio at age three, he discovered not just a hobby, but a lifelong discipline. By elementary school, he was already competing, earning his first award in fifth grade after a disappointing early result pushed him to train even harder.

That perseverance carried him far: during junior high, Tatsuru studied abroad three times—first in Birmingham, then twice at the prestigious Royal Ballet School in England. The world opened to him through ballet, and he learned early on how to communicate across borders, finding friends through shared movement and improvised translations.

Tatsuru entered the agency in 2016, thanks to a gentle nudge from his middle-school classmate—and now fellow Junior—Ryo Hashimoto (B&ZAI). After hearing stories about rehearsals and the thrill of the stage, Tatsuru sent in his application.

The first attempt never reached him due to a broken fax machine, but instead of giving up, he applied again, requesting a phone call this time. That small act of persistence changed everything. He entered as a Junior on January 23, 2016, immediately catching attention for his ballet talent. Within a week, he performed on Music Station behind Tomohisa Yamashita , showcasing elegant lines and controlled leaps that made him known as “the ballet kid.”

As an actor, Tatsuru made his drama debut in Manatsu no Shōnen ~19452020~, and in 2021, he joined NHK’s Company ~Gyaku Ten no Swan~. Playing young ballet dancer Ryo Kirigaya, Tatsuru brought authenticity to the ballet scenes and charm to the character’s mischievous personality.

His acting career continued to expand with a role in the 2023 WOWOW drama Sunset (Rakujitsu), where he portrayed basketball team captain Shunpei Sakura—navigating heavy emotional beats, complex relationships, and a story steeped in unresolved tragedy. It was a performance that highlighted a deeper emotional range beyond dance.

On stage, Tatsuru’s versatility has become one of SpeciaL’s signature assets. In YABO BROS. & A LITTLE FOX!, he stunned audiences by portraying the mysterious woman at the center of the plot—stepping into a dress with such beauty and allure that even the female audience members gasped. Since 2024, he has also performed in the touring company of Endless SHOCK, taking on increasingly demanding roles while proving he can adapt to any stage environment with maturity and grace.

His abilities earned him a place in the Fairy BOYS unit during the 2021 gymnastics world event, where he performed rhythmic gymnastics alongside Ren, blending flexibility, technique, and expressive artistry. That same versatility is evident in variety programming: from original ballet choreography on Junior CHAMP to improvised dance blending breakdance, contemporary, and ballet on #Hadaka no Shonen, Tatsuru demonstrates a genre-fluid dance intelligence that sets him apart.

But beyond technique, it’s his emotional expressiveness—his ability to explode into joy, frustration, or tenderness in an instant—that makes him magnetic. Tatsuru is the type of performer who brightens every room he walks into, who speaks easily to anyone, and whose smile feels like a spotlight of its own. His journey is defined not just by talent, but by the fearless openness with which he approaches every stage—and the limitless hair colors and styles he has had over the past years.

Tatsuru’s story is still unfolding, but one thing is certain: he is a dancer through and through—body, heart, and soul—and his future only grows brighter with every step.

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Yuki wADA

Date of birth	July 23, 2001
Blood type	O type
Birthplace	Chiba Prefecture
height	173
Special skill	His face, diabolo, and things except acrobatics
Member color	Purple

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Yuki, who has moles under both eyes, is the one in charge of visuals (face).

His story doesn’t begin with confidence—it begins with awe. As a child, he watched old HIKARU GENJI footage with his mother, their roller-skates carving dreams across polished stages. But the moment that set everything in motion came when she brought him to a Tomohisa Yamashita concert. Standing in the audience, Yuki saw the stage not as something distant, but as something he wanted to step onto. He asked his mother to help him apply, sent in his résumé, and on June 3, 2012—at just ten years old—he entered the agency.

From the start, Yuki struggled with feeling “special enough.” Surrounded by Juniors with obvious specialties, he wondered aloud, “Why am I SP?” The answer—“Because you were special, and that’s where you belonged”—didn’t fully settle in right away. It took the encouragement of seniors like timelesz’ Fuma Kikuchi, who told him bluntly to be proud of his face, for Yuki to step into the role of “SpeciaL’s visual.” Even then, his charm was never just about beauty. He has always been someone who absorbs skills like light: roller-skates, flags, diabolo, guitar—each becoming a small constellation in the universe of his talent.

As an actor, Yuki made his drama debut in The High School Heroes (2021), playing Shuichi Sakaki—a conflicted student council member who ultimately becomes a villain driven by fear and pressure. It was an unusual role for a Junior, requiring him to embody the shifting emotions of someone who gives in to darkness. Yuki approached it with nuance, grounding the character’s unraveling in humanity.

His film debut came in We Are Oh! & Yeah!!, where he played Yujin Minowa, a passionate supporter of reviving a traditional festival. The role allowed him to showcase sincerity and warmth—qualities that sit at the core of who he is.

But the stage is where Yuki’s acting truly flourished. His first external stage lead came in Another Country (2022), a heavy, philosophical drama set in a British boarding school. Yuki played Guy Bennett, a character wrestling with identity, ideology, and forbidden love. It was a demanding role—emotionally dense, introspective—and he delivered it with the gravity of someone twice his age.

In 2023, he starred as Momotaro in Densetsu Momotarō ~Oni no Kizuna~, bringing both purity and strength to a character everyone in Japan grows up knowing. Later that year, he performed alongside his groupmates in YABO BROS. & A LITTLE FOX!. As one of the three childhood friends at the story’s core, Yuki brought emotional grounding to a comedy that reveled in chaos.

Then came Nightmare Hospital (2024), a gothic fantasy where Yuki played Yuzo Akaita—a troubled young man whose rough edges hide a desperate sincerity. The role demanded vulnerability and darkness, and Yuki delivered both with a haunting intensity.

That same year, he worked alongside Ren in the Japanese staging of Peter Pan Goes Wrong, taking on multiple roles: assistant director, Nana the dog, Peter Pan’s shadow, and the pirate Starkey. His adaptability shone as he shifted from comedy to physical acting to chaotic mischief—often within minutes.

Onstage, Yuki is endlessly expressive. His facial control in dance—the way he never loses camera connection, never drops the emotional thread—is pure idol instinct. Whether he’s captivating viewers on NHK E-tele’s Kobun Kareshi segment with heart-fluttering lines or delivering razor-sharp choreography, Yuki performs with a combination of intention and charm that pulls the audience closer.

In 2025, he’ll also participate in the unique stage project 「いきなり本読み！」—a concept created by director Hideto Iwai, who believes that “the rehearsal room is far more interesting than the finished work.” This experimental performance features actors opening the script for the very first time on stage, with the script kept completely secret until the moment of the live reading. It’s a format where the boundaries between actor, script, and direction intertwine, allowing the audience to witness a story being born before their eyes—an entirely new kind of theatrical experience that showed yet another facet of Yuki’s expressive ability.

His beauty may draw the first glance, but it’s the emotional depth—the quiet storms he carries, the characters he embodies, the steadiness he brings to SpeciaL—that keeps people watching. Yuki is not just the “face” of the group. He is one of its beating hearts, growing brighter with each stage he claims as his own. He’s beauty, yes, but also ambition, precision, and emotional weight.

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Kodai Nakamura

Date of birth	January 8, 2001
Blood type	O type
Birthplace	Saitama Prefecture
Height	174cm
Special skill	Singing, tap dancing
Member color	Green

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Kodai is the member in charge of singing and has repeatedly shown his vocal prowess when the site ISLAND TV was active, especially with B&ZAI member Taiki Konno.

His artistry begins before SpeciaL, before the agency, before the spotlight even knew his name. A child drawn toward the world of performance, he began ballet at age four and soon found himself immersed in lessons for singing, dance, and acting—small stepping-stones that led him toward something bigger.

His first major breakthrough came in 2011, when he was cast as Young Simba in the Shiki Theatre Company’s The Lion King. Even as a fourth grader, his voice carried a clarity and emotional instinct that audiences felt in their chest. That roar—a mix of innocence and power—was his first real affirmation that the stage was where he belonged.

Kodai entered the agency on July 6, 2014, at age thirteen, bringing with him a foundation most Juniors could only dream of: musical theatre discipline, precise vocal training, and an instinctive storytelling ability. Even before joining the agency, he had appeared in the 2010 drama TAXMEN, playing a boy caught in the pressures of a dystopian near-future Japan. The camera loved him early, sensing that earnestness in his eyes.

His acting journey later expanded to the 2023 WOWOW drama Sunset (Rakujitsu), along with Tatsuru, where he portrayed Hiroya Morishita, the top-performing student council president entwined in the emotional aftermath of a long-buried tragedy. Kodai balanced gentleness and quiet strength in the role—showcasing the emotional intelligence that defines his performances.

On stage, Kodai’s versatility takes center focus. His 2020 appearance in the tap-driven musical comedy Gang Showman was a turning point—a moment where his years of tap training crystallized into magnetic stage presence. He played William, the spirited right-hand to the gang boss James, tapping out rhythms sharp enough to electrify the audience. It was the kind of performance that didn’t just display skill; it displayed identity.

In 2024, he stepped into Yakyū ~Homerun of Contrail~, portraying pitcher Shizu Karasawa in a wartime drama overflowing with emotion. Kodai described the production as “a work full of heat,” and his performance reflected that—sincere, grounded, and quietly determined. Later that year, he joined the Japanese production of Korean hit musical OZ, playing Button, a cutting-edge AI partnered with a veteran gamer. Sharing the stage with close friend Taiki Konno, Kodai fused precision with vulnerability, helping turn the show into a sold-out phenomenon.

In 2025, Kodai added yet another milestone to his expanding stage career with THE GIFT, a Christmas-themed musical show that opened on November 8th at I’M A SHOW in Tokyo. Kodai starred as Mark Herman, the bright, playful partner to lead character Luke Barnes. Though Mark’s bubbly personality sits opposite Kodai’s naturally calm disposition, he embraced the challenge head‑on. His performance in THE GIFT marked a new chapter in his growth as both an actor and a tap-focused stage performer.

Yet no matter how many stages he claims, Kodai’s strongest anchor remains his voice. He doesn’t just sing—he paints emotion. Whether delivering crystalline harmonies or soft, breath-warm lines, Kodai makes listeners feel seen. His duets with Taiki on the previous Junior website ISLAND TV—covers of SMAP’s “Yozora no Mukou,” Tegomass’s “Time Machine,” and “Miso Soup”—remain beloved for the way their voices wrap around each other like memory and light.

Then there’s the tap. Kodai’s footwork is both percussion and poetry—each strike clean, each rhythm warm. Even in casual videos with fellow Juniors, the artistry shows: upper body relaxed, lines elegant, musicality unfolding like a story he’s telling through sound.

Kodai is SpeciaL’s vocalist, yes, but he’s also its emotional compass—someone who brings the quiet, steady heartbeat that lets every performance breathe. His dream is to lead a musical one day, and watching his trajectory—Lion King cub to fully grown performer—it feels less like a hope and more like an inevitability. He doesn’t force brilliance; he grows into it.

His voice is expanding, his confidence deepening, and his path stretching wider with each year. In SpeciaL’s constellation, Kodai is the star that glows warmest—steady, rising, and impossible to forget.

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SpeciaL isn’t the kind of group that rushes to the front. They are the kind that builds a new definition of “center” simply by showing up with sincerity and skill. Their original song “Sensations” feels like a mission statement, a shimmering manifesto of who they are—but only the beginning of what they can become.

What makes them extraordinary isn’t just their technique. It’s the emotional continuity they carry—the way they honor every past version of themselves while reaching toward a future they’re no longer afraid to claim. Watching SpeciaL isn’t just entertainment; it’s witnessing a long, luminous becoming.

@jr_official_tiktok

4人でアカペラしてみました🎤🎶 #SpeciaL 林蓮音/松尾龍/和田優希/中村浩大 #恋を知らない君へ #NEWS

♬ オリジナル楽曲 – ジュニア【公式】 – ジュニア【公式】

And yes—some may wish they had more solos, more spotlight, more front-facing roles. But those who have watched a stage without them know a simple truth: a show missing SpeciaL is a show missing its pulse.

From Jr.SP to SpeciaL, from Small to Large, from Start to the someday Last—their story has never been about loud beginnings. It has always been about the courage to grow.

And now, as they step into their newest chapter—steadily, sincerely, like four stars finally aligning—one thing is clear:

This isn’t a beginning. It’s a continuation of everything they’ve ever been, and everything they’re finally ready to become.

While SpeciaL might not always stand at the very front like some of their fellow Junior groups, they are nothing less than essential. Their presence—whether gliding in the background on skates or commanding the center with a burst of pure skill—has shaped countless stages into something richer, sharper, and undeniably theirs.

Their original song “Sensations” remains one of the clearest reflections of who they are: precise yet warm, technical yet emotional, a promise of everything they can already do and everything they’ve yet to reveal.

No matter where the future carries them, one truth is impossible to ignore: these four are exceptional. Their specialties may differ, but their devotion, their work ethic, and their quiet fire align into something unmistakably cohesive.

Some fans might wish for more solos or more overt spotlight—but anyone who has seen a show without them knows the truth: a stage without SpeciaL isn’t fully alive.

And so, as they keep growing—steadily, sweetly, like that deeper‑buried candy you never forget once you’ve tasted it—their journey continues to glow with the same sincerity that’s carried them since their very first step. They have never relied on noise or shortcuts. They shine because they choose to, again and again. And if you reach into the bowl of STARTO and happen to choose SpeciaL, you’ll walk away with something warmer, brighter, and far more unforgettable than you expected.

A sweetness that stays. A future that expands. A group whose name is so simple, yet so special.

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