Since moving to Japan, I had one goal: to get back into the groups I used to follow before the pandemic ever happened.
Which sounds weird, but walk with me: Before 2020, I used to follow a lot of STARTO groups, from their MV releases to albums, tours, TV shows, the whole nine yards. Once they all started to be accessible on YouTube and other platforms, however, spitting also double releases like WEST. likes to do, it quickly became very difficult to follow everything.
Not because I did not like them anymore, but it was a full-time job, with time I did not have. So I had decided to focus on a selected few groups and put WEST. on the side for a minute.
WEST.—Junta Nakama, Takahiro Hamada, Akito Kiriyama, Daiki Shigeoka, Tomohiro Kamiyama, Ryusei Fujii, and Nozomu Kotaki—however, has always been very close to my heart. They combine everything that I love: they’re funny, they keep you on your toes, never knowing what you’re about to watch, they release banger after banger, and when they get serious, they suddenly become these charismatic creatures that leave you wondering, “Wait, was that the same person walking around dressed like a giant takoyaki 5 min ago?”
So when my Jasmine friend asked if I wanted to be her plus one, it was an immediate yes. I went to Yokohama Arena this May 2026 with an open heart, slightly nervous, however, because I had not really listened to them since “W Trouble”.
The stage itself was quite grand: a giant van taking the entire main stage, road signs all around it with cute messages like “One and only” and “It’s okay to be the way you are”. Normally, you wait for the show to start with songs of the group playing in the arena, but this time WEST. had even put a karaoke version of “EEJANAIKA” with a colour code for each part of the arena to sing a different section of the song! And let me tell you…Jasmines did not come to play; they meant BUSINESS. The atmosphere was electric even before the lights went out and the intro video started.
There they are, embarking in a van, with Ryusei driving, the members then turn into cartoon characters before a giant explosion on stage has them pop into view. The lights are different shades of Rainbow all around the stage, the Juniors are even here to backdance, like in the good old days, while WEST. adlibs cute little message for the fans. Obviously, we start with the title song of the new album “Kore de iionoda!” followed by “EEJANAIKA” (while I furiously dance with my thumb up because HEY! I know this one by heart at least!).
The setlist is a mix of old and new. I got nostalgic when they started to play “Drift!!”, with its surfer vibe, the stage was all colourful and there he suddenly is in all his glory: Kami-chan (Tomohiro Kamiyama).
Oh, did I miss that cheeky smile! I mean, come on, look at him dancing, the choreography on “Drift!!” is so smooth with the road lights on the screen, making it seem like we are indeed traveling with them.
This was the moment I knew I had to catch up with everything WEST. has been doing.
The amount of details on stage, with the lights and the screen, is pretty impressive. Even the little transition video is bringing us to different points on the road: leaving the garage, stopping on the side of the road for a campfire, or in an open-air cinema to watch a movie. It all makes sense: we’re going on a road trip, down memory lane for some good old bangers, leading us to the new era with their… Hold on, wait a minute.
Why is Akito dressed in a blonde wig with a giant bosom??
I had heard they went to the next level with their comedy skit, but it suddenly gets so busy on stage that it takes me a minute to realise: oh, the comedy skit this year is the movie they are watching at the open-air cinema.
And it’s all set in America, hence the “Grease” vibe. I’m used to seeing Akito and Ryusei dressing up as the girls in these comedy sketches, but this time we have 3 couples…and Shige!
- Akito, as the blonde bimbo Kirissa, is with his B.A.D buddy Junta.. sorry Jan, in his swaggy little American flag bandana. Not gonna lie, I wanna be Kirissa when I grow up and turn around, boobs first when someone calls my name. Slay, Queen.
- Kotaki as the pretty girl next door, Noncy, who ends up in a dramatic love triangle with her boyfriend Hameida, the football jock, and … whatever Shigerighes is supposed to be. I don’t know man, he came in on roller skates, holding a WEST. goodie bag, and I got too busy cry-laughing at the muscle suits he and Kami-chan were wearing. Anyway, Noncy and Hameida are wearing these cute matching couple shirts with a heart on them.
- Then comes Kami-chan as Tomorio, a fellow jock who chose violence that day with his motor mouth. I can’t tell you exactly what he said, but he sure did say it at lightspeed. And Tomorio’s girlfriend is the quiet beauty Fujina, aka Ryusei, in a cute strawberry blonde bob.
The skit was so well driven, WEST. is good at word play, physical comedy, and you clearly feel when they start to improvise and play “who’s gonna break character first?” with each other.
It was simple yet funny and I loved that it incorporates some of their songs into it, which is a first. The dramatic duet of love with Noncy/Hamedia was my favourite, with pics of them on the screen as a lovey-dovey couple.
They fight for a bit, but once Noncy finally explains that she was only with Shigerighes to shop for a present because it’s Hameida’s birthday, they all go to a dance party, and we cut back to the video on screen where the WEST. members are back in their van, starting to fall asleep listing to a cassette.
For my Gen A out there…. Please don’t make me explain what a cassette is, just… Google “vintage music” or something… Thank you *cries in Millenial *
Then comes the first (and my favourite) unit: Junta and Kami-chan to sing “JAPALOUD”. I adore this song! It’s over the top kitsch, it’s (as expected) loud but in the best way possible, since the music is mixing eurobeat with some traditional Japanese elements like taiko drums, the Juniors are wearing Happi, they all start dancing Para Para with the screen flashing estampe style drawings. It’s an anthem-type of high-tension song with a cyber aesthetic to it, and I’m most definitely the target audience. (Do not watch it if you have sensitive eyes, though.)
To continue with the Para Para theme, they also interpret “Akan LOVE ~Junjou Ai Yade~“, which made me so happy because again… I know this one! I wished I had fantasy glasses to match with the theme, but let me vigorously dance in my seat like I never left this house for six years!
During the MC, Shige, Kami-chan, and Hamada talked about Idol Music Fes The ONE “Ichi On Issho”, the festival produced by SUPER EIGHT’s Shota Yasuda, in which they participated a few days before, in the same venue. Junta, on the other hand, talked about traveling to Taipei to prepare for his upcoming fan meeting in July. I like that they are strong enough that they can do separate activities while still being so cohesive on stage together. It made me very nostalgic, but also want to root for them all even more.
We move to a Band section, where the members sing “Niji wo Kakeru Bokura” and all play different instruments around a literal campfire. And I mean Li-te-ral. There’s a firepit ON STAGE like it’s just another Tuesday in Kansai.
This transition to the second duet “Spin” with Shige and Hamada playing the guitar, for an acoustic moment. The song has a light and cute melody to it, perfect to relax while driving, with Shige also playing the harmonica, because one instrument was not challenging enough, apparently. And you know what? He pulled it off. Well played, Shige.
The video on screen transitions to the members roasting marshmallows around the firepit, having a drink, and just relaxing with the night sky above them.
The stage then turns black, with humongous white fabric panels dropping from the ceiling that will serve as a screen. The members then sing “Eiga” with one member standing on stage at a time, while drawn silhouettes play a story on the newly made screens.
And this, my friends, gets us to what I like to call “The Swag time”. The next set of songs is heavy pop, with pyrotechnic effects on stage, bringing the energy back up with some pop rock. The set is turned into “WEST. Garage”, and the vibes get more urban. The third unit comes in for “Error Code”, with Akito’s high notes, Ryusei’s rapping, and Kotaki bridging the two with half-singing and half-rapping. Can I just say… Akito, in a ponytail and a leather jacket, did a strong number on me. I might need to pop by the store and get some pictures later.
In this set, the Juniors also get their moment on stage! I feel like it’s been forever since Juniors had their own segment, so this was actually refreshing to see AmBitious and Boys be in the spotlight.
My favourite song of the set (and of the new album) is my new party anthem: “BUBBLEGUM”. The set has giant white balloons mimicking bubbles with confetti in them, the song has a sexy club vibe to it, very similar to “YSSB,” and I’m going to need every single group of the agency to do their own rendition of this song, just like they did when “YSSB” came out. I’m looking at you, B&ZAI and Travis Japan. Please and thank you.
We then slowly get to the end of the show with a more acoustic vibe, lots of calls and responses, the atmosphere is more chill, but the energy level never really drops. The encore even has a cozy vibe, WEST. has this brotherly aura about them that makes you feel like you’re just having fun at your uncle’s cookout (if you just add sparkly jeans to the mix). It’s cozy, it feels comfortable and familiar and you don’t really wanna go home.
After they close the show with “Shoko”, and Akito gives me fanservice unexpectedly by doing a small curtsy (I’m definitely going to the shop to get his pictures), my heart is full: WEST. have honed their skills so much, but it still feels like I never really left their fandom.
The show still holds true to their unique colour, the two hours went by in a flash, and they just proved that they never compromised on who they are as all-rounders and that they are indeed… One of a kind.
— Written by YAT-TUS for Dumpling Box.
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WEST. is a seven-member unit under STARTO Entertainment consisting of Junta Nakama, Takahiro Hamada, Akito Kiriyama, Daiki Shigeoka, Tomohiro Kamiyama, Ryusei Fujii, and Nozomu Kotaki.
Photo assets © STARTO ENTERTAINMENT.
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