The eight-member Junior group B&ZAI kicked off their nationwide tour “ROCK’N’DOL” with a performance in Sapporo, Hokkaido. This is their second live tour following “First Beat” in mid-2025, which served both as a reintroduction and an awakening. They are racing through 24 shows in 9 cities across Japan, culminating in a final concert in Hiroshima on April 25.
Their full schedule is as follows:
- February 6 (Fri) – Sapporo Cultural Arts Theater, Hokkaido
- February 26 (Thu) & February 27 (Fri) – Tokyo Garden Theater, Tokyo
- March 3 (Tue) & March 4 (Wed) – Sendai Sun Plaza Hall, Miyagi
- March 9 (Mon) – Act City Hamamatsu Large Hall, Shizuoka
- March 11 (Wed) & March 12 (Thu) – Kobe International Hall, Hyogo
- March 16 (Mon), March 17 (Tue) & Mar 18 (Wed) – Orix Theater, Osaka
- March 30 (Mon) & March 31 (Tue) – Fukuoka Sunpalace, Fukuoka
- April 8 (Wed) & April 9 (Thu) – Aichi Prefectural Arts Center Large Hall, Aichi
- April 16 (Thu) & April 17 (Fri) – Tachikawa Stage Garden, Tokyo
- April 24 (Fri) & April 25 (Sat) – Ueno Gakuen Hall, Hiroshima
For more details, including ticket prices and access information, please visit the official Junior website.
B&ZAI‘s greatest defining feature is their overwhelming musical sophistication, which goes far beyond the typical idol framework. In addition to classic band instruments such as guitar and drums, the group includes members who skillfully wield saxophone, trumpet, and even violin as their “weapons.” In August of last year, despite not having officially debuted yet, they performed at SUMMER SONIC, one of Japan’s largest music festivals, which featured both regional and international sensations like FALL OUT BOY, HYDE, LiSA, and Mrs. GREEN APPLE—a testament to their ability to deliver stellar performances and genre-crossing beats that cut through even the most packed of line-ups.
Beyond instrumental power, their versatility, including dance and acrobatics, continues to captivate fans. The members, Ryo Hashimoto, Rei Yabana, Taiki Konno, Rinne Sugeta, Katsuki Motodaka, Yujin Suzuki, Hoshiki Kawasaki, and Michiharu Inaba, each have an extensive history in STARTO‘s Junior division and have been making waves through media appearances, such as variety shows and dramas, as well as multi-group performances, such as the recent STAR to FESTIVAL Junior concert. Although there is a seven-year age gap between the oldest and youngest, their unity is exceptional, earning them a reputation within the industry as some of the most promising stars who have not yet debuted.
Recently, Hashimoto, Yabana, and Suzuki were seen appearing in Hokkaido’s “Milkland” commercials alongside Masahiro Matsuoka, a legendary figure among band-style idols. Following a run of performances at Yokohama Arena as part of the Junior joint concert STAR to FESTIVAL 2026 from late January to early February, the group has steadily increased both their name recognition and the expectations surrounding them.
Another group from STARTO‘s idol pipeline that has been gaining momentum is ACEes, a Junior unit consisting of Hidaka Ukisho, Yuto Nasu, Ryuto Sakuma, Ryusei Fukada, and Ryuga Sato. On February 14, almost a year to the day their formation was revealed alongside B&ZAI and KEY TO LIT’s, the five-member group held a special Valentine’s Day livestream via FAMILY CLUB online, where they announced the scheduling of a new arena tour. Running the same five cities as “PROLOGUE,” their previous tour, “V,” is set to begin in late May and conclude at the end of August. The dates and venues are the following:
- May 26 (Tue) & May 27 (Wed) – Fukuoka Marine Messe Hall A, Fukuoka
- June 6 (Sat) & June 7 (Sun) – NGK Sports Plaza Gaishi Hall, Aichi
- June 13 (Sat) & June 14 (Sun) – Ecopa Arena, Shizuoka
- July 10 (Fri) & July 12 (Sun) – Ariake Arena, Tokyo
- August 29 (Sat) & August 30 (Sun) – Asue Arena Osaka (Osaka Municipal Central Gymnasium), Osaka
For more details, including ticket prices and access information, please visit the official Junior website.
Despite only being active for a year, ACEes have made quite the impact through their many collaborations with TOKYO GIRLS COLLECTION, constant YouTube and social media updates, and countless appearances on television, in magazines, and at concerts. They have also frequently appeared on Naniwa Danshi‘s variety show Naniwa Danshi no Gyakuten Danshi and on Bachi Bachi STAR, where Junior artists rotate weekly. Most recently, they performed at the above-mentioned STAR to FESTIVAL 2026 concert, where they covered agency classics such as ARASHI’s “Kotoba Yori Taisetsu na Mono” and Hey! Say! JUMP‘s “White Love.”
Their individual activities are also worth highlighting. In the variety scene, Ukisho has become so in-demand to the point where there seems to be no day when he isn’t on TV, ranging from information programs like DayDay. and Hirunandesu! (both from Nippon TV) to quiz shows such as Cream Quiz Miracle 9 (TV Asahi). His energetic and cheerful participation in any project, along with his intelligent comments when prompted, has helped him gain popularity among general viewers. On the other hand, his soulmate Nasu appeared on Sunday Japan (TBS) on January 25 ahead of the 51st House of Representatives general election. His thoughtful remarks about questions he has regarding consumption tax cuts left a strong impression. Member Ryuga has also appeared on programs such as Petit Brunch, Nino Nanoni, and Love it! (all TBS). With his naturally airheaded charm brightening up each show, he seems poised to become a sought-after presence on many more programs. Lastly, Sakuma and Fukada appeared at SDGs Promotion TGC Shizuoka 2026 by TOKYO GIRLS COLLECTION in early January. As official supporters celebrating the 20th anniversary of the event, they walked the runway dressed in traditional Shizuoka crafts, displaying their striking model presence and tall stature.
Of course, every building needs a solid foundation. Just two months after their birth, ACEes took the idol world by storm with their appropriately titled “PROLOGUE” first arena tour. With twenty shows across five venues, tons of uncertainty among junior fans, and expectations at an all-time high, the unit drew around 252,000 attendees—one of the highest turnouts for a solo Junior concert in history. Because they were starting from scratch then, their setlist mainly featured hit songs from their senior groups, such as “Diamond Smile” by Naniwa Danshi, but now that ACEes have massively evolved, fans can look forward to seeing the sparkly idols perform their original songs “PROLOGUE,” “Biggest Party,” and “Acing out” during “V.”
While there has been no confirmation on a 2026 tour from KEY TO LIT, the other Junior group that was unveiled alongside B&ZAI and ACEes, it’s sure to be on the horizon. Fans can keep an eye on the official social channels for any activity from the group, as their previous tour, “WAKE UP THE FOOL,” was teased through cryptic puzzles in the lead-up to the announcement. The members, Taisho Iwasaki, Mizuki Inoue, Reia Nakamura, Soya Igari, and Taiko Sasaki, had posted hints across the Junior Instagram, X, and TikTok profiles, culminating in the reveal during a YouTube livestream. The official Blu-ray/DVD set of the tour will be available starting March 18.