is a five-member Japanese boy band under Starto Entertainment. The group's former name was A.B.C., which stands for Acrobat Boys Club. It was changed to A.B.C-Z after Ryosuke Hashimoto was moved to the group from J.J.Express in 2008. Due to the Japanese pronunciations of their name, the fans usually refer to them as "Ebi".
The group was a former Johnny's Jr. unit. They debuted February 1, 2012, with their DVD Za ABC ~5 Stars~.
History
2001–2008: As A.B.C. Members: Koichi Goseki Shota Totsuka Ryoichi Tsukada Fumito Kawai
In 2002 they became A.B.C. with Yoshikazu Toshin.
2008–2011: A.B.C-Z pre-debut In the Summer of 2008, it was announced that Ryosuke Hashimoto, who was a member of J.J.Express, would join A.B.C., thus the group name changed to A.B.C-Z, their name is an acronym for "Acrobatics Boys Club Z" the Z symbolizing the last member coming into the group and completing them like Z completes the alphabet. Right after that, they held a concert, along with Kis-My-Ft2.
In May 2010 they were allowed to hold their concert at Theater Crea in Tokyo. It was also the first time they produced their concert. They had their solo live from May 11 to 19 and then other units from Johnny's Jr. would take part in, and hold four different kinds of the show in total until May 31.
On July 23, 2011, during the PLAYZONE'11 musical, Fumito Kawai broke his left leg, causing him not to be able to appear for the rest of the show. After PLAYZONE'11 A.B.C-Z was scheduled to be in the stage play Shonentachi Koushi Naki Rougoku. Johnny H. Kitagawa was at the opening of this show and revealed a new group of seven, ABC-xyZ, centered on the already existing four-member group A.B.C-Z. He also hinted that things could get going by 2012, but for that Kawai needs to get better first.
On November 6, 2011, they held their first one-man concert at Tokyo's Yoyogi National Stadium for 26,000 fans. They also announced that in February of the following year they would be hosting a play, titled "ABC-za Star Kouen", at Nissay Theater in Tokyo. Johnny H. Kitagawa commented that they may debut the next year.
On December 9, 2011, A.B.C-Z held a press conference for their upcoming stage play "ABC-za Star Kouen". They also announced that they would be debuting in 2012 with a DVD. This would make them the first Johnny's to do so. They hope to release the DVD before the opening of their stage play on February 4. It is said that the DVD would be released under Johnny's Entertainment."A.B.C-Z to debut next year with DVD", www.tokyohive.com By the end of December the release date, February 1, 2012, was then made public, along with the content of the DVD."A.B.C-Z reveals details on their debut DVD", www.tokyohive.com
2012–2018: Debut and 5th anniversary A.B.C-Z made their debut in 31 January at Shibuya AX which gathered 15.000 fans. Their DVD debut got number 1 in Oricon weekly ranking. In July, their variety show "ABChanZoo" starts broadcasting in TV Tokyo.
In June 2014, the first drama of A.B.C-Z members "Magical Boy Cherry's" starts broadcasting in TV Tokyo.
In September 2015, A.B.C-Z released their first single "Moonlight Walker" which got number 1 in Oricon weekly ranking.
Four years after their debut, in July 2016 A.B.C-Z established their official Fan Club
A.B.C-Z celebrated 5th anniversary of the group's debut in 2017 by releasing the single "Reboot!!!" and an album "5 Performer-z", followed by the "A.B.C-Z 5Stars 5Years Tour".
In 2018 A.B.C-Z celebrated their 10th year of the group formation and did a collaboration event with amusement park "Tokyo Joypolis", the event was called "A.B.C-Z 5stars CIRCUS in JOYPOLIS". The group also released a new single "JOYしたいキモチ" for this collaboration event.
2019 A.B.C-Z held their last concert of the Love Battle Tour in Yokohama Arena on January 8, they announced a new single "Black Sugar" which will be released on March 28. They also announced a new drama "Our Showtime" that will be airing in Nagoya TV on April, the theme song for the drama is A.B.C-Z song "Showtime" from the single "Black Sugar".
The group released their 6th album on August 7 "Going With Zephyr", followed by the tour with the same title as their album. Their collaboration event with the amusement park Tokyo Joypolis continued for the second year in a row.
2023 On 22 September 2023, member Fumito Kawai announced he would leave the group to prepare himself to become a better MC. His plan is to continue in Johnny's his solo career. He will be leaving on 21 December.
Members Current members Ryosuke Hashimoto - 橋本良亮 (born July 15, 1993 - red) Shota Totsuka - 戸塚祥太 (born November 13, 1986 - pink) Ryoichi Tsukada - 塚田僚一 (born December 10, 1986 - yellow) Koichi Goseki - 五関晃一 (born June 17, 1985 - blue)
Past member
Fumito Kawai - 河合郁人 (born October 20, 1987 - violet) (until 21 December 2023)
Discography
Studio albums Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales JPN JPNCombFrom ABC to Z Released: March 12, 2014 Label: Pony Canyon 4 — JPN: 46,240A.B.Sea Market Released: May 13, 2015 Label: Pony Canyon 1 — JPN: 51,730ABC Star Line Released: July 20, 2016 Label: Pony Canyon 3 — JPN: 33,1645 Performer-Z Released: June 21, 2017 Label: Pony Canyon 2 — JPN: 41,065VS 5 Released: May 23, 2018 Label: Pony Canyon 4 — JPN: 35,135Going with Zephyr Released: August 7, 2019 Label: Pony Canyon 2 2 JPN: 36,656Continue? Released: September 16, 2020 Label: Pony Canyon 4 5 JPN: 30,016F.O.R – Kawariyuku Jidai no Naka de, Kagayaku Kimi to Odoritai.() Released: August 21, 2024 Label: Pony Canyon 4 4 JPN: 28,936Crazy Romantic! Released: October 29, 2025 Label: Pony Canyon 5 — JPN: 28,527The Way of L.O.V-E Released: September 30, 2026 Label: Pony Canyon 3 — JPN: 27,680 "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Compilation albums TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positionsSales JPN JPNCombBest of ABC-Z Released: February 1, 2022 Label: Pony Canyon 1 1 JPN: 56,544
Extended plays Title EP details Peak chart positions Sales JPN JPNComb 5 Stars Released: November 29, 2023 Label: Pony Canyon 2 2 JPN: 33,954Romantic! Released: June 25, 2025 Label: Pony Canyon 3 4 JPN: 24,876The Way Released: July 15, 2026 Label: Pony Canyon 3 — JPN: 23,896
Singles TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum JPN JPNComb"Moonlight Walker"2015 1 —ABC Star Line"Take a '5'Train"2016 3 —"Reboot!!!"2017 1 —5 Performer-Z"Shuuden wo Koete (Christmas Night) / Bounenkai! Bou! Nen! Kai!" (終電を超えて〜Christmas Night / 忘年会! BOU! NEN! KAI!) 2 —VS 5"Joy Shitai Kimochi" (JOYしたいキモチ)2018 1 —Going with Zephyr"Black Sugar"2019 3 3"Dan Dan Dance!!" 2 3Continue?"Cheat Time" (チートタイム)2020 2 3"Ganbare, Tomoyo!" (頑張れ、友よ!) 2 4Best of ABC-Z"Nothin' but Funky"2021 2 4"Natsu to Kimi no Uta" (夏と君のうた) 2 4"Graceful Runner"2022 2 4 rowspan="4" "#IMA" 2 4"Kimi Janakya Dame Nanda"(君じゃなきゃだめなんだ)2024 4 9"Hirihiri Sasete"(ヒリヒリさせて) 2 4 "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Video releases Video singles TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positions JPNDVDZa ABC: 5stars Released: February 1, 2012 Label: Pony Canyon1Zutto Love (ずっとLOVE) Released: September 12, 2012 Label: Pony Canyon1Twinkle Twinkle A.B.C-Z Released: March 6, 2013 Label: Pony Canyon2Walking on Clouds Released: July 10, 2013 Label: Pony Canyon1Never My Love Released: November 20, 2013 Label: Pony Canyon2Legend Story Released: July 9, 2014 Label: Pony Canyon1Space Travelers Released: January 7, 2015 Label: Pony Canyon1Hana Kotoba (花言葉) Released: March 16, 2016 Label: Pony Canyon2
Live videos TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positions JPNDVDABC Za Hoshi (Star) Gekijou (ABC座 星(スター)劇場) Released: July 4, 2012 Label: Pony Canyon1Johnny's Dome Theater (Summary2012) A.B.C-Z Released: January 16, 2013 Label: Pony Canyon5A.B.C-Z 2013 Twinkle×2 Star Tour Released: October 16, 2013 Label: Pony Canyon5ABC Za 2013 Johnny's Densetsu (The Digest) (ABC座2013 ジャニーズ伝説(The Digest)) Released: June 25, 2014 Label: Pony Canyon7Summer Concert 2014 A.B.C-Z★"Legend" Released: March 11, 2015 Label: Pony Canyon7A.B.C-Z Early Summer Concert Released: October 28, 2015 Label: Pony Canyon3A.B.C-Z Star Line Travel Concert Released: December 7, 2016 Label: Pony Canyon5ABC Za 2016 Kabushikigaisha Ouenya!! (Oh&Yeah!!) (ABC座2016 株式会社応援屋!! 〜OH&YEAH!!〜) Released: March 15, 2017 Label: Pony Canyon6A.B.C-Z 5Stars 5Years Tour Released: February 7, 2018 Label: Pony Canyon2ABC Za Johnny's Densetsu 2017 (ABC座 ジャニーズ伝説2017) Released: August 28, 2018 Label: Pony Canyon6A.B.C-Z 2018 Love Battle Tour Released: January 30, 2019 Label: Pony Canyon3A.B.C-Z Concert Tour 2019 Going with Zephyr Released: December 25, 2019 Label: Pony Canyon10A.B.C-Z 1st Christmas Concert 2020 Continue? Released: June 23, 2021 Label: Pony Canyon8A.B.C-Z 2021 But FanKey Tour Released: April 20, 2022 Label: Pony Canyon4A.B.C-Z 10th Anniversary Tour 2022 ABCXYZ Released: February 22, 2023 Label: Pony Canyon3
Group activities
Variety shows Shounen Club 「ザ少年倶楽部」(2008–present) J Journeys A.B.C-Z Working Holiday [J'J A.B.C-Z オーストラリア縦断 資金0円ワーホリの旅] (2013.04.01 - 06.17) ABChanZoo 「えびチャンズ」(2013.07.21 - present)
Drama Magical Boy Cherry's「魔法☆男子チェリーズ」(2014.06.21 - 09.21)
Radio A.B.C-Z Go!Go!5 (FM NACK5) (2015.04 - present) A.B.C-Z今夜はJ's倶楽部 (NHK) (2016.08 - present) ダイヤルA.B.C☆E (TBS Radio) (2016.09 - 2017.03)
Stage Play Shinshun Takizawa Kakumei (2009.01) Dream Boys (2009.09.04 - 10.25) She Loves Me (2009.12.12 - 2010.01.31) Shinsun Takizawa Kakumei (2010.01) Takizawa Kabuki (2010.04 - 05) Road to Playzone 2010 (2010.07 - 08) Boys (2010.09) starring with Kis-My-Ft2 Shinsun Takizawa Kakumei (2011.01) Playzone'11 Song & Danc'N. (2011.08) Boys: Prison without Bars (2011.09) ABC-ZA Star Theatre (2012.02) Boys: Jail in the Sky (2012.09) ABC-ZA Legend of Johnnys' 2013 (2013.10) ABC-ZA Legend of Johnnys' 2014 (2014.05) ABC-ZA 2015 (2015.10) ABC-ZA 2016 Oenya Co., Ltd. OH & YEAH!! (2016.10) ABC-ZA Legend of Johnnys' 2017 (2017.10) ABC-ZA Legend of Johnnys' 2018 (2018.10)
Concerts A.B.C-Z Kis-My-Ft2 First Concert (11-13 Oct, 8-9 Nov 2008) Minna Crea ni Kite Kurie! (11–19 May 2010) 年末ヤング東西歌合戦！ 東西Jr.選抜大集合2010！ A.B.C-Z+ジャニーズJr.選抜 VS 中山優馬+関西Jr.選抜 (26-27 Nov 2010) Minna Crea ni Kite Kurie 2011 (29 March- 5 May, 13–18 May, 23–29 May 2011) A.B.C-Z 2011 first Concert in YOYOGI (6 Nov 2011) A.B.C.-Z. and Sexy Zone Johnny's Dome Theater ~SUMMARY~ A.B.C-Z 2013 Twinkle×2 Star Tour (23 Mar 2013 - 25 May 2013) Summer Concert 2014 A.B.C-Z★"Legend" (2014) A.B.C-Z Early summer concert (2015) Sexy Zone A.B.C-Z Summer Paradise in TDC (2015) A.B.C-Z Star Line Travel concert (2016) A.B.C-Z 5Stars 5Years Tour (2017) A.B.C-Z Love Battle Tour (2018–2019)
Photobook
[2017.04.25] Itsutsu Hoshi (五つ星)
Event
A.B.C-Z 5stars CIRCUS in JOYPOLIS (2018) A.B.C-Z 5stars Festival in JOYPOLIS ([2019)
Notes
References
External links
A.B.C.-Z. Official Website (Starto Entertainment)