West. (stylized as WEST.), formerly known as (stylized Johnny's WEST), is a boy band consisting of seven members formed under Johnny & Associates, now managed under Starto Entertainment. The members are Daiki Shigeoka, Junta Nakama, Takahiro Hamada, Akito Kiriyama, Tomohiro Kamiyama. The group's name comes from the fact that it originated within the Johnny's talent agency and that the members are from Kansai, the west region of Japan. They were the first group from Kansai Johnny's Junior. to debut. They debuted in 2014 with the single "".
In 2023, the group changed their name to West., before the 10th anniversary of their debut. Their new name was announced through an online stream on October 18. The period (.) in the new name was added to declare that they are (people from) the west (Kansai), and that "though it's (a) small (dot), it's filled with infinite possibilities". The name change occurred in the midst of Johnny Kitagawa's sexual abuse scandal revelations, which saw many of the agency's groups as well as the agency itself undergoing similar rebranding.
Ryusei Fujii, and Nozomu Kotaki announced their departure from the group in August 2026. The remaining members announced the group's September 30 disbandment on September 24, 2026.
Members Created based on the official website profile and sorted after birthdays. The member colors are used in costumes, CDs, albums, DVDs jackets, and TV shows.
NameKanji NameDate of birthPlace of birthMember Color 中間淳太 Hyogo Yellow 濵田崇裕 Hyogo Purple 桐山照史 Osaka Orange Daiki Shigeoka 重岡大毅 Hyogo Red Tomohiro Kamiyama 神山智洋 Hyogo Green Former members NameKanji NameDate of birthPlace of birthMember Color 藤井流星 Osaka Royal Blue 小瀧望 Osaka Pink
Career Pre-debut At the New Year's event "Johnny's Countdown Live," held at Tokyo Dome on December 31, 2013, 4 members of Kansai Johnny's Junior groups (B.A.D.'s Junta Nakama and Akito Kiriyama and 7 West's Daiki Shigeoka and Nozomu Kotaki) were told they would debut under the name "Johnny's West4". The decision for the group's debut was sudden, having occurred only 30 minutes before they were told. By the time of the announcement, the debut song was still being decided.Their group would be the first to debut after the debut of Kanto (Tokyo) Junior's Sexy Zone and A.B.C-Z.
Initially, the group's name was supposed to be "Johnny's West 4". However, the name was changed to "Johnny's West" because it "sounded bad" (having the number "4" in their name was inappropriate due to the Japanese superstition that the number was unlucky). Three more members, Takahiro Hamada, Tomohiro Kamiyama and Ryusei Fujii were later added. This announcement was made during the members' rehearsal on February 5 for the play "", held at the Nissay Theatre from February 5 to 28, 2014. This day is said to be West.'s formation day. It was also revealed that initial four members persuaded Johnny Kitagawa to let the other three join the group. They wanted the group to be nationally famous, so they believed that those three members were absolutely essential.
2014 On April 2, it was decided that Akito Kiriyama served as MC with Fumito Kawai from A.B.C-Z at "Shounen Club," where Johnny's West appeared regularly.
On April 20, West had a press conference of debut at Abeno Harukas. After that, they moved to the heliport on the rooftop, 300 m (984 ft) above the ground, and performed their debut song, "Eejanaika." It was also announced that they would be appointed as the of the .
On April 23, West debuted with the release of their 1st single, "."
From April 26 to May 6, the performance "", planned to commemorate the CD debut of West, was held at Osaka Shochikuza. From May 11 to 21, the event's Tokyo edition started at Shinbashi Enbujō.
On April 27, Johnny's West held a handshake event at Intex Osaka.
On April 30, the group's blog "" was started on Johnny's web, updated weekly by one of the members.
On July 22 and 23, "" was held at Zepp Namba Osaka, and on July 28 and 29 at Zepp Diver City Tokyo.
On August 2, the play, "," started at Osaka Shochikuza.
On August 6, the 1st studio album, "," was released. On August 28 and 29, a commemorative party for the release of the 1st album, "Go West Yōi Don!," was held at Yokohama Arena.
On September 3, the play, "Typhoon n Dreamer," started at the Nissay Theatre.
On October 8, the 2nd single, "," was released.
On December 17, the 1st DVD & Blu-ray, "Naniwa Samurai Hello Tokyo!!," was released.
2015 From January 2 to 6, the group's 1st concert, "," was held at Yokohama Arena and Osaka Castle Hall. On October 7, the concert's DVD & Blu-ray was released.
On January 10, the play, "," started at Nissay Theatre.
On February 4, the 3rd single, "," was released.
On April 22, Extended Album, "," was released.
From May 4 to June 7, the 1st tour, "," was held at Yokohama Arena, Nagoya International Exhibition Hall, Osaka Castle Hall, Hiroshima City Cultural Exchange Hall, Fukuoka Sunpalace, and Kobe World Memorial Hall.
On June 17, the 2nd DVD & Blu-ray, "Naniwa Tomoare, Honmani Arigatou!," was released.
On July 29, the 4th single, "," was released.
On December 9, the 2nd studio album, "," was released.
2016 From January 3 to April 3, the tour "," was held at Osaka Castle Hall, Yokohama Arena, Nippon Gaishi Hall, Hiroshima Prefectural Sports Center, Fukuoka Convention Center, Toki Messe, and Sekisui Heim Super Arena.
On April 20, the 5th single, "," was released. It was used as the first season opening of the Ace Attorney anime.
On May 18, 4th DVD & Blu-ray, "West 1st Tour Paripipo," was released.
On July 24, West's official fan club was established.
On July 27, the 6th single, "," was released.
On September 27, it was announced that West's first dome performance would be held. On December 24 and 25, the 1st dome concert "," was held at Kyocera Dome Osaka.
On October 19, ELOV-Label, a record company, opened a Twitter account to promote the album "".
On November 30, the 3rd studio album, "Nawest," and the 5th DVD & Blu-ray, "West Concert Tour 2016 Luckyyyyyyy7," were released.
2017 From January 3 to May7, the tour, "," was held at Yokohama Arena, Sun Dome Fukui, Fukuoka Convention Center, Sekisui Heim Super Arena, Nippon Gaishi Hall, Ecopa Arena, Osaka Castle Hall, Hokkaido Prefectural Sports Center, and Hiroshima Prefectural Sports Center.
On March 25, it was announced that West would appear in Netflix TV show, "Honō no Tenkōsei."
On April 23, Shigeoka announced that the serialization of "Na-Ni-Wa-Bu-Shi!" would be updated once every two days.
On May 24, the 6th DVD & Blu-ray, "West 1st Dome Live 24-kara Kansha Todokemasu," was released.
On June 21, the 7th single, "," was released.
On October 25, the 7th DVD & Blu-ray, "West Live Tour 2017 Nawest," was released.
On November 10, "Honō no Tenkōsei REBORN" was started broadcasting on Netflix.
On November 22, the 8th single, "," was released.
The band performed "" for the Japanese dub of The Lego Ninjago Movie.
2018 On January 2, the 4th studio album, WESTival, was released.
From January 3 to May 20, the tour, "West Live Tour 2018 WESTival," was held at Yokohama Arena, Fukuoka Convention Center, Ecopa Arena, Nippon Gaishi Hall, Kobe World Memorial Hall, Sekisui Heim Super Arena, Toki Messe, Osaka Castle Hall, Hiroshima Prefectural Sports Center, and Hokkaido Prefectural Sports Center. On October 24, the DVD & Blu-ray for the concert was released.
On May 7, the 9th single, "" was released.
On August 15, the 10th single, "," was released. It became first opening single from Captain Tsubasa (2018) by David Production.
On December 5, the 5th studio album, "WESTV!," was released.
2019 From January 3 to March 24, the tour, "West Live Tour 2019 WESTV!," was held at Yokohama Arena, Nippon Gaishi Hall, Toki Messe, Fukuoka Convention Center, Osaka Castle Hall, Sekisui Heim Super Arena, Kobe World Memorial Hall, and Hokkaido Prefectural Sports Center. On July 10, the DVD & Blu-ray for the concert was released.
On January 30, the 11th single, "," was released. Kizudarakeno Ai became second opening single from Captain Tsubasa.
On April 24, the 12th single, "," was released.
On May 29, DVD & Blu-ray, "Honō no Tenkōsei REBORN," was released.
On June 1, due to the termination of the business of ELOV-Label Co., Ltd., which was West's label, they transferred to the label "ELOV-Label Record" of J Storm Co., Ltd.
On July 25, West was appointed as a tournament special supporter for 2019 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Cup (opening on September 14). They were the first time the group had been a special supporter since the debut.
On October 9, the 13th single, "Big Shot!!," was released.
2020 On March 18, the 6th studio album, W trouble, was released.
From March 29 to May 24, the tour "West Live Tour 2020 W trouble" was supposed to be held at Fukuoka Convention Center, Makomanai Ice Arena, Sekisui Heim Super Arena, Toki Messe, Osaka Castle Hall, Saitama Super Arena, and Ecopa Arena. However, all the concerts were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Afterward, the concerts were rescheduled and planned to be held at the same venues, but those were canceled again since Starto Entertainment announced that they would refrain from large-scale concerts until the end of 2020. The tour was held online from December 11 to 13.
On May 13, it was announced that a limited-time unit "Twenty★Twenty" of 75 artists from the Starto Entertainment talent agency, including members of West, was formed as part of the "Smile Up! Project," a support activity to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
On June 24, the 14th single, "," was released.
On July 28, the online streaming event, "Johnny's DREAM IsLAND 2020→2025 ~Daisuki na Kono Machi Kara~," was held at Expo Commemoration Park with Kanjani Eight and Kansai Johnny's Jr. West performed at Osaka Shochikuza on August 1.
2021 On January 13, the 15th single, "," was released.
On March 17, the 7th studio album, "rainboW," was released.
From April 3 to June 20, the tour, "West Live Tour 2021 rainboW," was held at Makomanai Ice Arena, Sekisui Heim Super Arena, Nippon Gaishi Hall, Toki Messe, Saitama Super Arena, and Grand Messe Kumamoto. A concert at Osaka Castle Hall was canceled due to quasi-emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On May 5, the 16th single, "," was released.
On July 28, the 17th single, "," was released.
On October 6, the 10th DVD & Blu-ray, "West Live Tour 2020 W trouble," was released.
2022 On January 19, the 18th single, "," was released.
On March 9, the 8th studio album, "Mixed Juice," will be released.
From March 20 to June 12, the tour, "West Live Tour 2022 Mixed Juice," will be held at Ecopa Arena, Grand Messe Kumamoto, Sekisui Heim Super Arena, Nippon Gaishi Hall, Osaka Municipal Central Gymnasium, Pia Arena MM, Osaka Castle Hall, Toki Messe, and Makomanai Ice Arena.
2026 From October 2026 till January 2027, Akito Kiriyama will star as The Engineer in the musical Miss Saigon.
On August 30, members Ryusei Fujii and Nozomu Kotaki announced their departure from the group. The pair will continue activities within Starto. Starto had been in talks with the remaining members regarding their future, including the possibility of them continuing as a 5–member group. On September 24 it was announced that the members had taken the decision to disband, ceasing their activities on September 30. The five members will continue in the agency under individual contracts starting October 1.
Discography
Studio albums