is a Japanese boy band formed by Starto Entertainment. It consists of seven members who primarily come from the Kansai region. The group's official debut announcement was made through their label Storm Labels. Their debut single, "Ubu Love", was released on November 12, 2021. The name "Naniwa" refers to the old name of Osaka (also name of a ward in Osaka). They have sold over 6 million records in Japan since their debut.
History Naniwa Danshi is produced by Super Eight's Tadayoshi Okura. Prior to Naniwa Danshi, a Kansai Junior trio unit called was formed in August 2012. Naniwa Ouji includes the two current members Daigo Nishihata, Ryusei Onishi, and Ren Nagase, who later became a member of King & Prince.
The group's formation was informed to the members through mass e-mails, as opposed of being called directly to Johnny Kitagawa's place, leading members to think that "it was a prank." Nishihata originally thought it was a prank due to the group's name "Naniwa Danshi", due to it literally meaning "people from Kansai." Formation of Naniwa Danshi was the first time in 4 years for Kansai Junior and was publicly announced through the magazine Potato.
2021-present: Debut On January 5, 2021, Naniwa Danshi, along with two other Kansai Junior groups (Ae! group and Lil Kansai), joined the Junior official YouTube channel, indirectly replacing SixTones and Snow Man after their departure from the channel.
The group's official debut was announced through their Naniwa Danshi First Arena Tour 2021 #NaniwaDanshiShikaKatan concert at Yokohama Arena, which was also a surprise for themselves. The debut was announced on Naniwa Day (July 28). This also marks the long-awaited debut for Joichiro Fujiwara, who had been a trainee for 17 years 8 months—the longest in Starto Entertainment's history. Alongside their debut CD release, an Instagram account was also made. They also "graduated" from the Junior YouTube channel and opened their own YouTube channel.
In 2024, Super Eight, West, and Naniwa Danshi collaborated in all-Kansai group named Kamigata Boyz. The group digital single, was released on May 3 and is available on music streaming sites. Hyadain wrote and composed the song. The song title is a combination of each group songs: Musekinin Hero (Super Eight), Eejanaika (West), and Ubu Love (Naniwa Danshi).
On August 13, during their talk segment on +Alpha concert at Yokohama Arena, the group announced their first Asia tour concert. The concert will be held in three cities Taipei, Seoul, and Hong Kong.
On June 28, 2025, during their ongoing live tour in Yokohama Arena, they announced that in 2026 they will be performing at Tokyo Dome and Kyocera Dome for the first time.
Members NameDate of birthPlace of birthBlood TypeHeightMember Color Osaka AB 167cm Red Hyogo O 166cm Orange Osaka O 180cm Pink Osaka B 176cm Purple Osaka B 167cm Yellow Osaka B 168cm Blue Fukuoka B 168cm Green
Discography
Studio albums + List of studio albums, with selected details, chart positions and sales Title Details Peak chart positions Sales Certifications JPN JPNComb JPNHotPeaks on the Billboard Japan Hot Albums:
1st Love Released: July 13, 2022 Label: J Storm Formats: CD, CD+DVD, CD+BD, DL, streaming 1 1 1 JPN: 850,968 RIAJ: 3× Platinum POPMALL Released: July 12, 2023 Label: J Storm Formats: CD, CD+DVD, CD+BD, DL, streaming 1 1 1 JPN: 438,091 RIAJ: 2× Platinum +Alpha Released: June 12, 2024 Label: Storm Labels Formats: CD, CD+DVD, CD+BD, DL, streaming 1 1 1 JPN: 357,420 RIAJ: Platinum Bon Bon Voyage Released: July 2, 2025 Label: Storm Labels Formats: CD, CD+DVD, CD+BD 1 1 1 JPN: 334,417 RIAJ: Platinum ND5 Released: June 17, 2026 Label: Storm Labels Formats: CD, CD+DVD, CD+BD 1 1 1 JPN: 409,711 RIAJ: Platinum
Singles +List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released, certifications and album name Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Certifications Album JPN JPNComb JPNHotPeaks on the Billboard Japan Hot 100:
2021 1 1 1 JPN: 916,961 RIAJ: Million 1st Love "The Answer" 2022 1 1 1 JPN: 632,842 RIAJ: 2× Platinum — 1 1 2 JPN: 516,195 RIAJ: 2× Platinum Pop Mall "Special Kiss" 2023 1 1 2 JPN: 516,199 RIAJ: 2× Platinum "Make Up Day" 1 1 5 JPN: 394,213 RIAJ: Platinum +Alpha "Missing" — "I Wish" 1 1 2 JPN: 370,477 RIAJ: Platinum 2024 1 1 2 JPN: 400,104 RIAJ: Platinum Bon Bon Voyage "Doki it" 2025 1 1 1 JPN: 324,660 RIAJ: Platinum 1 1 1 JPN: 348,476 RIAJ: Platinum ND5 "Black Nightmare" — "Hard Work" 2026 1 — 2 JPN: 718,936 RIAJ: 3× Platinum "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.
Digital singles + List of digital singles Title Year JPNComb JPNHot Album 2024 17 49 Bon Bon Voyage 59 2025 — 65 "Never Romantic" 12 5 ND5
Video albums +List of video albums, with selected chart positions, sales and certifications Title Details Peak chart positions Certifications SalesJPNDVDJPNBD Naniwa Danshi First Arena Tour 2021 #NaniwaDanshiShikaKatan Released: February 23, 2022 Label: J Storm Formats: DVD, BD 1 1 JPN: 251,518 RIAJ: Platinum Naniwa Danshi Debut Tour 2022 1st Love Released: April 26, 2023 Label: J Storm Formats: DVD, BD 1 1 JPN: 302,000 RIAJ: Platinum Naniwa Danshi Live Tour 2023 Pop Mall Released: February 14, 2024 Label: Storm Labels Formats: DVD, BD 1 1 RIAJ: PlatinumNaniwa Danshi Live Tour 2024 '+Alpha''' | Released: March 23, 2025 Label: Storm Labels Formats: DVD, BD | 1 || 1
RIAJ: Gold |- ! scope="row" |Naniwa Danshi Live Tour 2025 Bon Bon Voyage'' Released: April 29, 2026 Label: Storm Labels Formats: DVD, BD
Tie-ins +TitleTie-in(s)AlbumNoteNote 2Source Theme song for Go! Go! Expo 1st Love Pre-debut songs Theme song for TV drama Seiho Boys' High School! Naniwa Danshi lead role Theme song for TV drama Captivated, by You Ryusei Onishi lead role Cheering song for 2021 Summer Koshien Ubu LoveNaniwa Danshi x GU collaboration campaign Debut singleSoftbank "5G Lab" commercialTheme song for TV drama My Love Mix-Up!Shunsuke Michieda lead roleLawson campaign The Answer Theme song for TV drama The Kindaichi Case Files (2022) Michieda lead role Double A-side single Sachiare Theme song for Fuji TV's Mezamashi TV (April 2022〜) Theme song for TV drama Rent-A-Girlfriend Onishi lead role Timeless Love Theme song for TV drama Keshigomu o Kureta Joshi o Suki ni Natta. Ohashi lead role Happy Surprise Campaign song for Sunstar's Ora2 me commercial Pop Mall #MerryChristmas Theme song for 2022 Lawson's Christmas campaign Special Kiss Theme song for movie And Yet, You Are So Sweet Kyohei Takahashi lead role Commercial song for Naniwa Danshi x Softbank "Naniwa Danshi House" Commercial song for Benesse's Shinken Zemi Blue Story Commercial song for Fine Today's Sea Breeze Make Up Day Theme song for TV drama Beni Sasu Life+Alpha Onishi lead role Double A-side single Missing Theme song for TV drama Knockin' On Locked Door Nishihata lead role I Wish Theme song for TV drama My Second Aoharu Michieda lead roleNew ClassicCommercial song for AOKI's new graduates campaignTheme song for movie We don't know love yetBon Bon BoyageOnishi lead roleTheme songs for movie Nintama Rantaro the Movie: The Strongest Strategist of the Dokutake Ninja SquadOnishi and Fujiwara guest voice roleOriginally a song by Hikaru Genji for same anime franchiseDoki ItCommercial song for AOKI's "Freshers Fair" campaignDon’t Worry!!Commercial song for Softbank's service "Tobideru"Commercial song for Round 1Theme song for TV drama Revenge SpyOhashi lead roleDouble A-side singleBlack NightmareTheme song for TV drama LaunderingJoichiro Fujiwara lead roleHirahira × TokimekiCommercial song for Softbank's issued Google Pixel 10 and Google Pixel Watch 4Never RomanticTheme song for movie Romantic KillerTakahashi lead roleFujiwara supporting roleHard WorkTheme song for TV drama Yokohama Neighbors Season 1Onishi lead role
Filmography Dramas & TV Shows etc RunTitleNetworkNotes 2012 Maido! Jani〜 Fuji TV Left in 2021 after official debut 2019 Naniwa Kara Ae Kaze Fukasemasu! Kansai TV 2020 Toshihita Kareshi TV Asahi Lead roles 2020 Seiho Boys' High School! TV Tokyo 1994 Mezamashi TV Fuji TV Joined in 2020 2021 Mada Apude Shitenai no?
Documentary DateTitleDistributorNoteSource 2021 Amazon Prime Video Fuji TV Amazon Prime Video NetflixPart of Ride on Time (Season 4, episode 9-11)2022Part of Ride on Time (Season 5, episode 1-4)
Films DateTitleDistributorNotes 2016 Kansai Johnny's Jr's Mezase! Dream stage! Shochiku Pre Naniwa Danshi formation 2017 Kansai Johhny's Jr's Owarai Star Tanjô! 2019 Shonentachi
Commercials DateCMCompany 2019 Universal Crystal Christmas Universal Studios Japan 2020 DecoLu Johnny's Island 2021 LAWSON LAWSON 2021 Hi-Chew Morinaga Seika 2021 GU GU 2021 5G LAB SoftBank 2022 Hi-Chew Morinaga Seika 2022 Patisserie NANIWA LAWSON
Concert tours Solo concerts
NANIWA DANSHI LIVE 2020 「Shall we #AOHARU」(2020) Kansai Johnny's DREAM PAVILION 〜Shall we #AOHARU?〜 (streamed on Family Club Online)
Naniwa Danshi ASIA TOUR 2024+2025 '+Alpha' (held in Taipei, Seoul, and Hong Kong)
Joint concerts
Johnny's Festival 〜Thank you 2021 Hello 2022〜 (2021) Johnny's Countdown (since 2021) WE ARE! Let's get the party STARTO!! (2024)
Pre-debut concerts
Kansai Johnny's Jr (X'mas Party!! 2018)
Kansai Johnny's Jr (SPRING SPECIAL SHOW 2019) Johnny's IsLAND Festival (2019)
Johnny's World Happy LIVE with YOU（2020, online)
Other media A virtual idol collaboration project between Starto Entertainment and Showroom started from 2019 which features two members Joichiro Fujiwara and Kazuya Ohashi. They voiced the members of duo unit Ascana: and , respectively. The duo streamed every day at 21:30 JST on Showroom. Honeyworks handles the music and character designs. Along with Naniwa Danshi's official debut, both of them "graduated" from the project in 2021.
Ascana has released 5 original songs:
"Lv.1"
Notes
References
External links Naniwa Danshi Official website - Storm Label Naniwa Danshi - Starto Entertainment