Kanjani Eight facts for kids

Kanjani Eight (関ジャニ∞（エイト）, Kanjani Eito, stylized as Kanjani∞) is a popular five-member Japanese boy band. They come from Japan's Kansai region. The group is managed by Johnny & Associates. They are signed to Infinity Records.

Kanjani Eight formed in 2002. They released their first CD in 2004. At first, they were known for a mix of pop and traditional Japanese "enka" music. After 2006, their style became more of a mix of pop and rock. Like other groups from Johnny & Associates, Kanjani Eight members also act in TV shows and movies. They also host variety shows and radio programs. They have sold over 17 million copies of their music in Japan.

History of Kanjani Eight

How the Group Started: 2002–2003

Kanjani Eight began by combining two groups. Four top members from "Kansai Johnny's Jr." joined with a popular rock band called V. West. Before Kanjani Eight, Subaru Shibutani, Yuu Yokoyama, Shingo Murakami, and Ryo Nishikido were already well-known. They starred in TV shows and dramas.

At the same time, V. West was becoming very popular. This group included Ryuhei Maruyama, Shota Yasuda, and Hiroki Uchi. In 2002, a new TV show called J3Kansai brought these two groups together. This created the new group, Kanjani. The name Kanjani comes from "Kansai Johnny's".

The group became official and was named Kanjani Eight. The "8" came from the TV channel number where their show aired. Tadayoshi Ohkura joined as a drummer. He became the eighth official member.

Kanjani Eight held their first concert in December 2002. It was called "Kanjani Eight Xmas Party 2002". This concert became a yearly event until 2005. It was also where their famous act, Kanjani Sentai Eight Ranger, began. In 2003, Nishikido and Uchi also joined another group called NEWS.

First Steps and Debut: 2004–2005

Even though Nishikido and Uchi were in NEWS, they also debuted with Kanjani Eight. Their first song, "Naniwa Iroha Bushi", came out on August 25, 2004. It was first released only in the Kansai area. The song became a local hit. It mixed pop music with traditional enka sounds from their hometown.

The song quickly became number one on the Oricon Enka charts. It reached number eight on the main Oricon music charts. When it was released nationwide on September 22, it hit number one on both charts.

In 2004, Kanjani Eight was mostly known in the Kansai region. They were like hometown heroes. Outside Kansai, not many people knew them. Their second song, "Osaka Rainy Blues", also showed this. It reached number nine on the Oricon charts. This song is still their lowest-selling single.

In 2005, Kanjani Eight started to become more popular across Japan. They began starring in three TV shows that aired nationwide. People started to recognize them as a major Johnny's group. However, in 2005, Hiroki Uchi faced a difficult situation. Johnny's & Associates removed him from both Kanjani Eight and NEWS. He took a break from all activities. Kanjani Eight continued as a seven-member group. They performed their first concert at Osaka-jō Hall in the summer of 2005.

Growing Success: 2006

After gaining national attention, Kanjani Eight kept moving forward. Their song "Sukiyanen, Osaka/Oh! Enka/Mugendai" reached number two on the Oricon charts in late 2005. In March 2006, they released their first album, KJ1 F.T.O. The title meant "Kanjani 1: Funky Town Osaka". This album reached number two on the Oricon charts.

Now known across the country, Kanjani Eight started their first tour. It was called F.T.O.N., which stood for Funky Tokyo Osaka Nagoya. They performed 20 shows in six days. After this, they launched their first nationwide tour in 2006. They followed it with a winter concert tour. These tours had a total of 46 performances.

Besides music, the members also started acting. In 2006, Ohkura, Maruyama, and Yasuda had their first lead acting roles. By the end of 2006, the group had appeared in more than four dramas. This included a special TV drama where the whole band starred in three different stories.

Kanjani Eight also performed in several stage plays. For the third year in a row, they starred in Dream Boys with KAT-TUN. This year also marked their last summer stage play series. They performed Another's Another, which had 58 shows. This was their final performance at the Osaka Shochiku-za Theater.

New Sound and Tours: 2007

The year 2007 was a big year for Kanjani Eight's success. It started with their number-one song, "Kan Fu Fighting". Then came their second song, "Zukkoke Otoko Michi". This song also debuted at number one on the Weekly Charts. It became the 18th best-selling song of 2007.

With "Zukkoke Otoko Michi", the band changed record labels. They moved from Teichiku Records to Imperial Records. Teichiku was known for enka music. Imperial Records allowed the band to explore a wider range of pop and rock sounds.

In June 2007, they released their second album, KJ2 Zukkoke Dai Dassō. This album sounded very different from their first. It focused more on funk and rock music. It debuted at number one on the Oricon charts.

Most of 2007 was spent on tour. They started with a concert series at Kyocera Dome. Then, they went on a nationwide tour with the same name. They made history by being the first pop group to perform in all forty-seven prefectures in one tour. The Eh! Honma! Bikkuri!! Tour 2007 lasted five months and had 113 performances.

During their busy tour schedule, many members worked on other projects. Yokoyama starred in a TV drama. Nishikido appeared in a drama special. Ohkura had roles in a TV series and a drama. Maruyama also had a role in a TV special.

Their seventh song, "It's My Soul", was released after the tour. It also reached number one on the Oricon charts. It became the 22nd most sold song of 2007. The year ended with a photo book and a concert DVD called 47. This DVD became the top-selling music DVD of 2008.

New Albums and Milestones: 2008–2009

The first half of 2008 was very busy for the band. Their eighth song, "Wahaha!!", was a big hit. It reached number one on the Oricon and Billboard Japan charts.

After a spring tour, Kanjani Eight hosted a 13-hour TV special. It was about protecting the environment. They also hosted a sequel to their variety show.

Later in 2008, the group released their ninth song, "Musekinin Hero". This song was a big step for the group. It sold over 300,000 copies. It reached number one on the charts and was the 11th best-selling song of 2008.

In 2009, Kanjani Eight released their third album, Puzzle. It had been almost two years since their last album. Puzzle had a new sound, mixing R&B, rock, and pop. It was released in April and quickly hit number one on the Oricon charts. It became the best-selling album in the first half of 2009. A DVD of their Tokyo Dome concert was also released and reached number one.

Their tenth song, "Kyū Jō Show!!", came out in November. It reached number one on the Oricon weekly charts. In December 2009, Kanjani Eight released three more songs. They were called "Gift" (White, Red, and Green). Each had different songs. These were the band's first Christmas-themed songs. Kanjani Eight became the first group to have the top three spots on the Oricon singles chart at the same time.

New Beginnings: 2010–2011

In 2010, it was announced that Hiroki Uchi would no longer be a permanent member of Kanjani Eight or NEWS. He would focus on solo work and acting.

Kanjani Eight's fourteenth song, "Wonderful World!!", reached number one in July 2010. Their fifteenth song, "Life (Me no Mae no Mukō e)" (LIFE 〜目の前の向こうへ〜), also topped the Oricon charts in August 2010.

In 2011, the group released three songs. "T.W.L/Yellow Pansy Street" was a double-A side song. "Yellow Pansy Street" was the theme for a Shin-chan movie. "T.W.L" was a theme for the animated show. Both songs quickly hit number one. Ohkura and Murakami even appeared in the movie.

Their next song, "My Home", was the theme for Nishikido's TV drama. The third song, "365 Nichi Kazoku", was the theme for Ohkura's drama. Both songs also reached number one.

In April 2011, Kanjani Eight was chosen to host the 34th annual 24 Hour Television. This is a big charity event in Japan. The members were chosen because they had experienced the 1995 Hanshin earthquake. Murakami said, "Now it's our turn to return the favor." Yokoyama added, "We want to tell the people of Touhoku that if we work together, we can overcome anything!" The theme for the event was "Strength".

In July 2011, all members of Kanjani Eight appeared in the 24 Hour Television drama special. This was a first for the event. The drama aired on August 20, 2011.

In August 2011, Kanjani Eight's TV show, Kanjani no Shiwake Eight, became an hour-long show during prime time. This was a big step for the group. Shibutani said, "Having a golden time program is a major landmark. I'm glad to have this dream realized."

Also, the group announced a tour of four baseball domes to support their fifth album, Fight. This was their first time performing at Sapporo Dome and Fukuoka Yahoo! Japan Dome. They added a show at Nagoya Dome for Christmas Eve. This made Kanjani Eight the fourth Johnny & Associates group to perform at five major domes.

On October 7, 2011, Nishikido left NEWS. He wanted to focus only on Kanjani Eight. He had been in both groups for eight years. The busy schedules were too much.

Their fifth album, Fight, was released on November 17, 2011. It reached number one on the Oricon charts. It sold over 253,000 copies. The album was later certified platinum.

8th Anniversary and Beyond: 2012–Present

On January 1, 2012, Kanjani Eight announced their 8th anniversary celebration. The number 8 is very important to the group. This celebration was a big milestone. The concert also brought back the Eight Rangers, with the group appearing in their superhero suits.

To start the anniversary, Ryo Nishikido starred in a drama called Papa wa Idol. Kanjani Eight members also appeared in the drama. The show tried to mix real life with fiction. The cast even performed a real wedding on live TV.

In early March, a movie based on their popular skit, Eight Ranger, was announced. The movie was released on July 28, 2012.

The first anniversary song, Ai Deshita, was released in June 2012. It was the theme song for the Papadoru drama. The group performed the song live in the final episode. Ai Deshita became a number one hit. It was their seventh song in a row to reach number one.

The second anniversary song, "ER", was released in July 2012. It was the theme song for the Eight Rangers movie. This song was released under the name "Eight Rangers". It also reached number one. It became the group's second highest-selling song ever.

The entrance to the Hasai Bokura mo Hacchai, Hacchake Matsuri at Intex Osaka on August 11, 2012

In June, a special fan event was announced. On August 8, 2012, Kanjani Eight performed a free concert at Kyocera Dome Osaka. This was for fans who won a lottery. They also held a paid fan event called Hasai Bokura mo Hacchai, Hacchake Matsuri (8sai). This festival had many activities for fans. The name "Hasai" is a fun play on words meaning "Eight Festival" or "Eight Years".

On August 6, their third anniversary song, "Aoppana", was announced. It was the theme song for the drama Boys on the Run, starring Maruyama Ryuhei. The song was released on September 9, 2012. It included childhood photos of the members. "Aoppana" also hit number one.

In early September, Kanjani Eight's first collection album was announced. It was called 8EST: Eight x Eighter = Eightest!. It included live performances and behind-the-scenes videos. The album reached number one on the Oricon charts.

The sign board for the Osaka dome extension at Kyocera Dome Osaka on December 31, 2012

During the 8sai festival, Kanjani Eight announced their 2012 concert tour. It was called Kanjani Eight Live Tour 8EST: Minna no omoi wa doudai? Bokura no omoi wa mugendai!. It had 35 shows in ten cities. The tour started with their first stadium performance in Tokyo. They added more dome shows in Tokyo and Osaka. The tour was expected to have 880,000 attendees. One show in Osaka was canceled due to a typhoon. The group released a statement saying they were sorry but safety was most important.

The tour continued with arena and dome shows. They performed their most popular songs. This year, Kanjani Eight performed for the first time at the NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen, a famous New Year's Eve music show. The group was one of the top-selling artists in Japan in 2012 and 2013.

Infinity Records: 2014

After their 10th anniversary celebrations in 2014, Kanjani Eight announced their own record label. It was called Infinity Records. The members chose the name themselves. This new label is part of J-storm. With their own label, the members have more control over their music. They are responsible for everything from songs to concert planning. This allows them to show their unique style more deeply. Kanjani Eight was the first boy group from Johnny & Associates to launch their own independent record label.

The group was the third highest-selling artist in Japan in 2014.

Changes in the Group: 2018

On April 14, 2018, Kanjani Eight announced that their main singer, Subaru Shibutani, would leave the group. He wanted to study music abroad. His activities with the group ended on December 31, 2018. In September 2019, Ryo Nishikido also announced he was leaving the group and the agency.

New Album: 2021

On November 17, 2021, Kanjani Eight released their 10th album, 8beat. This was their first new album in four and a half years. The group also announced a live tour called "Kanijani's Relive 8beat". This tour was their first concert with an audience since February 2020. Their previous tour was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Members

• You Yokoyama (横山 裕, Yokoyama Yū, born Yokoyama Kimitaka (横山 侯隆), May 9, 1981) – plays percussion and sings supporting vocals
• Shingo Murakami (村上 信五, Murakami Shingo, born January 26, 1982) – plays keyboards and sings supporting vocals, also raps
• Ryuhei Maruyama (丸山 隆平, Maruyama Ryūhei, born November 26, 1983) – plays bass and sings harmony vocals
• Shota Yasuda (安田 章大, Yasuda Shōta, born September 11, 1984) – plays lead guitar and sings lead vocals
• Tadayoshi Okura (大倉 忠義, Ōkura Tadayoshi, born May 16, 1985) – plays drums and sings lead vocals

Former members

• Hiroki Uchi (内 博貴, Uchi Hiroki, born September 10, 1986) – vocals
• Subaru Shibutani (渋谷 すばる, Shibutani Subaru, born September 22, 1981) – lead singer and rhythm guitarist
• Ryo Nishikido (錦戸 亮, Nishikido Ryō, born November 3, 1984) – plays second guitar and sings lead vocals

Sub-units of Kanjani Eight

Kanjani Eight members have created smaller groups called sub-units. They do this for fun or for special concert performances. Some of these units have even released songs on albums.

• SubaruBand – This is a rock band. It includes Shibutani (vocals), Maruyama (bass), Yasuda (guitar), and Ohkura (drums). They first performed in 2002. Yasuda writes the music, and Shibutani writes the lyrics.
• SanKyōDai – This is an acoustic band. Its main members are Yuu (Yokoyama), Chipa (Yasuda), and Baru (Shibutani). Maruyama and Ohkura sometimes help. They first appeared in 2003. They have released songs like "Purin" (Pudding) and "Amechan" (Candy). Yuu writes the lyrics, and Chipa composes the songs.
• YamaDa – This is a comedy duo. Maruyama plays the funny character, and Yasuda plays the straight man.

There are other smaller sub-units too, like OhYamaDa and SanBaka.

Kanjani Sentai Eightranger

This is a popular superhero skit that the group performs. It's like a superhero team with each member having a different color. They even made movies about the Eight Rangers!

Canjani Eight

Canjani Eight (キャンジャニ∞（エイト）, Kyanjani Eito, stylized as Canjani∞) is a special sub-unit of Kanjani Eight. In this group, the members dress up as women. They perform like a female idol group. They first appeared in May 2015 for a Candy Crush Soda Saga commercial. Their first song was "Candy My Love". This song was included in Kanjani Eight's single "Maemuki Scream!". Canjani Eight also performs in Kanjani Eight's live concerts. In 2022, they released a new song called "Nai wa~ Falling Love (ないわぁ〜フォーリンラブ). This song was written by Yasushi Akimoto, who produces many famous female idol groups.

Discography

Concerts and Stage Shows

Filmography

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See also

In Spanish: Kanjani Eight para niños