Travis Japan: The Essence of an Idol, Proven as a Showman on the 's Travelers Tour

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Travis Japan's live tour "Travis Japan Concert Tour 2026 's travelers" has begun. This tour, featuring their third album 's travelers released in November last year, will run until the end of May, with 30 performances scheduled in eight cities. This article reports on the first day of the performance held on January 4th at Yokohama Arena in Kanagawa Prefecture, and looks back on it. Please note that if you wish to avoid spoilers about the stage production and songs, please be cautious.

The venue was filled with an atmosphere of anticipation for an unknown performance. On the stage, there was a dazzling set that gave the impression of a science fiction movie. When the show began, an announcement similar to that of a theme park played, leading into the opening video. The cute exchange between the AI "Travelly" installed in the time machine and the robot "TJ-07" responsible for assisting the pilot further heightened the expectations. The audience members in the seats were asked for the code word to activate the time machine, and upon hearing the chorus of "Agree!" from the audience, the time machine took off. Then, the screen opened, and a strawberry-shaped time machine carrying seven people appeared above the stage. The astonishing opening left the audience in awe, enveloped in cries of surprise and joy.

The opening starts with "GRAVITATE." With striking outfits such as silver jackets and sci-fi style fashion glasses, powerful vocals and harmonies, and grand sound, the exciting atmosphere builds up. The time machine moves across the sky above the arena and lands on the center stage, creating a spectacular opening. After landing on the circular center stage, they take off their jackets and appear in silver suits to perform "Disco Baby." They transform the venue into a dance floor, and throughout the performance, they circulate around the outer edge of the stage and the runway, raising the excitement from every corner of the hall with call-and-response interactions and beautifully synchronized dances.

In the next block, the theme "50's BROADWAY" was set, and the members reappeared in black suits. "Welcome To Our Show Tonight" left a deep impression with each member's expressive vocals, graceful steps, and dazzling stage presence — highlighting Travis Japan's characteristics and the individual presence of each of the seven members. It was filled with brilliance, as the seven continued to stand on the dream stage. When the introduction began, a scream-like cheer arose for "Till The Dawn," where they captivated the audience with romantic vocal performances using glowing stand microphones. In "Swing My Way," they performed a tap dance version, wearing hats and tapping lightly, adding new charm to the song. The perfectly synchronized classic dance that is beloved across generations is one of Travis Japan's major attractions.

In unit songs, they take a different approach, showcasing their idol-like charm. The song "Happiness and Thank You" by Kazuya Yoshizawa and Genta Matsuda highlights each of their voices and expressive abilities, delivering a perfect harmony with auto-tune, revealing a new charm. From the way the two sing, carefully crafting each word, one can feel their solid strength as vocalists. Following that, Kaito Miyane, Kai Nakamura, and Kai Matsura performed "Positive Kite," incorporating comical expressions in colorful costumes against a game-style video background, running and dancing with all their might to turn the audience into smiling faces. It was a stage that demonstrated the essence of an idol, which energizes the viewers. The song "Precious," which cleverly entertains even the audience in the farthest seats using selfie cameras, and "Say I Do," whose balanced performance of colorful costumes and perfectly synchronized dance moves is pleasant to watch, continued the diverse setlist. The Eurobeat song "O-Shan-Tee" was a much-anticipated track that sparked cheers. With an upbeat beat that's impossible not to get excited about, and choreography that united the audience in the crowd, the first block ended amidst the highest level of enthusiasm.

In the MC corner, seven relaxed talks took place. After splitting into two groups for costume changes, Matsukura appeared holding a red acoustic guitar. He introduced an acoustic version of "Okie Dokie," which he performed during last year's world tour. "Everyone really likes this song," they all said, but with Matsukura's warm guitar, the beloved classic took on a new flavor. It felt like a gentle moment that embodied the happy atmosphere of Travis Japan.

"Forever Blue," which has a stage design resembling old movie film, features beautiful contemporary dance choreographed by Kawashima. The romantic and graceful movements are captivating. Following this is "Maybe," whose stage design using chairs is fantastical. In the unit song "Nee, Kisu Shite" (Hey, Kiss Me) by Shugo Nagayama and Kawashima Huiru, they used black lace ribbons to blindfold their eyes and skillfully employed sheer veils to create a sexy and mysterious world, igniting the audience's enthusiasm.

In the intermission footage, there was also a scene where the audience became one, shining their light sticks. It draws fans into the world view aligned with the concept, making them part of the story, while perfectly hitting the exciting moments, allowing time to pass comfortably. Then, the concert moves toward its conclusion.

The final block's theme "XX's FUTURE" was engraved on the screen with a laser, leading into "My Bestie." The intricate movements of the rotating circular stage, the delicate dancing of seven members, and the stage effects where laser lights entwined with them made Travis Japan appear as a single living being. Following this, "Backup Plan" featured stylish visuals synchronized with powerful bass steps, while "Be Your Shadow" showcased high artistic value through hologram-like effects and delicate dancing, continuing with advanced dance numbers.

Following "Go Dummy," which raised the temperature of the venue with its intense sound and dance, "Diamonds" featured smoke, gunpowder, video projections, and various gimmicks, creating a sensation as if the seven members were playing beats that resonated in the hearts of the audience. Then, the highly anticipated song "Otaranakya Sun" further elevated the atmosphere of the venue. Amidst lively and enjoyable sounds and catchy choreography that made the audience erupt, the performance concluded with many highlights, including Kawashima's aerial acrobatics.

The final song of the main performance, "Teenage Dream," began with a call from the stage: "Let's sing at the top of our voices!" Riding the strawberry-shaped time machine that reappeared on the center stage, they sang while moving to the main stage. The upbeat and positive message typical of Travis Japan, repeating lines such as "Smile!" "Take a step forward!" and "Enjoy yourself!" filled the venue with smiles, concluding the performance.

At the encore, a rotating photo corner was set up, and on this day, "Disco Baby" was performed. Furthermore, they went onto the stage with popular singles such as "Would You Like One?" and entertained fans by performing close to the audience. With smiles spreading throughout the venue, a wave of excitement arose, and the live event ended safely.

The system where different members serve as producers each year requires them to continuously express their individuality and "things they want to try," while also striving for further growth and evolution as a group of seven. They have kept meeting such expectations, with the quality of their dance and vocal performances constantly improving, and their creative stages filled with meticulous attention to detail, which were artistic and full of star power. At the same time, their performance also shone with a growing sense of pride as entertainers, highlighting the essence of an idol that brings happiness to the audience. Whether in the center stage, the rotating circular stage in the middle of the venue, the surrounding walkways, or even the stands on the side, fans can feel close to them no matter where they are. Such thoughtful arrangements contribute to the unique sense of happiness found in Travis Japan's live performances, which seem not only to remain but also to grow every year. The tour will continue for about six months, and it is exciting to wonder what changes Travis Japan will show once this journey comes to an end.

■ Matsuda Motoko "Don't catch a cold, sleep a lot, eat a lot!"

A press conference was held before the live event. First, leader Miyako said, "We are very happy to have all seven of us together for the opening. Thanks to the rehearsal period, we have a confident live performance, and we are looking forward to being the first to present it to everyone!"

This concert, like the album "'s travelers," was produced by Matsukura. "Since "'s travelers" is a conceptual album, the live performance will be full of its worldview. We want to offer a "new sensation entertainment" where you feel as if you're on an attraction in a theme park," Matsukura confidently said, and the members supported him by saying things like "You're aiming for the headline!" immediately creating a warm and cheerful atmosphere. Regarding the stage production, he explained, "It's been inspired by various forms of entertainment. The strawberry-shaped time machine becomes the theme of the album, and the concept is that we, Travis Japan, express various genres of music in our own way. You can enjoy it visually, and also experience Travis Japan's performance." The name of the strawberry-shaped time machine is "'s travelers falcon1028," where "1028" refers to our debut date, October 28th.

Moreover, Kawashima, who was on hiatus last year, expressed his happiness saying, "I watched this press conference on TV last year, and I was happy to see everyone working hard, but I still felt lonely. It's really a joy to be able to stand on the stage at Yokohama Arena with seven members. We've decided to create something amazing together as seven people, so please look forward to it." Also, Nana Misato said, "When there are seven of us, it's completely different and the fun is doubled. The feeling during rehearsals is also different. It's way more enjoyable with seven people," reiterating the joy of being able to perform on stage together.

When asked what kind of year they want 2026 to be, Matsuda brightly said, "Because I can meet the fans and have live performances... I just want to have fun, not catch a cold, sleep a lot, eat a lot, spend more time with the fans, and sleep a lot!" Meanwhile, Nakamura added, "As a group, we also want to deliver our music to many people, and most importantly, I hope this becomes a year where more people get to know Travis Japan. I also want to sleep a lot while taking care of my health!" showcasing a well-coordinated partnership with Matsuda's comments.

Kawashima said, "I want this year to be one where I look for a lot of 'TJ' from Travis Japan. I hope it's a very (T) smooth (J) year." "Also, I want 'Nice TJ' to win the award for the most popular phrase! There are people who do the TJ pose when they greet me. At those times, I respond with 'Nice TJ!'" Meanwhile, Nakamura interjected, "It's really serious," and "It would be embarrassing if it became popular. So... please use it a lot." Finally, he suddenly agreed with Kawashima, causing laughter. Miyane said, "Last year, we had many opportunities to have discussions, or to share everyone's feelings as members, so I think we've finally been able to prepare ourselves to make our debut in 2026, the Year of the Horse. We'll surprise all of you as a dark horse of this era!"

Yoshizawa said, "I want to increase the opportunities to meet everyone as Travis Japan. I'd like to participate in festivals and appear on TV to raise our recognition, so that people can say, 'Travis Japan is a group of talented dancers and singers.' As an individual, I aim to become the king of variety shows, so I want to appear on many variety programs." Nanami said, "I want Travis Japan to take the top in various genres and charts. I want our name to be listed in CD sales and Billboard Japan (charts). Although there are many groups that can sing and dance now, I want to perform in a way that people think Travis Japan is the best among idols." When asked, "What about personally?" he smiled and said, "It's for the visuals." Matsura specifically said, "I want Travis Japan to appear on 'THE FIRST TAKE.' Although we use our dancing as our strength, we are polishing our singing skills, so I want to show that we can also compete in singing."

In April, the 2nd CD single "Kage ni mo Hiyoko ni mo" will be released. It is an insert song for the drama "Zenbu, Anata no Tame Dakedo" (TV Asahi), but Nanago said, "Since the drama's content is a suspense, the song's theme is 'front and back,' and it's a very mysterious and cool song."

In this concert, each member was in charge of choreography. Matsukura, who arranged the setlist, said, "I selected members who could bring out the best in the songs, and had each member create a dance for one song." He then demonstrated his choreography for "Precious" and "Otodaranakya Sun," saying, "For 'Otodaranakya Sun,' which is a catchy song, I made a catchy choreography." The members supported him with clapping and cheers. Nana Misato took charge of "Be Your Shadow," saying, "It's a bit challenging. I focused on capturing the subtle sounds and creating a dance that emphasizes silhouettes." Yoshioka, who choreographed "Backup Plan," said, "I tried to make it look cool through formations and silhouettes, so I hope everyone enjoys it." Mikiya Miyako, who was in charge of "Diamonds," said, "The choreography has a diamond-like feel... I asked everyone to express diamonds, and in the end, everyone just shines!" Takahiro Kawashima, who choreographed "Forever Blue," said, "I incorporated contemporary and jazz elements, which are my strengths, and also included some sign language in the choreography. I hope everyone can feel the warm, vast blue sea as if they were immersed in it." Nakamura, who choreographed "O-Shan-Tee," said, "The music has a sound that's typical of our company, and I came up with a choreography that can be done together with the audience. I really hope you enjoy it at the concert." As for "My Bestie," which was choreographed by Matsuda, he explained, "I tried to include feelings of friendship and emotion, as well as the atmosphere of the lyrics. Since this performance has a detailed mechanism, I wanted to create a choreography that reflects TJ's style while considering all these elements."

When asked for a message to the fans, Miyami said with a smile, "I want to somehow reach those who cannot come see the tour. I would like to enjoy the stage with confidence, holding onto hope for the future. Please continue to support us! And everyone, I love you all in 2026 as well!" The press conference ended with a sense of good teamwork, openness, and a bright atmosphere throughout.

(Author: Hideo Kano)

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