u/MontyHallProb

Rinne participated in the Men's 400m Survival Renchan, a series of 400 meter races against other athletic Japanese celebrities where the person who comes in last is eliminated, and Rinne won. He won 1 million yen as part of his victory, and is the first STARTO idol to win the Men's 400m Survival Renchan (and to think he accomplished this within a couple days of running a 5km race in the Akasaka all star thanksgiving mini-marathon). He was cheered on the track by fellow B&ZAI members Michiharu Inaba and Katsuki Motodaka . Congratulations Rinne!

for the tv program "土曜はナニする" (what shall we do on Saturday)
source: https://x.com/jr_official_X/status/2100932943644680526

Also, it's a  Hami-kuma Candy shirt

There is no news on whether the documentary is streamed just in Japan or worldwide, but on September 23, Disney+ will start streaming a documentary on the behind the scenes Koichi Domoto's stage play "Endless Shock". On September 30, they will allow streaming of three recordings of Endless Shock from imperial Theater
https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2479163/full/

• Endless SHOCK 2024 April/May Rival role: Shori Sato
• Endless SHOCK -Eternal- 2024 April/May Rival role: Shori Sato
• Endless SHOCK 2024 November Rival role: Tatsuya Ueda

you can watch a trailer of the documentary here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxK9IfCUIhE

The film also includes the cast members who played rival roles, including Shori Sato, Yuma Nakayama, and Tatsuya Ueda, ase well as the efforts of Yuta Fukuda, Yudai Tatsumi, Yuki Koshioka, and Yusuke Matsuzaki of 4U, as well as Takuto Teranishi and Yoshitaka Hara of timelesz.

It seems that Starto is increasingly using generative AI for artwork, whether it is the Travis Japan album art, or the Kamigata Expo logo, or as part of KEY TO LIT's concert. Personally, I think Starto using AI is a little hypocritical, since they told fans not to use generative AI for their idols.

While there is probably a legal argument that STARTO can block people using talents in generative AI, I feel like if STARTO is using AI, then it implies generative AI is just another artistic tool, similar to fans doing photorealistic drawings of their favorite idol. As long as the fan makes clear that the art is AI, it seems like STARTO wouldn't have a consistent critique, as Starto allows fanart now.

my view is Starto using AI sends the message that using AI is okay (again, I can see STARTO making a legal claim as forbidding AI let's them maximize money from selling photos/have their talents appearances in other media promotion). Anyone else have other thoughts on STARTO using AI for art as opposed to hiring artists?

(my views on AI art: I think most of the AI art we see online is trash, but that is mostly because the people who make it don't take the time to think good ideas or actually develop their ideas/fix the mistakes AI creates. I can see AI being a useful tool for artists doing things like movie CGI, but shouldn't replace those artists with AI) feel free to express any opinions respectfully!

It has been announced that both Nozomu Kotaki and Ryusei Fujii will leave WEST. at some future date to be announced later. Both will remain affiliated with Starto as individual talents. The remaining members of WEST. are currently in discussions on whether to continue activities. Further details can be read in the announcement.
https://starto.jp/s/p/news/detail/100714?ima=0127&artist=

it was announced at the 4U (ふぉ〜ゆ〜) concert at Nippon Budokan that 4U will have a CD release on 11/11/2026! The CD release will be under Teichiku Records, and if the CD release achieves

selling 50,000 copies
the music video for the single has had 1,000,000 views by year end

then 4U will have a second release and a full contract. Congratulations to 4U and all their fans, and best of luck on getting a second CD/full contract.

https://mdpr.jp/news/4828776

you can also see the solo shots here: https://tdp.tv-asahi.co.jp/hyakki2026/#cast

https://x.com/jr_official_X/status/2078101491072762172

https://topicool.jp/article/starto/junior/kiji-junior/article-71323

"best shot Jr" is a monthly Sports Nippon column that features Starto Juniors. This month is Noa's first time being featured, check it out!

With Richard joining Famimall, it got me thinking, would Starto ever do a joint Famimall concert? currently Famimall is Starto's fan club for idols/talents/actors that do not have their own fan club:

Koji Uchiumi, Atsuhiro Sato, Hiroki Uchi, Jun Hasegawa, Keito Okamoto, 4U [Yuki Koshioka, Yusuke Matsuzaki, Yuta Fukuda, Yudai Tatsumi], Shota Hayashi, Ryuta Muro, Sho Takada, Daichi Imae, Kota Matsumoto, Kensho Tomioka, Yuki Nozawa, Fujii Naoki, Keita Richard Kusama

I know 4U does their own concerts, including at Budokan in August this year, and Koji Uchiumi and Atsuhiro Sato formed "U&S" and did a tour. I guess I was wondering if they could do some sort of "joint concert" where there are perform starto songs: in different combinations, solos, 4U performs some of their group songs, etc. - kind of like a joint jr concert or a mini version of countdown.

I know that some of these people, like Keito Okamoto, are very focused on acting and left their groups to focus on being actors. I just miss that Fujii and Richard won't be dancing, and thought this might be a way for them and everyone else to do a concert on the stage.

"KAMIGATA EXPO PARK FES 2026" will be held on 10/31/2026 (Sat) and 11/1/2026 (Sun) at Osaka Expo Commemorative Park. the KAMIGATA BOYZ groups and the Kansai Juniors will be performing.

Performing artists
・SUPER EIGHT
・WEST.
・Naniwa Boys
・Ae! group
・Kansai Junior.

Oricon has comments from Ryuhei Maruyama, Nozomu Kotaki, Ryusei Onishi, Yoshinori Masakado, and Toa Shimasaki.

Edit: adding website link:https://2026.kamigataboyz.com/

A new junior group "Howzit" has been formed among the juniors. It includes the following five members

Nao Oriyama,
Takuya Nishimura,
Koki Kuroda,
Kosei Hiyama,
Wataru Vasayegh

This is group that had a previously announced to be holding "Junior Tour 2026" this summer now renamed to "Howzit 1st LIVE 2026 NICE TO ME YOU"

When Ae! group released the music video for their song PRIDE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9PQ_UXGZ2A) while playing instruments, it made me note that they have lost both bassists😭. I was wondering if Ae! group might do for a bassist, as most rock songs have a bass and a lot of their junior songs have bass. I remember reading that when TOKIO lost their bassist, they stopped their music because they were not able to find a way with touring to make it work. Did Ae! group use a session musician for their latest tour? If so, any reactions from fans on if it worked?

The play will run in November 2026

https://mdpr.jp/news/detail/4800234

The play also stars the Juniors Koki Kawasaki, Waku Motoki, Sota Uchimura, Hideki Ajima, Takumi Kitagawa, and Tatsuru Matsuo.

I wonder if this represents a return of Starto produced stage plays with predominantly Starto idol casts (in 2025 we only had ANDO, while in 2024 we had Dream Boys, Shock, Massara, ABC Big Venus)

The play will run in November 2026

https://mdpr.jp/news/detail/4800234

The play also stars the Juniors Koki Kawasaki, Waku Motoki, Sota Uchimura, Hideki Ajima, Takumi Kitagawa, and Ryu Matsuo.

https://x.com/jr_official_X/status/2066528770539098133
Yuri Oka and Ichita Inoue from AmBitious for "Dodesuka"