Japanese pop group Kanjani8 was founded in 2002 by Johnny's Entertainment, a
male idol talent agency, and began life as an eight-member unit comprising You
Yokoyama, Subaru Shibutani, Shingo Murakami, Ryo Nishikido, Toru Maruyama,
Tadayoshi Okura, Shibutani Subaru, and Shota Yasuda. In 2003, Kanjani8 members
Ryo Nishikido and Hiroki Uchi left the group to become part of NEWS. Kanjani8,
who hail from the Kansai region of Japan, mix traditional enka with an array of
contemporary styles. They achieved national fame in 2004 with their debut single
“Naniwa Iroha Bushi,” which cracked ...