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It’s usually better to begin a piece by getting straight to the point, isn't it? So, here goes: I am a music and film journalist in my early 30s, and I am currently obsessed with J-pop boy bands.
And no, I did not see this obsession coming at all. I unexpectedly fell into this rabbit hole, and I have loved every second of it so far.
So, how did I get here?
If I had to pinpoint a reason, it would have to be the relentless rainy weather in January. One awfully humid day left me lethargic and stuck at home with absolutely nothing to do.
I first tried watching the Korean drama Can This Love Be Translated?, hoping for a fuzzy dose of romance. Midway through, though, I gave up. Watching Kim Seon-ho and Go Youn-jung travel the globe under sunny skies felt painfully unrelatable for my gloomy, jaded soul at the time.
Then I noticed another recently premiered program on Netflix: COUNTDOWN CONCERT 2025-2026 STARTO to MOVE. A brief glance at the show's description said it was a live music concert featuring a number of J-pop boy bands.
I’m somewhat familiar with the Japanese music scene, but not deeply. I adore Japanese rock bands like Novelbright and L'Arc-en-Ciel, I even interviewed the latter’s vocalist, Hyde, last year, as well as soloists like Gen Hoshino. But that's about it. The only J-pop boy bands I knew were Arashi and V6, and only by name. I had never taken a deep dive into their discography.
So, as I was not in the mood for a feel-good romance, I pressed play on COUNTDOWN CONCERT 2025-2026 STARTO to MOVE, which is apparently an annual New Year’s Eve extravaganza by Starto Entertainment. Even if I didn’t end up loving it, I figured it would be nice to have a little taste of New Year's euphoria.
Five minutes in, my curiosity was more than piqued: "Wow, I have no idea who these artists are, but judging by this packed stadium, they must be very popular."
Ten minutes later: "Do their costumes have to be so sparkly?"
Fifteen minutes after that: "Wait… their singing and dancing are actually really good."
By the time the concert ended, I was sold: "Alright, I need to see more of them—immediately!"
Down the rabbit hole
The next couple of weeks were, oddly and delightfully, a whirlwind. I haven’t been this obsessed since I was a kid in the early 2000s, discovering the Final Fantasy video games.
The Japanese docu-series RIDE ON TIME, also on Netflix, gave me deeper insights into the boy bands featured in STARTO to MOVE. My curiosity then led me to other J-pop concerts on different streaming platforms, such as to HEROes 〜TOBE 1st Super Live〜 SPECIAL EDITION on Prime Video.
At one point, I stayed tuned to literally nothing else but these sparkly guys.
And there are many of them.
Each J-pop boy band, as I’ve discovered, has a distinct charm and style. SixTones' music is fiery with a dash of masculine coolness. WEST. infuses joy and comfy humor in their artistry. BE:FIRST boasts remarkable sonic versatility. The discography of Number_i is both edgy and experimental.
Contrary to the Western hemisphere, boy bands in Japan are far from being monolithic.
Out of all of them, my personal favorite is Naniwa Danshi. Which is both odd and delightful.
Logically speaking, this seven-member piece should not align with my musical taste. Compared to the other J-pop boy bands, Naniwa Danshi is much more clean-cut and classic. Definitely too wholesome for my typically ferocious playlist. (I'm the type of guy who listens to .Feast's Sectumsempra for stress release.)
And yet, Naniwa Danshi's honeyed tunes like "Diamond Smile" and "Special Kiss" never fail to lift my rain-induced grumpiness into light-as-feather elation, particularly after a miserably drenched commute home. And their vlog games and challenges are hilarious!
Why them? Why now?
Perhaps a discerning psychiatrist could analyze why, instead of BTS or The 1975, it’s J-pop boy bands that have me in a chokehold right now. Maybe this obsession is merely a seasonal affective disorder. Maybe it’s escapism.
I, however, have my own hypothesis.
As gaudy as these J-pop boy bands might seem at first glance, I couldn't help but admire the pride they pour into their craft. The more live performances I watch, the more I’m struck by their sheer aliveness—their all-or-nothing work ethic, their go-big-or-go-home commitment. Those are qualities I can learn from, and not ones I get to witness every day.
The Prime Video docu-series Naniwa Danshi's Journey 1100 Days Till Debut, in particular, revealed that underneath Naniwa Danshi's sweetness lies a steely determination that I don’t think I would have the strength to muster. None of these artists became an overnight sensation, and every sparkle they present to their adoring fans is backed by meticulous labor.
It’s inspiring to see artists who are not afraid to fully show up and show out. Sometimes, I feel Indonesian artists can be a little too sheepish in their craft.
At this stage of my life, I’m genuinely happy to see that I am still capable of enjoying and getting obsessed with something new. People say that our ear for music freezes as we get older. Well, I am a fully-fledged adult, and my ears have just expanded into an entirely new world.
My next mission: find someone my age with whom I can giddily gab about SixTones' latest single.
