Episode 69 (NICE): A.B.C-Z, the Greatest Idol Group of All Time Ever
My guest for this episode was Laura the baby A.B.C-Z fan from Canada and we discuss the most amazing idol group in the whole world: A.B.C-Z.
The quick and dirty is that the Junior unit A.B.C. (Acrobat Boys Club) was given baby teenager Hashimoto Ryosuke as a center member in 2008, forming A.B.C-Z. The group mainly performed in stage plays and on the Junior-focused show Shonen Club (少年倶楽部) until they had their “DVD Debut” in 2012 with “Za ABC Five Stars.” They had a tough start but have managed to carve out a nice career, even if never reaching the heights of mainstream popularity.
Some context for this episode is that A.B.C-Z is from the Japanese idol agency formerly known as Johnny’s & Associates and that Agency Formerly Known As has spent the last year or so in complete chaos as the company’s founder (and namesake) was posthumously canceled for sexual abuse of minors (think Jimmy Savile) and the word “Johnny” has now been erased from everything. In the midst of all of this has been a lot of churn and turnover, to include a former talent turned executive from the Agency Formerly Known As named Takizawa Hideaki starting his own idol company and poaching talents from the agency formerly known as to join his new company: ToBe. A.B.C-Z member Kawai Fumito—my favorite member—is leaving the group after the release of one final EP (5 Stars) at the end of the month but he said he is staying with the Agency Formerly Known As. Kawai also got himself an instagram now so you can follow all of his selfies over at @fumito.kawai_2310.
I’ve covered some of A.B.C-Z’s history on the podcast before—check out episode 7 of my history series, episode 23 on the double debut of SixTones and Snowman, and episode 31 features a lengthy digression on the Lynchian qualities of A.B.C-Z. But as long time listeners will know, I reference A.B.C-Z quite often on the podcast for no other reason than because I am a massive fan.
(Representing atThe Legend of Johnny’s stage play: L, my first trip to Japan in May 2014; R, my most recent trip to Japan in December 2022)
It’s a lot easier to access information and content now than it was when I was first starting off as a fan. If you’d like to check out a taste of the Agency Formerly Known As, like my guest, you might want to start with Ride On Time, which is available on Netflix.
A couple of corrections and clarifications—
The Beatles song I was thinking of was “Your Mother Should Know” not “Hello Goodbye.” (Teenage me would be so embarrassed!)
The character I couldn’t think of was Ed Grimley!
Check out my review of A.B.C-Z’s Tokusatsu drama Magical Boy Cherrys (魔法★男子チェリーズ).
The Takizawa-produced Junior unit was called Budokan (舞闘冠) and was built around the great and talented Yara Tomoyuki. You can catch a young Tsuka-chan in the linked video along with fellow members Yamamoto Ryota, Senga Kento (Kis-My-Ft2), and the one I couldn’t remember: Hamanaka Bunichi.
If you’d like to follow A.B.C-Z on TikTok, they are active as @abcz-zproject. Here is Tsuka-chan setting the “Summer上々” dance challenge!
If you’d like to see A.B.C-Z face off against their former selves in a dance battle, that would be “Rock With U”, which is a fantastic song and video.
A.B.C-Z’s Tsukada Ryoichi and Darvish Kenji of Golden Bomber both competed in SASUKE (Ultimate Ninja Warrior) and the two groups have always meshed well together, in my opinion anyways.
Here is the digest of songs from Disc 3 of the Best of A.B.C-Z if you’d like a teaser before listening:
The songs played are:
“Za ABC Five Stars” by A.B.C-Z (Official MV; this was their 2012 debut song.)
Letter from Hashimoto Ryosuke to Totsuka Shota taken from the November 11, 2007 episode of Shonen Club.
“Moonlight Walker” by A.B.C-Z (Official MV; this was their 2015 CD single debut)
“Cheat Time” by A.B.C-Z (Official MV; you will not regret watching this.)
“アツあつ！？ 夏フェス☆！！” by Tsukada Ryoichi (and please watch the entire 15 minute skit because it’s amazing.)
“未来は明るいかい” by Kawai Fumito (performing this one in full dorky uncle mode with pre-debut SnowMan on Shonen Club July 6, 2018)
“Dolphin” by Totsuka Shota (Totsuka did the lyrics for this song! He has written lyrics for numerous A.B.C-Z songs and inspired some guitar playing Juniors—to include Sexy Zone’s Sato Shori.)
“We’re Fighters” by Goseki Koichi (Goseki does choreography for both A.B.C-Z and other groups!)
“Crazy About You” by Hashimoto Ryosuke (Hasshi is a wonderful actor and you can find him on Viki!)
“女々しくて” performed by A.B.C-Z with Golden Bomber on episode 47 of UTAGE!
“幸あれ” by A.B.C-Z
“Smiling Again” by A.B.C-Z
“砂のグラス” by A.B.C-Z
“ボクラ 〜LOVE&PEACE〜” by A.B.C-Z (and 2019 remix from the Going With Zephyr tour)
“Fantastic Ride” by A.B.C-Z
“Lily-White” by A.B.C-Z (watch the nine member version with the great 4U!)
“Vanilla” by A.B.C-Z (Official MV; this is another old Junior era song that was re-recorded)
“君にHITOMEBORE” by Sexy Zone (Official MV)
“Bonnie Butterfly” by Kinki Kids (YouTube Live)
“Shower Gate” by A.B.C-Z (Official MV; bonus compilation of Dancing Goseki lines)
“Crazy Accel” by A.B.C-Z (this song is so old there was a four member version.)
“サポーターズ!” by A.B.C-Z
“灯” by A.B.C-Z (theme song to One More)
“Chance to Change” by A.B.C-Z
“Summer上々” by A.B.C-Z (on Shonen Club with bonus pre-debut SnowMan and the 2019 Summer Paradise SnowMan cover.)
“さぁ生きまくれ! wonderful life!” by A.B.C-Z
“Fly a Flag” by A.B.C-Z (the choreography is INTENSE)
“Future Light” by A.B.C-Z (Official MV; theme song to Last Hold)
“Mr. DAZZLING” by A.B.C-Z
“Graceful Runner” by A.B.C-Z (Official MV)