Travis Japan on Music, Acting, Touring, and More

INTERVIEW

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INTERVIEW ✦

Tokyo-based J-Pop sensation Travis Japan is once again prepared to captivate the global music scene with their highly anticipated second studio album, VIIsual, scheduled for release on December 4, 2024, via Universal Music Japan and Capitol Records. The initial album announcement, made during an Instagram Live session at the end of September, has already generated significant buzz among fans and music enthusiasts alike — with the “VII” in the title symbolizing the synergy of these seven individuals, whose combined talents create an extraordinary musical experience.

To expand on that message. the album itself features 13 tracks, including fresh hits like “T.G.I. Friday Night,” released in March 2024, and “Sweetest Tune,” the theme song for the TV Asahi drama Tokyo Tower, starring member Genta Matsuda. More recently, fans have also been able to enjoy the group’s high-energy track “Fly Higher,” which serves as the opening theme for the anime Tasuketsu (Fate of the Majority), streaming on Crunchyroll in the U.S. and Netflix globally starting in October. Adding to the excitement, Travis Japan’s Noel Kawashima dually makes his voice-acting debut in the anime, voicing the character Kai Kasai.

Conversely, another highlight of the upcoming album is the ballad “Staying with you,” set to appear in the upcoming film Yano-kun no Futsuu no Hibi, starring member Kaito Nakamura, slated for a November 15th premiere.

Now, as they prepare for the U.S. leg of their first-ever, sold-out world tour, Travis Japan World Tour 2024: Road to A, the powerhouse group is breaking down their recognizable sound, the new album, competitive talent program experiences, and much more.

Congratulations on your upcoming album VIIsual! Can you tell us about the inspiration behind the album’s title and concept?

Kaito Nakamura (Umi): The concept of this album is that while we are often appreciated for our dancing and singing, we wanted people to pay attention to our visual elements as well, hence the title VIIsual. It is an album that not only shows off our external appearance as a group, but also our individual skills and interests, and we even produced songs by ourselves this time. One more thing of note, but VIIsual is spelled with the Roman numeral for “7,” to once again emphasize the collective effort of this album.

The album intends to capture the essence of your unique chemistry and seven distinct personalities. How do you blend your individual talents into one cohesive musical vision?

Kaito Miyachika (Chaka): When the seven of us work together on a song based on one member's idea, Travis Japan's overall color expands. In the same way, no matter what we do, any challenge we undertake will become part of Travis Japan's identity, along with the fans for whom it resonates. For this album, I think we are able to showcase the ideas that originated from the thoughts and ideas of each member, so I think that Travis Japan can wear our colors no matter what we try, and I think that our identity comes from our willingness to take on any challenge.

One of the tracks, “Fly Higher,” is the opening theme for the anime Tasuketsu, and Noel Kawashima voices a key character. What was the experience like and how do people enjoy this song with anime?

Noel Kawashima (Noel): I am very happy and honored that Travis Japan has been chosen to represent Japan’s culture by handling the opening theme for Tasuketsu: Fate of the Majority, and even more so that I’ve personally been cast in the show as a voice actor. This is the first time in my life that I have experienced voice acting, and I hope that I can play the role so naturally that it does not feel like I am still inexperienced. Our song “Fly Higher” is a track that everyone can sing along and express your feelings to. I would be very happy if viewers could listen to the song and in doing so synch with the feelings of the various characters in the show.

Genta Matsuda is also starring in the TV Asahi drama Tokyo Tower, which features “Sweetest Tune.” What would you say makes that track the perfect choice for the series?

Genta Matsuda (Genta): “Sweetest Tune” fits the drama of Tokyo Tower really well in that it has a mature worldview, and in a good way, a sense of the passing of time and a little bit of sensual excitement and ‘spice’ without being too overt, so it is a track that works well in many different performance situations. I am very happy that everyone in Travis Japan was able to sing together for my TV drama appearance.

“Staying With You” is featured in the film Yano-kun no Futsuu no Hibi, starring Kaito Nakamura. How does the song fit in the emotions and themes of the movie?

Umi: The song is used in full in one scene of the movie specifically because of the strength in the rap part of the song and how well it’s linked to said scene. I am really grateful that we were able to have such a wonderful song picked for this kind of partnership.

When it comes to your recent singles “Crazy Crazy” and the aforementioned “Fly Higher,” how would you characterize these tracks ‒ and how do they compare to one another?

Kaito Matsukura (Machu): From the first time we heard the demo, I thought that “Crazy Crazy” was the kind of song Travis Japan had never done before. Actually, we always try to aim for something new with each single, so that feeling in and of itself is not that unique, but this one is particularly special. It's a really fast-paced song, with a bit of a nostalgia kick that makes it really interesting. As for “Fly Higher,” that’s the opening theme song for Noel's Tasuketsu: Fate of the Majority, as well as one we’ve never done before as I personally can’t recall us ever having a medium ballad with that kind of intensity. As Noel has said previously, I feel it is a song that can be sung by everyone. At any rate, both songs are wonderful, so please give them a listen!

You’re about to embark on the U.S. leg of your first-ever world tour. How are you preparing for these sold-out shows, and what can fans look forward to?

Ryuya Shimekake (Shime): We have prepared a performance set that can only be done overseas, and Shizu choreographed our dance cover tribute to Katy Perry’s “Firework” for the three U.S. cities. The song is really popular in the U.S. as well as in Japan, and our performance of it is something you can't see anywhere else, making it definitely something to look out for! We also make a lot of eye contact with the audience when we are performing, and we are really enjoying ourselves, so I hope we can share that enjoyable space with everyone.

Finally, your journey from World of Dance to Americaʼs Got Talent has been very inspiring. How has this international exposure influenced your music and performances?

Shizuya Yoshizawa (Shizu): We have experienced and felt the love from so many different people, performers, and cultures in this world, as well as in our home country of Japan, and feel that Travis Japan's experience has helped to deepen and broaden the worldview of our performances. It has made Travis Japan even more genre-less and inspired us to challenge various new kinds of music. I hope through our continued success, we can also be an influence to others.