The Japanese entertainment scene was shaken on August 30 when popular idol group WEST. announced that members Fujii Ryusei and Kotaki Nozomu would be leaving the group. While both artists plan to continue their individual entertainment careers under the STARTO ENTERTAINMENT umbrella, the departure marks a major turning point for a group that has long prided itself on its unbreakable seven-member bond.
What Happened
According to official fan club announcements, Fujii explained that he began to feel a divergence between the group's collective direction and his personal artistic vision, leading to his difficult decision to step away.
Crucially, neither member is leaving their agency. However, the status of the remaining five members—Shigeoka Daiki, Kiriyama Akito, Nakama Junta, Kamiyama Tomohiro, and Hamada Takahiro—remains under internal discussion. While current operations continue under a five-member framework, management has yet to formally confirm the long-term future of the group's lineup under the WEST. banner.
The Significance of "Seven"
For fans, the number seven held immense symbolic weight. Formed initially with four members, the lineup expanded to seven after a direct appeal to the late Johnny Kitagawa, bringing in Fujii, Kamiyama, and Hamada.
Throughout their journey—including their major 10th-anniversary dome tour in 2024—the members frequently emphasized how vital the number seven was to their identity. Fujii himself spearheaded the 10th-anniversary tour's direction, featuring emotional retrospective interviews highlighting their unity as a seven-piece act.
Changing Priorities and Solo Ventures
Industry insiders note that the split follows a period where individual members increasingly began exploring independent creative projects outside traditional group parameters. Over the past few years, members have diversified their portfolios significantly:
- Kiriyama Akito launched his own lifestyle and apparel brand, "F BULL'S," complete with a physical cafe in Tokyo's Nakameguro district.
- Nakama Junta quietly introduced a French-inspired apparel line in 2026, utilizing his multi-cultural heritage to launch independent fashion items through online and select retail channels.
These evolving entrepreneurial pursuits and shifting personal trajectories highlight how individual members have begun carving out distinct identities outside the strict confines of group idol activities.
What's Next
As STARTO ENTERTAINMENT navigates negotiations regarding the remaining five members, attention now turns to how Fujii and Kotaki will establish their solo careers. For a fanbase mourning the end of an era, the immediate future of WEST. remains one of the industry's most closely watched developments.
