2003 – 2004: Formation and debutNewS was formed on September 2003 and consisted of nine members from different Johnny's Jr. groups. The name 'NewS' was derived from the four global directions North, East, West and South[1] and Tomohisa Yamashita was chosen as the leader of the group. On November 7, 2003, their first single was released, NewS Nippon. It was a limited release, available only at 7-Eleven stores (corresponding to the release date of Nov 7) as the 2003 Volleyball Championship's official song.
A month later in December, member Takahiro Moriuchi left Johnny's Entertainment, thus resulting in an eight member group.
May 12, 2004, NEWS released their official debut single, Kibou ~Yell~. Changing the usual styling of their name from 'NewS' to 'NEWS'[2], the single was ranked #1 on the Oricon Charts. The success of this single lead to the release of another single, Akaku Moyuru Taiyou, just three months later.
2005 – 2006: Rise to popularity and scandalsFollowing their success in 2004, 2005 proved to be a fruitful year as NEWS released another two singles and their first album, touch.
However, just when NEWS seemed to be one of the most popular groups in Japan, on July 16, 2005, member Hiroki Uchi got himself involved in a case of underaged drinking and was suspended by his agency[2][3], leaving a seven member NEWS.
On January 31, 2006, Hironori Kusano of the group was accused of another incident of underaged drinking and became the second NEWS member to be suspended.
May 2006: NEWS on hiatusReleasing their 6th single on 15 March 2006, it was announced that NEWS was to be put on hiatus due to the temporary suspension of two of their members. NEWS held a 'NEWS Spring Tour 2006' before stopping their activities officially on 1 May 2006.
Members who were not related to the scandals were allowed to carry on with their solo activities, but no group activities would be carried on during this period until further notice.
December 2006 – 2007 The return of NEWS
NEWS' return was announced on December 30, 2006, but as a 6 member group. Hiroki Uchi and Hironori Kusano also return but in the demoted position of "trainees". On January 1, 2007, NEWS made their first ever performance after their return in the Johnny's Concert Countdown 2007.
March 21, 2007, NEWS's first single after their hiatus, Hoshi wo Mezashite, ranked #1 on the Oricon charts and became their second highest single after Kibou ~Yell~.
Their single was followed by a two-month concert tour around the nation. A NEWS DVD, Never Ending Wonderful Story, was released on 8 August 2007 featuring the highlights of the tour. A two-day NEWS concert in Taipei was proposed on the 6 October and the 7 October[4]. Unfortunately an unexpected typhoon striking the Taiwanese capital city on the concert's first day resulted in a postponement of the first concert event. Instead, two concerts were held on the second day[5].
NEWS simultaneously released their 7th single and 2nd album on November 7; both releases reached the top of the Oricon charts, with their single "weeeek" selling 263,000 copies and their album "pacific" selling 196,000 copies.
This was the 10th time in Oricon history in which an artist reached #1 on both the single and the album charts, with the last occurrence achieved by KAT-TUN in April 2006. Other artists whom had accomplished such include SMAP, KinKi Kids, Masaharu Fukuyama, Ayumi Hamasaki, WANDS, as well as Seiko Matsuda. Those two releases also extended NEWS' streak of chart-toppers — thus far, all seven of their singles and both of their albums had became #1 on the chart rankings.
Members Active members
Tomohisa Yamashita (山下 智久, Yamashita Tomohisa?)
Born: April 9, 1985
Usually referred to as: Yamapi, Yamashita-kun, Pi-chan
Ryo Nishikido (錦戸 亮, Nishikido Ryō?)
Born: November 3, 1984
Usually referred to as: Ryo, Ryo-chan, Ryo-tan, Nishikido-kun, or Dokkun
Keiichiro Koyama (小山 慶一郎, Koyama Keiichirō?)
Born: May 1, 1984
Usually referred to as: Koyama, Kei-chan, Koyama-kun
Takahisa Masuda (増田 貴久, Masuda Takahisa?)
Born: July 4, 1986
Usually referred to as: Massu, Bu-chan, Masuda-kun
Shigeaki Kato (加藤 成亮, Katō Shigeaki?)
Born: July 11, 1987
Usually referred to as: Shigeaki, Shige, Kato-kun, Geshi
Yuya Tegoshi (手越 祐也, Tegoshi Yuya?)
Born: November 11, 1987
Usually referred to as: Tegoshi, Tego-rin, Tesshi, Tego-nyan, Tegoshi-kun
TraineesHiroki Uchi (内 博貴, Uchi Hiroki?)
Born: September 10, 1986
Usually referred to as: Hiro, Uchi or Uchi-kun, or some random name by best friend, Ryo
Hironori Kusano (草野 博紀, Kusano Hironori?)
Born: February 15, 1988
Usually referred to as: Kusano, Notti or Kusano-kun, Hiro
While there is no indication at present that they will be rejoining NEWS, Uchi and Kusano will be performing in the 2007 Shonentai Playzone.[3][8]
Former membersTakahiro Moriuchi (森内 貴寛, Moriuchi Takahiro?)
Born: April 17, 1988
Discography AlbumAlbum # Album information Copies sold Used name Cover
1st touch
Released: April 27, 2005
Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #1
RIAJ Certification: Platinum
271,745 NEWS
2nd pacific
Released: November 7, 2007
Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #1
RIAJ Certification: n/a
222,072 NEWS
SinglesAll singles except for NEWS Nippon,which was sold in 7-11 stores,therefore not being included on the Oricon charts,reached number 1 on the Oricon charts, being one of the three groups in Johnny's Entertainment that have achieved this. The others are the KinKi Kids and KAT-TUN.
Single # Single information Copies sold Used name Cover
1st NEWS Nippon (NEWSニッポン)
Released: November 7, 2003
Promotional Single
Only sold in 7/11 Stores
Limited Edition: 500,000 copies
Unknown NewS
2nd Kibou~Yell~ (希望～Yell～)
Official Debut
Released: May 12, 2004
Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #1
RIAJ Certification: 2x platinum
400,000 NEWS
3rd Akaku Moyuru Taiyou (紅く燃ゆる太陽)
Released: August 11, 2004
Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #1
RIAJ Certification: Platinum
250,000 NEWS
4th Cherish (チェリッシュ)
Released: March 16, 2005
Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #1
RIAJ Certification: Platinum
261,584 NEWS
5th Teppen
Released: July 13, 2005
Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #1
RIAJ Certification: Platinum
245,209 NEWS
6th Sayaendou|Sayaendou / Hadashi no Cinderella Boy (サヤエンドウ/裸足のシンデレラボーイ)
Released: March 15, 2006
Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #1
RIAJ Certification: Platinum
222,848 NEWS
7th Hoshi wo Mezashite (星をめざして)
Released: March 21, 2007
Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #1
RIAJ Certification: Platinum
310,505 NEWS
8th weeeek
Released: November 7, 2007
Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #1
RIAJ Certification: Platinum
327,261 NEWS
All official singles have reached the number 1 position on the Oricon charts
DVDsNEWS Nippon 0304 April 7, 2004
Summary of Johnny's World (with KAT-TUN and Ya-Ya-Yah) April 19, 2005
Touch Limited Edition DVD April 27, 2005
Hoshi wo Mezashite (星をめざして) Limited Edition DVD March 21, 2007
Never Ending Wonderful Story DVD August 8, 2007
Other activities
Note: Works such as dramas, movies and shows featuring the minority of NEWS is not listed here. Instead, please refer to the members' respective pages.
ConcertsNEWSnowConcert Winter Concert 2004/2005
NEWS East-to-West Spring Concert 2005
Summary 2004 (with Junior groups including KAT-TUN and Ya-Ya-yah)
Summary 2005 (with Junior group Ya-ya-yah)
A Happy "NEWS" Year 2006 (January 1 – January 9, 2006)
NEWS Spring Tour 2006 (March 25 – April 30, 2006)
Spring Concert Tour 2007 (February 17 – April 15, 2007)
NEWS First Concert 2007 in Taipei (October 6 – October 7, 2007)[4]
NEWS Winter Concert Tour 2007
CommercialsTBC Aesthetic Salon (エステティックサロンTBC)
Russ-K
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December 18th 2007, 20:24
