[LIVE REPORT] Travis Japan – A Successful Concert in LA, Their Second Home

Travis Japan has made another dream come true in Hollywood, a place they once only imagined.

In 2022, Travis Japan studied abroad in Los Angeles, achieving remarkable milestones such as reaching the semifinals of America’s Got Talent, securing 9th place in the World of Dance Championship Series, and making their global debut with Capitol Records. Surpassing their own expectations, they proudly held their first solo concert in Los Angeles.

Kicking off their Travis Japan World Tour 2024: Road to A in Taipei in September, they toured Hong Kong, Bangkok, and major cities in the U.S., including Seattle, Los Angeles, and New York. They wrapped up their first world tour with a concert in New York on October 16.

We were honored to attend the Los Angeles concert at the El Rey Theatre on October 14.

Travis Japan took the stage dressed in suits and bow ties, kicking off the concert with “LEVEL UP.” Kaito Nakamura‘s enthusiastic call, “Just dance together!” set the tone, and the unique sound and dance moves inspired by video games instantly energized the crowd.

The excitement continued with their debut song, “JUST DANCE!“, whose music video was filmed at Venice Beach, Los Angeles. This upbeat track carries a powerful message that it doesn’t matter where you come from or who you are – everyone should dance together!

Travis Japan – ‘JUST DANCE!’ Music Video

They maintained the momentum with “My Dreamy Hollywood,” the English version of “Yume no Hollywood.” This original track holds special significance for Travis Japan as it was their first original song before their debut and has been beloved by fans for years. During their study abroad, they performed the English version on NBC’s America’s Got Talent, earning a standing ovation from both the judges and the audience.

In this performance, they showcased impressive tap dancing and dazzling stick performances. A highlight came when Noel Kawashima sang rearranged lyrics to “Our Dreamy Hollywood,” replacing “My” with “Our” to emphasize that their Hollywood dream includes not only the group but also their fans.

During the MC, the members hyped up the crowd in English, and the audience got excited for Travis Japan’s long-awaited English self-introductions. When Kaito Matsukura playfully introduced himself, “I’m Machu, like Machu Picchu!”, everyone joined in shouting his name! Having studied abroad in Los Angeles, their English MC skills have become effortless.

They also showcased a special dance medley performed during the finals of the World of Dance Championship Series, where they ranked 9th globally. The performance incorporated elements of Japanese culture, featuring fox masks and fans, all set to a remix of their own songs. This highlighted the group’s impressive dance skills, unity, expressiveness, and idol spirit.

In the moody track “Till The Dawn,” the members removed their bow ties and buttons, instantly transforming into a more mature and sophisticated look with stand mics. They demonstrated an incredible ability to convey such different atmospheres and expressions, even in the same outfits. Ryuya Shimekake, in particular, surprised the audience with a sexy side, different from his usual cute look.

They tossed off their jackets and jumped into the catchy party anthem “T.G.I. Friday Night,” followed by their latest single, “Sweetest Tune,” featured in the drama Tokyo Tower starring Genta Matsuda. The seductive dance during the chorus completely thrilled the audience.

Travis Japan (w/English Subtitles!) ‘Sweetest Tune’ Music Video

Recalling their time in Los Angeles, the members engaged with fans by mentioning AGT, World of Dance, the Nisei Week Parade, and Anime Expo, as well as their favorite local spots like The Grove and the Farmer’s Market. When Travis Japan said, “Tadaima (We’re back)!” the audience joyfully responded, “(Okaeri) Welcome back!”

Next, they treated the crowd to a dance cover of Katy Perry‘s “Firework” by a fellow artist on the Capitol Records label, with choreography by member Shizuya Yoshizawa.

In a medley that included “Moving Pieces” and “Candy Kiss,” the group donned red TJ caps and gloves for a fun, athletic look. After showcasing each member’s solo dance, they returned to the stage in white outfits to deliver the high-energy performance of “99 PERCENT.”

To close the set, they introduced their new song “Fly Higher,” the opening theme for the anime Tasuketsu, currently streaming on Crunchyroll. Members encouraged everyone to sing along, and the crowd happily joined in on the “Wow wow” part, creating a unified atmosphere.

In the encore, they returned wearing the Travis Japan World Tour T-shirts and closed with their upbeat number “Okie Dokie!”

However, even after the encore, the audience continued to chant “TJ”, leading to an unexpected double encore! Kaito Nakamura humorously said, “Why don’t you guys go home? We don’t have any more songs!” But they decided to respond to the audience’s enthusiasm and performed the Japanese original version of “My Dreamy Hollywood”, “Yume no Hollywood”!

This final song, a cornerstone for Travis Japan, brought the concert to an exciting close. As the title suggests, Travis Japan trained as a group and honed their skills during their studies in Los Angeles. In that moment, it became clear once again that dreams are not just meant to be envisioned; they are meant to be realized. We truly felt that empowering message from Travis Japan.

During the last MC, Noel Kawashima nostalgically started singing the acapella version of “My Dreamy Hollywood,” which they had performed on AGT, and the entire group joined in, creating an emotional moment. Kaito Miyachika then called for everyone to form a circle, and as they reached out their hands to start the last speech, Genta Matsuda was overwhelmed with emotion and shed tears.

They performed a total of 22 songs, including the encores. It’s clear that while their dance was perfectly synchronized and sharp, they’re also great singers. Their songs feature high-level tracks with soaring vocals and are mainly in English, yet each member’s powerful and beautiful voice resonated throughout the venue. This concert, filled with love and sentimentality, left a lasting impression in the place they had always dreamed of: Hollywood.

 

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SETLIST

1. LEVEL UP
2. JUST DANCE!
3. My Dreamy Hollywood
4. LEVEL UP – Sam Feldt Remix
5. World of Dance Medley
6. Unique Tigers
7. Till The Dawn
8. Still on a journey
9. T.G.I. Friday Night
10. Sweetest Tune
11. Firework
12. The Show
13. King of the Jungle
14. Moving Pieces〜Candy Kiss Medley
15. Solo Dance Performance
16. 99 PERCENT
17. Love Tag
18. Lock Lock
19. Fly Higher

ENCORE

1. DRIVIN’ ME CRAZY
2. Okie Dokie!

W ENCORE

1. Yume no Hollywood

[LIVE REPORT] Travis Japan – A Debut Anniversary Live at OC Japan Fair:
https://www.kawaiikakkoiisugoi.com/live-report-travis-japan-a-debut-anniversary-live-at-oc-japan-fair/54234/

[Interview] Travis Japan at OC Japan Fair 2023:
https://www.kawaiikakkoiisugoi.com/interview-travis-japan-at-oc-japan-fair-2023/54278/

[INTERVIEW] Travis Japan at Anime Expo 2022

TRAVIS JAPAN

Members:
Kaito “Chaka” Miyachika
Kaito “Umi” Nakamura
Ryuya “Shime” Shimekake
Noeru “Noel” Kawashima
Shizuya “Shizu” Yoshizawa
Genta “G” Matsuda
Kaito “Machu” Matsukura

Listen to Travis Japan on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/28IJpwoVi5R92MtHxkj2Lk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travis_japan_official/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@travisjapan_capitol
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TravisJapan_official
Community Profile on Genius.com: https://genius.com/artists/Travis-japan
X (Japanese only): https://twitter.com/TravisJapan_cr