With their high-energy performances, polished choreography, and growing presence in Japan’s music scene, KID PHENOMENON is quickly establishing themselves as one of J-Pop’s best. Since their debut, the seven-member act has continued to build momentum with an infectious blend of pop, dance, and youthful charisma that has earned them a dedicated fanbase at home and abroad.
Ahead, KID PHENOMENON opens up about their latest music, life as a group, the creative process behind their performances, and what they hope fans take away from this exciting new chapter.
Arambulo Live (AL): The title KIDS00’s represents not only your generation but also the endless possibilities ahead. If each member could send one message to your future selves 10 years from now, what message would that be?
TSUBASA: If I could send a message to myself 10 years from now, it would be: “Never forget where you started.” I want to remember that everything I am is built on my roots and the experiences that shaped me. I hope I’ll keep expanding what I’m capable of while staying true to the music and beliefs we believe in, and continue sharing them with the world.
KOHAKU: I’d tell my future self to keep pursuing the things I truly love and to keep building on everything I’ve learned along the way. I hope those experiences become my greatest strengths and the foundation for everything I do in the future. Most importantly, I want to stay true to who I am and keep moving forward as my authentic self.
KENSUKE: My message would simply be: “Just enjoy it!” I believe that, as an artist, the most important thing is to genuinely enjoy creating and performing music. Don’t overthink it, just have fun.
SHUNNOSUKE: I’d tell myself: “Stay true to what you believe in.” As an artist, it’s important to never lose sight of what I want to express and what I want to communicate to our fans. I hope I’ll always hold on to that.
SOMA: I’d tell myself to stay true to who I am and keep chasing the things that excite me. Even if my environment changes, I believe the best energy comes from expressing myself while genuinely enjoying what I do. That’s the kind of energy I want to keep sharing with others.
KOTA: I’d tell myself to never stop learning. I think artists should always stay curious and hungry to grow. By continuing to learn and challenge myself, I hope I’ll be able to bring even more meaningful entertainment to people.
RUI: My message would be: “Don’t run away.” You never know what life will bring, and there will always be difficult moments. But if you run away from challenges, your growth stops. I want my future self to keep facing everything head-on and never stop growing.
AL: “BLUE” stands out because all seven members contributed to writing it. What was it like opening up creatively as a team, and did you learn anything new about one another during that process?
KENSUKE: Writing “BLUE” together was a really valuable experience for us. We had previously worked on the lyrics for “Ameagarino Diary (Diary after the rain)” but this time we were able to express ourselves even more through our own words. While Shokichi-san created the track, the lyrics came directly from the seven of us, which made the song feel especially personal.
One thing I realized during the process was just how passionate and driven everyone is. As we discussed the lyrics, we kept coming back to the idea of what only these seven members could express together. That reminded me how much each of us values the group and shares the same commitment to creating something meaningful. Rather than discovering completely new sides of each other, I think we reaffirmed how dedicated every member is and how seriously we all approach our music.
AL: From performing at SXSW to filming your upcoming music video in Los Angeles, your journey is becoming more global. Was there a moment recently where it truly hit you that your music was connecting with fans beyond Japan?
KOTA: The biggest moment for me was performing at SXSW and at the festival in Los Angeles. Playing overseas gave us so many new experiences and perspectives that we couldn’t have had in Japan. More than anything, it made me realize that music really can transcend language barriers.
We also see videos that fans post on social media after our performances, and we check them all the time. Watching audiences overseas sing along, cheer, and enjoy our shows makes us feel that our music is truly reaching people around the world. That gives us so much energy and motivates us to keep going. We want to perform in even more countries and, true to our name, create a real “phenomenon” around the world.
AL: The name KID PHENOMENON is all about creating a “new phenomenon” in the world. Looking beyond awards or chart rankings, what kind of legacy do you hope people associate with KID PHENOMENON years from now?
TSUBASA: I don’t want people to think of us as a group that fits into just one genre.I hope KID PHENOMENON becomes a place where everyone feels accepted, and like they truly belong. Everything we create is rooted in respecting different people, perspectives, and ways of living. If someone can listen to our music and think, “This is where I belong,” that would mean the world to us. Even years from now, I hope people will look back and say that KID PHENOMENON was more than just a pop group—that we created music that stayed with people and left a lasting impact.
AL: If a brand-new listener could only hear one song from KIDS00’s to understand who KID PHENOMENON is today, which track would you choose and why?
RUI: I’d recommend “KIDS.” It’s the lead track on the album and the song that best represents the direction we’ve established with TOKYO NEO POP. The lyrics, the sound, and the overall atmosphere all capture what KID PHENOMENON is trying to express right now. I hope people will start with this song because I think it’s the best introduction to who we are as artists.
AL: Imagine KID PHENOMENON is creating a time capsule that won’t be opened until 2036. What is one item each member would insist on putting inside to represent the group in 2026?
SOMA: I’d put a physical copy of our album “KIDS 00’s” in the time capsule. We created this album at a time when we had started looking beyond Japan, including traveling to the U.S. to shoot the artwork and jacket photos. It represents our vision of TOKYO NEO POP and our determination to take our music to the world. When we open the time capsule 10 years from now, I hope it reminds us of the moment we decided to pursue our dreams on a global scale and encourages us to never forget where we started.
TSUBASA：I’d choose the whiteboard we used during rehearsals for our live tour—although it probably wouldn’t fit in the time capsule! (laughs) It’s covered with ideas, notes, and everything we discussed while building our very first solo live tour together. It represents all the hard work and teamwork that went into creating those performances. When we look back 10 years from now, I hope it reminds us of how hard we worked and everything we achieved together during the KIDS 00’s tour.
AL: Each song on KIDS00’s feels like a different chapter of your journey. Looking back at your debut until now, what do you think is the biggest way KID PHENOMENON has grown, not just as artists, but as individuals sharing the same dream?
SHUNNOSUKE: I think our biggest growth has been becoming completely united as seven members. Compared to when we debuted, we’re much more aligned in terms of where we want to go as a group and what we want to achieve together. Our goals have become much clearer. Through our experiences overseas, we’ve also become better at putting into words who we want to reach and what we want to express as KID PHENOMENON. Sharing that vision together has been one of the biggest changes for us.
AL: Your fans have supported you through every step of your journey. Is there a fan interaction or memorable moment that reminded you why you wanted to become artists in the first place?
KOHAKU: It’s hard to choose just one specific moment because I feel that way every time we perform live. One experience that really stands out was our first fan meeting tour, D7SCOVER, last year. Seeing fans genuinely enjoy our performances and even become emotional after hearing the messages in our songs was incredibly moving.
Whenever I feel that our music has truly reached people and that everyone in the venue has become one through the live performance, I’m reminded that choosing this path as an artist was absolutely worth it.
SUPERLATIVES – WHO GETS THE AWARD?
- Member that starts a dance battle anywhere Award: KENSUKE
- KOHAKU: Even when we were in the U.S., the moment KENSUKE heard music, he’d start dancing by himself. Before we knew it, he was dancing with locals!! If there’s music playing, he could probably start a dance battle with anyone.
- Perfectionist Award: KENSUKE
- KOHAKU: KENSUKE wants every single detail of a performance to have a purpose and never leaves anything vague. When he shares an idea, he isn’t satisfied unless he can explain it from start to finish. In the best way possible, he’s incredibly thorough.
- Mood Maker / Energy Booster Award: KOHAKU & RUI
- KENSUKE: They’re always playfully bickering, and somehow it ends up getting everyone talking and laughing. Their back-and-forth is a big part of the group’s energy.
- Unexpected Comedian Award: KOTA
- TSUBASA: KOTA seems cool and reserved at first, but once he gets going, he’s absolutely hilarious.
- “Main Character Energy” Award: EVERYONE
- We honestly couldn’t choose—every member has main-character energy!!
- Choreo Memory Champion Award: RUI
- KENSUKE: Even during a challenge segment on a TV show, where we had only about two or three minutes to learn the choreography, Rui nailed it effortlessly.
- Snack King / Energy Break Champion Award: KOTA
- TSUBASA: Even right after finishing a meal, KOTA’s already looking for something else to eat. Whether it’s coffee or snacks, he’s always eating something.
- Most Likely to Go Viral Without Trying Award: SOMA & TSUBASA
- SHUNNOSUKE: They both have that kind of effortless charm that naturally captures people’s attention!
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Thank you, KID PHENOMENON for chatting with us!