NEWS Biography

14May09

NEWS

(Above: Masuda Takahisa, Koyama Keiichiro and Shigeaki Kato)

(Below: Kusano Hironori, Uchi Hiroki, Yamashita Tomohisa, Ryo Nikishido and Tegoshi Yuya) 

 

What NEWS stand / stands for:

NEWS stands for North, East, West, and South. But also Never Ending Wonderful Story.

2003-2006

NEWS was formed in September 2003, consisting of  9 members which are Yamashita Tomohisa,
Ryo Nishikido, Koyama Keiichiro, Masuda Takahisa, Shigeaki Kato, Tegoshi Yuya, Takahiro Moriuchi, Uchi Hiroki and Kusano Hironori. And they released a promotional single, “NEWS Nippon” (NEWS ニッポン NEWS Japan), that was used as the theme song for the World Cup of Volleyball Championships. Right before they held their first concert  “NEWSnow Concert: NEWS’ Concert”  Takahiro Moriuchi left the group.

Later NEWS  released their debut single, “Kibou: Yell” . Then they released “Akaku Moyuru Taiyou” (紅く燃ゆる太陽 Red Hot Burning Sun) (2004) and Cherish (2005), which went up the charts and they also debuted their first album, Touch, which sold 164,016 copies in its first week.

But in July 2005,  Uchi  Hiroki was suspended indefinitely for underage drinking  from both NEWS and another group he was part of Kanjani 8. Even though with Uchi Hiroki suspended NEWS released their fourth single, “Teppen” , which also went to no.1 on the charts. But again in January 2006, Kusano Hironori was suspended indefinitely for the same charge as Uchi. But then NEWS released their fifth single / single’s, “Sayaendou/Hadashi no Cinderella Boy”  (March 2006), which was their fifth consecutive number-one single. On May 1, 2006, after NEWS finished their “NEWS Spring Tour”, the group went on hiatus.

 

2007-Present

On December 30, 2006, it was announced that NEWS would make their return at Johnny’s Concert Countdown 2006-2007 as a six-member group. To mark their return, NEWS went on tour and released their sixth single “Hoshi wo Mezashite” (星をめざして Aim For the Stars). “Hoshi wo Mezashite” became their sixth number-one single, which was used as the theme song for the Japanese version of Happy Feet. Which stars Tegoshi Yuya voicing Mumble in the Japanese version.

On November 7, NEWS  released their seventh single, “Weeeek” and their second album, Pacific. Then NEWS went on a nationwide tour, NEWS Concert Tour Pacific 2007-2008, from December 15, 2007 to January 27, 2008. Because tickets were in on very high demand, two more dates were added to the concert, and making NEWS perform in the Tokyo Dome for the first time.

In February 2008 NEWS released their eighth number-one single, “Taiyou no Namida” (太陽のナミダ Tears of the Sun), used as the theme song for the movie Kurosagi, starring Tomohisa Yamashita. Then NEWS released two more number-one singles, “Summer Time” (May 2008) and “Happy Birthday” (October 2008). The release of “Happy Birthday” made NEWS the second group, after the KinKi Kids, to have ten consecutive number-one singles since their debut.Then they debuted their third album Color (November, 2008).  And on April 29, 2009 NEWS  released their tenth single, “Koi no ABO” (恋の ABO Romance of ABO) and it straightly went to no. 1 on the chart’s.

 

 

 

Members:

Name: 山下智久

Name (romaji): Yamashita Tomohisa

Former name: 青木智久

/ Aoki Tomohisa

Nicknames: Yamapi, Tomo-chan, TomoPi, Pi, P-chan

Profession: Actor and singer

Birthdate: 1985-Apr-09

Birthplace: Chiba, Japan

Height: 175cm

Weight: 60kg

Star sign: Aries

Blood type: A

Family: Mother (Naomi) and younger sister (Rina)

Talent agency: Johnny’s Entertainment

 

Name: 錦戸亮

Name (romaji): Nishikido Ryo

Profession: Actor and singer

Birthdate: 1984-Nov-03

Birthplace: Osaka, Japan

Height: 170cm

Weight: 53kg

Star sign: Scorpio

Blood type: O

Family: Two elder brothers, one younger sister

Talent agency: Johnny’s Entertainment

 

Name: 小山慶一郎

Name (romaji): Koyama Keiichiro

Nicknames: Koyama, Keii or Kei-chan, Koyamacchi

Profession: Actor and singer

Birthdate: 1984-May-01

Birthplace: Tokyo, Japan

Height: 177cm

Weight: 59kg

Star sign: Taurus

Blood type: O

Family: Older sister

Talent agency: Johnny’s Entertainment

 

Name: 増田貴久

Name (romaji): Masuda Takahisa

Nicknames: Massu, Tee-chan

Profession: Actor and singer

Birthdate: 1986-Jul-04

Birthplace: Tokyo, Japan

Height: 170cm

Weight: 58kg

Star sign: Cancer

Blood type: O

Talent Agency: Johnny’s Entertainment

 

Name: 加藤成亮

Name (romaji): Kato Shigeaki

Nicknames: Shige, Geshi, Kato-kun, Shigeko

Profession: Singer and actor

Birthdate: 1987-Jul-11

Birthplace: Osaka, Japan

Height: 175cm

Weight: 62kg

Star sign: Cancer

Blood type: A

Talent agency: Johnny’s Entertainment

 

Name: 手越祐也

Name (romaji): Tegoshi Yuya

Nickname(s): Tego, Tegocha, Tesshi, Tegorin, Tegonyan, Goshi

Profession: Actor and singer

Birthdate: 1987-Nov-11

Birthplace: Kanagawa, Japan

Height: 170cm

Weight: 52kg

Star sign: Scorpio

Blood type: B

Talent Agency: Johnny’s Entertainment

 

Former Members

 

Name: 内博貴

Name (romaji): Uchi Hiroki

Profession: Actor and singer

Birthdate: 1986-Sep-10

Birthplace: Osaka, Japan

Height: 175cm

Weight: 52kg

Star sign: Virgo

Blood type: AB

Talent agency: Johnny’s Entertainment

 

Name: 草野博紀

Name (romaji): Kusano Hironori

Nicknames: Notti or Kusano-kun

Profession: Actor and singer

Birthdate: 1988-Feb-15

Birthplace: Kanagawa, Japan

Height: 170cm

Weight: 56kg

Star sign: Aquarius

Blood type: B

Talent agency: Johnny’s Entertainment

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