D-Date
Japanese boy band formed from D-Boys for Watanabe Entertainment's 10th anniversary.
D-Date (stylized as D☆DATE) was a Japanese boy band formed as a sub-group of D-Boys, a male performance troupe under Watanabe Entertainment. Created to celebrate the agency's 10th anniversary, the group debuted on December 1, 2010, through Universal Music Japan. The band originally consisted of Kōji Seto, Hirofumi Araki, Yuichi Nakamura, and Shunji Igarashi, with Arata Horii joining as the fifth member after a public audition. Over time, Nakamura, Igarashi, and later Tomo Yanagishita left the group, leading to its inactivity as members returned to individual acting careers.
- field
- Japanese boy band
- nationality
- Japanese
- years_active
- 2010–2013 (inactive thereafter)
- label
- Universal Music Japan (2010–2012), Avex Entertainment (2012–2013)
- known_for
- Sub-group of D-Boys; debut single 'Ato 1 cm no Mirai'; anime theme 'Glory Days'
Lore & Background
D-Date was announced on March 20, 2010, at Watanabe Entertainment's 10th anniversary event as a five-member group. Four members were chosen from D-Boys: Kōji Seto, Hirofumi Araki, Yuichi Nakamura, and Shunji Igarashi. The fifth member was selected through auditions starting April 4, 2010, in ten cities across Japan, with about 30,000 applicants. On September 19, 2010, Arata Horii was announced as the final member during a live event attended by 500 fans. The group's name was revealed on September 5, 2010, on the variety show D-Boys Be Ambitious, which also documented their formation.
The group debuted on December 1, 2010, with the single 'Ato 1 cm no Mirai.' They released several singles, including 'Change My Life' (April 2011), 'Day By Day' (July 2011), 'Love Heaven' (January 2012), and 'Joker' (February 2012). Their first album, 1st Date, came out on April 25, 2012. In June 2012, Tomo Yanagishita joined the group. After Igarashi's retirement in November 2013, D-Date became inactive, with members focusing on acting. Yanagishita left the entertainment industry in September 2020.
Reader's Guide
D-Date represents a transitional moment in Japanese entertainment, where talent agencies leveraged existing performance troupes to create pop groups. As a sub-group of D-Boys, D-Date bridged acting and music, with members maintaining dual careers. Their formation through a public audition and variety show documentation reflected early 2010s trends in fan engagement. The group's discography, though limited to six singles and one album, included tie-ins with commercials and anime, notably 'Glory Days' for the anime Kingdom. Their inactivity after 2013 highlights the challenges of sustaining a group when members prioritize individual acting careers. D-Date's legacy lies in its role as a stepping-stone for its members and as an example of agency-driven idol projects in Japan.
Did You Know?
- The group's name 'D-Date' was revealed on the variety show D-Boys Be Ambitious on September 5, 2010.
- The fifth member, Arata Horii, was chosen from about 30,000 applicants through auditions in 10 cities.
- The music video for 'Day By Day' featured former professional boxer Yoko Gushiken as a disgruntled customer.
- The single 'Joker' was promoted with a 30-minute short film directed by Takashi Kubota, starring actress Aya Ōmasa.
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