Fantastics from Exile Tribe
Nine-member Japanese dance and vocal group under LDH.
Fantastics from Exile Tribe (stylized as FANTASTICS from EXILE TRIBE and originally called Fantastics) is a Japanese male dance and vocal group with nine members. It was formed and is managed by LDH, belongs to the Exile Tribe collective (which is connected to Exile), and releases music through Rhythm Zone, a label under Avex Group. The group made its major debut on December 5, 2018.
The group's origins date to December 29, 2016, when five performers from EXPG were chosen to form a new dance unit. On January 31, 2017, the group's name and lineup were announced on the TBS show "Weekly Exile": five performers from EXPG plus Sekai and Taiki as leaders. The five new performers were Natsuki Sawamoto, Leiya Seguchi, Natsuki Hori, Keito Kimura, and Shota Nakao. From February 13 to April 16, 2017, the group undertook a "Musha shugyō" training period. On May 15, a vocal audition (Vocal Battle Audition 5) was announced on "Weekly Exile" to recruit singers for the unit. On December 20, 2017, Yusei Yagi and Sota Nakajima were revealed as the two finalists who passed the audition on NTV's "Sukkiri".
On March 3, 2018, Shota Nakao announced he would pause his activities to receive treatment for stomach cancer. From April 14 to June 10, the group held a second training period called "Yume-sha shugyō FANTASTIC 9". On May 1, it was announced that Ballistik Boyz would serve as the opening act for events starting May 12. On May 4, the group appeared on Exile's digital single "Turn Back Time", which was dedicated to Shota and marked the group's first release; its music video included handwritten messages and get-well wishes from all Exile Tribe artists. On July 8, it was announced that Shota had died of gastric cancer on July 6. At Dance Earth Festival 2018 on July 14—the group's first stage after his death—the members declared that "FANTASTICS is 9 people." LDH later organized a memorial event for fans on August 25 and 26, where attendees brought letters, pictures, and art to share memories of Shota. On September 15, during Exile's "Exile Live Tour 2018-2019 'Star of Wish'", the group was officially announced as an Exile Tribe group, along with news of their major debut on December 5 with the single "Over Drive".
On April 3, 2019, they released their second single "Flying Fish". In June, LDH's multimedia
- formed
- December 29, 2016
Lore & Background
The group was initially formed on December 29, 2016, when five performers from EXPG were selected to form a new dance group. On January 31, 2017, the group's name and formation were announced on the TBS TV show 'Weekly Exile', consisting of five performers from EXPG and two Exile members, Sekai and Taiki, as leaders. The five new performers were Natsuki Sawamoto, Leiya Seguchi, Natsuki Hori, Keito Kimura, and Shota Nakao. A vocal battle audition was announced on May 15, 2017, and on December 20, 2017, Yusei Yagi and Sota Nakajima were announced as the two finalists who passed the audition.
In 2018, member Shota Nakao suspended activities due to stomach cancer and died on July 6, 2018. The group announced on July 14, 2018, that 'FANTASTICS is 9 people.' They were anno
Reader's Guide
Fantastics from Exile Tribe represents a key part of LDH's Exile Tribe collective, bridging the legacy of Exile with a new generation of performers. Their formation through a televised audition and the tragic loss of member Shota Nakao to gastric cancer shortly before their official debut shaped their early identity, with the group choosing to continue as nine members. Their music and live performances, including participation in the Battle of Tokyo project and their first national hall tour, established them as a significant act in Japanese pop and dance music. The group's ability to adapt during the COVID-19 pandemic through livestreamed concerts demonstrated resilience. Their ongoing releases and tours, such as the 'Fantastic Voyage' tour, have solidified their place within the Exile Tribe ecosystem, appealing to fans of dance-focused vocal groups.
Did You Know?
- Member Shota Nakao died of gastric cancer on July 6, 2018, shortly before the group's official debut.
- The group's first release was a feature on Exile's digital single 'Turn Back Time' on May 4, 2018, dedicated to Shota.
- Fantastics participated in the Gundam × Ken Okuyama Design × LDH Japan 'G40 Project', providing the theme song 'To The Sky'.
- Their second tour 'Fantastics Live Tour 2020 FNT' was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and replaced with livestreamed concerts on AbemaTV.
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