Official interview released just before the opening of "BATTLE OF TOKYO ~ Jr.EXILE vs NEO EXILE ~"

■The world of FANTASTICS & Nakajima Sota, KID PHENOMENON’s husband Matsu Kensuke, and WOLF HOWL HARMONY’s HIROTO comment on their enthusiasm!

THE RAMPAGE, FANTASTICS, BALLISTIK BOYZ, PSYCHIC FEVER, LIL LEAGUE, KID PHENOMENON, THE JET BOY BANGERZ, and WOLF HOWL HARMONY will release the album “BATTLE OF TOKYO Jr.EXILE vs NEO EXILE” on August 7th, and will perform “BATTLE OF TOKYO ~Jr.EXILE vs NEO EXILE~” at Saitama Super Arena from August 10th.

This time, official interviews have been released in which FANTASTICS’ Sekai and Nakajima Sota, representing Jr.EXILE, KID PHENOMENON’s husband Matsu Kensuke, and WOLF HOWL HARMONY’s HIROTO speak about their enthusiasm for “BATTLE OF TOKYO ~Jr.EXILE vs NEO EXILE~”, representing NEO EXILE.

■Official Interview
Q. The annual event, “BATTLE OF TOKYO,” which can be said to be a summer tradition, will be held for a total of five days, with the Saitama Super Arena performances on August 10th, 11th, and 12th, and the Kyocera Dome performances on August 31st and September 1st. How are you planning the live performances for 2024?
world:Up until now, I’ve been creating live shows based on novels, but this time I’m creating from scratch. I started thinking with the representatives, staff, and writers of Jr.EXILE about how to get NEO EXILE into the world of “BATTLE OF TOKYO” and what kind of songs each group should perform with what kind of direction.
Q. This is the first time NEO EXILE will be participating in “BATTLE OF TOKYO”. How do you feel about participating?
Husband Kensuke Matsu:This is a live show on a scale that we’ve never done before, so I’ve been really excited since the rehearsal stage. I’m really looking forward to being on stage with my seniors. Since it’s a “vs.” I hope that KID PHENOMENON will be able to show off his mischievous side while also bringing out a sense of battle.
HIROTO:I’ve been a fan since the first “BATTLE OF TOKYO ~ENTER THE Jr.EXILE~” and have been able to go to see their live performances, so it feels like a dream to be able to participate here this time. WOLF HOWL HARMONY is usually a four-person group, so this is the first time we’ve had a large group, and the first time we’ve had a “vs” composition. In the process of creating songs with other groups, I learned for the first time that MVs and other things are shot like this.
Q. What kind of image did you have in mind for “BATTLE OF TOKYO” originally?
HIROTO:As a fan, I thought it was new when the first song they released (in 2019) featured groups battling.
Husband Kensuke Matsu:Since 2020, even though it was a live performance, it was based on a novel, and the live performance itself had a story, so it felt like watching a movie. Among them, there were many songs that showed the power that each group currently has, and the image of their spirit or aura was amazing and cool.
Q. With NEO EXILE now in the group, what is FANTASTICS’ position?
Sota Nakajima:Speaking of the very beginning, in 2019, we, FANTASTICS, had been on the stage of “BATTLE OF TOKYO” only a few months after our debut, so we were desperate to keep up with our seniors. As the years went by, junior groups were born, and now the younger generation, NEO EXILE, has four teams at once. Moreover, each of them has the ability, will, and power to hang on, which makes the battle of “BATTLE OF TOKYO” even stronger, and I’m simply looking forward to being able to show various colors.
Q. In terms of the battle feel this time, is it similar to the 2019 live performance?
Sota Nakajima:There were no collaborative songs in 2023, so it may indeed be reminiscent of the early days.
world:This time, you can enjoy various parts such as the Jr. vs NEO battle song, the Super Tokyo song, and the special battle, so I think that even those who have never been to a live show before can participate without hesitation. It should be a live show that will surprise the audience in a good way while still keeping them entertained.
Q. Each MV is very intense, but will we be able to see each group’s intense performances live as well?
world:While following the worldview of the MV, the number of people, the use of the stage, the lighting, and other aspects are perfect for a live performance. Each NEO EXILE group has its own color, and I think that works very well together.
Sota Nakajima:That’s right. For example, THE RAMPAGE and THE JET BOY BANGERZ have a strong sense of battle, but FANTASTICS and KID PHENOMENON are not so much of a battle, but rather they respect each other and improve each other, and I think they have a good chemistry between the two groups as they clash their strengths in a good way. In the end, they seem to be having fun despite the battle, so it feels like the two groups are creating a work together. I heard that the other groups shot their MVs in a battle-like atmosphere (laughs), but we shot them in a friendly atmosphere.HIROTO:In the MV, we clearly contrast black and white, yin and yang, and fully express the colors of PSYCHIC FEVER and WOLF HOWL HARMONY. WOLF HOWL HARMONY doesn’t do songs like “YIN YANG” very often, so we had a hard time recording it. This song is also a new challenge for us. There are some parts that are different from the MV in the live performance, so I hope you will look forward to that as well.
Q. Are there any songs or performances other than your own group that you are interested in?
Sota Nakajima:I thought BALLISTIK BOYZ and LIL LEAGUE were a great match. Their performances, including their looks and colors, matched perfectly. Both groups have a “we won’t lose” vibe, but they also have a different color from the other groups.
Husband Kensuke Matsu:Just listening to the song THE RAMPAGE vs THE JET BOY BANGERZ, I could tell they were going to do something crazy. THE JET BOY BANGERZ had a strong “let’s do it” feeling even among NEO EXILE since the match was decided, so I’m looking forward to seeing how they will battle the 16-member group THE RAMPAGE at the live show.
HIROTO:For me it’s probably FANTASTICS vs KID PHENOMENON, the song title is the longest I’ve ever seen.
Sota Nakajima:It’s long. The song introduction is nerve-wracking (laughs).
Husband Kensuke Matsu:It’s “TurquoiseSun & PinkPurpleMoon”, so they’re commonly known as “Takopin.”
HIROTO:It’s an abbreviation of “Takopin”! I really like the scene at the end of the MV where they enter the game world and have a dance battle. They have the same sense of fun, and it feels like they’re fighting and playing together, but the concept is different from our own battles, and I think it’s an interesting worldview. I’m curious to see what their live performance will be like.
world:In recent years, the songs have been based on characters, but this year, I think that not being bound by them is another charm. In the MV, “Icy Fire” had an interesting way of playing with the camera, and in the scene where the performers of “Goodest Baddest” were all good-looking, even though there were a lot of people, you could feel the atmosphere of the shooting site (laughs). They’re all so interesting, so I really hope you come and see them. The live performances are also completely different from before, so please look forward to them.
Q. Are there any highlights of the “BATTLE OF TOKYO” live show other than the battle?
HIROTO:Since we will be doing “24 WORLD” with only NEO EXILE, I think it will be a highlight for the four NEO generation groups. I want to show a “24 WORLD” that is different from Jr.EXILE.
Husband Kensuke Matsu:This time, we will be covering some EXILE songs in the medley, so that’s also a highlight. I used to dance as a kid dancer in the background for EXILE, so when we performed the songs as the main act, I really felt that I had joined EXILE TRIBE, and it was very moving. This live performance really made me feel like, “From now on, I’m going to liven up LDH as NEO EXILE.”
world:This time, you will be able to feel that it is different from previous events just by entering the venue. There are some parts where the distance is close, and the battle format will make each group look different from usual, so it is sure to be exciting. It is fun no matter how many times you watch it, so I hope you will go to both Tokyo and Osaka.

Event Information

“BATTLE OF TOKYO ~Jr. EXILE vs NEO EXILE~”
08/10 (Sat) – 08/12 (Mon, Holiday) Saitama Super Arena, Saitama ※1st ROUND
08/31 (Sat) – 09/01 (Sun) Kyocera Dome, Osaka ※2nd ROUND

Cast: THE RAMPAGE, FANTASTICS, BALLISTIK BOYZ, PSYCHIC FEVER, LIL LEAGUE, KID PHENOMENON, THE JET BOY BANGERZ, WOLF HOWL HARMONY