■ “We live in an age where you can be reasonably happy without trying hard, but as an entertainer, I don’t think you should be satisfied with that.” (Soya Igari)
The serial documentary “RIDE ON TIME” is available on Netflix every Tuesday. The latest episode, released on June 11th, featured HiHi Jets.
We’ll take a close look at them behind the scenes, focusing on their nationwide arena tour, “HiHi Jets Arena Tour 2023 BOOOOOST!!”
Formed in 2015, the five-member group HiHi Jets is a mass of individuality. Mizuki Inoue has a sweet singing voice, Ryo Hashimoto has a mischievous character, Ryuto Sakuma is also active as an actor, and Soya Ikari is known for his wild rap. Yuto Takahashi, the center, further livens up the live performance with his cheerful talk.
■ The sense of crisis that director Soya Igari values
In the summer of 2023, they will embark on their first solo arena tour. Rehearsals for the tour have begun in parallel with preparations for the East and West Dome concerts.
Igari will be directing the stage for this arena tour. “These days, even if you don’t understand something, you can easily look up the answer on your smartphone, and it’s a time when you can be happy without trying too hard, but as an entertainer, I don’t think you should be satisfied with that. I think the important thing is to have a thirst for it,” Igari said.
At the skating rink that holds so many memories for her, the place that inspired her to aspire to become an idol, she talks about the sense of crisis that she holds dear.
■Hard training with roller skates that weigh 6kg!
HiHi Jets’ trademark is their “roller skating” performance, where they dash around the stage. For nearly half of the show, they were wearing roller skates that weighed 6kg.
Even during rehearsals, Takahashi used up a lot of stamina, but he smiled and said, “I’m not trying to act tough or anything, it’s honestly not that hard!!”
Behind this lies an episode in which he overcame difficulties.
While his hard training continued, Inoue also participated in the filming of a drama at the same time. Regarding the suspense drama in which he played his first lead role, he said, “It was extremely rewarding. It was the first time in my life that I felt so unstable.”
We follow Inoue as he takes on a variety of jobs in order to broaden his range of expression.
■ The pressure of solo parts…but the reason he still pursues the entertainment industry
Meanwhile, Hashimoto visited the beach, saying, “On the first day of a live performance, I always come to this place on the first train. It’s so calming.”
As he attempts to perform a solo guitar performance at this concert, he frankly reveals his feelings, saying, “To be honest, I’m scared.”
Afterwards, while looking out at the sea, Hashimoto reveals his true feelings, saying, “This is for real,” and, “During the filming of my first lead role in a drama, the pressure was so intense that I cried at home 2.5 times. I’m such a weakling…” He speaks honestly about his feelings. He reveals the reason why he still wants to stand on the stage of the entertainment industry.
With the performance just a few days away and rehearsals reaching their climax, Sakuma was practicing the piano parts he would perform on stage.
Sakuma joined HiHi Jets in 2018 as the group’s fifth member.
Looking back on that time, he recalls, “Even from the outside, it was obvious that (the other four) were fighting every day and were extremely at odds. I’m a very sensitive person, so I’m very picky…” he says, looking back on the changes in the relationships between the group members.
■ “Whatever I do, my fans are everything”
Finally, the first day of the arena tour arrived.
Igari, the director, was checking the rehearsal footage right up until the start of the performance, while Sakuma silently did image training on the piano.
While moving, Inoue muttered, “I’m so nervous!”, while Takahashi felt elated to hear “sounds that we can’t hear in rehearsals.” And then, during the actual performance, the guitar solo that Hashimoto had been working on was…
“Whatever we do, our fans are everything” (Inoue) they believe, and so they give it their all on the tour. However, just before the final performance in Osaka, an “unexpected event” awaited them.
We follow the challenge of HiHi Jets, a group of five different personalities who use all of their experiences to forge ahead on the path to becoming “one of a kind.”
The “HiHi Jets Edition” teaser is currently available on the Storm FILM official YouTube channel.
(C)Storm Labels
Program Information
Netflix“RIDE ON TIME” Season 6
“HiHi Jets -Towards ONLY ONE-“
Release date: June 11th (Tuesday)
Episode 1: Push yourself
Episode 2 “Everything is for the fans”
Cast: HiHi Jets (Yuto Takahashi, Mizuki Inoue, Ryo Hashimoto, Soya Igari, Ryuto Sakuma)
Narration: Shunsuke Kazama
Storm FILM Official YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@Storm_FILM_Official
Junior Official X
https://twitter.com/jr_official_X
