A.B.C-Z

A.B.C-Z (エー.ビー.シー-ズィー, ee.bii.shii.zii) is a five-member Japanese boy band under Johnny & Associates. The group's former name was A.B.C., which stands for Acrobat Boys Club. It was changed to A.B.C-Z after Ryosuke Hashimoto was moved to the group from J.J.Express in 2008. Due to the Japanese pronunciations of their name, the fans usually refer to them as "Ebi".

A.B.C.-Z
OriginTokyo, Japan
GenresPop
Years active2005 (2005)–present
LabelsPony Canyon
MembersRyosuke Hashimoto
Shota Totsuka
Fumito Kawai
Koichi Goseki
Ryoichi Tsukada
Websiteabcz.ponycanyon.co.jp

The group was a former Johnny's Jr. unit. They debuted February 1, 2012, with their DVD Za ABC ~5 Stars~.[1]

History

2001–2008: As A.B.C.

Members:

  • Koichi Goseki
  • Shota Totsuka
  • Ryoichi Tsukada
  • Fumito Kawai

In 2002 they became A.B.C. with Yoshikazu Toshin.

2008–2011: A.B.C-Z pre-debut

In the Summer of 2008, it was announced that Ryosuke Hashimoto, who was a member of J.J.Express would join A.B.C., thus the group name changed to A.B.C-Z, their name is an acronym for "Acrobatics Boys Club Z" the Z symbolizing the last member coming into the group and completing them like Z completes the alphabet. Right after that, they held a concert, along with Kis-My-Ft2.

In May 2010 they were allowed to hold their concert at Theater Crea in Tokyo. It was also the first time they produced their concert. They had their solo live from May 11 until 19th and then other units from Johnny's Jr. will take part in, and hold four different kinds of the show in total until May 31.

On July 23, 2011, during the PLAYZONE'11 musical, Fumito Kawai broke his left leg, causing him not to be able to appear for the rest of the show.[2] After PLAYZONE'11 A.B.C-Z was scheduled to be in the stage play Shonentachi Koushi Naki Rougoku. Johnny H. Kitagawa was at the opening of this show and revealed a new group of seven, ABC-xyZ, centered on the already existing four-member group A.B.C-Z. He also hinted that things could get going by 2012, but for that Kawai needs to get better first.

On November 6 they held their first one-man concert at Tokyo's Yoyogi National Stadium for 26,000 fans. They also announced that in February next year they will be hosting a play, titled “ABC-za Star Kouen”, at Nissay Theater in Tokyo. Johnny H. Kitagawa commented that they may debut the next year.

On December 9 A.B.C-Z held a press conference for their upcoming stage play “ABC-za Star Kouen”. They also announced that they will be debuting in 2012 with a DVD. This would make them the first Johny's to do so. They hope to release the DVD before the opening of their stage play on February 4. It is said that the DVD will be released under Johnny's Entertainment.[3] By the end of December the release date, February 1, 2012, was then made public, along with the content of the DVD.[4]

2012–2018: Debut and 5th anniversary

A.B.C-Z made their debut in 31st January at Shibuya AX which gathered 15.000 fans.[5] Their DVD debut got number 1 in Oricon weekly ranking.[6] In July, their variety show "ABChanZoo" starts broadcasting in TV Tokyo.

In June 2014, the first drama of A.B.C-Z members "Magical Boy Cherry's" starts broadcasting in TV Tokyo.

In September 2015, A.B.C-Z released their first single "Moonlight Walker" which got number 1 in Oricon weekly ranking.[7]

4 years after their debut, in July 2016 A.B.C-Z established their official Fan Club[8]

A.B.C-Z celebrated 5th anniversary of the group's debut in 2017 by releasing the single "Reboot!!!" and an album "5 Performer-z", followed by the "A.B.C-Z 5Stars 5Years Tour".

In 2018 A.B.C-Z celebrated their 10th year of the group formation and did a collaboration event with amusement park "Tokyo Joypolis", the event was called "A.B.C-Z 5stars CIRCUS in JOYPOLIS". The group also released a new single "JOYしたいキモチ" for this collaboration event.

2019

A.B.C-Z held their last concert of the Love Battle Tour in Yokohama Arena on January 8, they announced a new single "Black Sugar" which will be released on March 28. They also announced a new drama "Our Showtime" that will be airing in Nagoya TV on April, the theme song for the drama is A.B.C-Z song "Showtime" from the single "Black Sugar".[9]

The group released their 6th album on August 7 "Going With Zephyr", followed by the tour with the same title as their album. Their collaboration event with the amusement park "Tokyo Joypolis" continued for the second year in a row.

2023

On 22 September 2023, member Fumito Kawai announced he would leave the group to prepare himself to become a better MC. His plan is to continue in Johnny's his solo career. He will be leaving on 21 December.[10]

Members

Current members
  • Ryosuke Hashimoto - 橋本良亮 (born July 15, 1993 - red)
  • Fumito Kawai - 河合郁人 (born October 20, 1987 - violet) (until 1 December 2023)[11]
  • Shota Totsuka - 戸塚祥太 (born November 13, 1986 - pink)
  • Ryoichi Tsukada - 塚田僚一 (born December 10, 1986 - yellow)
  • Koichi Goseki - 五関晃一 (born June 17, 1985 - blue)

Discography

Studio albums
Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales
JPN
[12]		 JPN
Comb
[upper-alpha 1][13]
from ABC to Z
  • Released: March 12, 2014
  • Label: Pony Canyon
 4 —
A.B.Sea Market
  • Released: May 13, 2015
  • Label: Pony Canyon
 1 —
ABC STAR LINE
  • Released: July 20, 2016
  • Label: Pony Canyon
 3 —
5 Performer-Z
  • Released: June 21, 2017
  • Label: Pony Canyon
 2 —
VS 5
  • Released: May 23, 2018
  • Label: Pony Canyon
 4 —
Going with Zephyr
  • Released: August 7, 2019
  • Label: Pony Canyon
 2 2
CONTINUE?
  • Released: September 16, 2020
  • Label: Pony Canyon
 4 5
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Compilation albums
Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales
JPN
[12]		 JPN
Comb
[13]
BEST OF ABC-Z
  • Released: February 1, 2022
  • Label: Pony Canyon
 1 1

Singles
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
JPN
[22]		 JPN
Comb
[upper-alpha 2][23]
"Moonlight walker" 2015 1 — ABC STAR LINE
"Take a '5'Train" 2016 3 —
"Reboot!!!" 2017 1 — 5 Performer-Z
"Shuuden wo Koete ~ Christmas Night / Bounenkai! BOU! NEN! KAI!" (終電を超えて〜Christmas Night / 忘年会! BOU! NEN! KAI!) 2 — VS 5
"JOY Shitai Kimochi" (JOYしたいキモチ) 2018 1 — Going with Zephyr
"Black Sugar" 2019 3 3
"DAN DAN Dance!!" 2 3 CONTINUE?
"Cheat Time" (チートタイム) 2020 2 3
"Ganbare, Tomoyo!" (頑張れ、友よ!) 2 4 BEST OF ABC-Z
"Nothin’ but funky" 2021 2 4
"Natsu to Kimi no Uta" (夏と君のうた) 2 4
"Graceful Runner" 2022 2 4 Non-album singles
"#IMA" 2 4
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Video singles
Title Album details Peak chart positions
JPN
DVD
[24]
Za ABC〜5stars〜
  • Released: February 1, 2012
  • Label: Pony Canyon
 1
Zutto LOVE (ずっとLOVE)
  • Released: September 12, 2012
  • Label: Pony Canyon
 1
Twinkle Twinkle A.B.C-Z
  • Released: March 6, 2013
  • Label: Pony Canyon
 2
Walking on Clouds
  • Released: July 10, 2013
  • Label: Pony Canyon
 1
Never My Love
  • Released: November 20, 2013
  • Label: Pony Canyon
 2
Legend Story
  • Released: July 9, 2014
  • Label: Pony Canyon
 1
SPACE TRAVELERS
  • Released: January 7, 2015
  • Label: Pony Canyon
 1
Hana Kotoba (花言葉)
  • Released: March 16, 2016
  • Label: Pony Canyon
 2

Live videos
Title Album details Peak chart positions
JPN
DVD
[24]
ABC Za Hoshi (Star) Gekijou (ABC座 星(スター)劇場)
  • Released: July 4, 2012
  • Label: Pony Canyon
 1
Johnny's Dome Theater ~SUMMARY2012~ A.B.C-Z
  • Released: January 16, 2013
  • Label: Pony Canyon
 5
A.B.C-Z 2013 Twinkle×2 Star Tour
  • Released: October 16, 2013
  • Label: Pony Canyon
 5
ABC Za 2013 Johnny's Densetsu (The Digest) (ABC座2013 ジャニーズ伝説(The Digest))
  • Released: June 25, 2014
  • Label: Pony Canyon
 7
Summer Concert 2014 A.B.C-Z★"Legend"
  • Released: March 11, 2015
  • Label: Pony Canyon
 7
A.B.C-Z Early summer concert
  • Released: October 28, 2015
  • Label: Pony Canyon
 3
A.B.C-Z Star Line Travel Concert
  • Released: December 7, 2016
  • Label: Pony Canyon
 5
ABC Za 2016 Kabushikigaisha Ouenya!! ~OH&YEAH!!~ (ABC座2016 株式会社応援屋!! 〜OH&YEAH!!〜)
  • Released: March 15, 2017
  • Label: Pony Canyon
 6
A.B.C-Z 5Stars 5Years Tour
  • Released: February 7, 2018
  • Label: Pony Canyon
 2
ABC Za Johnny's Densetsu 2017 (ABC座 ジャニーズ伝説2017)
  • Released: August 28, 2018
  • Label: Pony Canyon
 6
A.B.C-Z 2018 Love Battle Tour
  • Released: January 30, 2019
  • Label: Pony Canyon
 3
A.B.C-Z Concert Tour 2019 Going with Zephyr
  • Released: December 25, 2019
  • Label: Pony Canyon
 10
A.B.C-Z 1st Christmas Concert 2020 CONTINUE?
  • Released: June 23, 2021
  • Label: Pony Canyon
 8
A.B.C-Z 2021 But FanKey Tour
  • Released: April 20, 2022
  • Label: Pony Canyon
 4
A.B.C-Z 10th Anniversary Tour 2022 ABCXYZ
  • Released: February 22, 2023
  • Label: Pony Canyon
 3

Group activities

Variety shows
  • Shounen Club 「ザ少年倶楽部」(2008–present)
  • J Journeys A.B.C-Z Working Holiday [J'J A.B.C-Z オーストラリア縦断 資金0円ワーホリの旅] (2013.04.01 - 06.17)
  • ABChanZoo 「えびチャンズ」(2013.07.21 - present)

Drama
  • Magical Boy Cherry's「魔法☆男子チェリーズ」(2014.06.21 - 09.21)

Radio
  • A.B.C-Z Go!Go!5 (FM NACK5) (2015.04 - present)
  • A.B.C-Z今夜はJ's倶楽部 (NHK) (2016.08 - present)[25]
  • ダイヤルA.B.C☆E (TBS Radio) (2016.09 - 2017.03)

Stage Play
  • Shinshun Takizawa Kakumei (2009.01)
  • Dream Boys (2009.09.04 - 10.25)
  • She Loves Me (2009.12.12 - 2010.01.31)
  • Shinsun Takizawa Kakumei (2010.01)
  • Takizawa Kabuki (2010.04 - 05)
  • PLAYZONE 2010 ~ROAD TO PLAYZONE~ (2010.07 - 08)
  • Shounentachi with Kis-My-Ft2 (2010.09)
  • Shinsun Takizawa Kakumei (2011.01)
  • PLAYZONE’11 SONG & DANC’N (2011.08)
  • Shounentachi (2011.09)
  • ABC座 星（スター）劇場 (2012.02)
  • Shounentachi (2012.09)
  • ABC座 2013 ジャニーズ伝説 (2013.10)
  • ABC座 2014 ジャニーズ伝説 (2014.05)
  • ABC座 2015 (2015.10)
  • ABC座 2016 株式会社 応援屋!!〜OH&YEAH!!〜 (2016.10)
  • ABC座 2017 ジャニーズ伝説 (2017.10)
  • ABC座 2018 ジャニーズ伝説 (2018.10)

[26]

Concerts
  • A.B.C-Z Kis-My-Ft2 First Concert (11-13 Oct, 8-9 Nov 2008)
  • Minna Crea ni Kite Kurie! (11–19 May 2010)
  • 年末ヤング東西歌合戦！ 東西Jr.選抜大集合2010！ A.B.C-Z＋ジャニーズJr.選抜　VS　中山優馬＋関西Jr.選抜 (26-27 Nov 2010)
  • Minna Crea ni Kite Kurie 2011 (29 March- 5 May, 13–18 May, 23–29 May 2011)
  • A.B.C-Z 2011　first Concert in YOYOGI (6 Nov 2011)
  • A.B.C.-Z. and Sexy Zone Johnny's Dome Theater ~SUMMARY~
  • A.B.C-Z 2013 Twinkle×2 Star Tour (23 Mar 2013 - 25 May 2013)
  • Summer Concert 2014 A.B.C-Z★"Legend" (2014)
  • A.B.C-Z Early summer concert (2015)
  • Sexy Zone A.B.C-Z Summer Paradise in TDC (2015)
  • A.B.C-Z Star Line Travel concert (2016)
  • A.B.C-Z 5Stars 5Years Tour (2017)
  • A.B.C-Z Love Battle Tour (2018-2019)

Photobook
  • [2017.04.25] Itsutsu Hoshi (五つ星)

Event
  • A.B.C-Z 5stars CIRCUS in JOYPOLIS (2018)
  • A.B.C-Z 5stars Festival in JOYPOLIS (2019)

Notes
  1. The Oricon Combined Albums Chart was established on December 24, 2018.
  2. The Oricon Combined Singles Chart was established on December 24, 2018.

References
  1. "ジャニーズA.b.c-Zデビュー！". hmv.co.jp. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  2. "A.B.C-Z's Kawai Fumito breaks his leg during stage performance". tokyohive. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
  3. "A.B.C-Z to debut next year with DVD", www.tokyohive.com
  4. "A.B.C-Z reveals details on their debut DVD", www.tokyohive.com
  5. "A.B.C-Z、デビュー記念イベントでファン1万5000人に"手売り"". ORICON NEWS. 5 November 2014. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  6. "【オリコン】A.B.C-Z、デビューDVDが総合首位 ～史上初の快挙". ORICON NEWS. 5 November 2014. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  7. "【オリコン】A.B.C-Z、初CDシングルが1位発進". ORICON NEWS. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  8. "A.B.C-ZとジャニーズWEST、なぜ今ファンクラブ発足？ 新規ファン急増前の体制づくりか". Real Sound｜リアルサウンド (in Japanese). 5 August 2016. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  9. "A.B.C-Z Official Site". A.B.C-Z Official Site (in Japanese). Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  10. "A.B.C-Zの河合郁人、脱退発表後初の『ゴゴスマ』出演で胸中 ジャニーズ事務所からの「退所は全く考えなかった」". Encount Press (in Japanese). 22 September 2023. Archived from the original on 22 September 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  11. "A.B.C-Zの河合郁人、『ゴゴスマ』生出演で脱退の心境語る 退所は考えず「逃げるように見えるのも嫌」". Oricon (in Japanese). 22 September 2023. Archived from the original on 22 September 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  12. "A.B.C-Zの作品 : アルバム" [Works by A.B.C-Z: Albums]. Oricon News (in Japanese). Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  13. "A.B.C.-Z on Oricon Combined Albums chart". Oricon News (in Japanese). Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  14. "2014年03月のCDアルバム月間ランキング（2014年03月度）" [March 2014 monthly CD album ranking]. Oricon. Archived from the original on April 14, 2014. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  15. "月間 CDアルバムランキング 2015年05月度" [Monthly CD album ranking May 2015]. Oricon. Archived from the original on June 10, 2015. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  16. "月間 CDアルバムランキング 2016年07月度" [Monthly CD album ranking July 2016]. Oricon. Archived from the original on August 17, 2016. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  17. "月間 CDアルバムランキング 2017年06月度" [Monthly CD album ranking June 2017]. Oricon. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  18. "月間 アルバムランキング 2018年05月度" [Monthly album ranking May 2018]. Oricon. Archived from the original on June 13, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  19. "月間 アルバムランキング 2019年08月度" [Monthly album ranking August 2019]. Oricon. Archived from the original on September 11, 2019. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  20. "月間 アルバムランキング 2020年09月度" [Monthly album ranking September 2020]. Oricon. Archived from the original on October 22, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  21. "月間 アルバムランキング 2022年02月度" [Monthly album ranking February 2022]. Oricon. Archived from the original on March 9, 2022. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  22. "A.B.C-Zの作品 : シングル" [Works by A.B.C-Z: Singles]. Oricon News (in Japanese). Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  23. "A.B.C-Z on Oricon Combined Singles chart". Oricon News (in Japanese). Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  24. "A.B.C-Zの作品 : DVD" [Works by A.B.C-Z: DVD]. Oricon News (in Japanese). Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  25. 日本放送協会. "A.B.C-Z 今夜はJ's倶楽部 - NHK". A.B.C-Z 今夜はJ’s倶楽部 - NHK (in Japanese). Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  26. "A.B.C-Z", Wikipedia (in Japanese), 2019-02-10, retrieved 2019-02-12
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