Wow, talk about dropping a bombshell on a Friday. Maybe Johnny & Associates think that fangirls need the entire weekend to weep and wail their sorrow. Whatever the reason, J-ent got a double bombshell dropped on it today with the official announcement from Johnny’s that both Yamashita Tomohisa and Nishikido Ryo are leaving NEWS, which will continue on as a four-member group. Almost a year from when Johnny’s announced Akainishi Jin was leaving KAT-TUN, I knew this was coming.
It almost makes me weep from how right to feels to know Yamapi is leaving with Ryo, his best friend and the guy he grew up under Johnny’s with. Yamapi will continue solo in music and acting, while Ryo will remain a member of the group Kanjani Eight and continue his acting. Both will remain under Johnny’s management. I swear the net is instantaneous, because within minutes of this news breaking Wikipedia already listed NEWS as a four-member group. Le sigh, all boys must grow up and leave the nest, ne?
Above is the official press release from Johnny’s this morning. Pi mentioned how he will always treasure his time with NEWS and he learned so much from being a member of the group. Ryo cited the ongoing scheduling conflicts stemming from being a member of two singing groups as the reason for departure from NEWS. As for Ryo choosing between NEWS and Kanjani Eight, I think him being a Kansai boy factors into it, since Kanjani Eight originated from a group of Kansai Johnny trainees and he’s likely quite close to them.
A picture of NEWS as a happy six-member group. I really don’t see the departure of Pi and Ryo as eliciting the acrimonious fandom split as when Jin left KAT-TUN, but we’ll have to wait to see how fandom takes it. Going forth, NEWS will consist of Koyama Keiichiro, Masuda Takahisa, Kato Shigeaki, and Tegoshi Yuya. Honestly, Pi and Ryo probably have the weakest pipes in NEWS (but contribute a great vocal harmony with their voices), so the remaining four should be just fine as a singing group.
Above is a picture of Pi and Ryo when they first joined Johnny’s as trainees. Ryo is actually older than Pi, but Pi always seemed like the older one.
The recently started filming period C-drama A Dream Within a Dream went ahead and released…
Well this is a bit of good news for two K-actresses having been in controversy…
This is a new rumored pairing for an upcoming period C-drama and it's two stars…
It's off to the 2024 Cannes Film Festival next month in May for HK director…
I had such a good time watching tvN drama Queen of Tears live. THIS is…
I think production sitting on long finished but unable to get airing permit C-dramas should…
This website uses cookies.
View Comments
biggest shock (or okay, not - saw this coming from a year ago) of newspiece for the day. I used to be a super mega big fan of NEWS but that went away with age (thank God) but can't help but still feel weirdly out of place and a little sad over this piece though with the kind of popularity K8 is enjoying right now - and I really only over ogle of Ryo haha - it really shouldn't be any surprise.
Anyway love that last video Koala, so fitting!
Oh gosh. T_T. News was my first ever asian boy band obsession. So much memories. This honestly pinched my heart. Ah, I'm feeling so nostalgic. I still remember 5 years ago. I stumbled upon these wonderful boys. Now that Ryo and Yamapi have left, I honestly feel that the 4 remaining members will have a hard time shining on their own. >__<. Ryo and Yamapi have such a tight bond, it also makes me tear. :'( On a brighter note, looking at that younger picture of them makes me want to pinch their cheeks.
Ah.... There's just something so tragic about groups breaking up/ members leaving. T_T. Ah I lost count on how many groups/members that gone their separate ways (Kpop/jpop/cpop).
They sing?!?!? Who knew? lol Okay. Those two boys are about the cutest thing ever. To find out they sing causes me much joy and happiness. If I was a bit (okay. fine. a LOT) younger, I'd be all over them. Please tell me they both have more acting projects coming up! MY list of ICOMYM increases daily. *sigh*
Am a little sad but I'll get over it. I'm just a little annoyed that they couldn't do one final single or at least a goodbye concert for the fans. I completely understand why Ryo is leaving since Kanjani8 has gotten so popular and he must have had so many scheduling conflicts. Yamapi not so much. What's he been doing for the last 6 months?
Well as long as I get to stare at pretty, pretty Ryo I'll be happy :).
Earlier this year, Pi had a Pan-Asia solo concert tour for 4 months that was sold out. I pretty much knew he was leaving NEWS after that validation of his solo career. Also his movie Ashita no Joe was well-received. Nothing to write home about, but not a dud or a bomb.
Well, this explains what my Pi-obsessed friend has been whining about on Twitter.
I honestly have no attachment to Jpop boybands, so as long as we still get to see their cute little faces onscreen (more dramas, please!), I'm okay with it.
And omg, that trainee pic is super adorable. Ryo looks like a babyyyyyyyyyyyyy~ ♥♥♥
Depressed as ****...well as long as it means more screen time for Shige...Hmm I still don't understanf why Pi would leave Ryo I can of get but Yamapi? I mean I saw it coming for a while now but even so...his singing is subpar....and while I am Yamapi drama completist I still don't think his acting is great...this might bring his image down considering that he has promised over and over he wouldn't leave. It makes is sadder when you remember that one prank they played on Koyama on April's Fool about Yamapi leaving and he panicked saying that they would be nothing without him.
I see the picture of them as young trainees. Is it normal for trainees to be that young?
PS-that performance of theirs is wonderfully sung
Usually they join by the age of 11-13 anything over that is considered too old to be joining in their company..
If you mean that young to be around right before they hit their early teens, then yes, that is when they join as trainees.
Isn't that performance just marvelous? These boys are really a lovely group.
Wow - I guess this is a shock to me because I haven't been following jpop and have no idea what is going on in that industry anymore except that they like Kpop singers (generalization) and of course my lovely SMAP is still there. I was too old to be fangirls of Kat-tun or NEWS or KJ8... but I will always remember them when they debuted. They have grown up now... so bittersweet. Wishing both of them the best of luck (Pi on his solo career and Ryo in KJ8).
love ryo's voice.
Oh dear. What's gonna happen to NEWS now...