NEWS (an acronym for North, East, West, South) is a Japanese boy band formed in September 2003 under Johnny & Associates, now known as STARTO ENTERTAINMENT. The original nine members were Keiichiro Koyama, Shigeaki Kato, Takahiro Moriuchi, Tomohisa Yamashita, Ryo Nishikido, Hironori Kusano, Hiroki Uchi, Takahisa Masuda, and Yuya Tegoshi.

Their first release was “NEWS Nippon”, an indie promotional single used as the theme song for the World Cup of Volleyball Championships. When they dropped their major debut single “Kibou ~Yell~” in 2004, it debuted at number one on the Oricon Singles Chart, a record they maintained in their later works.

Prior to the release of their first single, in December 2003, Takahiro Moriuchi, A.K.A Taka who would later go on to front ONE OK ROCK, left the group, stating that he wanted to focus on his studies. The group carried on with eight members until July 2005, when Hiroki Uchi was suspended for underage drinking. In January 2006, for the same reason, Hironori Kusano was suspended from the group, reducing NEWS to six members. However, NEWS carried on with their planned releases and continued to dominate the charts, release after release.

After their spring 2006 tour, NEWS went on hiatus, later returning as a six-member group at the Johnny’s Countdown concert on December 30, 2006. During this time, they reached a major milestone, becoming the second act in Oricon history to achieve ten consecutive number-one singles since debut. Second to their seniors under the same label, KinKi Kids, known today as DOMOTO.

On October 2011, Ryo Nishikido and Tomohisa Yamashita announced their departure from NEWS. According to Johnny & Associates, Ryo left due to scheduling conflicts between NEWS and Kanjani8, while Yamashita chose to focus on his solo career. As a result, NEWS continued on as a four-member group. They continued their streak of number-one releases and have maintained their position as a prominent act in the J-Pop scene, continuing to release albums and embarking on nationwide tours.

From 2017 onward, they launched a four-part album series, where each album title started with one of the letters in “NEWS”:

NEVERLAND (2017)

EPCOTIA (2018)

WORLDISTA (2019)

STORY (2020)

Yuya Tegoshi left NEWS and Johnny & Associates on June 19, 2020. His exit came after reports of him breaking COVID-19 guidelines; however, he explained that he wanted more freedom to take on projects outside the agency. After his departure, NEWS carried on as a three-member group. Their first release as a trio came later that year with the single “Beautiful/Chinchaumakka/Kanariya” in December, marking a fresh chapter in their career.

In 2023, NEWS celebrated a major milestone with their 20th anniversary. They released their thirteenth studio album “NEWS EXPO” and went on a nationwide tour for the celebration. In 2024, NEWS expanded their reach by making a large portion of their discography available on global streaming services. Since May 16, 2025, all their concert DVDs have become available on Amazon Prime Video.

With the release of their 15th album Henshin on August 6, 2025, NEWS once again reminds fans why they have endured for more than two decades. Their journey, marked by challenges, transformations, and triumphs, stands as proof of their resilience and dedication. In an industry that is constantly shifting, NEWS continues not only to survive but to grow, carrying forward a legacy built on music, perseverance, and the unwavering support of their fans.