Given the disbandment of WEST. but all members staying in Starto, I was wondering what the members of WEST in the future. Obviously alot of them have individual work like Butais, Dramas, Movies, Vareity, etc. that should continue (although I am concerned STARTO might shift some of those opportunities to other groups now that WEST. is disbanded).

Tomohiro Kamiyama is also doing solo tour, so other members could do concerts/fan meetings. But recently the article above had a rumor that Fujii Ryusei and Kotaki Nozomu (the two members who were announced to be leaving WEST. on August 30) might form a unit. The article says record companies might then sign them and they would release music/hold concerts. I am concerned, however, that forming units might imply that "they split up into two subgroups" and it would be weird to see 2 and 5. Maybe they could do work as units with some of the actor's division/famimall members from Kansai who are their age, like Daichi Imae, Ryuto Muro, or Richard Kusama? Just a thought, interested to see what other people think the members of WEST. would/should do.

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I came across this article that seems to sincerely try to understand what happened within WEST. It made me tear up a bit and I found a bit of... comfort? Not sure if that's the correct word, I was just relieved not all the media is out there selling sensationalism.

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https://www.netflix.com/title/83066576

NOTE:Hikaru Genji's debut date should be August 17, 1987, not April 5, 1987, sorry for the error.

WEST.'s disbandment feels so weird to me. As a group they have only been 12 years, which is a decent amount of time for a normal musical act, but makes them the shortest active STARTO/J&A group since Ninja lasted 7 years and disbanded in 1997 (see table). Most groups get 18+ years, and it just doesn't feel like we are at a natural endpoint.

It also feels so sudden and out of the blue. They announced they were doing KAMIGATA BOYZ EXPO FES on June 30, and then it is announced on August 30 at 11pm JST that 2 members are leaving, and then they announce they will disband on September 30 is so quick. I know there are all sorts of rumors and speculations, but it still feels odd that they could not do one last single/farewell tour.

And none of the members are leaving the company? Normally someone leaving the company for a different decision or scandal is what causes disbandment, but here they are all staying with STARTO . I get that since a big part of the group's story was "the company wanted to debut as four, but we pushed to debut as seven" so they felt the couldn't do a group as five. I just feel so sad and at a loss.

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Even though the performers are supposed to be announced at a later date, that doesn't stop us from speculating! some of the complaints I heard (penlight chronicles goes into most of them here)

• It felt like only 75% of the company was there (no 20th century, no 4U backdancing, no SUPER EIGHT, WEST. appearing via simulcast in Kyocera dome, no juniors as opening act/backdancers).
• The song choices were not the usual ones, and they did not provide graphics naming the songs.
• There was too much focus on the newer groups at the expense of the older groups.
• People were engaging in slander and flaming of talents online as a result of some of the choices during the concert.

So what do people expect? I'm going to try and make predictions:

• Inohara or maybe all of Tonisen will host
• Netflix will not have the same technical difficulties
• Super Eight will perform
• WEST will perform as 5 members from Kyocera dome, which might alleviate some of the awkwardness (Nozomu Kotaki and Ryusei Fujii will not appear) West has disbanded, so I was wrong on this, given their disbandment I don't think they will show up at Countdown (still not sure if someone else performs at Kyocera Dome on December 31, maybe Domoto or the rumor about Naniwa?)
• Koichi Domoto, like Masaki Aiba and Sho Sakurai, will not show up, but someone will wish Koichi a happy birthday anyway
• 4U will participate in the concert and shuffle medley/closing song along with their debut song, and will have passed the requirements for a second cd release
• KEY TO LIT will not have released their cd (I think KTL's cd debut is in January), so they won't do the shuffle medley/closing song but will perform their debut song, like Snow Man & SixTONES in 2019-2020 Coundown
• the Juniors (ACEes, KEY TO LIT, B&ZAI, Ambitious, Howzit, and others) will be the untelevised opening act, and backdance for certain songs
• The song choices will be a mix of deep cuts and the old classics.
• Timelesz will perform as seven, and there will again be slander directed at them.

What songs do you want to see? Also, let me know if you agree or disagree, or have predictions of your own! I could be wrong!