Written exclusively for Tokyohive by Kylie Lee

Even in the midst of fall, sunny southern California is almost always sweltering. But that didn’t seem to stop the fans of Travis Japan from turning out in droves for OC Japan Fair 2023. With some of them traveling all the way from Japan, most of them waited for three days outside the festival gates to get a glimpse of their favorite tigers returning to the States just in time for their one year debut anniversary and the announcement of their first album (out December 20th!).

As I watched the performance from the press section off the side of the stage, I kept one eye on the fans who had been waiting for so long to see these seven talented men perform. Seeing their faces, brimming with joy, it was impossible not to smile along with them.

One of the group's youngest fans, a local five-year-old from Los Angeles, shouted along to every word and danced along on his parent's shoulders. “We just searched for Japanese music one day,” the boy's mother said after the show. “They came up on YouTube and he just clicked with them. He knows all their songs and the dance moves.”

“My favorite is JUST DANCE!” the boy chimed in after getting over his shyness.

“I loved how close we get to be to them,” another fan said of the festival's more intimate feel. “In Japan, the concert venues are so big, we don’t get to see them this close. This was great!”

After the show, I was able to find a moment during their jam-packed schedule to sit down and chat with them about the fair, being back in Los Angeles, and what it's like connecting to their international fans - a lot of whom could still be heard shouting for their biases from beyond the gate.

What are you most looking forward to at the OC Japan Fair and being back in Los Angeles in general?

Noel Kawashima: I was looking forward to being able to perform LIVE in LA! I'm proud to have returned to the United States just in time for the first anniversary of Travis Japan's debut. I hope our second year will allow us to evolve even more.

How did you come up with the set? What did you choose the songs you did, and what are you most excited about the fans to see?

Kaito "Machu" Matsukura: As a group, Travis Japan is known for our dancing, so we usually pick songs where we can show that off. But since this is a festival, we chose songs that would make people feel excited. Songs you can really get up, move too and enjoy.

Does it feel different being back in Los Angeles as a debut group vs. when you were here previously?

Shizuya "Shizu" Yoshizawa: We’ve worked really hard on developing our skills, both as individuals and as a group. Also, we’ve got so many new songs we want to share with people! We put in so much work last time we were here, to get us to this point, so we’re back with brighter smiles and bigger dreams! We’re very happy!

What is your most favorite song to perform live - and why?

Ryuya "Shime" Shimekake: Honestly, I really do like all of them, but in this case, I would say “DRIVIN’ ME CRAZY.” I like to make eye contact with the members, and we sing this song while stirring things up, so I can enjoy making eye contact with the members and share that fun feeling with the audience.

What’s one thing you want your international fans to know about life in Japan and vice versa, what do you want your Japanese fans to know about life in the states?

Kaito "Chaka" Miyachika: Toilet seats in Japan are very warm. You won’t be surprised when sitting down (because it’s warm), and as I got used to it, so… I get surprised when sitting down in the United States.

Kaito "Umi" Nakamura: It's better to buy shampoo or treatments here (not bringing them from Japan). The water in the States is different from the water in Japan. So if you bring shampoo from Japan, your hair gets squeaky, and it will be smoother if you use the one you buy at a supermarket or beauty salon here.

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What surprised me most about this group was how down to earth they are. Obviously huge stars in Japan, they were incredibly professional and personable. They deserve the all success they’ve achieved, and so much more.

While you wait for their album this December, check out the music video for Travis Japan's 3rd single Candy Kiss on YouTube!

Read Kylie's live report of SHONENTACHI 2023: Through The Darkness HERE!