Kis-My-Ft2 (ãÂÂã¹ãÂÂã¤ãÂÂãÂÂãÂÂãÂÂã¼, Kisu Mai Futto Tsà «, "Kiss My Foot Two") is a six-member Japanese boy band under Starto Entertainment, noted in Japanese media for incorporating roller-skating into their stage performances.
The group was formed on 26 July 2005 while the members were trainees (Johnny's Jr.). On 12 February 2011, during a concert tour, they received a surprise announcement of their official debut in what later became known as the âÂÂbrown envelopeâ event. They made their CD debut on 10 August 2011.
Since their debut, Kis-My-Ft2 has achieved multiple number-one singles and albums on the Oricon charts and has held large-scale arena and dome tours across Japan, including performances at Tokyo Dome. The group has also appeared on NHKâÂÂs annual music program Kà Âhaku Uta Gassen.
The group debuted as a seven-member act including Hiromitsu Kitayama; following his departure in August 2023, Kis-My-Ft2 has continued as a six-member group. The current members are Kento Senga, Toshiya Miyata, Wataru Yokoo, Taisuke Fujigaya, Yuta Tamamori, and Takashi Nikaido.
They are signed to MENT Recording, a joint label established by Avex Inc. and Johnny & Associates.
Notable releases include their debut single "Everybody Go", their highest-selling single "Thank You Jan!", and the drama theme song "Luv Bias", which received an award in 2021.
The name is derived from the initials of its membersâ surnames, as well as a reference to an anecdote in which tap dancer Gregory Hines kissed the shoe of Sammy Davis Jr.
In Kis-My-Ft2, each member is assigned a "member color," which is used in official costumes, merchandise, and promotional materials.
Kis-My-Ft2 was formed on 26 July 2005 under Johnny & Associates through the merger of two trainee units, Kis-My-Ft. and A.B.C.-Jr., while the members were trainees in Johnny's Jr.. At the time of the groupâÂÂs formation, the lineup included additional trainees who departed prior to the groupâÂÂs official debut.
The group performed in stage productions and concerts, gradually building experience over a prolonged pre-debut period. Their performance style was influenced by the agencyâÂÂs senior group Hikaru Genji, with Japanese media frequently noting their use of roller skates.
In the late 2000s, the group held their first solo concerts and appeared in established stage productions such as '.
On 12 February 2011, during their concert tour Kis-My-Ft ni Aeru de Show Vol. 3, the members received a surprise letter from agency president at the time Johnny Kitagawa announcing their official debut, an event later known as the âÂÂbrown envelopeâ announcement.
Kis-My-Ft2 made their CD debut on 10 August 2011 with the single âÂÂEverybody Go,â which reached number one on the Oricon Singles Chart. Originally scheduled for earlier release, their debut was postponed due to the 2011 Tà Âhoku earthquake and tsunami. The single ultimately marked a major breakthrough following their long trainee period. The single was simultaneously distributed across several Asian territories, and the group held a debut event at Yebisu Garden Place in Tokyo attended by approximately 12,000 fans. They also appeared on the television program SMAPÃÂSMAP, where they were congratulated by senior group SMAP.
Following their debut, the group held a concert at Tokyo Dome 18 days after their debut, setting what was reported at the time as a record for a male artist. The achievement drew significant media attention and positioned the group as a major new act in the Japanese idol scene.
Throughout the early to mid-2010s, Kis-My-Ft2 released a series of chart-topping singles and albums, including their first studio album Kis-My-1st. In March 2012, on the day of the release of the single âÂÂShe! Her! Her!âÂÂ, the group held a promotional event in Osaka, performing the song aboard a boat on the Dà Âtonbori Canal, an unusual public setting that drew large crowds and media attention. They subsequently embarked on nationwide arena and dome tours, with Japanese media frequently highlighting their elaborate live productions and large-scale stage effects.
In 2014, the group further expanded their visibility through mainstream media projects, including the single âÂÂHikari no Signal,â which served as the theme song for animated film '. The single reached number one on the Oricon Singles Chart, continuing their streak of commercial success.
Beyond music activities, the group also participated in large-scale promotional campaigns. In 2017, Kis-My-Ft2 participated in a tourism campaign organized by Kyushu Railway Company to promote recovery in Kumamoto and à Âita Prefectures following the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes. The campaign, titled âÂÂGO!GO!! Kis-My Kumamoto à Âita,â included sightseeing commercials featuring the group, as well as special wrapping trains such as the âÂÂKis-My-Ft2 Shinkansenâ and âÂÂKis-My-Ft2 Sonic,â which operated throughout the Kyushu region.
By the mid-2010s, the group had completed multiple dome tours. Alongside music activities, they expanded into television, radio, and variety programming, further expanding their presence in mainstream media. Sub-unit activities () and individual member projects were also introduced during this period.
From the late 2010s onward, Kis-My-Ft2 maintained commercial success through consecutive album releases and large-scale dome tours. During this period, their activities also expanded beyond Japan, including overseas performances and music videos filmed abroad. On 30 November 2019, the group made their first overseas performance at the Asia Fashion Award 2019 held in Taipei, Taiwan. In the same year, they made their first appearance on NHKâÂÂs annual music program Kà Âhaku Uta Gassen, a milestone in their career.
From 2018 to 2020, Kis-My-Ft2 served as main personalities for Nippon Broadcasting SystemâÂÂs 24-hour charity program Radio Charity Musicthon, a fundraising broadcast supporting initiatives for visually impaired people. The groupâÂÂs participation contributed to large-scale fundraising campaigns, and they later continued to appear in related broadcasts, including guest appearances in subsequent editions hosted by other personalities.
The COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of scheduled tours in 2020; however, Kis-My-Ft2 adapted by holding live-streamed concerts, including a performance broadcast from Tokyo Dome without an in-person audience, allowing them to continue performing during restrictions.
In 2021, the group celebrated the 10th anniversary of their CD debut with the release of a compilation album and commemorative projects.
In August 2023, member Hiromitsu Kitayama departed from the group to pursue a solo career, after which Kis-My-Ft2 continued activities as a six-member unit. Kis-My-Ft2 subsequently continued activities as a six-member group, releasing new music and holding arena and dome tours. Around this period, the music video for the single âÂÂTomoniâ referenced locations associated with the groupâÂÂs earlier activities, serving as a retrospective reflection on their history as a seven-member act.
In 2024, all members of the group participated in relief support activities following the 2024 Noto earthquake, taking part in charity food distribution efforts as part of broader aid initiatives.
During the promotion of the 2024 dome tour, member Takashi Nikaido temporarily suspended activities due to health issues, resulting in the single âÂÂCurtain Callâ being promoted by the remaining five members. He later returned to group activities.
Releases as a six-member unit achieved commercial success, including chart-topping albums in the mid-2020s onward. The group remains active, continuing large-scale live performances and expanding their presence across digital and streaming platforms.
In 2026, marking their 15th anniversary, the group announced a series of anniversary activities, including the monthly digital release of new songs beginning with "UNISON" and the planning of an arena tour. Additional commemorative projects and performances were announced as part of the groupâÂÂs anniversary year.
Commentary on Kis-My-Ft2 has frequently focused on the visual continuity of their stage performances within the performance tradition established by Johnny & Associates, particularly the use of roller skates. Japanese media have described this element as a reinterpretation of earlier performance styles adapted for contemporary large-scale concerts.
Reviews of the groupâÂÂs live shows have emphasized concerts as a central mode of expression, highlighting large-scale staging, choreography, and ensemble coordination. Such assessments have positioned Kis-My-Ft2 as a group whose identity is closely associated with live performance as a collective experience rather than individual display.
Media coverage has also highlighted the involvement of individual members in concert production, including Takashi NikaidoâÂÂs contributions to stage effects and visual presentation, Yuta TamamoriâÂÂs role in developing stage costumesâÂÂan activity later documented in the Amazon Prime Video documentary Yuta Tamamori ModeâÂÂand Kento SengaâÂÂs participation in choreography as part of a collaborative internal production process.
Following their debut, Kis-My-Ft2 became active in variety programming through a long-running series of programs on TV Asahi that began with . Originally featuring comedian Masaru Hamaguchi as a partner, the program continued under different titles while maintaining a similar format. Since 2017, the comedy duo Sandwichman have been regular collaborators, and the series expanded from late-night broadcasting to prime-time slots, reflecting the groupâÂÂs growing television presence. The collaboration between Kis-My-Ft2 and Sandwichman continued beyond the program itself, including appearances together in later music video projects.
Another major variety program was Kis-My-Busaiku!?, which began regular broadcasting on Fuji TV in 2013 and became known for its comedic ranking format. The show concluded in 2023 around the time of member Hiromitsu KitayamaâÂÂs departure, marking the end of one of the groupâÂÂs longest-running variety projects.
Beyond their television activities, media coverage and interviews have also discussed internal dynamics within the group during their early years. In interviews and variety programs, members frequently described an early internal division between the three front membersâÂÂHiromitsu Kitayama, Taisuke Fujigaya, and Yuta TamamoriâÂÂand the four members later known as Busaiku (Wataru Yokoo, Toshiya Miyata, Takashi Nikaido, and Kento Senga). Media coverage also reported differences in promotional focus during this period, including accounts of limited appearances in music videos and other media exposure for some members.
This distinction was reflected visually in stage performances, music videos, and promotional materials, where coordinated costume colors, positioning, and screen time differentiated the two groups during the early years. Subsequent projects such as the formation of the spin-off unit Busaiku, produced by SMAP member Masahiro Nakai, provided additional opportunities for the latter members, and later interviews suggested that these differences gradually diminished over time.