Japanese idol group WEST. disbands after 12 years, all seven members continue solo careers

WEST., a seven-member Japanese entertainment group, announced on September 24, 2026, that it will disband on September 30, 2026, ending 12 years of group activity. The announcement followed weeks of internal discussions after two members announced their departures in August. STARTO ENTERTAINMENT confirmed that all seven members will remain with the company and continue their careers individually.

The group's journey to disbandment began on August 30, 2026, when members Ryusei Fujii and Nozomu Kotaki announced they would leave the group. The formal departure date was initially unspecified as the company coordinated with the remaining five members about the group's future direction. From August 30 through mid-September, the five remaining members—Daiki Shigeioka, Terushi Kiriyama, Junта Nakama, Tomohiro Kamiyama, and Takahiro Hamada—held discussions about whether to continue as a smaller unit or pursue other options.

The group's final weeks saw significant announcements affecting their activities. On September 15, WEST. withdrew from a scheduled October 31 and November 1 appearance at the KAMIGATA EXPO PARK FES 2026 music festival. Throughout September, members including Nakama and Shigeioka made public statements apologizing to fans for the uncertainty surrounding the group's future.

WEST. debuted in April 2014 as "Johnny's WEST" with the single "Eejanaikka." The group underwent significant changes in recent years: the band rebranded to "WEST." in October 2023. Notably, multiple members reached personal milestones: Kiriyama married in January 2025, Kamiyama married in October 2025, and both Shigeioka and Hamada announced marriages in August 2026, with Shigeioka also announcing the birth of his first child. Sources noted that members cited differing values and perspectives accumulated over their long tenure as factors in the recent departures.

Despite the disbandment announcement, WEST. did not schedule any farewell events or direct fan meetings. All seven members will continue their individual entertainment careers under STARTO ENTERTAINMENT, with several maintaining existing television appearances and brand endorsements. The company stated it would continue to support each member's individual activities going forward.