"I Don't Remember Because I Was Too Desperate": FANTASTICS' Keito Kimura Talks About Selection Camp Memories

Keito Kimura, a performer of the dance & vocal group FANTASTICS, appeared as a guest on Nippon Broadcasting's program 'Osaka Akane LUCKY 7 supported by Inutsuka Seisakusho' (Nippon Broadcasting, every Monday to Friday 21:50-21:57) from Tuesday, June 2 to Friday, June 5. He talked about his origins as an artist and the behind-the-scenes story of the group's formation.

Osaka Akane and Keito Kimura

While active as a performer of the dance & vocal group FANTASTICS, Kimura also has a face as an actor, having played major roles in numerous dramas. He is also attracting attention as the group's foremost beauty-conscious male. He is currently in the midst of the arena tour 'FANTASTICS LIVE TOUR 2026 "SUNFLOWER"', which spans 12 performances across 7 cities nationwide.

Kimura started dancing at age 7 and has a career spanning nearly 20 years. The trigger was the opening of a dance studio at the sports gym where his mother worked. He decided to become an artist at age 10, with the turning point being the 2010 EXILE stadium tour where he performed as a kid dancer. He recalled the emotion of that time, saying, "EXILE was dancing right in front of me, and I thought, 'So this is how cool an artist can be.'"

He also revealed an episode where he showed his mother the choreography he learned at rehearsal at a karaoke place, and she cried, calling it "a moment I will never forget."

He also mentioned the selection camp held when FANTASTICS was formed. Looking back on the grueling camp where about 20 EXPG students from across the country were narrowed down to 5, he said, "We were rivals, but we also cooperated, like creating one choreography together as a group. I was so desperate back then that I don't really remember much."

After that, EXILE's Taiki Sato and Sekai joined, and FANTASTICS was formed as a performer group. The process of traveling around the country for LDH's traditional 'Musha Shugyo' (warrior training) and going through vocal auditions to reach the current lineup was also discussed.

Osaka commented, "It seems there were many things, like the harsh selection audition and camp for FANTASTICS. Although a documentary was filmed, it wasn't broadcast much, so I really hope they air it. I'd love to see it."

'Osaka Akane LUCKY 7 supported by Inutsuka Seisakusho', featuring Keito Kimura as a guest, will air from Tuesday, June 2 to Friday, June 5 at 21:50. It will also be distributed as a podcast after the broadcast.

[Osaka Akane Profile]

Born August 16, 1985, in Osaka Prefecture. Currently appearing as a Thursday regular on 'Hiru Nan Desu!' (Nippon TV).

[Program Overview]

Program Name: Osaka Akane LUCKY 7 supported by Inutsuka Seisakusho
Broadcast Date/Time: Every Monday to Friday 21:50-21:57
*Broadcast may be suspended due to professional baseball game extensions.
Personality: Akane Osaka
Program Email: lucky@1242.com
Program X: @akanelucky7
Program Hashtag: #大沢あかねLUCKY7
Program HP: https://www.1242.com/lucky