ISSUE: Spring 2012

DEPT: Personalities

STORY: Courtney Hong

Get ready, America. Japanese superstar Jin Akanishi is set to take over with his U.S. debut album, Japonicana.

Singer, songwriter, producer and actor Jin Akanishi is remarkably focused. The 27-year-old groundbreaking artist has been working hard (often with no time to eat) on his highly anticipated U.S. debut album, Japonica (a reference to the great influence that Japan, the U.S. and Spain have had on the singer), which drops March 6. Akanishi describes the album as one that “has no boundaries … a collection of music and sounds that I love,” including club, dance and pop. It’s a project that “really allows me to be creative and true to myself.”

Akanishi, who grew up in Japan, is used to crossing boundaries. He was the lead vocalist for the Japanese boy band KAT-TUN, which had multiple number one hits on the Japanese national charts and became the first group to ever perform 10 consecutive days at one of Japan’s most notable venues. But Akanishi stepped into unknown territory when he left KAT- TUN to pursue a solo career, without a record company’s support, in order to fully utilize his creativity.

So far, Akanishi’s risk-taking has paid off, with the release of his number one iTunes single, “Test Drive” featuring Jason Derulo, and a deal with Warner Music Group. After a number of solo shows in Japan, he toured the U.S. in 2010, performing at sold-out, 2,000-plus seat venues. “It was an amazing experience,” says Akanishi. “It was the first time I did anything like that in the U.S.”

Akanishi returns to the U.S. with a five-city tour starting March 9, and will be making his big screen debut as a wandering samurai alongside Keanu Reeves in the period film, 47 Ronin, opening on February 8, 2013. Though he’s newly married, expect to see a lot more of the superstar. “L.A. has become a home away from home,” he says. Lucky us!

–Courtney Hong

Japanese pop idol Jin Akanishi, the lead singer for the hot Japanese pop group KAT-TUN, is coming to Los Angeles for his American debut solo concert!

Japanese pop idol Jin Akanishi.

That’s right! Akanishi will be giving three performances only on June 19 (6 pm) and 20 (1 pm and 6 pm) at Club Nokia in Los Angeles!

If you don’t know Jin Akanishi, now’s the time to hone up on this Japanese phenom. Akanishi is the lead singer of J-pop superband KAT-TUN, which has had a total of 14 consecutive chart-toppers and has sold 5.2 million CDs. Last year, tickets went on sale for KAT-TUN’s eight consecutive shows at Japan’s largest venue, the Tokyo Dome, along with follow up shows in Osaka and again in Tokyo. All 440,000 seats sold out in one day.

Akanishi then went on to perform 32 shows of his solo tour, You and Jin, this past February in Japan. The event was such a success, Akanishi is now bringing his Vegas-style extravaganza to L.A.

“I’m thrilled to bring this show to my fans in the U.S. I believe we will broaden our fan base and reach by performing Japanese and English songs that appeal to a wider audience. We have worked hard to produce a high-quality, high-energy, visually stimulating show and I am certain our American fans will enjoy every minute of it,” said Akanishi.

Tickets are on sale now at Ticketmaster and All American Tickets (in Japanese only).

For more concert information, check out Jin Akanishi’s website.