Biography

Under Construction

Name : KAT-TUN (カテゥーン) (katūn) (cartoon)

Label : J-One Records (under Johnny & Associates)

Group Name Trivia : Formed by the acronym of members’ name

*K-Kamenashi A-Akanishi T-Taguchi T-Tanaka U-Ueda N-Nakamaru

Random Trivia :

• Official debut – 2006
• Most singles, studio albums and DVD released were placed at number one on the Oricon Music and DVD charts
• Their debut was marked by a tripartite release, consisting of a single, an album and a DVD: Real Face, Best of KAT-TUN and Real Face Film. All three shattered records in sales.

Basic Timeline

2001 – 2006: Formation & Pre-Debut Activities

• Each member actually belongs to different junior units within the company before becoming KAT-TUN

• In 2001, eight members were chosen to become a temporary dancing unit in order to support Koichi Domoto (KinKi Kids) in the NHK music program, Pop Jam.
• Tanaka Koki did not involve in this but the members switched before it officially became KAT-TUN – group with six member.
• Although the formation was only meant to be a temporary support unit, KAT-TUN gained a great deal of attention, so the formation was kept and KAT-TUN remains a solid unit.

• In 2002, in response to many requests, KAT-TUN held their first concert, Okyakusama wa Kamisama – Concert 55man nin Ai no request ni Kotaete.
• This making them the first JE group to hold their own concert before officially debuting.
• Ultimately, the concert was also released on DVD.
• They also performed 11 shows in a day
• This is the current record in Japan for the most performances in a day.
• Since then, KAT-TUN has held concerts in Japan almost every season.

• In 2003-2004, their popularity rose to that of a debuted group, to the point where they performed on Music Station multiple times before debuting.
• In 2005, KAT-TUN released their first major DVD, LIVE KAIZOKUBAN, which topped the Oricon yearly chart for the best-selling DVD.
• At the 20th Japan Gold Disc Awards, LIVE KAIZOKUBAN placed on the Music Video Of The Year list.

2006: Debut

• On 29 January 2006, their debut was announced to be on 22 March 2006.
• Everybody was happy to hear the news after five years of waiting for both KAT-TUN members and fans.
• On the debut date, KAT-TUN released their debut single, Real Face, accompanied by an album, Best of KAT-TUN and a DVD Real Face Film.
• These were released on their own label, J-One Records.
• The group also went on a nationwide tour, Live of KAT-TUN “Real Face”, in support of the album.

• Only on the first week, Best of KAT-TUN sold 556,548 copies, Real Face sold 754,234 copies and Real Face Film sold 374,202 copies.
• These releases making each of the released placed on top three weekly Oricon charts.
• They are the second artist to do so after Ayumi Hamasaki.
• With these numbers, KAT-TUN holds the records for the highest weekly single debut sales as well as the record for highest weekly DVD debut sales.
• Real Face also topped the Oricon charts for three weeks straight, making them the first artist in the millennium to do so in Japan.
• The single sold over a million copies in nine weeks, making Real Face the highest selling single of the year.

• In March 2006, KAT-TUN became the first group to hold their own performances in Tokyo Dome, before debuting.
• They performed to 110,000 people over two days and about 630,000 people in total during the tour. About three months after releasing Real Face, KAT-TUN released their second single, SIGNAL, on 19 July 2006.
• Ultimately, it topped the Oricon weekly chart by exceeding 400,000 in sales.

• On 12 October 2006, Akanishi announced a hiatus from the group in order to study linguistics abroad in the United States, leaving KAT-TUN as a five-member group for six months.
• The remaining members continued activities by releasing their third single, Bokura no Machi de (as the theme song to Kamenashi and Tanaka’s drama, Tatta Hitotsu no Koi), and their second album, cartoon KAT-TUN II YOU, on 7 December 2006.
• Despite the fact that one of their lead vocalist was missing, the releases still topped the charts.

Trivia : KAT-TUN is the first artist in Japan to have all three singles from debut to exceed 500,000 in yearly sales, taking first, fifth and 13th place on the yearly singles chart.

2007: Cartoon KAT-TUN II You

• On 3 April 2007, KAT-TUN hold their second nationwide tour, the ‘TOUR 2007 cartoon KAT-TUN II You’, – without Akanishi.
• On the next day, KAT-TUN began to host their own variety show cartoon KAT-TUN, which airs every Wednesday from 11:55 P.M. to 12:26 A.M.

• On 19 April 2007, Akanishi returned to Japan and officially resumed work activities on 20 April 2007.
• Akanishi, whose return excited a nationwide media frenzy,  joined the rest of KAT-TUN during their tour on 21 April 2007 in Sendai for the encore.
• The appearance marked his official return to KAT-TUN.
• On 9 May 2007, Akanishi made his first appearance in Cartoon KAT-TUN.

• On 6 June 2007, KAT-TUN released their fourth single, Yorokobi no Uta, – theme song to Tanaka’s drama, Tokkyu Tanaka 3 Go.
• The single hit number one on the weekly chart.
• Although Yorokobi no Uta is KAT-TUN’s official fourth single, it is speculated that YOU, the theme song to Kamenashi’s drama, Sapuri, was supposed to be the fourth, but Akanishi’s sudden hiatus delayed any production of YOU being a single.

• On 21 November 2007, they simultaneously released their fifth single, Keep the faith, as the theme song to Akanishi and Taguchi’s drama, Yukan Club, and the DVD to their TOKYO DOME Live of KAT-TUN “Real Face” concert.
• The DVD established their fifth consecutive release to top the Oricon musical DVD chart, also set the opening week record for the year.
• KAT-TUN took the yearly number one position on the Oricon musical DVD charts for the third time in a row with the release.
• To add on to the number ones, Keep the faith also topped the weekly single charts.
• KAT-TUN became the second artist to have all singles since debut to exceed 300,000 in sales during first week after Kinki Kids.

• At the 21st Japan Gold Disc Awards, Real Face took Single of the Year.
• In addition to this, Real Face, SIGNAL and Bokura no Machi de were included in the list of The Best 10 Singles for 2007.
• Their debut album, Best of KAT-TUN, placed in the The Best 10 Albums of 2007 and their DVD, Real Face Film, was also included on the The Best Music Videos of 2007 list.

2008 : Queen of Pirates

• On 6 February 2008, KAT-TUN released their sixth single, LIPS - as the theme song to Kamenashi’s drama, One Pound Gospel.
• The single topped at number one on the Oricon charts.

• At the 22nd Japan Gold Disc Awards, Bokura no Machi de and Keep the Faith won two of the Best 10 Singles. Their concert DVD, Live of KAT-TUN “Real Face”, had also won one of the three Best Music Videos awards.

• On 30 March 2008, it was announced that KAT-TUN will hold their third nationwide tour, to start in Hiroshima on 21 June 2008.
• On 22 April 2008 it was announced that KAT-TUN will release their third album, KAT-TUN III Queen of Pirates on 4 June 2008.
• On 14 May 2008, KAT-TUN released their seventh single, Don’t U Ever Stop also which topped the weekly Oricon chart.
• The release included three limited edition versions featuring the members’ solos in pairs.
• The first with Kamenashi and Taguchi, the second with Akanishi and Tanaka, and the third with Ueda and Nakamaru.
• It sold more than the top 49 artists after them combined.
• Along with LIPS, KAT-TUN holds the records for the two highest first-week sales in 2008.

• On 15 May 2008, during the MC segment of promoting Don’t U Ever Stop on Music Station, Kamenashi announced that two days were added to their Tokyo Dome performances for their tour, resulting in a total of four consecutive days in the Dome.
• This marks a historic event in the Dome’s history, which has been established since 1988, as KAT-TUN is the first artist to hold four consecutive days at the stadium.
• Other Japanese artists, such as SMAP, X Japan and Ayumi Hamasaki have had three consecutive days at the Dome, and Rolling Stones and Michael Jackson have had multiple days at the Dome as well, but they were not consecutive.

• On 3 December 2008, KAT-TUN released White X’mas, their first Christmas single.
• The release consisted of a limited and regular edition, but both would only be sold during the holiday season.
• The single, with no drama tie-in and no B-side, still sold moderately well with 250,000 copies sold in its first week.

• On 21 December 2008, it was announced that KAT-TUN will release a new single ONE DROP – theme song to Kamenashi’s new drama, Kami no Shizuku – just two months after their White X’mas single.
• The release consists of three versions: Limited Edition w/DVD, Regular Edition (First Press) and a Regular Edition, which all three versions consists of different features.

• On 28 December 2008, Avex Taiwan announced on their website of an overseas (OS) press release of KAT-TUN LIVE TOUR 2008 QUEEN OF PIRATES on 20 January 2009, including traditional Chinese subtitles.

• Before partaking in Johnny’s annual countdown concert on 31 December 2008, KAT-TUN performed an unbroadcasted special medley for 10 minutes, consisting of Keep the faith, ONE DROP and Yorokobi no Uta.
• This was their first time performing ONE DROP publicly, debuting the song.

2009 : Break The Records : By You & For You

• On 1 January 2009, it was announced that Kamenashi will continue starring in DREAMBOYS in September for 38 shows.
• The stage show is expected to continue for six more years.
• KAT-TUN also released KAT-TUN LIVE TOUR 2008 QUEEN OF PIRATES DVD, featuring their last day of four in Tokyo Dome.

• On 11 February 2009, KAT-TUN released ONE DROP – which became their ninth consecutive  number one single since debut, selling 281,359 copies in its first week.
• On 11 March 2009, KAT-TUN is to release a new single RESCUE – the theme for Nakamaru’s drama ,RESCUE : Tokubetsu Kodo Kyujotai
• RESCUEbecame KAT-TUN’s tenth consecutive number one single since debut, selling 322,597 copies in its first week.
• With this achievement KAT-TUN tied with NEWS for the second most consecutive number one singles from debut.
• A week after the release of “Rescue”, it was revealed through their official website that KAT-TUN would be releasing their fourth studio album.

• On 1 April 2009, the title of the album, Break the Records: By You & For You, as well as the track list for KAT-TUN’s fourth studio album were released
• On 29 April 2009, KAT-TUN released the album.

• It was announced on 23 January 2009 that KAT-TUN would hold seven consecutive concerts at Tokyo Dome - making KAT-TUN the first artists in history to do so.
• However, by the end of March, due to the large number of pre-reserved tickets, KAT-TUN’s record breaking concert added extra tour dates.
• KAT-TUN’s 2009 concert scheduled eight consecutive days in Tokyo Dome from 15 May to 22 May, three days in Osaka from 29 May to 31 May, and two more days in Tokyo Dome from 14 June to 15 May, for a total of thirteen concert performances in two cities, and ten days in total for Tokyo Dome.
• Sales for KAT-TUN’s eight consecutive days in Tokyo Dome concert went on sale on 4 April 2009.On the very same day all 440,000 seats were sold out.
• On the last of their eight days at Tokyo Dome, it was announced that KAT-TUN would once again embark on another summer tour of Japan starting from 7 July 2009.

• On 24 May 2009, it was announced that Johnny Kitagawa was after the acknowledgment of KAT-TUN’s eight-day concerts at Tokyo Dome by the Guinness World Records company, for the record of the largest number of consecutive concerts at a stadium seating more than 50,000 spectators each day.

2010: International activities and Akanishi’s departure

• On 10 February 2010, KAT-TUN released their first single since March 2009, which was used for Kamenashi’s live-action drama adaptation of Tomoko Hayakawa’s manga series Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge, which premiered 15 January on TBS.
• The single, “Love Yourself (Kimi ga Kirai na Kimi ga Suki),” debuted at number one on the Oriconweekly singles chart, resulting in KAT-TUN’s eleventh consecutive number one single since their debut.
• It became KAT-TUN’s first single to sell more than 350,000 copies in its first week since the May 2008 release of their single “Don’t U Ever Stop,” which sold more than 381,000 copies in its first week.

 

• On 24 March 2010, Johnny & Associates announced that KAT-TUN will go on their first Asia concert tour as a five-member group while Akanishi will hold his own solo concerts in The United States, making him the first Johnny’s artist to perform solo in the United States.
• KAT-TUN is set to have their Asia Tour from early May to late August and although the majority of the concerts will be held in Japan, KAT-TUN will also be heading to Bangkok on 31 July 2010, Seoul from August 6 to 7, and Taipei from August 27 to 28; other sources say that a Hawaii concert is also being considered.

 

• Due to his absence from KAT-TUN’s Asia concert tour and single promotions, Akanishi did not participate in the recording of KAT-TUN’s twelfth single “Going!” set for release on 12 May.

 

• Due to the political unrest in Thailand, Johnny & Associates announced on 15 May that KAT-TUN’s concert in Bangkok has been indefinitely postponed.

 

• KAT-TUN released their first 2010 album,No More Pain, on June 16 in two versions: a limited and regular edition that both include solo songs by each member.
• The limited edition contains thirteen songs and a bonus DVD with the PVs and making-of’s the album’s songs while the regular edition contains a bonus track.

 

• Johnny & Associates announced on 17 July 2010 that Akanishi would leave the group in late 2010 to pursue a solo career while the rest of the members would continue to work as a five-member group.
• On 21 July 2010, Akanishi himself confirmed through the official Johnny’s mobile site, Johnny’s Web, that he would leave KAT-TUN to focus on his solo career, although he hadn’t appeared on any event to his fans until October.
• On 28 August, the last day of their World Big Tour 2010, KAT-TUN revealed about their 2011 tour plan to celebrate their 5th anniversary by performing at industrial complexes in 5 cities in Japan and expanding its overseas tour to 5 different countries including Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, China and Hawaii.
• The Hawaii concert would make them the first Johnny artist to hold a concert in Hawaii.

 

• On 13 October 2010, KAT-TUN announced the release of their new single, “Change Ur World” which is KAT-TUN’s 13th single and the first single after Akanishi’s official departure, was released on 17 November.
• The single debuted at number one on the Oricon weekly singles chart for selling 230,829 copies, resulting in KAT-TUN’s thirteenth consecutive number one single since their debut plus all of their 13 singles sold over 200,000 copies in the first week.
• A plagiarism was reported to a B-side track “Never×Over~「-」Is Your Part~” from Change Ur World single though so far without any legal action.

 

• On 29 December 2010, KAT-TUN released KAT-TUN -NO MORE PAIИ- WORLD TOUR 2010 DVD, featuring their last day in Japan leg of their successful World Big Tour 2010 at Kyocera Dome and more concert footages from their Korea and Taiwan legs.

2011: 5th Anniversary

• The group announced a release of their 14th single on 2010′s Christmas Eve, “Ultimate Wheels” on 2 February 2011 along with a tie-in CM of Suzuki Solio car that the group endorsed.

 

• On 6 January, KAT-TUN announced its plan of KAT-TUN Live Tour 2011 during May to October.
• The tour includes the 5 big dome tour at Sapporo Dome, Tokyo Dome, Nagoya Dome, Yahoo Dome in Fukuoka, and Kyocera Dome in Osaka and a special live event in Kawasaki on 17-19 July.
• KAT-TUN will become the 4th Johnny group to be able to conquer the 5 big domes in Japan after SMAP, Kinki Kids and Arashi. After October, the group will start their Asia Tour that includes Thailand, Taiwan and Korea.