'I was worried whether our bodies would keep up': J-pop boy band Ballistik Boyz recall filming for new music video , Entertainment News

AsiaOne

2 days ago

Dancing on a rooftop under a clear sky sounds like a tranquil scene, but for these seven idols, it was a different affair.
AsiaOne recently spoke with Japanese pop group Ballistik Boyz from Exile Tribe about one of their latest singles and their upcoming first-ever tour of Asia.
The rap, vocal and dance group which debuted in 2019 consists of seven members — Ryuta Hidaka, Yoshiyuki Kano, Ryusei Kainuma, Miku Fukahori, Rikiya Okuda, Riki Matsui and Masahiro Sunada — and belongs to the Japanese supergroups Exile Tribe and Jr. Exile, which J-pop boy band Psychic Fever is also a part of.
The music video for one of their newest singles Stardust Forever, released on July 4, is set in what appears to be a rooftop and an enclosed warehouse, with skateboarding scenes featuring extras. As of Aug 4, the youthful and uplifting video has garnered over 1.4 million views on YouTube.
Rikiya, 25, told AsiaOne: "I remember the air inside the warehouse being really thin. I'm quite sensitive to things like that, so I could feel that the air wasn't circulating properly inside — I remember that shoot being really tough for me!"
Riki, also 25, added: "When we all walked up to the rooftop together, I thought it would be tough at first. But walking with everyone made it feel like we got there in no time.
"We shot the dance scene [on the rooftop] at the very end of the day, so I was worried whether our bodies would keep up, but we were all able to dance really well together!
"Also, it was supposed to rain on the day of the shoot, but we were saying how nice it would be to film under a clear blue sky — and then it actually cleared up! That was such a surprise."
The members also found solace in some of the song's introspective lyrics.
Such as a line sung by Ryusei, 26, that he said he really likes — "If I run just a little further, I'll reach paradise" — because it "perfectly fits how I feel right now!"
Miku, also 26, resonated with a part of the chorus: "Even if life is 80 years long, it feels both long and short."
He elaborated: "I truly believe the most important thing is to enjoy this life — which may seem long but is actually short — in your own way." 'Still far from satisfied'
Currently, the boys have embarked on their tour Impact ~Asia~, which will take them to Japan, Taiwan and Thailand from July 31 to Nov 7 this year - marking Ballistik Boyz' first time touring beyond their home country.
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Ryusei revealed that from the very beginning, the group already had the goal of going global and are now "taking that very first step".
"For us, it feels like 'finally'! We started our activities overseas around 2019, so we're truly happy that we're finally able to hold our own solo live show abroad," said 28-year-old Yoshiyuki.
He added: "It's so much fun to meet people in places with different cultures and languages, and to connect through music.
"Since different countries get excited about different songs, we carefully decided the setlist together as a group, especially for festivals."
However, Ryuta, the group's oldest member at 29, still feels there's more to achieve.
"I'm still far from satisfied. We want to keep spreading our name and have more people get to know us. I want Ballistik Boyz to be known around the world as a group that represents Japan and Asia — to make our name roar on the global stage!"
While on this tour, Rikiya wants to challenge himself to sing acapella in one of their songs. "I'm not sure if it would be part of a performance or when would be the right timing, but if there's an opportunity, I'll take it on!"
In their desire to expand their circle of fans around the world, Riki expressed: "I think one of the greatest things about music is that it allows us to communicate without words."
Exemplifying this, the group moved to Thailand for six months between 2022 and 2023 as part of a joint musha shugyo (Japanese term for a samurai's personal journey, typically for self-improvement) with Psychic Fever.
"The time we spent in Thailand brought about a huge change for us, and in the best way possible," shared Masahiro, 25. "To be honest, I really came to understand firsthand both the magnitude of the dreams I want to achieve and how difficult they are to accomplish.
"Our unity as a group also grew, and I think it was a turning point where all of us could stand on the same page again."
Ryuta agreed, adding: "It was a crucial period where we had to figure things out on our own, while also being supported by our fans. During that time, our determination to achieve our dreams grew even stronger."
As part of their EP, also titled Stardust Forever, Ballistik Boyz released their All of You music video on July 25, which garnered 1.2 million views within its first three days of release.
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