Bullet Train (chotokkyu / 超特急)

Overview

Bullet Train (超特急, Chōtokkyū) is a Japanese boy group under Stardust Promotion, selected from the agency's EBiDAN (Ebisu Gakuen Danshibu) roster and formed on December 25, 2011. Its labels are SDR and Polydor Records (Universal Music). The group is defined by a unique "main dancer & back vocalist" format in which the dancers perform at the front and the vocalists stand behind them. It has been likened to Momoiro Clover Z, a girl group from the same agency. Bullet Train won its first award at MAMA 2018, made its long-awaited first appearance on Music Station in 2025, and announced its first solo concerts at Tokyo Dome on November 25 and 26, 2026, a goal since the group's formation.

Members

Kai, Ryoga, Takuya, Yuki and Takashi are called single-digit cars; Shuya, Masahiro, Aloha and Haru are double-digit cars. Fans are called "No. 8 car" (pink) and staff "No. 9 car" (navy). Four new members joined in 2022, making a nine-member lineup as of August 2022. Former members include Sho, Koichi and Yusuke.

Career

• 2011: Formed on December 25 as "超特急☆-BULLET TRAIN-" and made its first performance at EBiDAN events.
• 2012: Takuya joined in March, replacing Sho. Debut single "TRAIN" followed on June 10, then "Shake body" in October.
• 2013: Released "POLICEMEN", "Bloody Night", "Starlight" (as Ultra Bullet Train, #1 on the Oricon Indies chart) and "Kiss Me Baby". Held its first solo event in Ikebukuro in March, opened a-nation island in August, and headlined Yoyogi National Gymnasium for the first time in December. Leadership passed from Yuki to Ryoga.
• 2014: Released "ikki!!!!!i!!", "Believe×Believe" and "Star Gear/EBiDAY EBiNAI/Burn!", its first live video, and toured Zepp venues nationwide. The official fan club launched, and the first album "RING" came out in December. A Tokyo International Forum Hall A show drew about 5,000 people.
• 2015: Worked with producers Tetsuya Komuro and Kenichi Maeyamada on "Stardust LOVE TRAIN/Battaman" and featured Marty Friedman on "Beautiful Chaser". Sang the theme for the drama Tantei no Tantei, released its first photo book, and starred in the film Sideline. Two nights at Yoyogi National Gymnasium in December drew around 25,000 fans.
• 2016: Released "Yell", toured 13 cities and 15 venues with "Syncronism", issued its second album "Dramatic Seven", launched an official YouTube channel, released a second photo book, and held arena shows in Kobe and Tokyo.
• 2022: Four new members joined.
• 2025: Appeared on Music Station for the first time.
• 2026: Released "C'est la vie" (April 8), "ガチ夢中！" (May 11) and "Secret Invitation" (August 9). On August 10 came a batch of re-versions ("STYLE", "BREAK OFF", "Hey Hey Hey", "Never Mine", "HOPE STEP JUMP", "OVER DRIVE", "Re-ライオンライフ") plus ESCORT Special medleys. "ガチ夢中！" (September 19) and "エトランス・フィーバー" (October 12) followed.

Musical style

The main dancer & back vocalist format is the group's signature, and the center position changes with every single. Stylish yet approachable, the members also work in variety and travel programs, acting, fashion magazine and cosmetics collaborations, game streaming and directing their own concerts.