V6 (band)

V6
Company type	Boy band
Industry	Music
Founded	1995
Founder	Johnny & Associates
Defunct	2021-11-01
Headquarters	Tokyo, Japan
Products	Music albums, singles, concerts
Number of employees	6 (members)
Website	avex.jp/v6/

was a Japanese boy band consisting of six members, established by Johnny & Associates. Their debut single, "Music for the People," was released on November 1, 1995, and served as the image song for the 1995 Volleyball World Cup. The initial four singles they issued were adaptations of Eurobeat tracks originally created by Italian producers such as Giancarlo Pasquini and others.

Following the example set by their agency predecessors Hikaru Genji, V6 was divided into two age-based subunits: 20th Century, featuring the three eldest members, and Coming Century, comprising the three youngest. Throughout their career, the group achieved sales exceeding 13.5 million albums and singles.

On March 12, 2021, it was revealed that V6 would officially disband on November 1, 2021, coinciding with their 26th anniversary.

Name

During an appearance on Hey! Hey! Hey! Music Champ, the group shared that the letter "V" in V6 originally stood for "Versus," symbolizing the friendly rivalry between 20th Century and Coming Century. Former president Johnny Kitagawa later broadened this acronym to include meanings such as "Volleyball," "Vegetable" (a nod to Sakamoto’s family business), "Bicycle" (reflecting Nagano’s family enterprise), and "Veteran."

1995–2021

In 1996, V6 performed Take Me Higher, the opening theme for the twelfth installment of the Ultraman franchise, Ultraman Tiga. From 1997 through 2008, they hosted their own variety show , and starting in 2001, they presented Viva Viva V6 on Fuji Television. Individual members also engaged in solo television programs, dramas, and radio shows.

Their track "Thunderbird - your voice -" was selected as the theme for the Japanese edition of Thunderbirds.

For their tenth anniversary in 2005, V6 organized approximately thirty sold-out concerts across Japan, held three major "Thank You Events," released the film Hold Up Down, and launched the album Musicmind. Additionally, they conducted an extensive "Handshake Session" with fans in Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, and Fukuoka.

Within their subgroups, Coming Century performed "Breakthrough" and 20th Century delivered "Innocence," both serving as opening themes for the anime Eyeshield 21. As a full group, V6 contributed the insert song "Chain of Power". They also provided theme songs for well-known anime series including InuYasha, Fairy Tail, and One Piece.

On May 3, 2017, they released a double A-side single titled "COLORS/Taiyou to Tsuki no Kodomotachi." The song "COLORS" was used as the theme for member Yoshihiko Inohara’s drama broadcast on TV Asahi, while "Taiyou to Tsuki no Kodomotachi" featured on NHK's program "Minna no Uta."

Johnny & Associates announced on March 12, 2021, that V6 would disband effective November 1. To commemorate this, a final concert tour named LIVE TOUR V6 groove was scheduled from September through November alongside a new album titled STEP, which was released on September 4.

Their concluding TV variety show aired on October 26, 2021. On the same day, they issued their final best album called Very6 BEST.

With Go Morita’s departure from the agency on November 1, Coming Century effectively ceased to exist as a subgroup; meanwhile, Okada and Miyake pursued individual careers. Miyake exited in May 2023 followed by Okada in November 2023. The subgroup 20th Century continues its activities beyond this point.

Beyond disbandment

On October 26, 2025, it was revealed that the group's entire discography would become available on streaming and digital download services starting November 1. Furthermore, 20th Century announced plans to inaugurate "Cafe 20th Century" in Jiyugaoka, marking two years since their initial opening and approximately ten months after closing their former Shibuya venue.

20th Century

Masayuki Sakamoto (serving as leader of both V6 and 20th Century)
Hiroshi Nagano
Yoshihiko Inohara

Coming Century

(Officially disbanded following Go Morita's exit)

Go Morita (leader; departed November 1, 2021)
Ken Miyake (left on May 2, 2023)
Junichi Okada (exited November 30, 2023)

Discography

Studio albums

Since 1995: Forever (1996)
Nature Rhythm (1997)
A Jack in the Box (1998)
"Lucky" 20th Century, Coming Century to Be Continued... (1999)
"Happy" Coming Century, 20th Century Forever (2000)
Volume 6 (2001)
Seven (2002)
Infinity: Love & Life (2003)
Musicmind (2005)
Voyager (2007)
Ready? (2010)
Oh! My! Goodness! (2013)
The Ones (2017)
Step (2021)

Compilation albums

Very Best (2001)
Very Best II (2006)
Super Very Best (2015)
Very6 Best (2021)

DVD/VHS

1996: Live for the People
1997: Film V6: Clips and More
1998: Space (from V6 Live Tour '98)
1999: Film V6 Cct II: Clips and More
2001: Very Happy!!!
2002:
- Film V6 Act III: Clips and More
- Liv6
2003: Hard Luck Hero (movie)
2004: Love & Life (V6 Summer Special Dream Live 2003)
2005:
- Film V6 Act IV (Ballad Clips and More)
- Film V6 act IV (Dance Clips and More)
- Very Best Live (1995–2004)
- Hold Up Down (movie)
2006: 10th Anniversary Concert Tour 2005: Musicmind
2008: V6 Live Tour 2007 Voyager (Boku to Bokura no Ashita)
2009:
- V6 Live Tour 2008 Vibes
- 20th Century Live Tour 2008 Ore Ja Nakya, Kimi Ja Nakya
- 20th Century Live Tour 2009 Honey Honey Honey
- We are Coming Century Boys Live Tour 2009
2010: V6 Live DVD Asia Tour 2010 in Japan Ready?
2012: V6 Live Tour 2011 Sexy.Honey.Bunny!
2013: V6 Live Tour 2013 Oh! My! Goodness!
2016: V6 Live Tour 2015 -since 1995~forever-
2018: LIVE TOUR 2017 The ONES
2021: For the 25th anniversary
2022: LIVE TOUR V6 groove

20th Century

2009:
- 20th Century Live Tour 2008 Ore Ja Nakya, Kimi Ja Nakya
- 20th Century Live Tour 2009 Honey Honey Honey

Coming Century

1997: Sky
1998: Question
2003: Cosmic Rescue (movie)
2009: We are Coming Century Boys Live Tour 2009

Other activities

Members of V6 have broadened their scope by participating in television dramas such as V no Honoo (1995) and films including Hard Luck Hero (2003) and Hold Up Down (2005).

V6

Hard Luck Hero (2003)
Japanese dub of Thunderbirds (2004)
Hold Up Down (2005)

Coming Century

Cosmic Rescue (2003)

Drama

All members featured in the drama series V no Honoo (1995, Fuji TV)
Kamisen members starred in both ‘’PU-PU-PU-’’ (1998, TBS) and ‘’Shin・Oretachi no Tabi Ver.1999’’ (1999, NTV)
Tonisen members appeared in the Fuji TV drama collection ‘’Shounentaiya(doramaserekushon)『Shinsen~Yoru no Ongaku』’’

Variety shows

Majikaru Zunou Pawaa!! aired on NTV from 1996 to 1999
The Gakkou e Ikou! franchise broadcast on TBS from 1997 until 2021, featuring:
- Gakkou e Ikou!MAX (2005–2008)
- Yearly special editions such as V6 no Ai Nanda (2017–2020)
24 Jikan Terebi on NTV during 1998 and 2000
V6 no Moto, which ran on Fuji TV from 1999 to 2000
Mach V6 broadcast in 2000 on Fuji TV
Owarai V6 Byoutou, Fuji TV program from 2000 to 2001
Shows centered around Kamisen members include: MyMiCen! (2001), the Otosen! series (2001–2002), and Rabusen! (2002–2004)
Tonisen's program titled Asuriito Ouen TV! Nippon! Chax3, aired on TBS between 2006 and 2007
Long-duration broadcasts such as VivaVivaV6 (Fuji TV, 2001–2010) and Shinchishiki Kaikyuu Kumagusu (TBS, 2008–2010), among others
More recent productions include:
- Mission V6 (2010–2011)
- Otoko no Hensaachi!! (2011–2012)
- Gacha Gacha V6 (2012–2014)
- The short-lived show V6 LOVE VICTORY in 2013
- AMAZIPANG, which aired from 2014 through 2021

External links