Naniwa Danshi

is a Japanese boy band formed by Johnny & Associates on October 6, 2018. It consists of seven members who primarily come from the Kansai region. The group's official debut announcement was made on July 28, 2021, through their label J Storm. Their debut single, "Ubu Love", was released on November 12, 2021. Naniwa Danshi is the fourth Johnny & Associates group from the Kansai region to make an official debut after KinKi Kids, Kanjani Eight, and Johnny's West. The name "Naniwa" refers to the old name of Osaka (also name of a ward in Osaka). In just 4 months they sold 1.14 million physical copies in Japan. History Naniwa Danshi is produced by Kanjani Eight's Tadayoshi Okura. Prior to Naniwa Danshi, a Kansai Johnny's Jr trio unit called was formed in August 2012. Naniwa Ouji includes the two current members Daigo Nishihata, Ryusei Onishi, and Ren Nagase, who later became a member of King & Prince. The group's formation was informed to the members through mass e-mails, as opposed of being called directly to Johnny Kitagawa's place, leading members to think that "it was a prank." Nishihata thought it was a prank due to the group's name "Naniwa Danshi" just means they are "people from Kansai." Now he's grateful for it since people are easier to remember them with the name. Formation of Naniwa Danshi was the first time in 4 years for Kansai Johnny's Jr and was publicly announced through the magazine Potato. On January 5, 2021, Naniwa Danshi, along with two other Kansai Johnny's Jr. groups (Ae! group and Lil Kansai), joined the Johnny's Jr. official YouTube channel, indirectly replacing SixTones and Snow Man after their departure from the channel.