#WHY IS SAWANATSU SO.

[banqanas]

SAWAMOTO NATSUKI…………..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CUREL Tiktok

[nodokasia]

*Fantastics on AWA LOUNGE Tell Me release party*

*Who congratulated Keito on his birthday first- talk*

Keito: It's between Sota and Taiki.

Yusei: I sent you a message too!

Taiki: Yeah, right...! Don't lie.(=3=)

Keito: Yusei's message came 5 minutes later or so...

SawaNatsu: You know! I too congratulated Keito at midnight. I watched TV and said "Congratulations, pal!" Exactly at midnight.

Taiki: You just said it. You didn't send a message. Doesn't count.

Keito: Let's see...Sota's message came in at 00.00....

Taiki: And mine?

Keito: Let me check Aniki...

Yusei: And mine?

Taiki: The chat is believing in me!

Keito: 00.01.

Yusei: Ouch, dude!

Sota: *hmpff~*😚w

Taiki: Uah, I lost.

Yusei: AnD MiNee?!!

Keito: Yagi's message came...

Taiki: Did you even send one, hmmm?

Yusei: I did.(Q_Q)

Keito: He did. He did.

Taiki: I bet he only sent one because he saw me send one too!😙

Yusei: Nu-huu..

Taiki: Liar~

Yusei: Huuh?(=_=*)

Taiki: Huuh?! (*=_=*)

Keito: 00.14!

Taiki & Yusei: SO FREAKING LATE!!!😂😂

Yusei: Dudes! Why should time matter anyway?😂

Keito: Right! It's all about feelings. Not sending time.😄

[thistaleisabloodyone]

Okay, I'm rewatching the three MVs we have so far to see what details I can notice. I am updating this as I find information and notice things, so it is incredibly jumbled, I apologize. Any knowledge I have of the Battle of Tokyo plot comes from buchib's livejournal.

The different backgrounds are different important items from the novels - the Mad Jesters have one of the books, Rowdy Shogun has the black diamond, and Astro9 has the mirror.

SherRock tears a page out of his book and lets it fly away - I think that's the page that flies through Justice is Blind and Black Magic. After doing this, he leaves the book behind and Zero picks it up, which is why he has it to compare with Teku in Black Magic.

I'm not sure what's going on with the different color crystals - so far I've seen green, red, white and purple. That's where the cameos from other groups tends to happen the most - In Beautiful Liar, SawaNatsu/Hajime is holding a red crystal, Kazuma/Lupus has a green crystal, Sekai/Teku has a red crystal, Ryoga/Michi has a green crystal.

Leiya/Kagura has shown up in every MV so far. Facing off against Reo/Masato and Hayato/Chatter in Beautiful Liar with Keito/Kane, Shogo/Travis and Shohei/Sarutobi. This scene is repeated in Black Magic, but without the Rowdy Shogun mbrs, which intrigues me. Kagura also ran through Justice is Blind and has a moment with Sarutobi, I think related to the fact both are speedsters. I was going to say that Kane has also shown up in every MV, but I don't think he was in Justice is Blind, now that I think about it.

Different characters are showing up in other group's MVs - every video so far has had a different Dung Beat Posse member.

According to the Exile Tribe wiki, we do have names for all 7 Dung Beat Posse mbrs. This may not be a recent development - god knows my memory is shit - but this is new information to me and maybe to any readers as well. The names are:

Tsurugi is Force, who showed up in the Justice is Blind MV crossing swords with Goemon.

Ryoga is Michi, who showed up in the Beautiful Liar MV. Michi is holding a green crystal, then turns around and walks away with it.

Ren is Ayase, who I don't think we've seen yet and at this rate would have to be in BBZ video tomorrow if they're having a cameo in every MV.

Jimmy is VinceP, who was in Black Magic today.

Kokoro is Haruto, who I couldn't find in the three MVs, but I may have missed it.

Ryushin is Hankichi, who I similarly haven't seen in the three MVs so far, but, again, may have missed him.

Weesa is Malik, who was also in Black Magic today.

I'm not sure why Riku/Bailey is in Black Magic and pocketing a red crystal to boot. The only other person I can remember taking the crystal they're holding is Michi.

[banqanas]

Been thinking as i sub fanta stuffs that probably the reason why fanta's dynamics interest me the most compared to other tribe groups is because they're the group that choose each other (compared to other groups who the members were chosen for them)

W leaders Sekai & Taiki chose 5 performers -> afterwards 7 performers chose their twin vocals -> to become a group of 9

And because they chose them, each performer takes care of their twinvocals in their own way (e.g: leiya & keito physical affection & motivation especially during their debut days, sawa & sekai personally teaches them choreo outside of group practice etc)

tl;dr: fantastics is the found family trope in exile tribe

[banqanas]

Also everyone should watch Sawamoto Natsuki's performer solo

[banqanas]

Comment from Sawamoto Natsuki:

Thank you to everyone who voted for me 🙏

ViVi magazine, it's an honor!

Comment from Yagi Yusei (Ranked #1 in the Ikemen NOW Category for the first half of 2024):

Finally the time for Natsuki-kun's sexiness to spread to the world is here,,

Sawamoto Natsuki -> Yagi Yusei's ranking

Senpai. (lol)

ViVi Japan ~National Treasure~ Handsome Men Ranking (ADULT Category)

With summer approaching, Vivi has released their biannual ikemen ranking for the first half of 2024.

In the adult category (not to be mistaken with the overall category), the Ikemen in this issue are not only those who are good looking but also popular, talented and exudes natural coolness.

The cream of the crop from men in their thirties who excites everyone with the maturity and sexual appeal of those who have experienced life's bittersweets.

And FANTASTICS' Sawamoto Natsuki, who just turned 30 this year has been ranked 10th! Congratulations!

Fantastics tweet

Check out the rest of the ranking HERE

[banqanas]

BATTLE OF TOKYO ~Jr.EXILE vs NEO EXILE~ backstage photo -

I feel like BOT24 backstage photos have double the amount of last year's, so here's a list of my favourite pictures (mainly fanta & jr exile):

Note: List is for Round 1 (Saitama Super Arena) only. updated every concert day

DAY 1 (2024.08.10)

RIKU who comes early to the venue so he can kick box Part 1

LIKIYA+Rui+Yamasho, the title says "oniichan group" but i call them slayyy king Rui+his bodyguards

Riki+Leiya (you can see his *redacted* 🙈🙈)

Sawa+Kokoro who sneaked in behind him

Sota's teeth brushing time Part 1

Tsurugi making a face when he has a migraine + Sawa is there

a rare KazuHokuSota

KetoTai with the brightest smiles ever in the universe

Riki with his favourite Sawa-san

Kokoro with Leiya-aniki

RYUSHIN+Ryuta-aniki

Takapi+Takkun+Rui and his gal (not Kamiken)

Keito, the cutest boy in the universe + Yusei and his donut this picture saved my life thank you so much for everything that made this moment possible 🙏

Gheechan and Kukku going home all lovey dovey

DAY 2 (2024.08.11)

RIKU who comes early to the venue so he can kick box Part 2

Gheechan+Kukku so close as usual Big Love

Taiki+Yusei being lovey dovey as usual Bigger Love

Miku sexual harassing psyfe's Kanabros /hj

Ryuta+Keito's bad hair day

Keito's hair fixed and perfect

JIMMY+Horinacchan birthday present

Makocchan+Leiya rare selfie

Sota's teeth brushing time Part 2

Sawa drenched in sweat after rehearsals is beautiful today too

Sota who has to follow suit

SawaSota two shot

RYUSHIN waiting in front of NEO EXILE's dressing room waiting to take a picture with someone he hasn't taken a pic together yet

REN+Keito. That's it that's the tweet

ZIN+RYOJI. they look good together

Hiroto with his oshi

Taiki+Yusei+Keito+Sota+new fanta member

Sawa+twins who are instinctively always camera ready

Sawa+Kokoro, the unexpected Part 2 (back hug)

Keito who saw SawaKoko and tried back hugging Taiki too but failed

Fanta twins photobombed by Yusei

10 billion Kei-chan (feat. Shohei)

Yamasho, Rui with salads + Kazuma with the biggest bag ever

Susan and Ryoji going home all lovey dovey im sorry but why does all WHH members are so lovey dovey for???? i cant take this 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ WHH is too love dream happiness

DAY 3 (2024.08.12)

theres no part 3 of Riku's kick boxing 😔 instead there's Miku's!

the words on Ryu's shirt is sending me.

YuseLeiya. thats it thats the tweet

YuseTai. thats it thats the tweet

FANTA TWINS!!!!!!!!! taking click box with each other hehe

Keito kawaii

Keito again. still kawaii

Sawanatsu with Ryoga!!!!!!! i've always thought that these two have the same vibes.... I want to see them perform together

Sawanatsu with Riku!!!!!!

Keito with yamasho paisen!!!!! thank you for this picture

Ryoji brushing his teeth

Sota's teeth brushing time Part 3.1 (feat Icchan, Yamasho, Masa) <- MUST WATCH

Sota's teeth brushing time Part 3.2 (feat. Sawanatsu)

Sota + Yosshi's teeth brushing time

Sawanatsu + Rui doing the kororo pose! I want to see them perform ROLL UP too.......................

Sawamatsu and Susan!!!!!! Mr. Adult Ikemen and Mr. Future Adult Ikemen (??) 👀 thank you for this picture that is full with mature handsome nutrients 🙏🙏🙏😇

Masa and his oniisan, Yusei. Yusei voice: we're actually brothers, you see 😎

Yusei with Gheechan!! now that you mention it i feel like they look somewhat alike.... interesting.....

Sawa. And then comes Sota. And next comes Keito. fanta kids are genki today too love and peace 😇🙏❤️❤️

SawaKetoSota who were dissing Taiki because he keeps going missing for the group photo

KetoSota who went to go find Taiki

And Sawa who lay down on the floor waiting

Keito's posing for the backstage picture with fan

SawaTai. thats it thats the tweet

Kokoro and Ren playing baseball and Ryushin ignoring them

Kazuma+Kokoro+Riki. oof i really like all their faces...and to have them together???!! blessed.

KazuRiki..........ugh they look so good together.... 顔が良い

Kazuma and Gheechan..... also look very good together.....

KAZUMA WITH KEITO!!!!!!!!!! I WINNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!

Ryuchan and Riku..... Ryucha is so cool........

SawaTai again (😒) but this time Sawa is gal

Horinacchan feeding Leiya. no comments necessary. please just look at it

Keito going home!!! otsucurry keito!!!! (im interested in the green keychain he has on his bag tho..... what is that......)

RICKY with his sunflower crochet bag!!!!!!! he's been wearing it a lot and its sooo cute i love it

[banqanas]

Haiiii

Ik this is so random but I am getting to know Leiya and I'm already so in love but I would like to know more, and since he's your oshi and you love talking about him, may you tell me things about him? 🥺👉👈 Pls

Hello! Thank you for the ask, I love Leiya and I love yapping! (lol)

I think the information on Exile Tribe wiki are pretty sufficient as an introduction to Leiya, so these are just additional fun facts imo

Recommended watch: ⭐️ 50 Questions with Seguchi Leiya (CL - ENG SUB), ⭐️ Seguchi Leiya's Seed of Dreams (CL - ENG SUB), Drinking with Leiya (Horinatsu Kanmuri), Q&A with Leiya (Horinatsu Kanmuri), Leiya's Morning Routine (Horinatsu Kanmuri), What's In My Bag feat. Leiya (Horinatsu Kanmuri)

his emoji in fandom is 🐵

is an only child

childhood dream was to be a sausage (yeah idk what that means)

was pretty much a soccer kid before he discovered dancing

he’s the member in fanta who has the least dance experience

was also interested in rap ever since he started dancing. He mainly rap during concert only (as remix to fanta songs), but you can check out his original rap in his Instagram videos

other than rapping, he's also very good at doing a Donald Duck impression

also likes drawing. his self-produce merch is usually his own design

usually late lol (Leiya's Morning routine)

likes camping and outdoor activities but never really shown any pictures of it

self proclaimed clean freak (50Qs with Leiya)

loves fortune telling

he's always somewhere doing workouts

Very particular about fragrance/perfume. The incense he used in The Usual Night is his own belonging and putting on aroma diffuser is his night time routine (50Qs with Leiya). He also has different mist for his hat/knit caps, mask, perfume etc (What's In My Bag feat. Leiya)

considers his butt as his charm point. Which is also the main focus in his photobook

Looks tough and always happy but is actually very sensitive. He takes things to heart easily and said that he actually thinks he's more often on the low than up. (Q&A with Leiya). Member Sawanatsu says he has a glass of heart.

Pretty sickly. He's prone to anemia and last year he took a break because of an infection.

Iirc the last time Leiya got an attack when performing was sometime two years ago, where he was unable to come out during encore. (I couldn't find which performance it was anymore, so don't quote me on this). this is also why im always happy to see Leiya anytime. Leiya is usually very reserved and doesnt talk much during MC time, but it’s fine. I’m satisfied as long as I get to see a healthy Leiya 🙏

Outside of fanta, he's close to Hidaka Ryuta (Ballistik Boyz)

Respects EXILE SHOKICHI a lot. He started getting interested in meat, wine, and wearing white Calvin Klein underwear because of SHOKICHI’s influence. He calls him niisan

The above are things Leiya himself said or from members, the below will be my own list of things I noticed or like about Leiya

he's very bad at SNS 🙃 He barely updates his SNS and even on the rare times where he does a livecast something will probably go wrong. and he still calls X as Twitter by habit

He's the most boyfriend-like when referring to fans. You will fall in love with him.

recommended MV for Leiya is Hey Darlin'

I really like Leiya's voice. There were some fanta songs that i came to like after i heard the remix with Leiya's rap (Playback, What A Wonder)

other than him rapping I also really like the way Leiya talks about mundane things like how he describes his ideal mattress, different scents, his supplements. etc. He's very good at making things sound important. I think he'd be a good salesman lol

I hope this helps in making you more interested in our Leiyataso! 🐵❤️

[banqanas]

FANTASTICS members as vegetables

by EXILE TRIBE's vege expert, Sawanatsu

From: Sawamoto Natsuki's FANTASTICS farm YouTube

If you enjoyed this, please watch the full video on SawaNatsu's YouTube channel and give it a like or comment! You can find the full translations for the whole video under cut:

Sawanatsu (0:00): Hello! This is FANTASTICS farm first episode of the new 2024 year. Please take care of us this year too. And today, we will bring you FANTASTICS farm Q&A corner! Yay! ✌️ Q1: What is the vegetable you've eaten the most in your life? A: Vegetable I've eaten the most...would be cabbages. It can be eaten in a salad, miso soup or even stir-fried. So I've probably eaten quite a lot of cabbages. Q2: What is the vegetable you've been eating a lot currently? A: Hmm, currently I eat a lot of...asparagus! I'd boil them and add mayonnaise and eat them like that. Vegetables tastes the best with the simplest preparation. [Q3 is subbed above] Q4: (For the staffs) What vegetable would Sawamoto Natsuki be? Camera man: Burdock roots. Sawanatsu: Oh! How so? Camera man: You have a strong core (heart) Recording engineer: A type of tomato... The ones called early girl. They taste refreshing, with big and bright fruits. Sawanatsu: Thank you very much for your detailed answer... I'm happy to hear that. Camera assistant: You're like...a cucumber. Sawanatsu: Cucumber? Why is that? Camera assistant (Haya): When I saw the question, the image of cucumber just sprang to my head. Sawanatsu: Haya-chan I thought you hate vegetables so I guess you don't know a lot of them? Recording engineer: Moreover you hate cucumbers! Sawanatsu: Wait Haya-chan do you hate me? Camera assistant: No, I like you a lot ❤️ Sawanatsu (3:50): That's a wrap! How did you like it? I reckon I've answered quite a few questions... This year too I will continue to show you the charms of Fukushima's vegetables, so please subscribe to the channel!

[banqanas]

I dont think Sawanatsu cares about the do not disturb sign he wants people in his kitchen right now

Sawamoto Natsuki it is 10pm i dont want to cook i want to sleep 😭😭😭😭

[banqanas]

@elenilote replied to your post:

see because my faves are JSB and Exile, the term "performer" has a slightly different flavour for me - these are grown ass men and I still think of Jr Exile as babies (tbf, they are to me - I am An Old) so I really can't help but watching their performances and think of kids copying their older brothers...but yes, Keito is so fascinating to me and alongside Yusei and Taiki the only Fanta members I care anything about :)

WAIT I THINK YOU JUST CRACKED IT………

My entry to exile tribe was jsb3 and i mostly watched their live performances during the time along with highlow the live (which is mainly exile)…!!!!!!!!! And i do love my ossan exile members 😌👌👌

i think this is why i still dont really see them fully as performers (personally for me the only ones in fanta i consider as performers are Sekai and Sawanatsu). As a group fanta is still very baby so I look forward to the day i can see them grow into full fledge performers 🙏🙏

[banqanas]

Today's highlights:

- i only realised it today but maybe the reason why Leiya always have a pink jersey on when he's rapping during Play Back is for Shota 🩷

- (by the time he reaches the sub stage for tarte tatin the pink jersey is already taken off somewhere)

- ketonatsu had a running match on their way down to sub-stage compared to yesterday where they looked at each other and walked sideways (like crabs) 🤣🤣 THANK YOU FOR KETONATSU MOMENTS EVERYTIME AT THIS PART 🦙🐸❤️❤️❤️

- MC is Taiki same as yesterday!!! And just like yesterday Taiki did not explain the dance steps to Tarte tatin "everyone already knows the steps at this point!" and instead asked everyone if they're having fun etc

- YuseLeiya strong as always

- also its definitely dvd recording day bc for once, a cameraman is also on stage taking closeup of the YuseLeiya moment LOL

- Yusei falls to his knees in embarrassment this time bc (i think????) Leiya kissed him on the cheeks for real (instead of an air kiss) ‼️‼️

- there's not a lot of closeups to members for today bc there's a lot of additional camera staffs around the stage for recording

- during yesterday's live cast there were a lot of closeups at sawanatsu and you can see up to his chest skin when he jumps up!!!!!!!🙈 😇🙏🙏🙏

- easy come easy go: on right side of main stage is where Leiya < - > Keito change places and this time when they pass each other, Leiya rushed over to get close with Keito and did the hand on the cheeks pose and looked at the camera !!!!!!! (very bad description)

- usually Leiya would just highfive Keito when they pass each other so this is a special LEIYAKETO MOMENT!!!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH LEIYATASO!!!!!!!!! 😭🙏🙏🙏🙏❤️❤️❤️❤️

Thank you very much for live cast throughout the whole tour!!!!! 🥹🙏🙏🙏

[nodokasia]

Sota: So, why do you go to the gym so often?

Keito, sipping iced coffee whilst watching SawaNatsu do hip thrusts: For the aesthetic? I dunno...

[banqanas]

My favourite thing about this livecast:

- Sawa san didnt mention why he was still staying over in the office but I assume it's to accompany Keito, since Keito went live around 10pm after they got back from CDTV live concert, which they performed at literally an hour before #SawaKeto forever ❤️

- Keito who playfully told Sota to get out, but made space for him to sit beside him

- Sota who came to see Keito as soon as he saw that Keito was doing Instalive so he's also still in the office

- (Keito never does his livecast at home, he always does them in the Idh office)

- Keito who's first instinct is to bite Sota

- Sotasota who always plays victim whenever he's fighting with Keito eventho he's the one who picked the fight first

- the change from tameguchi to keigo as soon as Sotasota is talking to Sawa (eventho technically Keito is also his senpai lol)

- Sota who always looks slightly annoyed whenever he's talking with Keito and is always nitpicking Keito's faults

- (sotasota is always a bit mean to keito but is an angel when hes with other members jdhfkdb #the biggest azatoi)

- (keito who doesn't mind being the target of Sota's sharp comebacks eventho sometimes he goes too far) via @hopkei

- Keito who imitates members speech pattern and body language 🥹❤️ keito just loves his members a lot

- Sawanatsu who's just as silly as the twins are when he's together with them

- SawaKetoSota shika katan honestly ❤️🦖🐸🐶❤️

Fanta twins fighting and biting as usual (Part 2)

From: Kimura Keito Instagram live 20240915

TL note: Nikubi is a joke from Keito's livecast a month ago and has become an inside joke between them.

(I don't know whether it refers to a real thing or just a made up word, but I think they find it funny because it sounds like chikubi)

[banqanas]

SO THIS IS WHY NAOTO WAS SUDDENLY MIXED IN WITH SEKAI, SAWANATSU AND PSYFE KIDS FROM A FEW WEEKS BACK!!!!!!!

I've been waiting for psyfe to make more tv appearances!!!!!!! And with fanta too????!!!???!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH NAOTO SANNNNNN!!!

EXILE NAOTO, EXILE SEKAI, Sawamoto Natsuki (Fantastics), RYOGA, REN, KOKORO, RYUSHIN (Psychic Fever) were guests in today's episode of popular variety tv show, Ningen Kansatsu Variety Monitoring (Human Observation Variety Monitoring)!

You can watch the archive on TVer for free! *VPN needed to access

The part that features NAOTO and the whole gang starts at 6:57

LINK: https://tver.jp/episodes/ep0sgtqzso

Note: Monitoring is a show where artists dress up as regular people to prank bystanders. In this episode, Exile Tribe members made their appearance in a certain high school and got mixed in a group of kids from the Dance Club

[banqanas]

As a fanta fan myself, i want to say I’m sad that i cant consider fanta joining this equation of expanding overseas, but for now i think it’s for the best that they are focusing on what their goals are. I think Hiro san’s words of wanting “fantastics to be a national group” left a very strong impact on them. As in, unless they are a nationally known group, it’s not enough. That’s why i think the members themselves arent looking outside yet. Maybe they have the desire, but they still have a lot of things to do in the country before they can even consider it.

Once again, this is my own interpretation, not based from anything fanta have said

Which is why most of fanta activities are for tv shows. Because its the medium that appeals to jp people the most. Which is why each of them have their own connection with different prefecture. E.g: Keito is a Tokyo kid, but his 10kei channel is supported by Yamaguchi broadcasting. Horinatsu is Aichi kid, but HoriKanmuri is hosted by Nagoya TV. Sawanatsu is Nagano kid but his Sawanatsu Batake is hosted by Fukushima broadcasting. Leiya is Kyushu kid and he has a regular segment in Niigata NTV saturday morning show.

So yeah, most of their activities are focused on getting close to people in specific regions in jp

And i also dont see their recent collab with korean group Epex as any first step to expanding overseas. Kpop is also gaining a lot of attention in japan, comparable to even the jpop industry. So i see it as their way to tap into that fanbase. When you compare it to psyfe and balliboyz activities, they havent done anything to interact with kr locals

Ofc this is just an observation of current fantastics. They have had their own setbacks before and are just starting to gain their footing again. Fantastics will continue to change and can become bigger. If they do want to expand overseas one day, i hope that it’s because the members themselves want to and they also make a lot of sincere effort like what they are doing rn in different regions in jp. Because anything less or half hearted would just be painful for fans.

P.S: as im writing this, Exile Hiro made a speech at the graduation ceremony of Kindai University and presented them with his junior group, Fantastics to make a performance

ever since i started learning japanese seriously, i usually tweet and try to make friends with jp people in the same fandom so i can practice my speaking/writing

I usually have like 2-3 mutuals in my old fandoms where we communicate in japanese, and sometimes some of them wants to learn english too, so we’d talk in both jp and eng

maybe bc my old fandoms are mainly 2d genre (anime and mobage) where even jp fans understand that jp animanga are becoming more popular globally and as a result, the fans are more accepting to interactions with overseas fans.

(I think there’s also a factor that in terms of 2d genre, western comics, cartoons and animations like marvel/disney/pixar are a benchmark of sorts. So jp animanga joining the ranks by becoming more global is something to be proud of)

but exile fandom scares me bc i barely see any open interaction with jp-overseas fans so i didnt make as much effort to reach out to jp fans even if i love their drawing/tweets and felt like we could get along bc of similarities :’) i feel like the fandom gap between jp exile fans and overseas exile fans are as wide as the seas that separates us