Kinki Kids are Koichi Domoto (born January 1, 1979) and Tsuyoshi Domoto (born April 10, 1979). While the two share a surname and have a TV show called Domoto Kyodai (Domoto brothers), they are not related. Their stage name, in case you are wondering, is not an indication of their sexual preferences. It is the Japanese name for the western region of Japan. The duo share the suggestive name with the travel agency Kinki Nippon Tourist and a number of other businesses from this region. Kinki... read more

Kinki Kids are Koichi Domoto (born January 1, 1979) and Tsuyoshi Domoto (born April 10, 1979). While the two share a surname and have a TV show called Domoto Kyodai (Domoto brothers), they are not related. Their stage name, in case you are wondering, is not an indication of their sexual preferences. It is the Japanese name for the western region of Japan. The duo share the suggestive name with the travel agency Kinki Nippon Tourist and a number of other businesses from this region. Kinki Kids are in many ways a textbook product of Johnny's Jimusho's amazing ability to produce successful male idol groups. The members were handpicked and named by Johnny's president Johnny Kitagawa. They signed on with Johnny's in 1981, and were trained for show business under his supervision. They debuted as idols in 1993, but did not make their recording debut until 1997. The members were seen on TV before they became famous, and now very frequently appear, together and separately, on TV talk shows, music shows and dramas. Tsuyoshi has appeared in the sitcom Kindaichi Shonen no Jikembo, and Koichi in Remote. Koichi has also appeared in the musical SHOCK for three consecutive years. Kinki Kids hosted their own show, Love Love Aishiteru, which ran from October 1996 to March 2001, and credit musicians they met through the show as influencing their own music. Also in keeping with Johnny's modus operandi, Kinki Kids have been featured extensively in advertising, including ads for Coca-Cola, Nissan, Panasonic, ANA Airlines, Morinaga Confections, and Suntory. The dynamic duo put on elaborate stage shows, in the Johnny's tradition, some of which have been filmed and released on video, most notably Kinki Kids 3 days Panic! At Tokyo Dome '98-'99 released in April 1999, Kinky Kids Returns! 2001 Taipei Concert", released in September 2001, and Kinki Kids F Dome Concert ~Fun Fan Forever, released in December 2003. As is the norm with Johnny's artists, they have a gimmick. Theirs is that each album is named after a letter of the alphabet, in alphabetical order, so their debut album of 1997 was A. They have released one album every year since, and so 2004's album was G. Also, Kinki Kids have the distinction of having every single they have ever released debut at number one. Whether this is to the credit of their songwriters, their singing, their handsome looks and charming characters, clever marketing, Johnny's ability to manipulate the charts, or some combination of these is debatable, but this impressive accomplishment has been noted by the Guinness Book of World Records. While most of their songs are by outside writers, Kinki Kids themselves are credited with writing their hit of 2000 "Sukini Natteku Aishiteku". Their 21st single, "Velvet no Yami" is due June 15, 2005. collapse