Kaito Miyachika, familiarly known as Chaka, took out some sheets of paper from his shirt pocket, scribbled with notes that he had prepared. He seemed nervous, his eyes gazed everywhere. That day, he had a big duty to announce the news about the future of the Japanese group that he led, Travis Japan.

Before delivering the news to their fans through an Instagram Live session, Chaka glanced at his group members once again - which was replied by the other six members with an assuring look. Chaka then read the notes he prepared.

“We, Travis Japan, will embark on our journey to Los Angeles, America, at the end of March,” announced Chaka followed by cheers and rounds of applause from the other Travis Japan members.

Travis Japan decided to go to the United States (US) to polish their skills and talents as an idol group. The journey itself is a huge step for Travis Japan which is under the management of Johnny & Associates agency.

“I was very nervous,” said Chaka during an interview with CNNIndonesia.com at the end of March.

“But, that nervous feeling was because I had to announce a good news, not a bad news. I was thinking so seriously on how to deliver the news in the best way that I could,” he said.

The group that consists of Chaka, Noel Kawashima, Ryuya Shimekake (Shime), Shizuya Yoshizawa (Shizu), Kaito Nakamura (Umi), Kaito Matsukura (Matsuku), and Genta Matsuda said they were very excited but also nervous to start their new adventure.

This is the fourth time for Japanese groups under the Johnny & Associates agency tried to enter the US market.

The previous two groups from the agency, Johnny’s and Shounentai, had to give up their desire to penetrate the US market due to one or other reasons. After Shounentai failed at debuting in the US around 1980, and finally debuted in Japan, there were no other groups from the agency that attempt to debut in the US.

Another Japanese idol group, Arashi, even did not succeed to execute all of their plans in the US before finally taking hiatus in the midst of the pandemic.

The seven Travis Japan members are still holding onto their dreams to debut internationally as a group. They said it with full confidence that it was the future goal of their group.

What makes them different from their seniors is that Travis Japan chooses to improve their skills first in the US.

“This journey is one of the strategies to improve ourselves to be able to debut with major label,” said Chaka.

Travis Japan's first plan after stepping on their feet in the US was to participate in a dance competition, the World of Dance Orange County at the House of Blues Anaheim, California, on March 27.

Travis Japan went all out during their first competition. They successfully won third place in the competition for Team Division. Not only that they brought home the third-place trophy in the competition, but they also won the other two awards for Best Costume and Crowd Favorite.

“We never experienced things like this before. It makes us very happy and motivates us to work and learn harder,” they said after winning the World of Dance Orange County Competition.

“This is only the beginning. Now, we really have the energy to start (our journey),” they said.

There is no other dream country for Travis Japan, except the US. It’s their American dream.

The Travis Japan members have all the reasons to visit America, to learn as much as possible as an idol group. Their ambition is also inseparable from the history of the figure who formed their group, Johnny Kitagawa, the founder of Johnny & Associates, and his relations with the US. Johnny Kitagawa is a legendary figure in Japan entertainment industry. Thanks to him, dozens of Japanese male idol groups were formed in these last 60 years.

Johnny, who was born in Los Angeles – the city where Travis Japan is currently staying – was an admirer of the US culture and entertainment industry.

In 2012, he formed Travis Japan and named it after Travis Payne, an American choreographer. Payne was the choreographer for the late Michael Jackson, including for his last concert, This Is It.

The first original song by Travis Japan was titled 夢のHollywood (read: Yume no Hollywood; Hollywood of Dreams). The title was enough to portray Travis Japan's passion as a group.

“In order to grow and represent our group to the world, It makes sense if we start from a place where it all began,” said Shizu.

Unfortunately, Travis Japan’s achievement in America will not be witnessed by Johnny. He passed away in July 2019.

Travis Japan wanted the legend to see their journey in the country that he admired. They believe that Johnny would have fully supported their mission.

“If he (Johnny Kitagawa) was still here with us today, he would have supported us, pushed us into the airplane to come to US, while doing it with a big smile,” said Umi.

In the summer of 2020, Chaka, Noel, Shime, Shizu, Umi, Matsuku, and Genta were rethinking their career and the plan of Travis Japan as a group. They were still holding onto the same ambition and dream: debuting.

However, they had to rack their brains and went through a long discussion to make their dreams come true.

The idea to start their journey to the US was constrained by the COVID-19 pandemic that has stopped the world. Thus, they spent one year of the pandemic preparing their idea and plans in the US, including making a series of activities they would have in the country.

“After deciding the plan, we as Travis Japan expressed (our plan) to the agency leaders,” said Noel. The agency gave full support to Travis Japan over their decision, including Takizawa Hideaki, the Vice President of Johnny & Associates who is also a former member of an idol group, Tackey & Tsubasa.

Travis Japan also received support and input from many people such as their seniors in the agency and staffs.

With the blessings and support from the agency and many people around them, their next step was to prepare for their departure. Entering the summer of 2021, Travis Japan started to take dance and vocal training as well as English lesson.

They took these additional courses while preparing to participate in the World of Dance Orange County Competition. After winning the third position in the competition, they are ready to progress to the next steps.

Now, the Travis Japan days in America are filled with training, training, and more trainings.

They take vocal lessons under the guidance of Katie Riggs, a vocal coach who had coached some big names such as Ozzy Osbourne and Dua Lipa. Travis Japan was also spotted to have dance lessons in Millenium dance Complex sometimes ago.

However, unlike the sunshine in Los Angeles, support did not always shine on the path of Travis Japan.

When Travis Japan announced their departure to the US, the social media was not only filled with supports, but also disappointments from fans. Several speculations and rumors spread wildly due to their decision.

Fans were expecting that Travis Japan would deliver their debut news on the online announcement on that day. However, it was not the debut announcement coming out of Chaka’s mouth that day.

Travis Japan said they were aware of the tension between them and their fans online after their announcement. However, they did not have anything more to say to fans to make them believe that the decision to go to the US that was purely the initiative of Travis Japan members.

Travis Japan members want to maintain a good relationship with their fans, both those in Japan or in any other part of the world. They want to prove to fans their achievement in the US.

“We hope that our fans can see how big this opportunity is for us and how serious our commitment is to do our best,” said Chaka.

“Our sincere hope that you guys can support us. If not today, in the future we will bring home experiences that will make our fans proud of us,” he continued.

Travis Japan has thought of the best way to communicate with fans during their time in the US. All channels that connect Travis Japan with their fans will stay active. The social media channels are Travis Japan Instagram; Johnny’s Web; ISLAND TV; and two Travis Japan YouTube channels, Johnny’s Jr. Channel and +81 Dance Studio.

“We want to share our daily lives in the US through our social media accounts and blogs as soon as possible,” promised Matsuku.

Travis Japan wants to make their content for the +81 Dance Studio, a channel where they can recreate choreography for classic songs of Johnny & Associates groups. However, it is pretty difficult for them to make contents at the moment while adjusting to their lives and activities in the US.

They decided that the content production process on their channels would be helped by Travis Japan juniors. They also open their door to collaborate with American choreographers to be featured in +81 Dance Studio soon.

“I want to do +81 (Dance Studio) in America, and I will be very happy if we can collaborate with American choreographers,” Genta hoped.

The announcement of their new adventure to the US has been delivered, and the series of activities schedules have been set, but Travis Japan's journey in the US is just starting. There are many challenges ahead that they will face in country 8,900 kilometers away from their homeland.

Travis Japan promised that they would use their time in the US to overcome all the challenges.

In one episode aired on the Jyanino Channel on YouTube, Kazunari Ninomiya who hosts the channel, gave otoshidama or a monetary gift to Travis Japan. He gave the otoshidama and passed a message to them.

The man, familiarly known as Nino gave some money in Japanese currency (yen) so that Travis Japan could bring along with them to the US. Nino asked them to bring back home the “yen” so that they will not forget the homeland where they come from.

“We received a Japanese “yen” and we brought it along to America. When we go back to Japan, we will bring the “yen” back carefully and we will treat it as a support to build connections with other people,” explained Noel.

So, do not worry if Travis Japan have not decided when would they go back home to Japan. One sure thing is: Travis Japan will be back home someday, when they have fully developed themselves.

Travis Japan wants to return home when their group name has gotten bigger and their skills as an idol group have been well-polished.

They want to pay back their fans’ sadness over their departure by showing that the group has grown to be a better version of them, and finally deserved to debut.

Shime said that until the debut day comes, “We will become Travis Japan that belongs to the world.”