Road to A – to Authenticity, to Asia, and All Over the World. This is how Travis Japan described the meaning behind their first album to mark their journey thus far. 

“We feel strongly about being on the path to becoming the artists we aspire to be,” said Kaito Matsukura, fondly known as Machu, during a press conference before their exclusive showcase at centralwOrld in Bangkok, Thailand, on 28 February. 

It was a weekday, but fans gathered around the mall’s central court from early afternoon, to catch a glimpse of the seven-member J-pop group who have been making waves in the global music charts. The boys revelled in the bright atmosphere as they introduced themselves in Thai and thanked everyone for welcoming them with so much warmth.

“Finally, we can come here and meet you guys, and together we wanna have a great time with you guys!” member Noel Kawashima greeted the crowd in English before expressing how full his heartfelt with a resounding “ใจฟูมากๆ!”

After opening the main event with ‘DRIVIN’ ME CRAZY’, the members of Travis Japan sat down for a very candid Q&A session, with the guys taking as much opportunity to joke around as they earnestly answered fan questions about their favourite Thai food, places they're interested to see, whether they've tried riding an elephant, and whether they plan to hold a concert in the country. 

Leader Kaito Miyachika (Chaka) said that while there were currently no plans for a Thailand concert, the enthusiasm from everyone present that day made him determined to do it. He expressed this with a seriousness that contrasted the way, just moments ago, he teased about eating his question slip after saying “อร่อย (delicious!)” multiple times and being asked why. 

As far as delicious things go, a true highlight of the showcase was the “Thai Class” in which the artists’ personalities shone further as they playfully challenged themselves with tricky Thai phrases that left their tongues in a twist, for a taste of Thai desserts as their prize for each round. Genta Matsuda, in particular, loved the kanom babin (coconut pancake) so much, that he chased after the plate when staff made to return it backstage.

It was a fun time for both Travis Japan and the fans, featuring plenty of interaction, most notably when the members picked out the lucky draw winners and presented them with their gifts themselves, but ultimately for everyone who made it a point to be there as well. 

Emi, who fell in love with the group last year after watching their content on YouTube, was one of the lucky fans to win a seat at the showcase. “I never dreamed that I would see Travis Japan in my country,” she shared. “Their performance was amazing, and they are so much more funny in real life than they are on YouTube. Furthermore, I felt moved by how much they cared about their fans; it gave me the impression that they truly value the existence of those who support them as well as the audiences who come to see them perform.”

There’s a special kind of magic in finally meeting the artists you’ve only seen behind the screen in the flesh. “After watching the showcase,” Emi continued, “I regretted not being their fan from the beginning, but from now on, I wish them nothing but the best in their future, and I hope they can continue to enjoy what they do and grow even more!”

But it’s not only Thais who were excited to meet them. Japanese fans, particularly those residing in Thailand, and ones of various other nationalities also surrounded the central court to catch a glimpse of Travis Japan. 

Rie was one such fan. She and her friends, along with their kids, were among those who gathered at the higher floor balconies to cheer for the group with their homemade banners and uchiwas. Like several others, they had even brought picnic mats to secure their prime viewing spot. 

A fan not only of the group but also other J-pop acts from the same agency, Rie shared what it meant to her to see Travis Japan in her second home: “Since their debut in America, they’ve been travelling to different parts of the world, and I’ve always wanted them to come to Thailand someday. I’ll have to go back to Japan soon, so I’m really glad they came to Thailand while I’m here.”

As Travis Japan closed the night with ‘LEVEL UP’ and ‘Okie Dokie!’, everyone cheered as loud as they could – almost as if to emphasise how grateful they were to have the group there and how strongly they hoped for their immediate return. 

Likewise, the guys then thanked the fans for the surprise banners (やっとこの日が来た / Finally this day has come, these banners said) and reiterated their own desire to come back for something bigger. 

Watch Travis Japan’s LEVEL UP below: