Junior idol group ACEes announced their determination to debut while promoting their current arena tour this week [1].
The group's experience backing one of Japan's most successful acts provides a bridge between the legacy of veteran idols and the next generation of performers. By absorbing the performance standards of their predecessors, ACEes seeks to accelerate their own path to professional stardom.
ACEes, a five-member group [1], recently served as backup performers for ARASHI during the "We are ARASHI" 2026 national tour. This experience culminated at the Tokyo Dome, where ARASHI performed their final concert on May 31, 2026 [2].
During a recent interview, member Yuto Nasu focused on the importance of the relationship between performers and their audience. Nasu said the primary lesson was how much a performer can value their fans. He noted that while standing behind the veterans, the group felt the spirit of trying to entertain every single person from one end of the venue to the other [1].
These lessons are being applied to the group's own current project, the ACEes Arena Tour 2026 “V” [1]. The group is using the tour to build their own fanbase, and demonstrate their readiness for a formal debut.
Tobuki Ukisho emphasized that a debut remains the constant goal for the group. Ukisho said all five members possess a passion for this goal that is stronger than anyone else's [1].
The transition from backup dancers to headliners is a traditional trajectory in the junior idol system. ACEes is leveraging the visibility gained from the ARASHI tour to transition into their own spotlight across Japan [1], [2].
“"The primary lesson was how much a performer can value their fans."”
The mentorship and exposure provided by ARASHI's final tour serve as a strategic launchpad for ACEes. In the competitive Japanese idol industry, the ability to demonstrate 'fan-centric' performance skills in massive venues like the Tokyo Dome is a critical metric for agencies deciding when a junior group is ready for a full professional debut.
