Ae! group (Aぇ! group) is a Japanese boy band formed on February 18, 2019, originally as six members. As of 2025, the group consists of four members who come from the Kansai region. The group’s official debut announcement was made on March 16, 2024, through the music label Universal Music Japan. Their debut single, “《A》BEGINNING” will be released on May 15, 2024. Ae! group is the fifth group in the agency from the Kansai region after KinKi Kids, SUPER EIGHT, WEST., and Naniwa Danshi, who made an official debut but the first one to debut under the new company name STARTO ENTERTAINMENT. The group name means “good group” (ええグループ, ee gurūpu) in Kansai dialect.

History

Ae! group is produced by SUPER EIGHT‘s You Yokoyama, and nowadays overseen by Tadayoshi Ohkura. The group’s formation was first announced through FAMILY CLUB web on February 18, 2019, with six people. The founder of the agency gave the group the name, hoping that the six of them would become an excellent group. Like SUPER EIGHT, the group also occasionally performs using musical instruments and includes skits in their concerts.

On December 30, 2023, STARTO ENTERTAINMENT announced that it had terminated its contract with Taisei Fukumoto for violation of the company’s regulatory compliance.

On March 16, 2024, through the group’s concert “Ae! group A-ttouteki Fan Daikanshasai in Kyocera Dome Osaka ~Minna Honma ni Arigatou~“, the group announced that they will be having their major CD debut on May 15, 2024. The five of them were informed about it half a year prior by the agency’s COO Yoshihiko Inohara and Tadayoshi Ohkura, who is largely involved with the management of the agency’s trainees in the Kansai region. The group debut was decided before Fukumoto’s departure. Group leader Ken Kojima commented on his frustration and hoped he could go back to when there were 6 of them, but he will do what he had to and will move forward nevertheless. They will be debuting under label Universal Music Japan with single “《A》BEGINNING.” Ae! group’s marks the first group debut for STARTO ENTERTAINMENT.

On September 14, 2024, it was announced that Ae! group would participate in the Kansai-based dream unit KAMIGATA BOYZ, formed in May 2024 with members from SUPER EIGHT, WEST., and Naniwa Danshi. Ae! group officially joined from the digital single “Sekai wo Akaruku Terashimashou” (“Let’s Brighten the World”), released on September 18, 2024.

On October 9, 2024, Ae! group released their sophomore single “Gotta Be.”

In 2025, Ae! group released their first full-length album “D.N.A” on February 18, the anniversary of their group formation.

On June 18, 2025, Ae! group released their third single, “Chameleon.” The single was first announced by the members themselves during the MC segment of their Yokohama Arena concert on March 30, 2025, which marked the final show of their nationwide arena tour “Ae! group LIVE TOUR 2025 D.N.A.”

On November 20, 2025, STARTO ENTERTAINMENT announced that Keita Richard Kusama had withdrawn from Ae! group, following his hiatus due to his arrest in the early morning of October 4 on suspicion of public indecency for allegedly exposing his lower body at the entrance of a building in Shinjuku Ward.

Members

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Yoshinori Masakado | 正門良規

Hobbies	Walking, denim, training, movie, stage.
Talents	Electric guitar.
Future dream	Accomplish something for the first time. Become a unique group.
What’s your charm point?	My creased eyelids when I’m in a good mood.
What would you bring to a deserted island?	Ae! group.
What job would you like to try?	A play.
A message to all fans	I want to be an idol who can give back more than what I received. Ladies and gentlemen, if you are interested, please come by ♪

Seiya Suezawa | 末澤誠也

Hobbies	Fashion, driving.
Talents	High toned voice, tap dance.
Future dream	Become a person who can cheer up many people.
What’s your charm point?	Can reach a high G.
What would you bring to a deserted island?	Keita Richard Kusama.
What job would you like to try?	A movie
A message to all fans	Thank you for always giving me so much love. I will prove to you that you’ll have no regrets by supporting me, so please take care of me.

Ken Kojima | 小島健

Hobbies	Shopping for vintage clothes, and lately, I’ve been collecting military items in particular.
Talents	Can create a whole picture from just randomly drawn lines.
Future dream	Make Ae! group a one-of-a-kind, incredibly cool presence.
What’s your charm point?	My eyebrows have a wide range of movement.
What would you bring to a deserted island?	The will to live.
What job would you like to try?	Being the MC for an on-location TV show.
A message to all fans	We will absolutely make everyone who supports us happy, so come along with us!

Masaya Sano | 佐野晶哉

Hobbies	Get 100 points at karaoke, compose music, and play the drums.
Talents	I can come up with witty and humours answers for any Oogiri prompt.
Future dream	To create a genre called “Masaya Sano.”
What’s your charm point?	All of them… I guess?
What would you bring to a deserted island?	Drums.
What job would you like to try?	Being a solo MC for a prime slot program.
A message to all fans	You just made eye contact with me, didn’t you? The one who looks away first loses. I’m strong, you know!

Former members

Keita Richard Kusama | 草間リチャード敬太

Hobbies	Traveling around the country alone, collecting accessories, walking.
Talents	Skilled in detailed work, dancing, singing, pulling off any outfit.
Future dream	Someone unique who loves and is loved by the world.
What’s your charm point?	My long eyelashes
What would you bring to a deserted island?	The will to live.
What job would you like to try?	Modeling.
A message to all fans	I’m Richard. Please enjoy our gap in concerts and variety shows! Sending happiness your way.

Taisei Fukumoto | 福本大晴

Hobbies
Talents
Future dream	A five-dome tour!
What’s your charm point?
What would you bring to a deserted island?
What job would you like to try?
A message to all fans