is a Japanese pop boy band managed by Vision Factory and signed to the Pony Canyon label since 2000.
In addition to selling 5 million copies of CDs in Japan, W-inds has earned numerous awards and accolades from China, Hong Kong, and South Korea.
In 2000, Keita Tachibana from Fukuoka passed the Starlight Auditions hosted by Vision Factory and was signed onto their label.
The three moved to Tokyo to live together, and in November, began street performances in Yoyogi Park and Shibuya to promote their activities.
[1] On July 4, 2001, their second single, titled "Feel the Fate", was released and their official website launched on the same day.
[1] Filming for the promotional video took place on June 7[1] and the song was performed live at the international tournament in Yoyogi on August 2, where 7,000 people came to watch.
[1] Later that year, W-inds made their first appearance in the movie Star Light,[2] which premiered on October 7 at the Ikebukuro Theater.
[3] On February 20, 2002, W-inds released their fourth single, titled "Try Your Emotion", which peaked at #2 on the weekly charts.
Shortly after, W-inds collaborated with Lead, Flame, and Folder 5 with the single "World Needs Love", released under the collective name Earth Harmony.
On August 21, 2003, they released "Love Is Message", with a musical style that was a departure from the former's dance beat nature.
In March 2007, the group flew to Beijing to participate in another China-Japan music festival along with two other Japanese artists.
joined the Pop Rock Gala in celebrating the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
"Rain Is Fallin'" was a collaboration and featured rap verses from G-Dragon from Big Bang, while "Hybrid Dream" was used as the theme song for the program Countdown Document Byo-Yomi!
Halfway throughout the tour, the concert held at Kanagawa, Omiya had to be truncated due to Tachibana falling ill.[6] W-inds released another double A-side single "New World/Truth (Saigo no Shinjitsu)" on December 9, 2009.
[7] "Truth (Saigo no Shinjitsu)" was composed by the American singer and songwriters Ne-Yo and B. Howard, who acknowledged their talent after coming across their act.
[7][8] The promotional video for "Truth (Saigo no Shinjitsu)" was filmed during W-inds' stay in Hong Kong for the Sweet Fantasy Tour.
During this time, Tachibana relaunched his solo career, Chiba performed in dance showcases with Kenzo from Da Pump, and Ogata formed the rock band All City Steppers.
moved on from lighthearted pop beats into more mellow ballads with mature lyrics in accordance to their growing image.