Left to right: Mi-chan, Pokota, Koma'n, Kettaro
ROOT FIVE (previously stylized as √5) is a Japanese vocal unit that was formed in 2011. It is made up of 4 members that all became popular on Nico Nico Douga as utaites, singers who create their own covers of songs, prior to becoming a group.
Though initially identified by their Nico Nico Douga usernames (Pokota, Mi-chan, Kettaro, and koma'n), after their fifth member Dasoku left the group in 2015 they revealed their real names and since then have been officially referred to as such. But most people still just call them by their usernames.
They also host a monthly live broadcast on Nico Nico Douga called ROOT FIVE Tamashii (魂, literally 'Soul' or 'Spirit') wherein they make announcements, banter with each other, and play lots of games.
Members:
- Naoki Egawa (Pokota) - born January 12, 1983. (2011-present)
- Yuma Iwashiro (Mi-chan) - born March 9, 1988. (2011-present)
- Keitaro Fujitani (Kettaro) - born January 9, 1990. (2011-present)
- Hiroto Komazawa (Koma'n) - born June 16, 1992. (2011-present)
- Dasoku - born March 2, 1977. (2011-2015)
Notable tropes:
- Animal-Eared Headband: Their ridiculous furry feline ears that they used to wear when performing "Love Hunter."
- Boke and Tsukkomi Routine: They thrive on this sort of dynamic, with Kettaro almost always playing the role of the tsukkomi.
- This is even lampshaded in an episode of Tamashii where Kettaro is absent and the others worry about who will act as the tsukkomi while he's gone. They quickly call for him not even 5 minutes into the hour long episode.
- Cloud Cuckoo Lander: All of the members are prone to doing or saying random and just plain weird things.
- Color-Coded Characters: Pokota is yellow, Mi-chan is red, Kettaro is green, and Koma'n is blue.
- Dasoku was purple when he was in the group.
- Dude Looks Like a Lady: Even when not crossdressing, they are rather pretty.
- Pokota gets a special mention for being a Wholesome Crossdresser in both the official music video and the main visuals for one of his albums.
- Gratuitous English: In a good number of their songs.
- The boys themselves also throw out random English phrases sometimes.
- Special mention to Kettaro's incredible "HE'S LIAR!" about Pokota, Pokota's adorable "I'm sure something happy will happen to you!" from his LINE blog, and Mi-chan's extremely accurate spelling of soup as "SUPE."
- Hikikomori: Every member has flat-out admitted to being a shut-in who prefers staying at home rather than going to perform on stage.
- I Have Many Names: All of them. To name a few that they are often called:
- Pokota: Pokotan, Poko-chan, Hage ('baldy'), Gaku-Pokota, Chef Kawagoe
- Mi-chan: Kaichou ('president' or 'chairman')
- Kettaro: Kettan, Kecchan, Kei-kun, Ketsu ('rear end')
- Koma'n: Komachin, Koma-chan, Hiropon, Chibi ('shorty'), Leader
- Japanese Pop Music: They fall under this category, though their website calls them a 'Hybrid Artist Group.' This is may or may not be to differentiate the group being made up of utaites rather than idols.
- Older Than They Look: All of them, but especially Dasoku, who is 40, and Pokota, who is 34.
- Product Placement: Pokota can be seen wearing his merchandise during the group's official Namahousous on multiple occasions. The others have called him out on this.
- To take things further. One of his skits basically turned into an advertisement for the bento boxes he sells.
- Vitriolic Best Buds: They are often found bickering or bantering with each other, but have mostly admitted that the group is very important to them.
