Top left to bottom right: Masayuki Sakamoto, Yoshihiko "Inocchi" Inohara, Hiroshi Nagano, Ken Miyake, Junichi Okada, Go Morita
A Japanese idol group formed in 1995 by Johnny's and Associates (also known as Johnny's Jimusho), who brought famous groups such as SMAP, Shounentai, TOKIO, and Hikaru GENJI, they were created as mascots for the Volleyball World Cup. They consist of six members, so their group name is pretty much Exactly What It Says on the Tin (although the V is still ambiguous, even to the members themselves), but unlike other Johnny's groups, they also have two subgroups which have their own releases and separate live concerts; 20th Century (Masayuki Sakamoto, Hiroshi Nagano, Yoshihiko Inohara) and Coming Century (Go Morita, Ken Miyake, Junichi Okada).
As well as having a successful music career, not only as V6 but as 20th Century "Tonisen"/Coming Century "Kamisen", they have also hosted several variety TV shows and acted in many dramas and movies; on top of that, they have also performed in numerous stage plays and live musicals. Most fans in the West generally know them from their single, "Change the World," which was the first opening theme to the anime, Inuyasha, and the tokusatsu series Ultraman Tiga, in which they not only performed the theme song, Hiroshi Nagano played the lead character, Daigo Madoka.
Notable Tropes:
- Book Ends: The band is formed in November 1st 1995, with their agency Johnny's & Associates announcing on March 12, 2021 that the group will disband on the day of their 26th anniversary (November 1, 2021).
- Boyband: Well, they are part of Johnny's.
- Color-Coded Characters: Rarely used now, but Sakamoto is blue, Nagano is purple, Inocchi is green, Go is red, Ken is orange, and Okada is yellow.
- Dude Looks Like a Lady: A popular segment in their show "Gakkou e Ikou MAX!" called "Josou Paradise" featured male students who were dolled up to look like girls (the song "Dude looks like a lady" is also its theme song). They even used one of the members
◊.- When Ken's alter ego, "Miya Kenko," appears on screen, you forget that that's actually a 20-something (at the time) year old man.
- Drives Like Crazy: Nagano's characters in both "Hard Luck Hero" and "Hold Up Down". Members have commented on the same problem in real life. Shonentai's Uekusa even refused to get back into a truck with Nagano during a shoot and literally ran away.
- Everybody Smokes: Only Okada and Go, so far, have been reported to smoke.
- Fanservice: It's almost a requirement if you want to be part of Johnny's.
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Follow the Leader: Popular Korean boyband 2PM tried out the 5 second challenge from Mission V6 on their variety show.- Both have been known as the acrobatic groups in Kpop and Jpop.
- The ages of each member that were listed were inaccurate, even claiming that Inocchi was the oldest at 41◊ when he's only 35 (the 3rd oldest).
- Food Porn: They had a whole show dedicated to food called "TOKYO V-Shuran 2" (also known as Vivaviva V6).
- Gratuitous English: "I wanna make you shiny smile!"
- The song "Black-out" from Kamisen's mini-album is written completely in English, and includes the line "Come on take me to the jerky heaven."
- Hot Springs Episode: There always seems to be one in any of their shows, particularly in "Shinchishiki Kaikyuu Kumagusu" where several of its episodes focused on hot springs in Japan. There was plenty of fanservice.
- In-Series Nickname: For Sakamoto, Masa, Maa-kun, Leader, and Marsa have been used by V5.
- Ironically, Inocchi has been used more than Yoshihiko, and he's stated that whenever he is referred to as Yoshihiko, it feels weird.
- Ken has been referred to as Miyaken since his names overlap.
- Jun-kun and Jun-chan are used by V5 for Okada, however he has also been given the nickname "Dekopaa" by Ken because of his trademark forehead.
- He also was known as Kun-kun, but that was an Embarrassing Nickname given by his sister.
- Inocchi and Ken together are known as Baka Kyoudai ("the dumb brothers") not only from fans, but V6 themselves.
- Japanese Pop Music: J-Pop.
- Let X Be the Unknown: It is often debated what the V in V6 stands for.
- Inocchi was told it stood for "Veteran" while Sakamoto thought it stood for "Vegetable" since his parents own a vegetable shop.
- Nagano thought it stood for "Vicycle" (since Bs are replaced with Vs in the Japanese language) since his family owns a bike store.
- Fans generally assume it stands for "Victory" or "Volleyball" (since they were the VWC mascots at the time)
- Lovable Coward: Despite being the oldest, Sakamoto is deathly afraid of bugs (big or small), heights and ghosts. Still, that's one of his most endearing traits.
- Older Than They Look: Ken. Despite being 32 years old, he still looks the same as he did when he was 17.◊ Watch any show where they mention his age and you'll get a collective "EEEHHH?!" from the audience/hosts. His voice hasn't changed either.Inocchi: You're turning 30 soon, I totally can't see that happening! Are you okay with taxes and stuff?Ken: Even when I turn 30, I'll probably still be this cute.
- Shameless Fanservice Guy: Tales of Inocchi stripping in front of V5 have been told during numerous concerts, to which he doesn't oppose to. He has also come out wearing nothing but a schoolgirl swimsuit during a concert after losing a game on stage. Sakamoto was responsible for the whole thing though. He doesn't mind showing his butt on national TV either, as he did during their 10th anniversary special; Naked People Are Funny in his case. Apparently when he got back, his father was ashamed of his actions...
- Shirtless Scene: So many magazine shoots. And dramas. AND MOVIES. Inocchi for instance was shirtless during a segment in, "Gakkou e Ikou MAX!", in which a photoshoot directed by three photography students had the theme of "natural nude."
- Race Against the Clock: Almost every mission in their show "Mission V6" revolved around this.
- Rock Trio: Coming Century and 20th Century.
- Kamisen had a TV series ("Mi My Cen") which centered on them trying to make it as a proper rock band.
- The Idiot from Osaka: Okada can be like this at times, which results in V5 teasing him endlessly.
- Translated Cover Version: In collaboration with Korean singer Shoo, they sang their song "One" not only in Japanese, but Korean and English as well.
- Korean boyband Tachyon's debut single was a cover of V6's song "Feel Your Breeze."
- Korean boyband Tachyon's debut single was a cover
- True Companions: They describe their relationship as being a group of friends, workmates, rivals, as well as one big happy family.
- As he was only 14 when they had their debut, Okada has considered V6 to be his second family and that he has "spent more time with V6 than with his own family."
- Wiper Start: Ken during one of V6's seasonal specials. As he was trying to park the van.
