Years active 1998–2003 Associated acts Tokio, V6, Kinki Kids Genre Pop music | Genres Pop Labels Johnny's Entertainment Active from 1998 Albums People of the World | |
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Past members Shigeru JoshimaTomoya NagaseMasahiro MatsuokaTaichi KokubunTatsuya YamaguchiMasayuki SakamotoHiroshi NaganoYoshihiko InoharaGo MoritaKen MiyakeJunichi OkadaKoichi DomotoTsuyoshi Domoto Members |
J-FRIENDS was a special unit made up of Johnny's Entertainment groups Tokio, V6, and KinKi Kids. It was formed to raise funds for the education of children involved in the Great Hanshin earthquake of 1995. Until their disbandment in 2003 they were able to release 6 singles and held some charity concerts and events. In the end they were able to donate 874.278.322 Yen.
Contents

History

In 1995, there was a big earthquake in Hanshin and Awaji in Japan. About 6,500 people died and 513,000 houses broke. To help such people, in 1998, KinKi Kids, along with fellow Johnny's groups V6 and Tokio, came together to form a special charity-oriented group called J-FRIENDS, they sang songs to raise the money for Hanshin and Awaji earthquake victims especially for children, in which all the songs are created and being produced by many famous international musicians such as Michael Jackson, Maurice White, Diane Warren, Elton John, Jon Bon Jovi, and Koshi Inaba. J-Friends's first single "Ashita ga Kikoeru/Children's Holiday" (明日が聴こえる/Children's Holiday, "Can You Hear Tomorrow/Children's Holiday"), released on January 21, 1998, went on to sell over a million copies and ranked 12th on the annual Oricon charts by the end of the year.
Discography
Singles

DVD / VHS



Songs
People of the WorldPeople of the World · 1986
Children's Holiday2001
Next 100 Years1999