Timeline
- before 2001: Before joining KAT-TUN, each member belonged to different Junior units.
- 2001: KinKi Kids member Koichi Domoto personally picked 6 Johnny's Jr. members to be his back dancers in the NHK music program, Pop Jam. He chose Kamenashi, Akanishi, Taguchi, Tanaka, Ueda and Nakamaru to be his back dancers and gave them the unit name KAT-TUN.
When KAT-TUN was initially formed, they had numerous quarrels and even fights among themselves about work issues and even trivial matters. During the time when they were having a 2-month run for a stage play, the 6 people were stuck in a small resting room which led to more intense quarrels. In particular, Akanishi and Taguchi got into arguments most often. Taguchi was said to be especially aggressive when he was playing video games and would scream at people to die.
Initially, KAT-TUN was only meant to be a dancing unit to support Koichi Domoto. However, KAT-TUN gained a great deal of attention so the formation was kept and KAT-TUN remains a solid unit.
Sounding similar to "cartoon" is a Japanese boy band formed under Johnny & Associates (JE) in 2001 who releases records under their own label, J-One Records.
When KAT-TUN was still doing back-up dances for their seniors, it was normal for them to try showing off their cool sides on screen to gain more attention. However, KAT-TUN was scolded by their seniors for various reasons e.g. they did not dance well and they were not synchronised at all. They were told to retreat to the back of the stage which made them feel worse.
KAT-TUN also mentioned during the programme that among their seniors, Takizawa Hideaki is the one who understands them most and would constantly praise and encourage them. Besides that, TOKIO also spoke good things of KAT-TUN during their concerts.
Although KAT-TUN did not mention which senior/group treated them badly, the only groups which they did back-up dancing for were KinKi Kids, V6, Arashi and Tackey & Tsubasa. There were rumours of KAT-TUN fans disrupting order during Arashi and V6 concerts, which may have led to problems.
Although KAT-TUN had only been formed 1 year ago, they already had several quarrels, and one of them even almost led to their disband!
The furore arose because Nakamaru made a mistake on stage and the other members scolded Ueda for following Nakamaru's wrong move. Later, Kamenashi entered the backstage dressing room and joined the others in scolding him. That led to Ueda punching him and Kamenashi wanted out of the group. Kamenashi even went to look for Johnny-san personally for this. On the following day, Johnny-san complimented Kamenashi for having the guts to pick a fight which somehow made the latter cool down without KAT-TUN having to disband.
- 2002: They finally get the opportunity to perform their own concert for the first time: "Okyakusama wa Kamisama - Concert 55mannin Ai no Request no Kotaete".
With this concert, KAT-TUN's popularity is definite because they're the only group from the Johnny's Jrs. that was given a chance to hold a solo concert before having debuted.
- July 19, 2002: They have been featured in Koichi Domoto's musical "SHOCK Digest".
- August 10: August 10, 2002 - August 28, 2002: お客様は神サマーConcert 55万人愛のリクエストに応えて!! (Two cities, 26 performances)
Since their first concert in 2002, granted after overwhelming amounts of fan requests to JE, KAT-TUN regularly holds concerts during almost every season of the year in Japan.
- 2003: Release of their first concert DVD "Okayusama wa Kami Sama - Concert 55Nin Ai no Request Kotaete!!"
- They regularly appeared on NHK's Johnny's Junior show, Za Shounen Club, and became the regular hosts and leaders of the show from 2003 to when they graduated from the show with their debut.
[Note:] You can download the "Okyakusama wa Kamisama" concert on the Downloads section.
- August 8: August 8, 2003 - August 28, 2003: Ko年モ Ah Taiヘン Thank U Natsu (Three cities, ten performances)
- August 12: August 12, 2003 - August 20, 2003: KAT-TUNの大冒険 de SHOW (At Le Meridien Grand Pacific Tokyo, 20 performances)
- December 1, 2003: Their first photo album "KAT-TUN 1st in New York" with photos from photographer Harumi Yoshimura was published by Wani Books.
- 2004: They back up Hideaki Takizawa in his first solo musical, "DREAM BOY". The musical's lead was given to Kamenashi in 2005, as Takizawa was busy shooting the Taiga drama Yoshitsune.
- February 1: Recognised by his bandmates for being good at acrobatics, he needed an operation in February 2004 after sustaining a bad knee injury during rehearsals and did not return until August 2004.
- December 28, 2004: December 28, 2004 - January 10, 2005: KAT-TUN Live海賊帆 (Three cities, 14 performances)
- January 15, 2005: Kamenashi and Akanishi star in the popular high-school themed TV drama series "Gokusen 2" alongside senior actress Yukie Nakama and other young actors. The show received much attention from the media and elevated not only Kamenashi and Akanishi's own popularities but the popularity the group as well.
- early 2005: Release of their second concert DVD "KAT-TUN Live Kaizokuban", which topped the Oricon yearly chart for the best-selling DVD.
- 2005: KAT-TUN become regular participants in the variety show Minna no Terebi (later known as Utawara HOT Hit 10 and Utawara) with another Johnny's member, Matsumoto Jun from ARASHI.
They also host the Shounen Club on NHK.
- 2005: A DVD of their musical with another Johnny's group NewS, "SUMMARY", is released.
- Spring 2005: Akanishi plays the role of an intern in a manga-based drama, titled "Anego".
- March 25: March 25, 2005 - March 27, 2005: Spring 05 Looking KAT-TUN (Yokohama Arena, four performances)
- May 29: May 29, 2005 - June 26, 2005: Looking 05 KAT-TUN (Five cities, fourteen performances)
- July 5, 2005: Taguchi stars in a TV drama called "Ganbatte Ikimasshoi" alongside with Anne Suzuki and NewS member Nishikido Ryo. He replaced NewS member Uchi Hiroki in the series, who was suspended after 2 episodes for underage drinking.
- August 26: August 26, 2005 - August 28, 2005: Looking KAT-TUN 2005ing (Yokohama Arena, six performances)
- Autumn 2005: Kamenashi stars alongside NewS member Tomohisa Yamashita in a TV drama series "Nobuta wo Produce".
Because NwP became such a success, Kamenashi debuted together with Yamashita Tomohisa (NewS) as the unit "Shuuji to Akira". Their single "Seishun Amigo" became the #1 single of 2005 after only being in the charts for 2 months and they sold more than 1 million copies.
However, at the time when the CD release of "Shuuji to Akira" was decided, KAT-TUN had to contend with two different types of feelings. They had just released a DVD and were feeling more positive about the future but the debut of Shuuji to Akira dashed their hopes for a CD debut. This led the members to wonder why the agency did this and Kamenashi even called Johnny-san personally to protest against this decision since he wanted KAT-TUN to release a CD first. However, Johnny-san said that his decision wad final and that he had separate plans for KAT-TUN. He ordered Kamenashi to follow the work arrangements instead of complaining.
- In 2005, Takizawa gave Kamenashi the lead role to DREAM BOY.
- In 2006, Nakamaru and Tanaka pioneered the show YOU!tachi and continued to host the show every Sunday with their juniors.
- January 2006: KAT-TUN's latest musical "DREAM BOYS 2006", co-starred by Kanjani8.
- January 29, 2006: Announcement of their official debut. This was a long-awaited event for both the members and the fans. Their debut was accompanied by a concert tour in Japan.
Although KAT-TUN had been around for 5 years, watching 3 other groups Tackey & Tsubasa, NewS and Kanjani8 make their debut one after another was painful for the members. At one time, they toyed with the idea of leaving the agency and work elsewhere. Some of them even felt that as long as they stayed on, the debut wasn't that important after all since they had lost hope in this possibility. However, Johnny-san told them suddenly in 2003 that the coming year would be important for them and the debut finally materialised 3 years later.
- March 2006: Release of the "Real Face" single
Real Face single
- In March 2006, KAT-TUN became the first group to hold their own performances in Japan's most popular stadium, Tokyo Dome, before debuting.
- March 17, 2006: KAT-TUN Special Tokyo Dome Concert Debut "Real Face" (One performance)
- March 22: Official debut
- March 28, 2006 - May 7, 2006: Spring Tour '06 Live of KAT-TUN "Real Face" (Eight cities, 40 performances))
- Early May, 2006: Kamenashi caused a minor scandal when the rumour magazine "Friday Magazine" claimed he was having an affair with the 20 years older Koizumi Kyoko. Johnny's Entertainment denied the claims and Kamenashi officially apologized though Koizumi's team neither denied nor confirmed the claims.
- May 13: May 13, 2006 - May 14, 2006: Spring Tour '06 in Tokyo Dome Live of KAT-TUN "Real Face" (Tokyo Dome, two performances)
- June 10, 2006: Kamenashi stars in a TV drama called "Sapuri" with Ito Misaki. It ended September 18, 2006.
- July 8, 2006: Tanaka Koki stars in a drama "My Boss My Hero" co-starring Nagase Tomoya of TOKIO and Tegoshi Yuya of NewS. It ended September 16, 2006.
- July 19, 2006: Release of their 2nd single "Signal". This was also featured on their new DoCoMo CM "DoCoMo Foma 902is".
- August 26: August 26, 2006: KAT-TUN were the main personality supporters for the NTV 24Hour Television "Love saves the Earth" charity program.
- October 13, 2006: In an official press conference, Akanishi Jin annouces that he'll leave KAT-TUN for at least 6 months to study in the USA. Most fans are shocked by this, because of the sudden decision, and all sorts of rumours about Jin's hiatus are spread around the globe.
- October 14, 2006: Koki and Kamenashi act together in a new Autumn drama with Erika Toda and Ayase Haruka in "Tatta Hitotsu no Koi".
- October 2006: Because of Jin's hiatus, their planned single "Pure One" is cancelled.
- December 7, 2006: Release of their third single, "Bokura no Machi de", the ending song of the TV Series "Tatta Hitotsu no Koi". It's their first single without Akanishi.
- January 6, 2007: Koki stars alongside Yamashita Tomohisa in the Tanpatsu (Samurai themed) TV Series "Byakkotai", which is a remake of the 1986 hit, which scored 80-percent in the Aizu district of Fukushima prefecture.
- January: In 2005, KAT-TUN also became a regular participant in the variety show Utawara HOT Hit 10, formerly known as Minna no Terebi, with senior Jun Matsumoto from ARASHI, until the show ended in January 2007.
- February 2007: Their 2007 Spring Tour (April 'till June) is announced on the official Johnny's Jimusho website. (see news page for more info)
- March 2, 2007: Release of their first official Johnny's calendar April 2007 - March 2008.
- March 22, 2007: KAT-TUN's '1 YEAR SINCE THEY DEBUTED'-ANNIVERSARY!!
- April 3, 2007: Start of their Spring Tour 2007. April 3, 2007 - June 17, 2007: Tour 2007 cartoon KAT-TUN II You (Seven cities, 28 performances); Under the same name as their second album, KAT-TUN started their second nationwide tour, TOUR 2007 cartoon KAT-TUN II You, still without Akanishi, on April 3, 2007.
- April 4, 2007: Start of their own TV Program "Cartoon KAT-TUN" (11:55 p.m.)
- April 11, 2007: Official release of the Real Face Spring Tour 2006 DVD!
- April 18, 2007: New album release "Cartoon KAT-TUN II You"
- April 19, 2007: Akanishi Jin returns from LA to KAT-TUN and officially resumed work activities on April 20, 2007.
- April 20, 2007: Press conference about Jin's return to KAT-TUN
- April 21: Akanishi joined the rest of KAT-TUN during their tour on April 21, 2007 in Sendai for the encore.
- June 6: On June 6, 2007, KAT-TUN released their fourth single, Yorokobi no Uta, as the theme song to Tanaka's drama, Tokkyu Tanaka 3 Go.
- November 21: On November 21, 2007, they simultaneously released their fifth single, Keep the faith, as the theme song to Akanishi and Taguchi's drama, Yukan Club, and the DVD to their TOKYO DOME Live of KAT-TUN "Real Face" concert.
- 2007: In addition to this, Real Face, SIGNAL and Bokura no Machi de were included in the list of The Best 10 Singles for 2007.
- 2008: Also an actor, he has had roles in Gokusen 2, Anego, Yukan Club and made his debut as a seiyū in 2008 providing the voice for Speed Racer in the Japanese-dubbed version of Speed Racer.
- February 6: KAT-TUN released their sixth single, LIPS, on February 6, 2008, as the theme song to Kamenashi's drama, One Pound Gospel.
- March 30: On March 30, 2008, it was announced that KAT-TUN will hold their third nationwide tour, to start in Hiroshima on June 21, 2008.
- March 31: As of March 31, 2008: Tanaka and Taguchi, from Monday to Thursday
- April 4: As of April 4, 2008: Kazuya Kamenashi, every Friday, under the title Kamenashi Kazuya Kase by Kase
- April 22: On April 22, 2008 it was announced that KAT-TUN will release their third album, KAT-TUN III Queen of Pirates on June 4, 2008
- May 14: KAT-TUN released their seventh single, Don't U Ever Stop, on May 14, 2008 which topped the weekly Oricon chart.
- May 15: On May 15, 2008, during the MC segment of promoting Don't U Ever Stop on Music Station, Kamenashi announced that two days were added to their Tokyo Dome performances for their tour, resulting in a total of four consecutive days in the Dome.
- June 21, 2008: June 21, 2008 - August 5, 2008: 2008 Queen of Pirates Tour! (4 Tokyo Dome performances! 8/2-8/5)
- September 1: He is the first KAT-TUN member to hold a series of solo concerts entitled "Mouse Peace" in September 2008 performing songs across various genres, such as rock, dance, ballad, and folk, all of which he penned himself.
- December 3: On December 3, 2008, KAT-TUN released White X'mas, their first Christmas single.
- December 21: On December 21, 2008, it was announced that KAT-TUN will release a new single ONE DROP as a tie-in theme song to Kamenashi's new drama, Kami no Shizuku, just two months after their White X'mas single.
- December 28: On December 28, 2008, avex Taiwan announced on their website of an overseas (OS) press release of KAT-TUN LIVE TOUR 2008 QUEEN OF PIRATES on January 20, 2009, including traditional Chinese subtitles.
- December 31: Before partaking in Johnny's annual countdown concert on December 31, 2008, KAT-TUN performed an unbroadcasted special medley for 10 minutes, consisting of Keep the faith, ONE DROP and Yorokobi no Uta.
- January 1, 2009: On January 1, 2009, it was announced that Kamenashi will continue starring in DREAMBOYS in September for 38 shows.
- February 11: On February 11, 2009 KAT-TUN released One Drop.
- May 15,2009 - May 21, 2009 (Tokyo Dome)
