{{multiple issues| {{primary sources|date=July 2020}} {{refimprove|date=July 2020}} }} {{Infobox musical artist | name = J-FRIENDS | image = | caption = | image_size = | alias = | origin = {{JPN}} | instrument = | genre = J-pop | occupation = | years_active = 1997–2003 | label = {{Flatlist| *Sony Music *J-Friends Project/Avex Trax *Johnny's Entertainment *Universal J }} | associated_acts = TOKIO, V6, KinKi Kids | website = | past_members = '''TOKIO'''<br>Shigeru Joshima<br/>Tomoya Nagase<br/>Masahiro Matsuoka<br/>Taichi Kokubun<br/>Tatsuya Yamaguchi<hr/>'''V6'''<br>Masayuki Sakamoto<br/>Hiroshi Nagano<br/>Yoshihiko Inohara<br/>Go Morita<br/>Ken Miyake<br/>Junichi Okada<hr/>'''KinKi Kids'''<br>Koichi Domoto<br/>Tsuyoshi Domoto }} '''J-FRIENDS''' was a special unit made up of Johnny & Associates groups TOKIO, V6, and KinKi Kids. It was formed in 1997 to raise money for schools affected by the Great Hanshin earthquake in 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 836,951,855 yen.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sanspo.com/geino/top/gt200403/gt2004031902.html|title=神戸にしっかり刻まれたＪ－ＦＲＩＥＮＤＳの足跡|publisher=Sankei Sports|date=March 18, 2004|accessdate=September 27, 2021|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040414055720/http://www.sanspo.com/geino/top/gt200403/gt2004031902.html|archivedate=April 14, 2004|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==History== In 1995, there was a big earthquake in Hanshin and Awaji in Japan. About 6,500 people were dead and 513,000 houses were crushed. 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,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sanspo.com/enter/music/m9911/m1111.html|title=Ｊ－ＦＲＩＥＮＤＳ東京ドーム年越しライブ |date=November 11, 1999 |accessdate=September 27, 2021|publisher=Sankei Sports|language=ja|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20001210134700/http://www.sanspo.com/enter/music/m9911/m1111.html|archivedate=December 10, 2000|url-status=dead}}</ref> and Koshi Inaba.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.johnnys-net.jp/j/artists/special/disco/_popup/pop_next100years.html|title=Next 100 Years|publisher=Johnny's net|accessdate=October 23, 2009|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090421142810/http://www.johnnys-net.jp/j/artists/special/disco/_popup/pop_next100years.html|archive-date=April 21, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.johnnys-net.jp/j/artists/special/disco/_popup/pop_lovemeallover.html|title=Love Me All Over|publisher=Johnny's net|accessdate=October 23, 2009|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091006042237/http://www.johnnys-net.jp/j/artists/special/disco/_popup/pop_lovemeallover.html|archive-date=October 6, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.johnnys-net.jp/j/artists/special/disco/_popup/pop_peopleoftheworld.html|title=People of the World|publisher=Johnny's net|accessdate=October 23, 2009|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090421142815/http://www.johnnys-net.jp/j/artists/special/disco/_popup/pop_peopleoftheworld.html|archive-date=April 21, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> J-Friends's first single {{nihongo|"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== ===EPs=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album details ! scope="col" | Peak ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Certifications |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| JPN<br><ref name=oricon>{{cite web|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/11563/|title=J-FRIENDS|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303093124/http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/11563/|archivedate=March 3, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | ''People of the World'' | * Released: January 13, 1999 * Label: Sony Music Records * Formats: CD | 1 | * RIAJ: 2× Platinum{{Certification Cite Ref|region=Japan|artist=J-FRIENDS|title=People Of The World|certyear=1999|certmonth=1}} |}
===Singles=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" | Peak ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Certifications |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| JPN<br><ref name=oricon/> |- ! scope="row" | "Ashita ga Kikoeru" | rowspan="2" | 1998 | rowspan="2" | 1 | rowspan="2" | * RIAJ: Million{{Certification Cite Ref|region=Japan|artist=J-FRIENDS|title=明日が聴こえる／Children's Holiday|certyear=1998|certmonth=2}} |- ! scope="row" | "Children's Holiday" |- ! scope="row" | "Next 100 Years" | 1999 | 1 | * RIAJ: 2× Platinum{{Certification Cite Ref|region=Japan|artist=J-FRIENDS|title=NEXT 100 YEARS|certyear=2000|certmonth=1}} |- ! scope="row" | "I Will Get There" | 2000 | 1 | |- ! scope="row" | "Always (A Song for Love)" | 2001 | 1 | * RIAJ: Platinum{{Certification Cite Ref|region=Japan|artist=J-FRIENDS|title=ALWAYS（A SONG FOR LOVE）|certyear=2001|certmonth=12}} |- ! scope="row" | "Love Me All Over" | 2002 | 1 | |}
===Videos=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Release details ! scope="col" | Peak ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Certifications |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| JPN<br><ref name=oricon/> |- ! scope="row" | ''Never Ending Spirit 1997–2003'' | * Released: April 9, 2003 * Label: Johnny's Entertainment * Formats: VHS, DVD | 1 | * RIAJ: Gold{{Certification Cite Ref|region=Japan|artist=J-Friends|title=Never Ending Spirit 1997-2003|certyear=2003|certmonth=7}} |}
==References== {{reflist|2}}
{{Johnny & Associates}} {{authority control}}
Category:Johnny & Associates Category:Japanese boy bands Category:Japanese idol groups Category:Japanese pop music groups Category:Musical groups from Tokyo Category:Musical groups established in 1997 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2003 Category:Charity supergroups