A junior-high classmate’s suggestion prompted Murakami to audition for Johnny & Associates, where he passed a test judged by Hideaki Takizawa and began training with fellow aspirant You Yokoyama, later entering the Kansai Junior program. He emerged as the keyboardist of the male idol group Kanjani Eight, which formed in 2002 and released its debut CD in 2004, and staged his first solo concert at O…
