Given how bonded they seem as a bunch, it’s arduous to consider that the members of Japanese pop group JO1 as soon as competed towards each other.
The 11-piece boy group — comprised of members Sho Yonashiro, the group’s chief, Ren Kawashiri, Ruki Shiroiwa, Junki Kono, Keigo Sato, Takumi Kawanishi, Syoya Kimata, Shosei Ohira, Sky Kinjo, Shion Tsurubo and Issei Mamehara — fashioned via the Japanese spin-off of well-liked Korean music competitors sequence Produce 101 Japan, the place they landed within the high 11 out of 101 contestants. The timing wasn’t precisely best — their official debut got here out simply weeks earlier than the COVID-19 pandemic successfully shut down the world — however 5 years later the group is already releasing a best hits album.
Since its formation, the group has steadily risen in reputation domestically, touchdown eight No. 1 singles on the Billboard Japan Scorching 100 chart. JO1 has additionally made a global push within the final yr, ending up their first solo, sold-out U.S. dates as a part of their world tour — the group has beforehand performed within the U.S. throughout KCON — with stops in L.A. and New York. The world tour wraps later this month with two nights on the Tokyo Dome.
Between sold-out U.S. dates and preparations for his or her first present on the iconic Tokyo venue, the group has launched the aforementioned best hits album, Be Traditional, with the group’s followers — dubbed Jam — voting on what songs made the minimize.
JO1 sat down with The Hollywood Reporter throughout their journey to L.A. to debate assembly their worldwide followers for the primary time, how they proceed to realize respect for each other and what they’ve their sights set on subsequent.
What has it been like performing within the U.S. for the previous few weeks? What has the expertise been like getting to satisfy followers who’ve been ready fairly some time to see you at your individual live performance?
SYOYA KIMATA With the ability to see the American Jams, our followers, having the ability to sing and dance collectively past language was superb to us.
JO1 go to the Empire State Constructing throughout first U.S. tour in March.
Roy Rochlin/Getty Pictures for Empire State Realty Belief
Is there something that shocked you concerning the crowds or about your followers that you just weren’t anticipating?
SKY KINJO One factor that I noticed that was actually shocking to us was — I don’t know if it was as a result of the Jams had a lot vitality within them – however I noticed so a lot of them go woof woof [barking sound] like a canine. Trying throughout the followers, I noticed some that have been appearing like pit bulls. I noticed some that have been appearing like puppies … so I used to be additionally going woof woof your complete time.
You might be all very personable and you’ve got actually nice chemistry with each other. That’s not all the time straightforward given the dimensions of the group and the way you began — on a music survival present during which you have been one another’s rivals each week earlier than you turned one another’s band mates. How have you ever labored at constructing a bond with each other whereas having the ability to develop your self?
JUNKI KONO A very powerful factor is simply believing in our members and believing in our future. Simply believing in our members and doing our greatest with one another.
Do you discover that you just’ve discovered issues from each other as artists that you just possibly by no means anticipated to while you guys first began?
RUKI SHIROIWA For the preparation for this upcoming stay sequence that we did, we every, for the primary time, needed to carry out our personal solo dances. After I acquired to see every particular person carry out so passionately, it jogged my memory how a lot ardour every of the [group] members have. It made me respect every particular person over again. For my solo dance, I really did it [on] the final day. The one factor I used to be serious about is, “Wow, I can’t consider every particular person was in a position to do that so passionately and so nicely.”
As a bunch you undergo many adjustments. You attempt new issues and also you attempt new identities, however I believe you as artists have an thought of how you prefer to the world to view you. What’s that for you as a bunch?
JUNKI KONO I believe JO1’s greatest function is freedom. Throughout our performances, it’s so pure. All of them [the other group members] are doing the factor that they need. It’s so vital for our music.
From left: Sho Yonashiro, Junki Kono and Keigo Sato from JO1 attend the world premiere of ‘Snow White.’ Kono was the dubbing voice actor for the character of Jonathan in Japan.
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
By way of making music, as you develop you are inclined to evolve when it comes to your style and what you get pleasure from. Do you discover that you just type of gravitate in the direction of various things greater than you used to?
REN KAWASHIRI One factor that’s actually modified as we’ve sang so many various songs, we’ve actually realized who’s particularly good for every type of of music, every type of job. We all know that this specific dance is nice for this specific group member. Perhaps one factor is nice for Mame, possibly this one factor is nice for Junki. We now know one another’s strengths and weaknesses. That’s one factor that’s actually modified.
Are you able to discuss Be Traditional and the method behind choosing songs for the best hits album?
SHOSEI OHIRA It was a mixture. Initially, the corporate gave us a listing of songs after which as a result of clearly we as a bunch have been chosen by votes, we needed to do the identical factor for this album. We allowed the followers to decide on which songs they appreciated essentially the most. By means of that mixture, we have been in a position to choose the songs for the best hits album. It actually feels that this album was one thing that we created with the followers collectively.
Doing a best hits at this level in your profession probably offers you time to pause and look again. Has that impressed something you need to attempt sooner or later?
ISSEI MAMEHARA We’ve performed plenty of completely different touring, and plenty of it’s based mostly in Japan, clearly. Now we have a live performance in April on the Tokyo Dome. We’d like to have the ability to do extra dome excursions round Japan.
JUNKI KONO Really, I can’t eat ice cream till the dome tour comes.
As an artist, performing on the Tokyo Dome needs to be one thing to actually aspire to, particularly while you begin out. How are you feeling about enjoying there?
TAKUMI KAWANISHI Clearly, the primary emotion that comes up is nervousness, however having the ability to carry out at Tokyo Dome or these bigger venues, it was my dream. On the finish of the day, an important factor is to carry out in addition to I can and to ensure the followers are in a position to get pleasure from themselves.
Has assembly your worldwide followers, a few of them for the primary time, added one other layer onto that?
SHION TSURUBO I used to be overflowing with love.
As you look forward to this subsequent chapter of your profession, is there one thing that you just haven’t tried but that you just actually need to?
SHO YONASHIRO I hope to carry out on stage at Coachella, that’s the aim. It’s a giant stage and [it’s] our future aim. We have to apply and to apply our English extra. However I don’t really feel that it’s unimaginable. I believe it’s attainable, and I’ll attempt.
Do any of you might have any popular culture that you just’re obsessive about in the meanwhile?
SYOYA KIMATA I’ve been obsessive about lobster rolls. I even had a lobster roll yesterday. I’m sorry, I like lobster rolls a lot that I preserve bringing it up it doesn’t matter what the query is.
KEIGO SATO One thing that I’ve been obsessive about for a really very long time and nonetheless to at the present time is Marvel. One factor that I love to do is I like to look at Marvel films as I work out; Spider-Man, Captain America Iron Man, as a result of I need to be like them. It’s like my aim.
JUNKI KONO Who do you need to be?
KEIGO SATO Spider-Man. At residence, I even have the [Thor’s] hammer and [Captain America’s] protect.
TAKUMI KAWANISHI I like soccer and particularly love Christiano Ronaldo [Group members laugh]. I actually love Christian Ronaldo. Siuuu! [Lauhgs]. And I like baseball, I performed it for 15 years. I went to Dodger Stadium, and I purchased the uncommon [Tokyo series] Shohei Ohtani jersey.
JO1 attends the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Phillip Faraone/Getty Pictures for iHeartRadio
To wrap up, is there a message you need to give to followers?
RUKI SHIROIWA It’s been 5 years since we began as a bunch. That is the primary time we have been in a position to come to America on our personal and eventually carry out for the followers that we all know have been ready to have the ability to see us. We need to come again and have high quality performances and guarantee that our followers listed below are in a position to have as a lot enjoyable as they’ll.
