Embarking on life's journey is never a straightforward path; it is a continuous interplay of challenges and steadfast resilience. For the Japanese pop group JO1, their adventure has unfolded not through individual struggles, but as a collective experience.
"We sought to discover ourselves," the group's leader, Sho Yonashiro, shares during a Zoom call from Tokyo, surrounded by his fellow members, all dressed in black suits. "[We asked], 'What is our identity?' It took us five years to uncover what [defines us], and, of course, identifying our strengths was difficult since we couldn't perform at that time. We debuted just as COVID hit, which made it hard to discern right from wrong."
"We aimed to soar, but everything got canceled… so we had to take the road," he adds when asked about JO1's journey.
“Now it feels like a trip to space,” Keigo Sato quips.
JO1 is, quite simply, one of the top boy groups in Japan; however, their ascent was far from effortless. Formed through the first season of the reality competition 'Produce 101 Japan', which aired in late 2019, the 11-member group – Sho, Keigo, Issei Mamehara, Takumi Kawanishi, Junki Kono, Ren Kawashiri, Shosei Ohira, Ruki Shiroiwa, Shion Tsurubo, Sukai Kinjo, and Syoya Kimata – made their debut just as the coronavirus pandemic loomed, leaving them with no performances and plans that had to be abandoned.
However, they managed to chart their course amid these restrictions, and as the world began to recover, they grew in recognition, bolstered by their well-rounded identity. It's even been said that JO1 sparked a 'warring states period' for boy bands in Japan's music industry – a time marked by healthy rivalry and creative competition.
Thus, their fifth anniversary is more than just a celebration: it is a testament to the fact that time has not been wasted. To commemorate this milestone, JO1 set off on their first world tour – with stops in Asia and the United States – and released ‘Be Classic’, their first compilation album, on April 4. "We are thrilled to have reached this point in our five-year goal, but we are also eager to achieve longer-term goals – those set for 10 or even 15 years,” shares Ren, JO1’s performance leader, reflecting on their current status as highlighted by this album. “It’s not pressure we feel – it’s more about joy.”
The album's tracklist, selected by their fans, looks back at their highlights while also featuring new content, including versions of the title track in Japanese, English, and Korean. Additionally, they had the chance to once again explore unit songs – a format they initially experimented with on their third full-length album, ‘Equinox’, released in 2023.
This revisit pushed JO1 to expand their artistic boundaries, prompting insights into their experiences. “Each leader unit will respond to your question,” Ren states, unintentionally igniting a round of laughter. Without hesitation, Sho opens the floor for the first set of answers: “The ‘EZPZ’ leader goes first,” he gesturing towards Keigo.
Called on unexpectedly, the Aichi native—radiating charisma—steps up to provide insights on ‘EZPZ’, an upbeat B-side he performs with Ren and Issei (affectionately known as Mame). “This is our first time doing a unit of this size,” Keigo explains. “Since it’s just the three of us, we don’t have to move around as much – that’s the easy part, and I enjoy that. But we sing more lines than when all 11 members are there, which makes it challenging.”
“We’ll perform the song live at Tokyo Dome, and we’re introducing something new that no one has seen before,” he adds with excitement. “It will have a bit of a ‘bad boy’ vibe.” Mentioning Tokyo Dome carries significant weight. More on that later.
Another unit track, ‘Hottie with the Hot Tea’, captures an old-school feel with smooth vocals and speedy raps that exude confidence with each line. “This is the style of song I enjoy the most, and I had a fantastic time creating it with Syoya and Takumi,” explains Sukai, the song’s leader. “In my view, ‘Hottie with the Hot Tea’ truly showcases our fashion-forward side.”
He is a free-spirited individual with a "miracle voice" that seamlessly adapts to any genre, making it fitting for him to resonate with the song's relaxed tempo. This vibrant energy is evident in all he does. “I [also] think we are geniuses because we can rap, dance, and sing all at once!” Sukai expresses.
This statement aptly reflects the entire group.
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Embarking on life's journey is never merely a straightforward series of actions; it is a continuous interplay of challenges and steadfast perseverance. And for