A Japanese boy band born from an audition present modeled on a South Korean forerunner is hoping to make its mark on the worldwide stage utilizing the massively profitable and common Ok-pop mannequin.
All 11 members of the boy band JO1 are Japanese, and sing their songs in Japanese, however their performances have a Ok-pop aesthetic, with the manufacturing of songs and extremely choreographed, dance-heavy music movies primarily overseen by South Korean advisers.
Managed by Lapone Entertainment, a three way partnership between Japan’s Yoshimoto Kogyo Holdings Co. and South Korea’s CJ ENM, JO1 was fashioned in 2019 by way of “Produce 101 Japan,” a spin-off of a well-known South Korean audition present of the identical title.
The group has created a following at residence and overseas because of the present’s audience-driven choice course of that concerned on-line voting to find out the highest 11 out of the 101 candidates. Having audiences take part within the course of was a novelty for an audition program in Japan.
Being in a position to comply with together with the audition course of and witness the expansion of the performers, a few of whom had no singing or dancing expertise, received elevated buy-in from followers.
A 21-year-old Taiwanese fan, Peggy, who listened to Ok-pop throughout highschool, discovered herself hooked on JO1 after watching the present.
“The members of JO1 entered the auditions with a ‘blank slate,'” Peggy stated, including that she “feels like a mother raising a child,” watching the expansion of the group, and is “moved by their growing fame.”
Their debut single in March 2020 was a business success, promoting over 300,000 copies in its first week and topping the Japanese Billboard charts — uncommon for a male group from a brand new leisure firm.
Although the COVID-19 pandemic curtailed their actions, JO1 turned to YouTube and social media, the place their followers have helped unfold the phrase.
In 2022, their track “SuperCali” topped Spotify’s “Most Shared Songs on social media” in Japan. JO1 participated in main Ok-pop occasions in Thailand and the United States, after which launched into its first Asia tour in November, touring to Jakarta, Bangkok, Taipei, and Shanghai.
JO1 has additionally promoted Japanese tradition by way of tie-ups with corporations and native governments, showcasing landmarks equivalent to Himeji Castle of their music movies.
What the group goals to ascertain is a music style referred to as “JK-pop,” by bringing the perfect of Ok-pop sounds and efficiency and mixing it with the tradition of J-pop, an official of Lapone stated.
With their fan base spreading past Japan, Ruki Shiroiwa, a member of JO1, recalled his pleasure when he noticed a fan-arranged promotional truck displaying a birthday message for him at their Taiwan live performance.
“I feel (the fans’ support) on my birthday every year. That also goes for fans overseas,” he stated. “It is my motivation.”
© KYODO