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K-pop, Mandopop, other Asian pop
K-dramaBands

Japanese boy band &Team, launched by BTS label Hype, take their music to South Korea, and the world

  • &Team, the first Japanese boy group created by K-pop powerhouse Hybe, aim to raise their profile in Korea and beyond with their second EP, First Howling : We
  • The group, with a Korean member, a Taiwanese member and seven from Japan, conquered Japanese pop charts with their first mini-album in 2022

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&Team, the first Japanese boy group created by Hybe, at the 2022 Asia Artist Awards In Japan in December 2022 in Japan. They are planning to expand their presence beyond Japan. Photo: WireImage
The Korea Times

By Dong Sun-hwa

&Team, the first Japanese boy group created by K-pop powerhouse Hybe, have had a meteoric rise in Japan since their debut last year, dominating music charts including the country’s Oricon chart.

The group has one Korean member (EJ), one Taiwanese member (Nicholas) and seven Japanese members (K, Fuma, Yuma, Jo, Harua, Taki and Maki), who were the top contestants on the reality singing competitions &Audition – The Howling in 2022 and I-Land in 2020.

After their success in Japan, the nine boys – who all have a good command of Korean – now aim to raise their profile in Seoul and beyond with their second EP, First Howling : We. The EP hit shelves on June 14.

&Team during a press event in Tokyo. Photo: courtesy of Hybe
&Team during a press event in Tokyo. Photo: courtesy of Hybe

For the first time ever, &Team plan to perform on two major Korean music shows – Mnet’s M Countdown and KBS’ Music Bank – in June.

“I usually have a lot of worries, but now I am more willing to showcase what I have in many different places,” K said in Korean at the Roppongi Hills Arena in Tokyo.

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