JO1 is a Japanese boy group formed through the reality competition show Produce 101 Japan and slated to be a permanent group. Consisting of eleven members: Issei Mamehara, Ren Kawashiri, Takumi Kawanishi, Shosei Ohira, Shion Tsurubo, Ruki Shiroiwa, Keigo Sato, Syoya Kimata, Junki Kono, Sukai Kinjo and Sho Yonashiro, the group is managed by Lapone Entertainment, a joint company between Yoshimoto Kogyo and CJ E&M. JO1 debuted on March 4, 2020, with single "Protostar" which topped both Oricon Singles Chart and Billboard Japan Hot 100. The single was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan.
Name
The group's name, JO1, was chosen by Lapone Entertainment among the suggestions given by "National Producers" through Produce 101 Japan's official website. According to the original suggestion, the “J” in JO1 refers to Japan, which is the origin of the group, while the “01” refers to the first year of the Reiwa period where the group was first introduced. The name was announced during the final episode of the show.
History
Pre-debut: Formation through ''Produce 101 Japan''
JO1 was formed through the reality competition show Produce 101 Japan from September 25 to December 11, 2019. Out of the initial 101 trainees who participated in the show, the final 11 were chosen by viewers through online voting and announced via live television broadcast on TBS. Prior to appearing on the show, several members had already been active in the entertainment industry. Ren Kawashiri has professionally performed as a back-up dancer, having performed for SMAP, FT Island, Dreams Come True, Tomohisa Yamashita, Lead, Wanna One, and Pentagon. Ruki Shiroiwa is a former member of Johnny & Associates' trainee group Johnny's Jr. He was also part of the voice actor music group Tsukicro in 2017, where he sang, portrayed, and provided the voice for the character Ruki Hibiya.
2020: Debut with ''Protostar''
Shortly after the end of Produce 101 Japan, the group was revealed to fly to South Korea for the preparation and the production of its debut. On January 14, it was revealed that the group's debut single is titled "Protostar" with "Infinity" as the lead song, as well as a March 4 release date. Upon its release, "Protostar" received immediate commercial success, peaking at number one on both Oricon's Daily and Weekly Singles Chart with over 360,000 copies sold. The group then had their first live performance ever on a TV program by performing "Infinity" on NTV's morning showSukkiri. Subsequently, their debut single was certified Platinum by the RIAJ and entered Top 10 rank for New Artist, Singles Sales, and Singles Total Sales categories of Oricon's 2020 Mid-Year Ranking on June 19. Following their performance in, the group announced they will release their second single "Stargazer" on August 26, 2020.
Members
Issei Mamehara
Junki Kono
Keigo Sato
Ren Kawashiri
Ruki Shiroiwa
Shion Tsurubo
Sho Yonashiro - leader
Shosei Ohira
Sukai Kinjo
Syoya Kimata
Takumi Kawanishi
Endorsements
Even before their official debut, JO1 had signed an advertising contract with Softbank and were featured in nationwide TV commercial for its subsidiary Y!mobile starting February 2, 2020. The group also had endorsed and collaborated with various brands including ABC-MART x NIKE, KitKat, FamilyMart, Francfranc, and Sweets Paradise. They had been featured on the covers of magazines such as Nylon Japan, An An, Haru Hana, and others.
