JO1

 is a Japanese boy band formed through the reality competition show "Produce 101 Japan". The group consists 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. Unlike other "Produce 101" winning groups, JO1 is intended to be a permanent group. It is managed by Lapone Entertainment, a joint company between Yoshimoto Kogyo and CJ ENM.
Debuting with single "Protostar" on March 4, 2020, the group's commercial success has led to them earning several new artist awards during its first year including Best New Asian Artist at the 2020 Mnet Asian Music Awards and Best 5 New Artists at the 2021 Japan Gold Disc Award. JO1 has sold more than 1.1 million physical copies in 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 “O1” refers to the first year of the Reiwa (令和) period where the group was first introduced. However, "JO1" officially means that "the trainees who have dreamed together at "Produce 101 Japan" will become one and aim for the top of the world". 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. A total of 6,000 people who were not tied to any talent agency auditioned for the show. Out of the initial 101 trainees participating in the show, the final 11 were chosen by viewers through online voting and announced via live television broadcast on TBS. There was no plan to limit the period of the group's activity after its debut.
Before appearing on the show, several members had already been active in the entertainment industry. Ren Kawashiri is a former backup 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., and 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. Shosei Ohira is a former member of EXPG Sword, a performance unit specially established by Naoki Kobayashi of Exile and EXPG Kyoto.
2020: Debut and first studio album "The Star".
Shortly after the end of "Produce 101 Japan", JO1 was revealed to fly to South Korea for preparation and the production of their debut. The debut single "Protostar" was released on March 4 and received immediate commercial success by peaking at number one on both Oricon Daily and Weekly Singles Chart with over 300,000 copies sold, making JO1 the seventh artist that managed to do so with a debut single. Meanwhile, the lead track from the single "Infinity" peaked at number one on the "Billboard Japan" Hot 100. The group then had their first live performance ever on a TV program on NTV's morning show "Sukkiri". Subsequently, their debut single was certified Platinum by the RIAJ and entered the top ten ranks of New Artist, Singles Sales, and Singles Total Sales categories of Oricon's 2020 Mid-Year Ranking on June 19.
JO1 released their second single "Stargazer" on August 26. The single debuted at number one on Oricon Daily and Weekly Singles Chart. This made the group the only artist who earned two consecutive wins on the weekly chart since their debut single after Hinatazaka46 managed to do so with "Do Re Mi Sol La Si Do" on July 29, 2019. The group once again earned the top position on the "Billboard Japan" Hot 100 with the lead track "Oh-Eh-Oh" and a Platinum certification by the RIAJ. On September 5, the group performed as a headliner for the first time for the 31st Mynavi Tokyo Girls Collection 2020 Autumn/Winter 2020, held in Saitama Super Arena.
On November 25, the group's first studio album "The Star" was released. The album debuted at second place on the Oricon Albums Chart and the "Billboard Japan" Hot Albums behind BTS' "Be". On December 2, JO1 made their first appearance at the FNS Music Festival by performing the album's promotional single "Shine a Light". The group held their first live streaming concert titled Starlight on December 19 that amassed an estimate of 120,000 viewers from over 30 countries.
By the end of the year, JO1 was recognized with the Rising Star Award by MTV Video Music Awards Japan and the Best New Asian Artist by Mnet Asian Music Awards. They also ranked in several domestic year-end charts, including third place on the Oricon Annual New Artist Total Sales Ranking 2020 and eighteenth place on the "Billboard Japan" 2020 Year-End Artist 100.
2021—present: Third single "Challenger".
In January, JO1 released a digital song "Tsutaerareru Nara" as the theme song for Kit Kat Japan's commercial. In February, JO1 did their first performance in South Korea by appearing in "M Countdown", and held their second online concert Starlight Deluxe where they announced that their third single "Challenger" was set to be released on April 28. The single earned first place on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart with over 250,000 copies sold. With that achievement, JO1 became the twelfth overall group and the sixth male group in the history of Oricon charts to have first week sales of over 200,000 copies for three consecutive singles since its debut. In April, it was announced that JO1 would perform a new song "Dreaming Night" as the opening for drama "" aired on MBS.
Other ventures.
Endorsements.
Even before their official debut, JO1 had signed an advertising contract with Softbank and was featured in a nationwide TV commercial for its subsidiary Y!mobile for February 2020. The group also has endorsed and collaborated with various brands including ABC-MART x NIKE, FamilyMart, Francfranc, Sweets Paradise, and FuRyu, as well as participating in promotional events for luxury fashion brand Louis Vuitton. In 2021, JO1 signed a one-year official partnership contract with Yves Saint Laurent Beauté. The group was appointed as an official ambassador of Credit Saison's concept card Likeme and the brand ambassador of Kit Kat Japan after previously worked for their campaigns. JO1 have been featured on the front covers of magazines such as "Aera", "An An", "Numéro Tokyo", "Vivi", and others.
Philanthropy.
During the 10th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2021, JO1 and a social platform service Heyhey organized a special charity event in which all the funds collected would be donated to a foundation that supports the reconstruction of the affected areas. A total of about 4,000 people participated and raised around ¥1.85 million ($17,000).