SEOUL -- NiziU, a nine-member Japanese girl band, has completed its Japan tour that started in July. The group attracted about 185,000 audience through 17 concerts in eight cities including Tokyo, Osaka, and Hokkaido.
The band, which debuted in December 2020, was formed through the first season of "Nizi Project," an audition show launched by South Korea's entertainment powerhouse JYP Entertainment and Sony Music, a global music label based in Tokyo. The girls who were under control by JYP for training in South Korea are currently showcasing performances mainly in Japan. In December 2022, group members performed at Tokyo Dome, an indoor stadium regarded as a "dream stage" among Japanese artists.
JYP Entertainment said in a statement that NiziU has wrapped up its second Japan tour on September 18 at "Zozo Marine Stadium," a baseball stadium in Chiba. At the final concert held for two days starting on September 17, group members showcased its dance songs including "FESTA," "Joyful," and "Step and a step." "Thank you for always loving us so much. We also really love our fan club WithU," NiziU said on the last day of its concert.
All NiziU members are Japanese aged between 18 and 22. The 18-year-old member named Nina is the only member with dual nationality -- Japanese and American.
In July 2023, JYP released the second season of Nizi Project to form a new global boy band. More than 10,000 applicants auditioned for the audition show titled "Nizi Project Season 2" from 11 cities including New York, Los Angeles, and Nagoya. The process of training and screening is currently being broadcast on Nippon TV, a Japanese TV channel, and streaming platforms.
The South Korean agency has also worked with Republic Records, an American record label that includes Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande, to create an English-speaking girl band with K-pop features. Members selected through audition are set to debut in the U.S. after intensive training in South Korea.
reporter
Kim Joo-heon
jhkim123@ajunews.com
