As many K-pop groups debut each year, have you noticed any J-pop groups in the K-pop space? More specifically, have you discovered &TEAM—HYBE’s Japanese boy group? No worries—we’ve got your back. Today, we’ll dive into all things you need to know about this nontet—EJ, Fuma, K, Nicholas, Yuma, Jo, Harua, Taki and Maki. We hope you have a pen and paper ready because class is in session for POP TOKKI 101: A GUIDE TO &TEAM.
[&TEAM]
— YX LABELS (@YX_LABELS) March 17, 2025
3rd SINGLE「Go in Blind (月狼)」
Artist Photo
2025.4.23#andTEAM #GoinBlind pic.twitter.com/13gJfWnbIx
Background
&TEAM’s formation stemmed from the survival show, &Audition:The Howling. However, four of this group’s members are well-known for their 2020 appearances on the survival program I-LAND. On the show, K, EJ, Nicholas, and Taki were popular due to their amazing dancing and vocal abilities. These skills allowed them to be secured as definite members of HYBE’s new show &Audition: The Howling, announced on Jan. 18, 2022, at Weverse Con; showcasing the four predetermined members and a glimpse of their werewolf concept. Soon after, on Dec. 7, 2022, &TEAM debuted with their first single, “Under the Skin.” Since then, they have gained popularity because of their distinct, nostalgic, and melancholic sound and their genuine friendship and camaraderie, which is closely related to their idea of a close-knit wolf pack.
Meet the Members
EJ
Birth Name: Byun Eui-joo
Position: Leader, Vocalist, Rapper
Birthday: September 7, 2002
Nationality: Korean
Fun Facts:
Before he became a trainee, for which he trained for 1 year and 6 months, he was an athlete in fencing.
As one of the most introverted members, he wasn’t as comfortable with voicing his opinions as a leader, now he feels more confident. (He relies a lot on Fuma and the group is always supportive as he’s still learning as he goes).
EJ being the only Korean member despite his fellow I-LAND members knowing a bit of the language took it upon himself to help teach all members Korean, to which now they all can speak fluently in Korean (a true leader).
Fuma
Birth Name: Murata Fuma
Position: Sub-Leader, Vocalist, Dancer
Birthday: June 29, 1998
Nationality: Japanese
Fun Facts:
He used to be a backup dancer for BTS and is a big fan of Taemin (his inspiration when it comes to dancing).
He is super athletic and very into fitness, as he likes to work out a lot. He’s also appeared in Japan’s Ninja Warrior.
He is a HUGE Pokemon enthusiast. He likes to collect plushies, do spot on impressions, and sometimes go live showing off his favorite pokemon.
K
Birth Name: Yudai Koga
Position: Performance Leader, Main Dancer, Vocal
Birthday: October 21, 1997
Nationality: Japanese
Fun Facts:
He is very skilled at his stage presence and dancing, as he has a charismatic and fluid aura when he performs—this led him to the finale of I-LAND.
He’s very into self-care (candles, room sprays, incense) and overall health as he used to be a marathoner and still does it occasionally when he has time.
His vibe is very clean, chic, and sophisticated; however, despite that, he has such a playful and childlike spirit towards his members (it’s cute even though he doesn’t like to be called cute).
Nicholas
Birth Name: Wang Yixiang
Position: Dancer, Vocalist, Rapper
Birthday: July 9, 2002
Nationality: Taiwanese
Fun Facts:
He has the best style and is the most experimental with fashion (all members agree to this). His cool and unique fashion sense, paired with his intense eyes, makes him appear reserved, however, he’s quite playful and very caring.
He is one of two English speakers in the group, and he can speak a total of four languages. (Mandarin, Korean, English, and Japanese)
He is very talented at B-Boying (Break dancing) as he used to be an athlete when he was younger. He’s very skilled in basketball and badminton.
Yuma
Birth Name: Nakakita Yuma
Position: Main Vocal, Rapper
Birthday: February 7, 2004
Nationality: Japanese
Fun Facts:
He has always been in the entertainment industry. He was previously in a group called “a-X (Across), however they disbanded in 2018 under a Japanese company called Avex.
He rose to the top quickly in &Audition: The Howling as an ace. Previously, he stood out for his high-pitched unique voice (he wasn’t always a fan of his voice, that changed when fans pressed they liked his tone).
He, Fuma, and K all helped create choreography for their song “Firework” (even though his part wasn’t picked), he still actively participates in creating choreography.
Jo
Birth Name: Asakura Jo
Position: Visual, Main Vocal
Birthday: July 8, 2004
Nationality: Japanese
Fun Facts:
He is extremely skilled in basketball. He played up until he was in middle school, and perhaps he could’ve become a pro athlete if he didn’t pursue becoming an idol (That’s how good he is and he still does it as a hobby)
His favorite food is white rice, he even keeps 3 packs of instant rice by his bedside…it’s very serious for him.
He is the quietest and most introverted member. Sometimes, the members joke that they don’t realize he is with them because of how quiet he is.
Harua
Birth Name: Shigeta Harua
Position: Visual, Main Vocal
Birthday: May 1, 2005
Nationality: Japanese
Fun Facts:
On &Audition: The Howling, he was a bit more awkward and reserved, but as he became a member of &TEAM, he became one of the more outgoing members (he’s the best at aegyo).
He likes to paint his nails and design them with nail art, he’s even inspired other members like Nicholas to design their nails.
Though he isn’t into sports as much as his members he is VERY good at them, because he’s introverted he’s constantly surprising his members with his hidden skills and talent such as sports.
Taki
Birth Name: Takayama Riki
Position: Dancer, Vocals
Birthday: May 4, 2005
Nationality: Japanese
Fun Facts:
Before he appeared on ‘I-LAND’, he had been a trainee for 10 months. He was quickly a fan favorite on the show for his cute looks and his relationship with member K as a big brother, little brother vibe.
He’s known for his locking dance skills—a highlight he showed on I-LAND, catching the viewers’ attention.
He’s expressed that he wants to keep being the team’s “bright sun” that helps make them laugh and smile no matter what (all members collectively agree that he is one of the funniest members, he doesn’t even need to try).
Maki
Birth Name: Hirota Riki
Position: Main Vocal, Maknae
Birthday: February 17, 2006
Nationality: Japanese, German
Fun Facts:
He’s expressed that it was due to I-LAND that he wanted to pursue becoming an idol, and now he’s an idol alongside other I-LAND veterans.
He can speak four languages (Japanese, German, English, and Korean). He actively teaches the other members English, especially when he goes live on Weverse.
You’ll never catch him lacking in the latest social media trends, he’s ALWAYS on it (he’s always having to explain to his older members what the lastest trend is).
Music Recommendations
“UNDER THE SKIN”
“Under the Skin,” the band’s debut single, established the tone for their distinct sound, characterized by being deep, melancholy, and dreamy. Influenced by pop rock, “Under the Skin” outlined their backstory while creating a sound that produced intense emotions in listeners, which influenced each of their later albums. “Under the Skin” addresses the challenges that K, the oldest member of his wolf pack, faces in caring to the younger members. However, the younger members try to demonstrate throughout the music video that he is not traveling alone and can depend on them for support.
“FIREWORK”
Some could argue that their most well-known song ought to have been their first single. The sound of “Firework” is so uniquely special that it immediately creates an electrical sensation; in fact, it is a one-of-a-kind sound that will always inspire a mixture of thrill, nostalgia, joy, and sorrow. The music video includes clips of internal tension among the nine members while they experience significant moments with an unknown girl. The music and images produce a dreamy, hazy atmosphere.
“WAR CRY”
While “War Cry” deviates from their usual dreamy sound and has a different vibe, it is an enjoyable departure that furthers the tragic werewolf idea. “War Cry” conveys a rock and rap feel throughout as opposed to mainstream rock. With its angular imagery, bright colors, and animalistic stances and movements, this song embodies the werewolf style brilliantly.
“DEER HUNTER”
Their most recent release, “Deer Hunter,” featured in the winter finale of their seasonal album series,’Yukiakari.’ Starting in the spring of 2024 this series amassed four EP singles, “Samidare” leading into summer with “Aoarashi” then fall with “Juugoya” and lastly “Yukiakari”. This particular song, which was quite different from their usual sound, attracted a lot of new admirers and positively startled longtime Luné. With its dark, vivid colors, lighting, and design, this B-side track generates similar illustrations as “War Cry,” showcasing a mature side. However, their diverse discography will not disappoint as they have a favorite track for everyone.
Content To Check Out
TOKYO023
&TEAM’s variety show GO ONE!!! features challenges, games, and more. However, they do produce other content such as vlogs and in this video a new series called TOKYO023, the members are divided into groups of 3 as they create a guide of Tokyo’s 23 wards. Introducing and discovering delicious restaurants, cafes, and vintage shops; for both local and global Luné’ to try out and visit. The divided teams visit these sites and from their own experiences draft up a guide of each place’s charms, and popular menu items and recommend their favorites. This video is one of many as each episode focuses on one group and location at a time. The perfect content allows for new and old fans to get a sense of the group as a whole and individually, as well as being able to get a feel of the city they live in and its 23 wards.
Additionally, &TEAM has a webtoon series called Dark Moon: The Grey City, which gives us additional context for their plot since we only see so much of it in music videos, lyrics, and CDs. It follows the nine members as they search for a way to overcome loneliness and in search of belonging, read their webtoon series here.
FUN FACTS
Their fan base is called Luné (Light Up New Energy), also reminiscent of the moon, as their concept is werewolves.
Their opening greeting is “1, 2, We Link! Hello, we are &TEAM!”.
&TEAM’s lore is closely connected to ENHYPEN’s as seen in the videos for “Drunk-Dazed” and “Under the Skin (Extended Version)”.
What do you think of &TEAM? Are you a fan now? Let us know on our Instagram and Twitter/X.
FOLLOW &TEAM ON THEIR SOCIALS
TIK TOK • INSTAGRAM • OFFICIAL X • OFFICIAL MEMBER X • YOUTUBE • WEVERSE
Featured Image Credit: &TEAM OFFICIAL X
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