“Whether BTS are actually part of K-pop at this point is a hotly debated topic among their fans, known as ARMY — many believe the group has transcended the label,” wrote a Rolling Stones profile almost a decade ago. With the band’s colossal global success in the West, and the subsequent tidal-like Hallyu takeover over the next ten years, the boundaries that draw the lines between genres have been endlessly blurred since. You see it in the way Blackpink members are discussed online when it comes to their nominationsas solo acts. Is it K-pop by virtue of their origins, or have they moved beyond the orbit of K-pop, given their international audience and production teams? Whenyou witness Diplo gushing to every major press about his involvement with BTS’ unreleased album, it should come as no surprise that this wave of East Asian-led entertainment industry no longer navigates in the niche; it now dominates the mainstream.

Enter BTS’ juniors, &TEAM — a nine-member group that asserts on beingrecognised as a global group. Without any context, one might be quick to view this as a marketing ploy to fluff up the group’s presence, even though it’s Japan-based. Upon closer listen, you would find it almost instinctive to view what members EJ, FUMA, K, NICHOLAS, YUMA, JO, HARUA, TAKI and MAKI do as being globally-oriented. Beyond owning the title of being the first-ever Japan-based group to sell a million CDs in both Japan and South Korea, their first Asia tour AWAKEN THE BLOODLINE has too, attracted 160,000+ attendees in over 10 cities — &TEAM boasts that kind of stats that would convince chronically onlinenaysayers who are quick to label the meteoric rise of certain acts — especially those who debut under HYBE and its subsidiaries — as “payola”. Moving globally was never a “happy accident”; it has always been a strategic decision right from its inception. Men’s Folio chats with members JO and HARUA to further understand what makes &TEAM a global force.

(On Harua) Sweater, shirt, shorts, all Prada;
(On JO) Coat, jacket, pants, all Prada

Sweater, shirt, all Prada

“As the first group from HYBE to debut outside of Korea, we’ve continued down a path that hasn’t been taken before. The challenges have allowed us to grow little by little and shaped us differently,” says JO. Since &TEAM’s debut in 2022, they feel encouraged, acknowledging other label mates like KATSEYE and Latin America’s SANTOS BRAVOS are taking up similar paths. “We hope to continue paving the way with our own style, and materialise our goal of ‘Japan to Global’ by working steadily to broaden our activities beyond borders,” he adds. For HARUA, a significant moment was their Korean debut last year, which allowed them to truly feel the support they received beyond Japan. “Knowing that the support from our fans, LUNÉ, has come from around the world has always given us strength,” HARUA explains.

Although conceived as an audition program, &AUDITION, like many of its industry peers, has diverged from an often entertainment-first, competition-later format. “&AUDITION was pretty supportive of the trainers. It was overall fun and lighthearted compared to many other survival shows. The boys were neverpitted against each other, so you see the trainees bond and support each otherthroughout the program,” wrote one Reddit user. For JO, the biggest lesson gained from being part of the program was knowing the importance of working as a group. “We truly understand the meaning of bringing a project to life as a team; this mindset still influences how we work today. The nine of us work and support each other closely, while making sure each member’s individual colour [personality] comes through.” On the other hand, HARUA values the importance of communication. “When we were trainees, we had monthly evaluations that weprepared for on our own accord. Once &AUDITION began, the missions weremostly team-based. This meant that we needed to communicate our ideas with each other openly to succeed,” the 20-year-old said.

(On HARUA) Coat, sweater, all Prada;
(On JO) Coat, jacket, pants, all Prada

Sweater, shirt, all Prada

With &TEAM’s diverse composition of talent, what is foundational to their appeal —  transcending language and culture — is their core desire to share their music with the world. “Even if &TEAM is not confined to a single genre or language in ourlyrics, I think we have built a sound that is uniquely ours. When our thoughts and feelings are accurately conveyed, we get to connect with LUNÉ and become one beyond language,” explains HARUA. JO shares a similar sentiment. “Even if they do not fully understand the words, they can still connect with the emotions behind our songs; when lyrics aren’t completely clear, sincerity carries us through.

Like much of HYBE’s other acts, &TEAM’s discography is crafted with impeccable polish, resulting in a lustre that catches light and is hard to turn away from. As heard on their track “MISMATCH”, you might wonder what business a band with members born past 1996 has in creating slinky, 90s-inspired R&B. However, a conversation with them will soon reveal that they are students of pop culture, excited to put their own spin on it rather than create carbon copies of the past. “Michael Jackson inspires me, not just for his dancing and performance, but especially for his aura. I find it truly amazing that he could completely captivate an audience once he steps onto the stage — this says a lot about his presence,” JO explains. Beyond heroes from the music realm, HARUA turns to basketball players for inspiration. “Since we are appointed as ambassadors for the 10th anniversary of the B.LEAGUE in Japan, we’ve had more opportunities to be involved with the sport. I was really moved by the way the basketballers dedicate themselves to basketball when watching them closely — especially when they focus wholeheartedly on the ball and the court — which has really left a strong impression.”

Tank, top, Prada

Be it onstage or offstage, the one thing that remains constant for JO is his passion. “Once I commit to something, I give it my full effort, and that dedication remains whether I’m performing or not,” he explained. This translates into his love of putting everything together as a group during dance practice and refining the smallest details when he goes over the choreography repeatedly. Acknowledging his calm and steady demeanour in his daily life, HARUA, however, finds a way to raise his energy for performances. “I get my heart rate up and prepare myself mentally so I can deliver our music passionately to LUNÉ! Between onstage and offstage, I’d say that my emotional intensity differs the most.” For him, anticipation begins when he receives a new demo. “I always look forward to hearing our new songs for the first time. What excites me most is when we start shaping the song to make it our own,” HARUA shares. He asks for LUNÉ’s patience as they prepare for their 3rd EP, We on Fire, slated for 21 April this year.

For &TEAM, costuming is not just an auxiliary element that is secondary to the music — it tells a full story. JO and HARUA both share the sentiment that the right stage costumes, alongside hair and makeup, work in tandem to create the perfect confidence boost and set the mood for the performance. “Once the stage costumes come on, our mindset shifts and we’re able to immerse ourselves fully in the performance. It’s completely different from rehearsing in our own clothes,” shared HARUA. “I loved our outfits when we promoted ‘Deer Hunter’ in Korea. Several variations included suit-inspired looks and others that were rougher, like bandage styling and distressed details that gave a dramatic impression.” JO’s favourite was the black suit that featured firework-shaped jewellery details when the band appeared on NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen, as he felt that the look was a symbolic reflection of &TEAM’s identity and charm.

Shirt, Prada

Sweater, pants, Prada

Beyond just performing, JO and HARUA find themselves exploring the idea of being more involved with the creative process. “Because of all the experiences we get to have, there are so many emotions and thoughts that I want to hold on to — if I could turn those feelings into lyrics and share them through our music, that would be very meaningful,” shared JO. While HARUA is still open to exploring, he considers the prospects of designing their merchandise or perhaps playing instruments on stage. Given the surreal nature of being in the entertainment industry, are there parts that feel like second nature, or otherwise? “Nothing feels particularly easy yet, although we’ve had several comebacks. Each one brings a new challenge and something to improve on. That said, I do notice growth compared to before, and that keeps me going,” JO confided. HARUA, too, reflect similar feelings as their work requires them to stretch into different areas — acting, appearing on variety shows and magazine shoots. “Each setting requires a different mindset, and adjusting between the scenarios can be challenging. A magazine shoot would require me to focus on posture and expression, while on avariety show, I concentrate on conversation and timing,” HARUA shared.

LUNÉ’s presence and constant support make it all worth the challenges that come &TEAM’s way. Both JO and HARUA agree that the warmth and attention shed by the fans remind them of why they do what they do. “The encore show of our Asia tour last year is something I’ll never forget. LUNÉ had been with us throughout the tour, and performing in such a large venue felt like giving back to them. Our upcoming tour, BLAZE THE WAY, will allow us to revisit Bangkok and perform in Singapore for the first time — so we hope our fans are just as excited as we are!”JO teased. All dressed in Prada for this shoot, HARUA, too, recalled the time he got to attend the Prada show in Milan last February with JO, which allowed him to meet fans from Europe. What makes it all worth it for them is the opportunity to perform on stage, hearing their fans cheer, seeing their smiles and feeling their energy.

Just as moonlight illuminates every surface of our planet, &TEAM’s global-first approach to connecting is not rooted in the novelty of something foreign; nor is it meant to highlight the differences and disparities that wedge us apart. Not knowing the full meaning of a song’s lyrics has never prevented us from enjoying it — in ways that melodies, movement and visual presentation have too, played their part in striking a connection between the artist and listener. What makes &TEAM global is not just its high-octane presentation, but its ability to leverage music’s universality.

Photography Kim Jiyoung

Creative Direction & Styling Izwan Abdullah

Grooming Mizuna Mori | Inyeon

Hair Toshiyasu Oki | Continue

Visual Creative Hirokazu Shikano, Mari Hatanaka

Fashion Coordination Manfred Lu

Production Oh Seoyul | SY Production