J.Y.Park and NiziU hold a live press conference from Korea to discover NiziU's younger brother group

 J.Y.Park and NiziU hold a live press conference from Korea to discover NiziU's younger brother group

It's been a year since Sony Music Entertainment and JYP Entertainment produced the nine-member global girl group NiziU last June. At a press conference held on June 12, it was announced that season 2 of "Nizi Project," a joint audition project between Sony Music Entertainment and JYP Entertainment (JYP), a major Korean entertainment company, will finally start. The second project will discover and train a boy group with global standards.

The press conference was held at the SME Rokubancho Building in Tokyo, and Mr. Shunsuke Muramatsu, President and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment, took the stage. J.Y.Park, who was in charge of "Nizi Project", which was a social phenomenon last year, and the nine members of NiziU took the stage as special guests.

J.Y.Park says, "Long time no see! It's J.Y.Park again. I'm very happy to announce the release of season 2 of the Nizi Project,", cheerfully. I've heard that I've become famous in Japan, but I'm wondering if that's true," he joked, adding, "I'm heading to Japan to meet you all and to meet new people, hoping that the severe situation (the Corona disaster) that tormented us will end. But this time, it will be boys," he said, announcing the formation of a boy's group.

The Nizi Project Season 2 Global Boys Audition, which started accepting applications today, is open to males who are scheduled to graduate from junior high school in March 2023 and who will be 22 years old at the time of the audition. No nationality is required, but as in Season 1, applicants must be able to communicate in Japanese at least a little. The entry categories are "Vocal," "Dance," "Model," "Rap," and newly added "Lyrics/Composition," for a total of five categories, which will close at 5 p.m. on October 29.

Then, from November to December, regional auditions will be held at 11 locations in Japan and overseas: Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo, Nagoya, Kobe, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Okinawa, New York (USA), Los Angeles, and Seoul (Korea). The final audition in each city will be held by Mr. J.Y. Park, who will directly hold an interview to determine the selected members who will move on to the Tokyo training camp. At the Tokyo training camp, the members preparing for their debuts in Korea will be selected. After the Korean training period, the final debut members will be selected in December 2022, aiming for a major debut in March 2023.

J.Y. Park shows off the Nizi Pendant, the symbol of "Nizi Project". "We've upgraded the pendant to a style that suits boys.  What do you think? If they can collect all four cubes for "singing," "dancing," "star quality," and "attitude," they will be chosen as the final debut members. The first season was broadcasted and distributed on Nippon Television Network's "Sukkiri" and Hulu, and for the second season, he said, "We plan to deliver it to you through the media in the second half of next year.

I've been talking about the idea of a boy's group in Nizi Project since the project's launch press conference in February 2019, when I said, "If the girl's group is successful, we'd like to use that experience to create a boy's group.  Fortunately, season one received a great deal of love from everyone, and we are very happy to be able to bring this plan to fruition. President Muramatsu also expressed his hope, "Since this is a boy's group and Park himself is an artist and performer, I'm sure we'll be able to see his hands-on and passionate instruction.

As for the base of activity, he said, "It is the same for all JYP artists, but for the first two to three years after their debut, it is important for them to communicate with their fans frequently in the local area where they are based and to build a strong fan base. After NiziU debuted, we also focused on activities in Japan, which is our base. I think it's important to build a strong fan base," he said. "After NiziU's debut, we focused on activities in Japan, which is our foundation, and for this boy group as well, we will focus on activities in Japan in the beginning, and after building a strong relationship with our fans, we will be able to plan a full-scale global expansion," 

The members of NiziU also looked back on the Nizi Project and Ayaka said, "If you're not sure, I think you should participate". Nina said, "This project has changed my life". J.Y. Park said, "To all the boys who are dreaming of becoming idols, please don't hesitate to apply and I' ll see you in the city closest to you"

-What do you think is the most important thing for a successful male group?

I don't think there is any difference in what is necessary for a boy group or a girl group. I think it's important to be able to express yourself in a different way. Nowadays, we live in an age of one-person media, and it is difficult or impossible for a company producer to create an image or process it. Therefore, I believe that it is important for us to be able to express ourselves in a natural way. I believe that this is the same important value for both boy groups and girl groups.

-In Season 1, you emphasized not only skills, but also star quality and personality, what kind of abilities would you like to see in this Season 2?

When I look at the people who become idols and stars, I think that they are not technically skilled people.I don't think they are technically skilled people who are good at singing or dancing. It's more important to be able to express your inner self in a natural way. Your inner self is expressed through your singing and dancing, and also through the lyrics and raps you make. It can also be expressed through casual jokes and special skills. I believe that it is important to express the charm that lies within yourself in a natural way.

-How do you see the boy group scene in Japan? Are there any groups you're interested in?

It was in the 80's that I started listening to and liking Japanese music. My favorite singers were Keisuke Kuwata, Southern All Stars, TUBE, Anzen Chitai , The Checkers, and Toshinobu Kubota. Rather than specific singers or artists, I like music that has a good sense of mixing and sublimating genres of music that have their foundation and roots in soul and R&B in an oriental way. I believe that there were many such music and artists in Japan in the 80s. That's how my relationship with Japanese artists and music started

I started out as a fan, but I feel that the current music scene in Japan is more pop music than soul or R&B music, JYP would like to continue to provide music with a more urban taste and a foundation in soul and R&B. Recently, I have been enjoying EXILE's music recently

-What did you discover and learn in Season 1, and can you apply it to Season 2?

What surprised me the most was that there were so many talented people in Japan. I don't think there is anything more important to the success of an audition than that. I think good people are the most important thing for an audition. There are so many great people and I am amazed that so many great people participated in this audition. In addition, I received great support from the Japanese people, and I think that will give me the confidence to head into season 2 again.

-What was the purpose of including "songwriting and lyrics" in the entry category? Also, by including this, is there a possibility that the groups that will be born this time will not be limited to a dance & vocal group like NiziU?

There are many boy groups in the whole world and in Japan. I think it is difficult to occupy a new position among the many boy groups with only the traditional colors. Therefore, I think it will be advantageous for boy groups to come up with new colors in the future. This is exactly what I mean when I say that they should write their own thoughts and their own values in their own words and write songs.

If new talents are discovered here, it will be a great help to the producers. I believe that the singers of the new era and the boy groups of the new era will be shaped by the singers who have their own words, and their value will be demanded. I created this category in the hope that we can find artists who can express their own values and thoughts through their lyrics and songs.

This is similar to the second question, but we want to bring out the true colors and charms of the people we select and make them their own group' s colors, rather than putting our own images, ideas and plans on them.

-What are some of the things you would like to do to make this project a success, and what are some of the routines you would like to follow?

I'm looking forward to visiting 8 cities in Japan and eating the delicious food of each region. I am very excited. On the other hand, my biggest worry is that I will be away from home for almost a month and a half and will not be able to see my young daughters. I think the most important thing for me to focus on in this program is to study Japanese more than anything else. I still wake up every morning and my routine is to write Japanese words in my vocabulary book and study them.

-When did you start thinking about forming a boy group? What do you look Forward to that only men can do?

Initially, when we launched the Nizi Project, we had talked with Sony Music at the very beginning about the possibility of creating a boy's group if Season 1 was successful, and that we wanted to continue with Season 2. And we had prepared ourselves for that. Fortunately, Season 1 received a lot of love from everyone, and I'm very happy that we'll be able to fulfill that plan.

In terms of what is required of boy groups, we want to show you how they have matured. For this reason, we have included a "songwriting and composition" category in the application process, so we hope to see groups with new talent and new colors being born

-Do you have a concept or image for the group that will be born this time?　Also, since auditions will be held in Seoul and the U.S. this time, where will the group be active after their debut?

As for the group's color, as I mentioned earlier, I would like to produce the group according to the color of the members who have been decided, rather than deciding it at the beginning. I believe that this will lead to a new group for the next generation. I would like to select people who are lively and have their own unique charm as much as possible, rather than fitting them according to a producer's plan.

For NiziU, as well as for all JYP artists, I think it is important to build a strong fan base by communicating with fans frequently and interacting with them in the local area where they are based for the first two to three years after their debut. In that sense, I think it's important for us to build a strong fan base. NiziU has been focusing on activities in Japan, their base, since their debut. For this boy group as well, we would like to focus on activities in Japan first, and after building a strong connection with the fans, we would like to plan a full-scale global expansion.

Original post: Yahoo! Japan News

[+7,754, -890] niziu also peaked when they debuted and is now in decline, yet a younger brother group??

[+6,157, -416] There are so many similar ones already. Enough is enough. We don't need another Korean styled one. If you' re going to do it, let's create something original and Japanese.

[+4,014, -332] I'd rather you take care of existing groups. They're already holding auditions now, I feel like "so are they going to do it again?"

[+3,714, -244] I'm not sure if Niziu sells well

[3,597, -363]  So you've given up on NiziU fast? I feel sorry for the kids who became just a show off

[+2,600, -166] That's enough. You can't do this.

[+2,493, -106] I have the impression that NIziU is just a one-hit wonder with a lot of buzz, but I'd like to see them sell well again before moving on.

I feel like the girls of NIziU are being thrown away.

[+1,935 ,-173] It seems that NiZiU has already passed its peak, and when it comes out on its own, they don't seem to be that good. 

I understand that creating a buzz is important for entertainment, but isn't it too much to ask for a mass production of something similar?

[+1,877, -167] In the first place, it's unclear whether NiziU itself is actually selling well.

Korean groups are good at selling because of the government's backing, but they will still the little brother to a smaller group.

In both Japan and Korea, sales vary greatly depending on the power of the backers, but personally, I'd like to see a domestic group come out that could make a big impact.

[+759, -52] I've been seeing a lot of projects like this lately. The fan base is the same, and the existing ones disappear in a flash.

I see a lot of commercials for NiziU, but they doesn't seem to be very popular anymore

[+843, -114] A music producer who had fallen on hard times in his home country launched an interesting observation , thinking that he might be able to make it in Japan.

But more than half of Japanese people dislike Korea, so the number of people who will dislike it from the beginning will be higher, and yet they are still trying to continue.

I really feel sorry for the children who will be sacrificed without knowing anything about it.

[+634, -50] In the end a group that peak at the time of the audition and then fall flat will be born.

First, I want you to develop the existing groups well.

[+648, -45] I'm sure it will become like EXILE and become confusing.

[+480, -39] Before the younger sibling, the main group was at its peak with the song called "Pre-debut?" The peak of the group was the song that was called "Before the big debut? You may know the names of the group, but the individual members are probably not well known to the general public. Is this a business model where they keep making and throwing away one after another?

[+533, -59] Why do all these girls speak Japanese with a Korean accent? Is that the concept for the next one? I don't care if they sing, dance, or produce whatever they want, but they should at least speak Japanese properly.