Rising Japanese boy group ONE OR EIGHT made their mark in New York on April 20 at Racket NYC. Their first fanmeeting tour, SHŪKAI, began in Japan and ventured to the Americas with stops in Mexico City, Buenos Aires, São Paulo, New York, and Los Angeles. The group proposed the tour’s name, SHŪKAI, meaning “gathering,” to foster a connection with their fans.
ONE OR EIGHT — consisting of members Mizuki, Neo, Reia, Ryota, Souma, Takeru, Tsubasa, and Yuga — was formed through an audition program called WARPs DIG. The group’s name references the Japanese idiom “一か八か (ichi ka bachi ka),” which literally translates to “one or eight” or “all or nothing” as its English equivalent. With their tagline “BET ON YOURSELF,” the eight talents aim to tackle new challenges as they reach global audiences. Additionally, the group recently announced their fandom name as “1DERZ.”
Racket NYC’s intimate setting created an ideal ambiance for the show. Fans flocked to the venue carrying handwritten signs in anticipation of seeing the boys. In addition to locals, international fans flew in from Canada and even as far as China, specifically for this event.
Opening with the singles “Don’t Tell Nobody” and “KAWASAKI,” the group brought up the heat with their synced choreography. The boys showcased their charms through solo stages, with rappers Souma and Neo taking over the first portion.
Midway through the set, there was a Q&A session to get to know the members better. Neo credited New York with influencing his rapping career. During their stay, the members had a chance to explore the city and try the food staple, New York-style pizza. They visited historic landmarks such as the Brooklyn Bridge, the Empire State Building, and Times Square, the latter of which served as an ideal location for filming dance challenges.
Next was a gaming session in which the group was divided into two teams — Team Brooklyn (Reia, Ryota, Takeru, and Tsubasa) and Team Yankees (Mizuki, Neo, Souma, and Yuga). They competed against each other in soccer ball kick-ups, followed by charades. Team Brooklyn emerged victorious; however, judging by the cheers, it was fair to say that fans would be content with either result.
Getting back on track, they performed a few unreleased songs such as “Wanna Be With You” and “Day Ones.” The members split up once again for the next two unit stages, with the vocal line performing “180 (One Eighty)” while the rap line took on “Tokyo Drift.” Saving the best for last, the boys closed the show with their latest single, “DSTM,” featuring an addictive hook sampled from Rihanna’s “Don’t Stop the Music.”
This is only the beginning for ONE OR EIGHT, but they have a bright future ahead. Their New York visit was a memorable one well spent with fans. With several affirmations of “see you soon” from the members, NYC 1DERZ eagerly awaits their return.
Photos and words by Angela Leung
