JO1 in 2026: Members, Music and More

#JO1 #JPop #JapaneseMusic

Japanese boy groups have traditionally grown through agency-led training systems, television exposure, physical-record sales and highly developed domestic fandoms. JO1 entered that industry through a different route. Formed from the first season of PRODUCE 101 JAPAN in 2019, the group was selected by viewers from 101 contestants and debuted in 2020 with an established public following before its first single had even reached stores. Six years later, JO1 has accumulated multiple Billboard Japan No. 1 songs, dome concerts, major music awards, acting and voice-acting projects, and increasingly substantial member participation in songwriting and choreography. The group has also experienced its most difficult period, losing two original members between the end of 2025 and May 2026 while simultaneously preparing a formal United States debut. With JO1 now operating as nine members, is 2026 becoming the beginning of the group’s second era? [JO1 Official Profile]

Who Are JO1?

JO1 was formed through PRODUCE 101 JAPAN, the Japanese adaptation of the Produce 101 audition format. According to the official JO1 profile, viewers—referred to during the programme as “national producers”—selected the eventual lineup from 101 contestants. The name JO1 represents the idea of trainees who pursued the same dream becoming one and aiming for the top of the world. [JO1 Official Profile]

The group debuted on March 4, 2020 with its first single, PROTOSTAR, led by “Mugendai (INFINITY).” Its timing was extraordinarily difficult: JO1 entered professional activity just as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted concerts, fan events and normal promotional schedules. Despite that obstacle, “Mugendai” reached No. 1 on Billboard Japan’s overall Japan Hot 100, supported by 344,299 physical single sales during its principal release week. [Billboard Japan]

JO1 originally consisted of eleven members. That is still historically important because the group’s first five years, recordings and major milestones were created with the original lineup. However, JO1 is not currently an eleven-member group.

As of August 8, 2026, JO1’s official profile lists nine members: Ren Kawashiri, Takumi Kawanishi, Syoya Kimata, Sukai Kinjo, Junki Kono, Keigo Sato, Ruki Shiroiwa, Issei Mamehara and Sho Yonashiro. JO1 also explicitly announced that its 2026 EIEN dome concerts would be performed by nine members. [JO1 Official Profile; JO1 Official Site]

Former member Shion Tsurubo ended his JO1 activities when his management contract expired on December 31, 2025. Former member Shosei Ohira subsequently ended his JO1 activities when his contract expired on May 31, 2026. Both departures were formally announced by LAPONE Entertainment and should therefore be treated as permanent lineup changes rather than temporary absences. [LAPONE Entertainment]

JO1’s Current Members

Sho Yonashiro

Sho Yonashiro was born on October 25, 1995, in Okinawa Prefecture and is JO1’s leader. Outside group music, he has developed acting credits through Amazon’s Short Program, WOWOW’s Fence and the 2023 film OUT. His vocal activities have included SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]’s “OUTSIDERS” and HY’s “366 Days feat. Yonashiro Sho.” Yonashiro has also contributed lyrics to JO1 material, demonstrating that his role extends beyond performing finished songs. His acting, vocals and leadership make him one of the principal public representatives of the group. [JO1 Official Member Profile]

Ren Kawashiri

Ren Kawashiri was born on March 2, 1997, in Fukuoka Prefecture and has remained one of JO1’s most dance-oriented members. He acted in Amazon’s Short Program, but his most distinctive non-singing contribution is choreography: his official profile includes choreography credits for JO1 as well as creative work involving other LAPONE artists. Kawashiri has also developed his own music, releasing the solo EP Give me your day. in June 2025 and “Like the Beginning” the following month. His work illustrates how JO1 members have gradually moved from performing externally created material into choreography and music creation. He remains active with the group’s 2026 live schedule, including KCON LA, ROCK IN JAPAN FESTIVAL and the North American tour. [JO1 Official Member Profile]

Ruki Shiroiwa

Ruki Shiroiwa was born on November 19, 1997, in Tokyo and has established one of JO1’s clearest careers in radio and screen entertainment. He starred in the 2023 film Yoru ga Aketara, Ichiban ni Kimi ni Ai ni Iku and later took the lead voice role of You in the 2025 animated film AS ONE. His television work also includes the 2025 Kansai TV drama Musume no Inochi wo Ubatta Yatsu wo Korosu no wa Tsumi desu ka?. Since April 2022, Shiroiwa has served as the main personality of JO1’s All Night Nippon X, giving him a regular role outside music performance. His solo releases include “Himawari” and “Megurusei.” [JO1 Official Member Profile]

Junki Kono

Junki Kono was born on January 20, 1998, in Nara Prefecture and is one of JO1’s prominent vocal performers. He has acted in Short Program and Kansai TV’s Ano Ko no Kodomo, and provided the Japanese premium-dub voice of Jonathan in Disney’s live-action Snow White. Kono has also expanded into television presentation, including work as a monthly entertainment presenter on Fuji TV’s Mezamashi TV in 2026. His individual music includes “Singing in the rain,” while July 2026 brought the collaboration “Life Still Goes On feat. JUNKI.” He is also becoming more directly involved in JO1’s writing process, participating in the lyrics for the forthcoming “IGNITE.” [JO1 Official Member Profile; JO1 Official Site]

Keigo Sato

Keigo Sato was born on July 29, 1998, in Aichi Prefecture. His acting work includes Amazon’s Short Program, TV Tokyo’s Toriaezu Kanpai Shimasen ka? and Fuji TV’s 366 Days. His solo music expanded with the 2025 digital song “BANANA,” while he has also appeared frequently on entertainment and variety programming. Sato has participated in major fashion-industry events, including a Louis Vuitton SS24 Men’s pop-up opening, although it is more accurate to describe this as fashion and brand work rather than a separate professional modelling career. His profile therefore spans acting, variety television, fashion-related appearances and music alongside JO1. [JO1 Official Member Profile]

Takumi Kawanishi

Takumi Kawanishi was born on June 23, 1999, in Hyogo Prefecture and has developed one of JO1’s strongest actor-musician profiles. He starred in TV Tokyo’s Cool Doji Danshi and played the lead role of Kiyosumi in the 2024 music film Buzzy Noise, followed by appearances in Run for Money THE MOVIE and WOWOW’s Shadow Work. His individual music activity expanded substantially in 2026 with the digital EP Sketch, released on June 24. Kawanishi has also become a songwriter and composer, including work connected with fellow member Issei Mamehara’s 2026 drama project. His increasing involvement in both screen acting and original music makes him one of the clearest examples of JO1 members establishing individual creative identities. [JO1 Official Member Profile; JO1 Official Discography]

Syoya Kimata

Syoya Kimata was born on April 5, 2000, in Aichi Prefecture and has one of JO1’s most developed voice-acting portfolios. His credits include Gunjō no Fanfare, Shimajiro, the animated film Trapezium and Run for Money: The Great Mission, alongside live-action work such as Shomona Bokura no Renairon. Musically, he has increasingly moved into songwriting and production, participating in JO1 songs as well as individual projects. His 2026 solo release “Puppet Land” continued the group’s [PLANJ] individual-content project. Kimata also wrote, composed and arranged parts of JO1’s 2026 material, making his creative role increasingly important to the group itself. [JO1 Official Member Profile; JO1 Official Site]

Sukai Kinjo

Sukai Kinjo was born on May 6, 2000, in Osaka Prefecture. His screen credits include WOWOW’s Drop, TV Asahi’s Densetsu no Head Sho, the film OUT and Run for Money THE MOVIE. Kinjo also participates in music creation, with official songwriting credits on several JO1 projects. His individual song “To.X,” released as SKY (JO1), arrived in January 2026 and became one of the first JO1 member-specific digital releases of the year. He has additionally appeared in fashion editorials and at luxury-brand events, again making “fashion work” a more accurate description than claiming a separate modelling profession. [JO1 Official Member Profile; JO1 Official Discography]

Issei Mamehara

Issei Mamehara was born on May 30, 2002, in Okayama Prefecture and is the youngest current JO1 member. He has developed a particularly substantial acting résumé, including Kamen Rider Revice: Battle Familia, NHK’s Super Human Fortress Hiroshi, TBS’s Diamonds Sleeping in the Sea and the lead role in BADBOYS -THE MOVIE-. He also co-starred in the 2025 film Fujisan to, Coffee to, Shiawase no Sūshiki. In 2026, his acting work continued with TV Tokyo’s Fūfu to 16-sai ~Kyōki no Rinjin~. Mamehara therefore has one of the strongest conventional acting careers among JO1’s current members while continuing his music and television work with the group. [JO1 Official Member Profile]

JO1 Beyond Singing: Acting, Voice Work and Fashion

JO1 should not be described simply as nine singers and dancers. All nine current members have accumulated acting experience, with Amazon’s 2022 anthology Short Program particularly important in giving the members individual starring opportunities. Since then, several have developed much larger screen careers. Mamehara and Kawanishi have taken major film roles; Shiroiwa has moved between film, television and voice acting; Kimata has accumulated multiple anime and animated-film credits; Kono has worked in drama and Disney dubbing; and Yonashiro, Kinjo and Sato have also appeared in television dramas and films. [JO1 Official Member Profiles]

Radio and television provide another route. Shiroiwa’s long-running All Night Nippon X role gives him a regular broadcasting identity, while Kono and Mamehara have both worked as entertainment presenters on Mezamashi TV. Kawashiri’s choreography and the growing number of songwriting credits across the group demonstrate another form of expansion: JO1 members are increasingly participating in what is performed rather than only performing it.

Fashion is also part of their public activity, but terminology matters. Official profiles document magazine covers, fashion editorials, VOGUE-related content and luxury-brand events. They do not require us to label the members professional fashion models. For a fact-checked profile, “fashion and editorial work” is the more defensible description.

JO1 Discography and Billboard Japan Results

The chart positions below deliberately distinguish Billboard Japan Hot Albums, used for albums, from the Japan Hot 100, used for songs. This matters because a physical single can top Billboard Japan’s Top Singles Sales chart while its lead song finishes lower on the broader Hot 100.

Albums

The STAR — November 25, 2020
- 1st studio album.
- Billboard Japan Hot Albums peak: No. 2.
- Includes material from JO1’s debut period and “Shine A Light.”
KIZUNA — May 25, 2022
- 2nd studio album.
- Billboard Japan Hot Albums peak: No. 1.
- Billboard Japan reported 300,410 CD sales and 1,929 downloads during its first chart week. [Billboard Japan]
EQUINOX — September 20, 2023
- 3rd studio album.
- Billboard Japan Hot Albums peak: No. 1.
- It also led album sales with 274,146 copies and downloads with 2,473 during its opening chart period. [Billboard Japan]
BE CLASSIC — April 2, 2025
- JO1’s first best album, released for the fifth-anniversary period.
- Billboard Japan Hot Albums peak: No. 1.
- Billboard Japan recorded 334,084 CD sales and 2,276 downloads in its first chart week. [Billboard Japan]

Official JO1 material confirms those Japanese album release dates. As of August 2026, BE CLASSIC remains JO1’s newest Japanese album-level physical release; no fourth Japanese studio album has been announced in the sources reviewed for this update. [JO1 Official Site]

Numbered Singles and Japan Hot 100 Peaks

PROTOSTAR — March 4, 2020
- 1st single.
- Lead song: “Mugendai (INFINITY).”
- Billboard Japan Hot 100 peak: No. 1.
STARGAZER — August 26, 2020
- 2nd single.
- Lead song: “OH-EH-OH.”
- Billboard Japan Hot 100 peak: No. 1.
CHALLENGER — April 28, 2021
- 3rd single.
- Lead song: “Born To Be Wild.”
- Billboard Japan Hot 100 peak: No. 1.
STRANGER — August 18, 2021
- 4th single.
- Lead song: “REAL.”
- Billboard Japan Hot 100 peak: No. 1.
WANDERING — December 15, 2021
- 5th single.
- Lead song: “Bokura no Kisetsu.”
- Billboard Japan Hot 100 peak: No. 1.
- Billboard Japan recorded 516,603 first-week physical sales.
MIDNIGHT SUN — October 12, 2022
- 6th single.
- Lead song: “SuperCali.”
- Billboard Japan Hot 100 peak: No. 2.
- “SuperCali” finished only 30 chart points behind Kenshi Yonezu’s “KICK BACK” during its highest week.
TROPICAL NIGHT — April 5, 2023
- 7th single.
- Lead song: “Tiger.”
- Billboard Japan Hot 100 peak: No. 1.
- Billboard Japan reported 416,473 physical sales during its release week.
HITCHHIKER — May 29, 2024
- 8th single.
- Lead song: “Love seeker.”
- Billboard Japan Hot 100 peak: No. 1.
- Billboard Japan recorded 738,776 first-week physical sales.
WHERE DO WE GO — October 2, 2024
- 9th single.
- Title song: “WHERE DO WE GO.”
- Billboard Japan Hot 100 peak: No. 1.
- Billboard Japan recorded 732,009 physical sales during its principal release week.
Handz In My Pocket — October 22, 2025
- 10th single.
- Title song: “Handz In My Pocket.”
- Billboard Japan Hot 100 peak: No. 2.
- The physical single nevertheless reached No. 1 on Top Singles Sales, selling 692,223 copies in its first week. Billboard Japan confirmed that all ten JO1 numbered singles released to that point had topped Top Singles Sales.
AAO — November 18, 2026
- 11th single.
- Title song: “IGNITE.”
- Billboard position: not available yet, because the single has not been released as of August 8.
- “IGNITE” will serve as the opening theme for the Tokyo Revengers Three Heavens War Arc, with Junki Kono and Syoya Kimata participating in the lyrics. [JO1 Official Site]

That gives JO1 eight Japan Hot 100 No. 1 lead/title songs among its first ten numbered singles: “Mugendai,” “OH-EH-OH,” “Born To Be Wild,” “REAL,” “Bokura no Kisetsu,” “Tiger,” “Love seeker” and “WHERE DO WE GO.” “SuperCali” and “Handz In My Pocket” peaked at No. 2.

JO1’s New Music in 2026

JO1’s 2026 output is more fragmented than a conventional studio-album campaign because group singles, individual member projects and the forthcoming US release are operating simultaneously.

“Breezy Love”

“Breezy Love” was digitally released on March 12, 2026 as a tie-in with hair-care brand Sorule. Syoya Kimata participated in the lyrics, composition and arrangement, while Sukai Kinjo also contributed to the lyrics. The song later reached No. 48 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 after initially entering lower on the chart. [JO1 Official Site; Billboard Japan]

“EIEN”

“EIEN” followed on March 30 and was specifically written for JO1DER SHOW 2026 ‘EIEN’. Kimata again participated in writing, composition and arrangement. The track reached No. 32 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100, making it one of JO1’s principal digital releases of the year. [JO1 Official Site; Billboard Japan]

Individual Music

Member-specific releases have become increasingly important. Sukai Kinjo released “To.X” under SKY (JO1) on January 29. Syoya Kimata continued his individual creative work with “Puppet Land” in March. Takumi Kawanishi released the six-track digital EP Sketch on June 24, while Junki Kono appeared on “Life Still Goes On feat. JUNKI” in July. These projects reinforce the shift toward members developing musical identities outside the standard JO1 single cycle. [JO1 Official Discography]

The US Debut: ANIMAL

The biggest forward-looking JO1 project of 2026 is ANIMAL. JO1 officially announced a United States debut and a five-city North American tour in April, later confirming ANIMAL as the tour title and the title of its US original EP. [JO1 Official Site]

The EP is scheduled for October 2, 2026, local time. According to Oricon, ANIMAL contains six songs and all six are produced by Grammy-winning producer and songwriter Dem Jointz. The first advance track, “WHATCHA DOIN,” was released on July 24. Because the EP is unreleased at the time of this update, it has no Billboard Japan album position and should not be described as already having achieved a chart result. [Oricon]

The 2026 JO1 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR ‘ANIMAL’ is scheduled for:

October 2 — Toronto, Danforth Music Hall
October 4 — New York, Terminal 5
October 6 — Chicago, Copernicus Center
October 8 — San Francisco, The Warfield
October 11 — Los Angeles, The Novo

These dates are officially listed by JO1 and represent a significantly more deliberate North American strategy than isolated overseas appearances. [JO1 Official Site]

Dome Concerts and JO1’s 2026 Live Position

The move from eleven to nine members did not result in JO1 retreating from large-scale performances. JO1DER SHOW 2026 ‘EIEN’ began with Tokyo Dome performances on April 8–9 and Kyocera Dome Osaka on April 22–23. JO1 explicitly announced before the concerts that they would feature nine members. [JO1 Official Site]

The tour later received EIEN FINAL performances at Vantelin Dome Nagoya on July 19–20. This placed the restructured group in dome-scale venues during the same year in which the US project was being prepared.

There is, however, one unresolved international live issue. JO1DER SHOW 2026 ‘EIEN’ LIMITED EDITION IN SEOUL was scheduled for September 26–27, but JO1 postponed ticket sales on July 21. The official notice said that normal operation at the planned venue had become extremely difficult and that options including changing the venue or cancelling the concerts were under consideration. Therefore, as of August 8, the accurate status is postponed ticket sales / event under review, not “cancelled.” [JO1 Official Site]

JO1’s Awards and Industry Recognition

JO1’s official profile documents a substantial awards history.

In 2020, the group received the MTV VMAJ Rising Star Award and Mnet Asian Music Awards’ Best New Asian Artist recognition, among other honours. In 2021, JO1 was named among the Japan Gold Disc Awards’ Best 5 New Artists in Japanese music, while the “REAL” video received MTV VMAJ’s Best Dance Video award and JO1 received Best Asian Artist Japan at MAMA. [JO1 Official Profile]

In 2022, JO1 received MTV VMAJ’s Best Live Performance and the MAMA Favorite Asian Artist award. The group’s subsequent domestic recognition became especially important: “Trigger” received an Excellence Award at the 65th Japan Record Awards in 2023, followed by another Excellence Award for “Love seeker” at the 66th Japan Record Awards in 2024. [JO1 Official Profile]

The official profile also records the 2024 ASEA The Best Stage Japan award, The Fact Music Awards’ TMA Popularity Award and Artist of the Year recognition, ACC Gold for the “JO1 MART” branded-communication project and the Korea Grand Music Awards’ Kpop Global Artist award. In 2025, JO1 received the Memorable Thailand–Japan Cultural Award at Nippon Haku Bangkok and Favorite Asian Artist at the 2025 MAMA Awards. [JO1 Official Profile]

JO1 also received a significant 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards nomination for World Artist of the Year. That should be described as a nomination, not a win: the official iHeartRadio results list JO1 among the nominees but identify MOLIY as the winner. [iHeartRadio]

As of August 8, JO1’s own official awards profile does not yet list a 2026 award victory. Adding an unverified 2026 “win” would therefore be inaccurate.

JO1 Controversies: What Is Proven?

JO1’s recent history cannot be accurately covered without discussing the events surrounding its two former members. However, confirmed facts and tabloid allegations have to be separated.

Shion Tsurubo: Confirmed Online-Casino Case

The case involving former member Shion Tsurubo is not an unverified scandal.

On May 31, 2025, LAPONE Entertainment publicly confirmed that Tsurubo had previously used an online casino. The agency announced a ten-day suspension after reviewing the matter with external specialists. [LAPONE Entertainment]

LAPONE subsequently confirmed that Tsurubo was referred to prosecutors on June 16. On August 7, the agency announced that the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office had summarily indicted him on a gambling charge. These stages are documented by the agency itself and therefore should not be described as internet rumours or merely “reported allegations.” [LAPONE Entertainment]

Tsurubo remained away from JO1 and ultimately requested the end of his contract and activities. LAPONE announced that his exclusive contract would expire on December 31, 2025, ending his time as a JO1 member. [LAPONE Entertainment]

The responsible way to describe this case is therefore a confirmed legal and management controversy involving a former member.

Shosei Ohira: Confirmed Rules Violation, Unconfirmed Details

The Shosei Ohira case has a different evidentiary status.

On October 15, 2025, LAPONE officially stated that a case involving Ohira had been discovered that violated company regulations. The company described it as a serious act, required reflection and placed him on an indefinite hiatus. Crucially, LAPONE did not publicly specify what the violation was. [LAPONE Entertainment]

Shukan Bunshun separately alleged that Ohira had been simultaneously involved with a non-celebrity woman and SHIZUKU, then a member of ME. Bunshun characterised this as a double-dating scandal. That is legitimate to report as a published allegation, but the specific relationship narrative was not publicly confirmed in detail by LAPONE. [Shukan Bunshun]

The distinction matters. A fact-checked article can state:

Confirmed: LAPONE found a serious company-rule violation, suspended Ohira and later ended his management relationship after discussions.

Reported but not officially established in detail: Bunshun’s account that the violation involved simultaneous romantic relationships.

Ohira’s exclusive management contract ended on May 31, 2026, and he ceased JO1 activities. [LAPONE Entertainment]

No comparable officially substantiated legal or disciplinary case involving any of JO1’s current nine members appears in the official agency statements and major reporting reviewed for this August 2026 update. Anonymous social-media accusations and fandom disputes should therefore not be elevated into scandals without corroborating evidence.

Why JO1 Matters in Modern Japanese Pop

JO1’s significance extends beyond individual chart positions. Their career demonstrates how Japanese idol culture has absorbed elements of survival-show formation, performance-heavy pop, digital fan communication and international promotion while retaining traditional Japanese entertainment structures such as television variety, radio, acting, physical releases and fan events.

Their Billboard record is particularly revealing. Eight No. 1 Hot 100 lead/title tracks show the power of JO1’s domestic fandom, while the performance of “SuperCali” demonstrates the limits of a physical-sales-led strategy: despite enormous CD sales, it lost the overall chart by only 30 points to Kenshi Yonezu’s “KICK BACK,” whose digital and streaming performance was stronger. [Billboard Japan]

At the same time, the members are becoming more creatively autonomous. Kimata’s writing, composition and arrangement work, Kawashiri’s choreography, Kawanishi’s solo EP and songwriting, Kinjo’s lyric contributions, Kono’s work on “IGNITE” and the various [PLANJ] releases indicate a group increasingly capable of contributing to its own musical identity.

Their acting careers also make JO1 relevant beyond J-pop. A viewer may encounter Mamehara in a TBS drama, Kawanishi in a film, Kimata in anime voice work, Shiroiwa on radio or Kono in a Disney dub without initially approaching them through JO1’s music. That cross-industry presence is characteristic of Japanese entertainment, where music, television, cinema, radio, advertising and variety programming frequently overlap.

JO1 in 2026: A Group in Transition

It would be misleading to portray 2026 as an uncomplicated success story. Two original members have left. One departure followed a confirmed gambling case; the other followed a confirmed agency-rule violation surrounded by additional tabloid allegations. A Seoul concert remains uncertain. The nine remaining members are having to redefine a group whose public identity was built around an eleven-person lineup.

At the same time, JO1’s current activity does not resemble a group winding down. They have performed dome shows as nine members, released new digital music, expanded individual creative projects, prepared an 11th Japanese single tied to Tokyo Revengers, and committed to a six-track US EP and a five-city North American tour. [JO1 Official Site; Oricon]

The more interesting question is therefore no longer whether JO1 can survive beyond PRODUCE 101 JAPAN. They already have. The test now is whether the nine-member JO1 can turn the disruption of 2025–2026 into a stable second phase—one built not only on an established JAM fandom and physical sales, but on stronger individual careers, greater creative participation and a genuine international market.