The landscape of J-pop is shifting, and sitting firmly at the helm of this new era is ONE OR EIGHT. Comprising eight distinct talents—MIZUKI, NEO, REIA, RYOTA, SOUMA, TAKERU, TSUBASA, and YUGA—the group has rapidly evolved from a viral sensation into a global powerhouse. Their name, derived from the Japanese idiom “Ichi ka Bachi ka” (meaning “all or nothing”), serves as a definitive mantra for their journey so far. Following the massive success of their pre-debut track “KAWASAKI” and the Ryan Tedder-produced “Don’t Tell Nobody,” the group has finally unveiled their highly anticipated first mini-album, GATHER. This 8-track project is a masterclass in “Japanese cool,” blending raw youth culture with high-end global production to create a sound that is unapologetically experimental.
The album’s focus track, “TOKYO DRIFT,” is an adrenaline-fuelled anthem that samples the legendary theme from Fast & Furious: Tokyo Drift, breathing fresh life into an iconic piece of cultural history with high-speed electronic beats and sharp, bilingual lyricism. Beyond the high-octane energy of their title track, GATHER explores deeper emotional resonance through songs like “POWER,” which serves as the ending theme for the anime Yoroi Shinden Samurai Troopers, and the soulful fan-dedicated finale, “365.” With a world tour on the horizon and their eyes set on international stages from North America to Europe, ONE OR EIGHT is proving that they aren’t just here to participate in the music scene—they are here to redefine it. I had the pleasure of catching up with the group for an exclusive interview to discuss the creative chaos behind the album, their dream collaborations, and when we might finally see them performing live in London.
Davide: こんにちは (Konnichiwa), guys! It is an absolute pleasure to meet you through this interview. I’ve been following your progress closely, and the energy you are bringing to the music scene right now is incredibly fresh and exciting. To start things off, could you please introduce yourselves one by one for our readers?
MIZUKI: I’m MIZUKI from ONE OR EIGHT! I’m in charge of rap. I’m the oldest member of the group, and I play the “dad” role!
RYOTA: I’m RYOTA from ONE OR EIGHT, also in charge of rap. I love dancing, and I’m the group’s wild card — “Bomb RYOTA.” Nice to meet you!
NEO: I’m NEO from ONE OR EIGHT. I’m a rapper and composer, and I focus on shaping our sonic direction. From writing verses to building melodies and beats. I’m always chasing growth. For me, music is about evolution and emotional honesty. Every release should feel like a step forward.
REIA: Hello! I’m REIA from ONE OR EIGHT. Thank you so much for having us for this interview today!
YUGA: I’m YUGA, a vocalist from ONE OR EIGHT. I enjoy playing and singing with a guitar, and I love listening to music. The other members often say I have a sexy style of singing and dancing! Nice to meet you.
TAKERU: I’m TAKERU, in charge of vocals and the dance leader of the group!
TSUBASA: Hello! I’m TSUBASA from ONE OR EIGHT. I mainly serve as the main vocalist, and I often take on parts that act as the “accelerator” of the group’s songs.
SOUMA: I’m SOUMA, the youngest member of ONE OR EIGHT — though I don’t look like it! I’m in charge of the rap parts.
Davide: It’s very nice to meet you guys! Your name, ONE OR EIGHT, comes from the Japanese idiom “Ichi ka Bachi ka” (all or nothing). This is such a powerful statement! Beyond the idiom, what does this name mean to you personally as a group? Also, if you had to describe the “essence” of ONE OR EIGHT in just three words, what would they be?
RYOTA: We put our lives on the line in everything we challenge ourselves to do. Even before our debut, we had a sense that if we debuted under the name ONE OR EIGHT, we would face a harsh path and a tough world. But we will never give up. If it comes down to giving up, we would rather take a risk and go all in. We are not afraid of failure. Failure is a learning experience — it helps us discover the next challenge we need to overcome.
Taking on a challenge is never easy. We are serious about this. That is the deeper meaning behind our name and our mindset. If I had to express it in three words: Conviction. Core. Growth.
Davide: Your first mini-album is titled GATHER, and it’s described as a “search for new order within creative chaos.” During the preparation of this album, was there a specific moment where you felt the eight of you truly “gathered” or clicked together as a single unit?
MIZUKI: When we were deciding on the concept for the album, I really felt a sense of unity after hearing everyone’s opinions and feelings. Whenever we sit down and talk things through as a group, that’s when I truly feel that we’ve “gathered” as ONE OR EIGHT.
Davide: Let’s talk about “TOKYO DRIFT”. This track is a massive banger! I have a very personal connection to this song; I was obsessed with the original song when the movie (Fast & Furious: Tokyo Drift) first came out, and I used to have it on repeat while driving through Italy. Now, it’s a permanent fixture on my gym playlist! How does it feel to take such an iconic piece of Japanese pop culture and “elevate” it for a new generation?
TAKERU: I’m also a huge fan of Fast & Furious. My father used to show it to me when I was a child, and I grew up watching it.
That’s why I’m so happy that now, as an adult and as part of this group, we were able to sample a song from it. When you hear this track, Japan immediately comes to mind.
I’m also really glad that we can help introduce this song to people who haven’t seen Fast & Furious yet.
I’d be very happy if everyone listened to our newly reinterpreted version of “TOKYO DRIFT” as ONE OR EIGHT!
Davide: As a huge anime lover myself, I was thrilled to see “POWER” chosen as the ending theme for Yoroi Shinden Samurai Troopers. For many artists, having their music in an anime might be a lifelong dream—if I were a singer, that would be my ultimate goal! What was the atmosphere like when you first heard your voices at the end of an episode?
TSUBASA: I was honestly overwhelmed with happiness. For me personally, when I think of anime, I think of anime theme songs. So when our song actually played in an anime, I was incredibly excited — it felt like one of my dreams had come true.
Davide: GATHER features some heavy-hitting global collaborators like Ryan Tedder and Big Sean. Working with such industry legends so early in your career is a huge achievement. What was the most important thing you learned during these global collaborations?
NEO: Working with Ryan Tedder and Big Sean early in our careers changed our mindset. The biggest lesson wasn’t just technical. They’re extremely detail-oriented, but fearless. They trust their instincts. Being treated as real artists, not rookies, pushed me to raise my own standards. It showed me that if the emotion is real, music connects globally. That’s the level I’m aiming for.
Davide: The track “BET YOUR LIFE” feels like a definitive “battle cry” for the group. The lyrics encourage listeners to cast aside hesitation. In your journey from the WARPs DIG project to now, what was the biggest challenge you’ve had to take to stay true to your path?
MIZUKI: I started singing when I joined WARPs DIG, and I think that was the biggest challenge of my life. Compared to the other members, I began singing much later. I had to learn the basics from scratch and perform in front of people. Standing on stage alongside people who had been training for years, while I didn’t even know what I was doing at first, was an incredible amount of pressure.
Looking back, it was one of the greatest challenges I have ever faced in my life.
Davide: Your first-ever live tour kicks off on 7th March! You’ve already announced dates for Japan and North America, but I’m writing to you from London. Are there any secret plans— or perhaps just a strong desire—to bring the GATHER tour to Europe and specifically to London? We are waiting for you!
SOUMA: Ever since our debut, I’ve truly been looking forward to the day we can perform live in Europe and London. To make that happen, we’ll keep challenging ourselves so that our music can reach across Europe and make an impact there.
Davide: The album closes with “365”, which is a beautiful, soulful tribute to your fans. After the intensity of your debut era, what is one message you want to send to the 1DERZ who have been with you every step of the way?
REIA: We are truly filled with gratitude for all the 1DERZ who have supported us since before our debut and from the very beginning.
This is also a song we created to express our appreciation to our fans through music. We will continue working hard to deliver music that is true to ONE OR EIGHT, so we would be very happy if you continue to stay with us and support us.
Davide: Growing up and training to become the artists you are today, which musical icons or groups inspired you the most? Also, when you aren’t in the studio or practising choreography, what are your individual hobbies? How do you like to unwind?
YUGA: As a group, we’re inspired by CORTIS and SEVENTEEN. Personally, I’m inspired by Jungkook. I’m more of an indoor person, so I usually stay at home. When I start to feel a bit restless, I go to a café and get some açaí.
Davide: Finally, what is the “next gear” for ONE OR EIGHT? After this album release, what is the one goal you are most determined to achieve before the year ends?
TSUBASA: We weren’t able to fill ZEPP last time, but no matter when it happens, next time we will definitely sell it out.
Davide: Thank you so much for your time, ONE OR EIGHT! It is clear that you are putting the “extraordinary” in your genes. I can’t wait to see you guys continue to take over the global charts! ありがとうございました (Arigatou gozaimashita)!
Make sure to stream GATHER and the title track TOKYO DRIFT on all your digital platforms and support ONE OR EIGHT on all their social media.
It has been a pleasure to interview this amazing group. They are rocking the scene at the moment, and I cannot wait to see what they will bring next! And hopefully we will be able to see them in Europe and London very soon!
DAVIDE K-POP 