Everything You Wanted to Know About Japanese Boy Group BE:FIRST
Japanese boy group BE:FIRST is well on its way to being a global sensation.
The seven-member J-pop group, consisting of SOTA, SHUNTO, MANATO, RYUHEI, JUNON, RYOKI and LEO, was formed in 2021 through the reality audition show THE FIRST, and they've since demonstrated their incredible talents, charisma and teamwork again and again. Last month, they shared their eagerly anticipated sophomore album, 2:BE, including "Blissful," "Boom Boom Back," "Mainstream" and more, showcasing their powerful musical evolution over the last two years. They've won over the world with their energetic pop sound, infused with elements of hip-hop & R&B. They were even recently featured on Forbes Japan's 30 Under 30 list. We firmly believe BE:FIRST are only going to get bigger from here on out, and below, they told us all about themselves as our Man Crush Monday.
(Photo credit: BMSG)
JUNON
Hometown: Tokyo, Japan
Birthday: May 23
LEO
Hometown: Tokyo, Japan
Birthday: September 8
Zodiac sign: Virgo
RYOKI
Hometown: Aichi, Japan
Birthday: April 26
Zodiac sign: Taurus
SOTA
Hometown: Kanagawa, Japan
Birthday: January 18
Zodiac sign: Capricorn
MANATO
Hometown: Fukuoka, Japan
Birthday: April 29
Zodiac sign: Taurus
SHUNTO
Hometown: Aichi, Japan
Birthday: September 1
Zodiac sign: Virgo
RYUHEI
Hometown: Aichi, Japan
Birthday: November 7
Zodiac sign: Scorpio
1. JUNON shares that the scariest thing that ever happened to him was a moment of loss.
"Without going into too much detail, my personal experience of losing something precious was the most terrifying experience I've ever faced."
-JUNON
2. LEO doesn't consider himself much of a snacker.
"There are no specific sweets or snacks that I couldn't live without!"
-LEO
3. After a tough day, RYOKI often unwinds by spending time in the sauna.
4. SOTA can't get enough of surfing and soccer.
"I really want more people to know about these two."
-SOTA
5. Recently, MANATO has been listening to a lot of "To Summer, From Cole (Audio Hug)" by Summer Walker and J Cole.
6. SHUNTO's favorite smell is the scent of wood.
7. Dogs are RYUHEI's favorite animals.
"I love them because they are so adorable."
-RYUHEI
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8. JUNON's most-used emoji is the thumbs up 👍
9. The Japanese baseball film Rookies the Movie: Graduation has had a bigger impact on LEO's life than any other movie.
"Please check it out."
-LEO
10. RYOKI's been inspired by a number of fictional characters.
"Here are a couple of manga characters I've been inspired by—Hanamichi Sakuragi from Slam Dunk and Ippo Makunouchi from Hajime no Ippo (The First Step). I was really inspired by the effort and passion of these characters to create something from nothing."
-RYOKI
11. The three words SOTA would use to describe himself are "ocean," "music" and "dance."
12. MANATO confesses that he gets frustrated easily when things don't go as planned.
13. SHUNTO lives for live performances.
"I don't know if this is that interesting, but I noticeably lose my energy when there are no live performances."
-SHUNTO
14. If RYUHEI could travel anywhere in the world for a week, he'd pick England.
"I'd love to go to England to watch soccer matches there!"
-RYUHEI
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15. JUNON says he's closer to the other members of BE:FIRST than anyone else.
"All the members are very close as we've been buddies, sharing everything, day in and day out!"
-JUNON
16. LEO can't imagine doing any job other than being a musician.
"I think all jobs are great, but being an artist is my true passion, so I've never really considered doing anything else."
-LEO
17. The one think RYOKI can't stop doing on his phone is watching short videos.
18. The one life lesson SOTA wishes he would have learned earlier on is that health should be the top priority.
19. One of MANATO's favorite foods is a fast food classic.
"I had my first double cheeseburger at McDonald's when I was little, and it's been my go-to food ever since."
-MANATO
20. SHUNTO used to skateboard a lot after school when he was still a student in high school.
21. RYUHEI definitely considers himself a night owl.
"I do my best work late at night."
-RYUHEI
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22. Authenticity and happiness are critical to JUNON.
"My core value is to stay true to myself and find joy throughout my life."
-JUNON
23. LEO is also all about being genuine.
"Just being myself! That's my core."
-LEO
24. RYOKI isn't known for beating around the bush.
"I think 'being straightforward' is at the core of who I am."
-RYOKI
25. Respect is extremely important to SOTA.
"Respect is at the heart of everything I do."
-SOTA
26. MANATO's love for music drives him.
"Being the biggest music fan is key. It helps me to view our music objectively and appreciate it from a listener's standpoint at the same time."
-MANATO
27. For SHUNTO, it's critical to be consistent.
"Consistency is key for me."
-SHUNTO
28. RYUHEI prefers for things to be done a certain way.
"I am quite particular about things. That's my core."
-RYUHEI
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