NiziU

Biography

NiziU (Japanese: ニジュー; Korean: 니쥬) is a Japanese girl group formed by JYP Entertainment and Sony Music Entertainment Japan through the reality-survival program Nizi Project (2020). The group is composed of nine members: Mako, Rio, Maya, Riku, Ayaka, Mayuka, Rima, Miihi, and Nina. Active in both Japan and Korea, NiziU debuted on December 2, 2020, with the release of their debut single "Step and a Step×Step and a step25 November 2020 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Step and a step3:212Joyful3:303Sweet Bomb!2:554Make you happy3:04Disc 21Step and a step (Performance Video)3:362Step and a step (Jacket Shooting Making Movie)5:53", and made their Korean debut on October 30, 2023, with the release of their single album "Press Play×Press Play30 October 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1HEARTRIS3:012Lucky Star2:573Paradise (Korean ver.)3:27".

2020: Formation and debut

On January 29, 2019, JYP Entertainment announced their plans of creating a Japanese girl group, under their vision "K-pop 3.0", "Globalization by Localization". Auditions for this new girl group took place in eight Japanese cities, Hawaii, and Los Angeles, for females aged between 15 and 22 years old. NiziU was formed through Nizi Project, featuring 26 contestants and was aired weekly on Hulu Japan from January 31 to June 26, 2020. It was distributed internationally through JYP Entertainment's official YouTube channel. The show was split up into two seasons: the first season showing the auditions of prospective members around Japan, cutting the prospective lineup to 14 from 26 girls chosen by J.Y. Park; and the second season showing the girls moving to train in South Korea for six months.
On the final episode of Nizi Project, the debut line-up was revealed to the public. As a recording artist under JYP Entertainment, the group is announced to have partnered with record company Sony Music Japan for album sales and group management during their activities in Japan.
The group's digital pre-debut EP, Make You Happy×Make you happy30 June 2020 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Make you happy3:042Baby I'm a star2:393Boom Boom Boom3:214虹の向こうへ3:16, was pre-released on June 30 in Japan and South Korea, before being released internationally on July 1, 2020. It was a commercial success, topping Billboard Japan's Hot Albums chart and Oricon's Digital Albums chart. The album's eponymous lead single topped several major Japanese music charts such as Line Music, AWA, and Rakuten, while debuting at number two on the Billboard Japan Hot 100. "Make You Happy" was also an international success for the group, with the track debuting at number 84 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart and at number 192 on the Billboard Global 200 chart on its issue dated September 19. On October 14, "Make You Happy" recorded a cumulative number of 100 million streams within 15 weeks of charting on the Japan Hot 100, tying with Official Hige Dandism's "I Love..." and Eito's "Kōsui", with NiziU becoming the fastest female artist to achieve the feat.

In August 2020, Mako, Miihi, Maya, Ayaka, Rio, and Rima made cameo appearances in the music video for "God's Menu" by Stray Kids. In September 2020, all of the members of NiziU appeared in the music video for "Back Door" by Stray Kids with the exception of Miihi, who could not appear due to attending school. From October 23 to December 20, 2020, Miihi briefly went on hiatus for health problems and was absent for most of NiziU's debut promotions. On November 25, 2020, NiziU released the full version music video of their debut single, "Step and a Step×Step and a step25 November 2020 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Step and a step3:212Joyful3:303Sweet Bomb!2:554Make you happy3:04Disc 21Step and a step (Performance Video)3:362Step and a step (Jacket Shooting Making Movie)5:53." A week later, on December 2, 2020, they officially debuted in Japan with the single's physical release. "Step and a Step" topped Japan's Oricon Singles Chart with 312,000 copies sold within the first week, becoming the second best selling debut single by a female artist in Japan (second only to Hinatazaka46's "Kyun"). The song also topped the Billboard Japan Hot 100, becoming the group's first chart-topper as it sold 318,562 copies in its first week. "Step and a Step" also marked the group's second entry on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. wherein they charted at number 149 on its issue dated December 5, as well as the Billboard Global 200, with NiziU charting at number 75 on its issue dated December 12.
Despite making their official Japanese debut only on December 2, NiziU performed at the 71st NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen, the top-rated annual year-end musical show in Japan. They became the fastest artist to have appeared in a Kōhaku Uta Gassen, making their appearance only 29 days after their debut. By the end of the year, it was reported that NiziU ranked high on several Billboard Japan Year-End charts, with the group charting at number 7 on the Year-End Albums, number 13 on the Year-End Streaming, and ranking at number 15 on the Top Artist Chart. The group became one of five recipients of the Special Achievement Award at the 62nd Japan Record Awards.

2021: "Take a Picture" / "Poppin' Shakin", and first studio album

On January 20, 2021, the group revealed several planned activities for the year through a video released on their official YouTube channel titled "We need U 2021." Future activities include the group's first live showcase, an upcoming second single alongside their first studio album, and the release of their first English song, among others.
NiziU uploaded the music video of their double A-side single "Take a Picture×Take a picture29 March 2021 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Take a picture3:01" on March 29, 2021, with the song topping the real-time charts of several major Japanese music sites. In collaboration with Coca-Cola, the song was used for a local commercial of the said product. The song received over 12.5 million streams in its first week, surpassing the first-week streaming numbers of "Step and a Step×Step and a step25 November 2020 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Step and a step3:212Joyful3:303Sweet Bomb!2:554Make you happy3:04Disc 21Step and a step (Performance Video)3:362Step and a step (Jacket Shooting Making Movie)5:53" and setting an all-time record high on the weekly Oricon Streaming Chart. "Take a Picture / Poppin' Shakin'" was then officially released on April 7, 2021, wherein "Poppin' Shakin'" was used for a commercial in collaboration with Japanese telecommunication company Softbank. The single recorded sales of over 317,000 copies in its first week. On November 24, 2021, NiziU released their first studio album U, along with its lead single "Chopstick×Chopstick11 November 2021 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Chopstick2:58".

2022–2023: Concert tours, second studio album, and Korean debut

On April 12, 2022, NiziU released the digital single "Asobo×ASOBO12 April 2022 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1ASOBO3:01". The English version of the single was released two weeks later. On May 8, the group had their first appearance at KCON in Seoul, South Korea. However, member Rio was not present for their premiere performance due to a sudden illness in the midst of their rehearsal. On July 20, NiziU released their single "Clap Clap×CLAP CLAP13 July 2022 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11CLAP CLAP2:452Short Trip3:373CLAP CLAP -Instrumental-2:454Short Trip -Instrumental-3:30Disc 21CLAP CLAP (Concept Movie)2『CLAP CLAP』Jacket Shooting Making Movie". NiziU embarked on their first Japanese tour, Light it Up, originally scheduled from July 23 to September 17, but was then delayed to August 13 and finally concluded on October 5. This was followed by their first Japanese dome tour, Burn it Up, held at Tokyo Dome and Kyocera Dome Osaka from November 12 to December 18. In between concerts, NiziU released their first ballad single, "Blue Moon×Blue Moon20 November 2022 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Blue Moon4:04", on December 14. At the last concert, it was announced that the group's single "Paradise×Paradise3 March 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Paradise3:272Paradise -instrumental-3:28" had been selected as the theme song for the movie Doraemon: Nobita's Sky Utopia, released in Japan in March 2023.
NiziU's second studio album, Coconut×COCONUT5 July 2023 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1COCONUT2:582LOOK AT ME3:133Short Trip3:364Paradise3:295ASOBO3:036PRISM3:447All right3:198CLAP CLAP2:449Raindrops2:4710Love & Like2:52, was released on July 19, 2023. The group embarked on their second Japanese tour in support of the album, with performances from July 1 to September 18. The tour had a total audience of 185,000 across 17 concerts. On October 30, NiziU debuted in South Korea with a single album titled Press Play×Press Play30 October 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1HEARTRIS3:012Lucky Star2:573Paradise (Korean ver.)3:27 and its lead single, "Heartris". They earned their first Korean broadcast win for "Heartris" on the November 8 episode of Show Champion.

2024–present: Concert tours and third studio album

On February 6, 2024, NiziU released the song "Memories×Memories6 February 2024 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Memories3:28" as part of an advertising campaign for Universal Studios Japan. On March 14, they released the song "Sweet Nonfiction×SWEET NONFICTION14 March 2024 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1SWEET NONFICTION3:19" for the soundtrack of the Japanese film Lovesick Ellie. On July 24, the group released the EP Rise Up×RISE UP7 July 2024 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1RISE UP3:01, which includes the opening and ending theme songs for the second season of anime Tower of God. That same month, NiziU announced that their third Japanese tour would begin on November 23. The tour was in support of their EP Awake×AWAKE5 February 2025 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1YOAKE2AlwayS4:203Buddy Buddy2:104Life is Beautiful5Memories3:286SWEET NONFICTION3:197Made of Love8CRUSH, which released on February 5, 2025. At the last concert in Fukuoka, it was announced that NiziU would embark on a hall tour in September 2025 and an arena tour in February 2026. They released their second Korean single album, Love Line×LOVE LINE31 March 2025 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1LOVE LINE3:122What if3:21, on March 31, 2025. They earned their second Korean broadcast win on the April 9 episode of Show Champion. A Japanese version of the single was released two months later on May 26.
Near the end of their fourth Japanese tour, NiziU released a third studio album, New Emotion×New Emotion19 November 2025 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1♡Emotion3:412YOAKE3:163Come On Over3:134Shining day3:315RISE UP3:016BELIEVE3:317Too Much2:098VILLAIN3:059That’s Me2:3610Tip‐Top1:5911Fairy Magic3:0012LOVE LINE -Japanese ver.-3:1413What if -Japanese ver.-3:2314Happy day3:06, on November 19, 2025. This tour was the group's largest yet, with a total of 32 shows in 21 cities. NiziU embarked on their fifth Japanese tour from February 14 to March 29, 2026. Their EP Good Girl But Not For You×GOOD GIRL BUT NOT FOR YOU1 April 2026 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Too Bad2:492Light it Up3:123Dear…5:27 was released 3 days later on April 1. The group went on a two-weekend dome tour that kicked off on June 6 and concluded on June 14, 2026. On July 1, 2026, NiziU released their greatest hits-based album, Portfolio×Portfolio1 July 2026 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 29 tracks1Make you happy3:062Baby I'm a star2:423Step and a step3:214Take a picture3:015Poppin' Shakin'3:146Super Summer3:047Chopstick2:588ASOBO3:039CLAP CLAP2:4510Blue Moon4:0611Paradise3:3012COCONUT2:5813Memories3:3014SWEET NONFICTION3:2115RISE UP3:0116YOAKE3:1617LOVE LINE -Japanese ver.-3:1418♡Emotion3:4119Too Bad2:4920Light it Up3:1121LOVE YOURSELF3:1922secret3:2023JUMP3:1924Take it3:1925Made of Love3:2126CRUSH3:0227Too Much2:0928VILLAIN3:0529Fairy Magic2:58, celebrating 5 years together as a group. On September 28, 2026, they released their first Korean Extended Play, Sour Grapes. On the October, 7th 2026, episode of Show Champion, NiziU took home their first win for Sour Grapes, making this their third Korean broadcast win overall.

Members

Adapted from NiziU's official website.

Mako (マコ) (마코)
Rio (リオ) (리오)
Maya (マヤ) (마야)
Riku (リク) (리쿠)
Ayaka (アヤカ) (아야카)
Mayuka (マユカ) (마유카)
Rima (リマ) (리마)
Miihi (ミイヒ) (미이히)
Nina (ニナ) (니나)