Number i
Japanese boy band
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Number_i (ナンバーアイ; pronounced [nambaː ai]) is a Japanese boy band associated with Tobe, formed in October 2023. The group is formed by Sho Hirano, Yuta Jinguji, and Yuta Kishi.
Number_i | |
|---|---|
 Logo of Number_i | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Tokyo, Japan |
| Genres | J-pop, Hip-hop, R&B |
| Years active | 2023–present |
| Labels | |
| Members | |
| Website | Official website |
History
2023: Formation
The now three former members of Johnny & Associates' King & Prince, left the group on May 22, 2023. Hirano and Jinguji cut ties with the agency that same day, while Kishi left on September 30, 2023.
On July 7, 2023, Hirano and Jinguji announced on a YouTube livestream their new affiliation to Tobe co., Ltd, established by Hideaki Takizawa.[1] Kishi's announcement that he now belonged to Tobe Co., Ltd was done on a YouTube livestream on October 15, 2023, and also included the news about the formation of Number_i.[2][3]
Kishi came up with "Number_i" and Hirano and Jinguji agreed with the group name. The "i" stands for Number One and Only One, signifying the aim to be number one, as well as the importance of the journey to get there. It also stands for love, "愛" in Japanese, and I (as in "me", "myself") in English, with the meaning of immersing themselves into the project, taking it as a unique thing for each one of the members.[4][5][6]
On November 15, 2023, Number_i made their debut appearance on the cover of the magazine Nylon Japan Global Issue 04.[7]
2024: Debut single and first appearances
On January 1, 2024, the first digital single "GOAT" was released.[8]
On March 2, 2024, Number_i made its first TV appearance since its formation, appearing live on NHK's Venue101.[9]
On March 6, 2024, Number_i's first CD single, "GOAT", was released exclusively through the Tobe Online Store, selling 481,475 copies in its first week and topping the Billboard Japan Weekly Single Sales Chart.[10]
On April 12, the second digital single "Blow Your Cover" was released.[11]
On April 14, 2024, Number_i made their debut appearance on the '88rising Futures' stage at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival 2024, performing FUJI, and a remix version of "GOAT" with Jackson Wang.[12][13][14]
On May 3, 2024, Number_i appeared on the cover of the May issue of the Korean magazine MAPS and the first issue of the Japanese version, MAPS Japan.[15]
On May 27, 2024, their first album No. O: Ring was released.[16]
Their single "Bon" reached number one on the June 5 Oricon Weekly Digital Single ranking chart, with 60,120 downloads in its first week, while the No. O: Ring album reached the top spot on the June 5 Oricon Weekly Digital Album ranking chart, with 31,804 downloads in the first week.[17]
2025
The group was recipient of a negative X post on January 1, 2025, later erased, by cosmetics company Reju, where its community manager called them traitors and that their appearance in NHK's Kouhaku "rots my eyes and ears". After the backlash received from the group's fans, Reju posted an apology and decided, on January 5, to close operations definitively.[18][19][20]
2026: WME, first domes and overseas concerts
On February 4, 2026, it was announced that the group had signed with WME Group for international activities. Tobe will continue to manage the group in general activities.[21] Later, in May, the group signed a record deal with Atlantic Records.[22]
It was announced on August 3, 2026, that the group would have their first 5–dome concerts, as well as their first overseas tour. "Number_i LIVE TOUR No.III" tour will be divided into two chapters: "Chapter 1: Japan," visiting the domes in Hokkaido, Tokyo, Aichi, Osaka, and Fukuoka in October 2026, and "Chapter 2: Asia & North America," scheduled for 2027, full dates and venues still pending.[23][24]
Members
- Sho Hirano (平野 紫耀)
- Yuta Jinguji (神宮寺 勇太)
- Yuta Kishi (岸 優太)
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Sales | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPN [25] |
JPN Comb. [26] |
JPN Hot [27] | |||
| No. I |
Track listing
|
— | 3 | 1 | |
| No. II |
Track listing
|
2 | 2 | 1 | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. | |||||
Compilation albums
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPN Comb. [26] |
JPN Hot [27] | |||
| Daily&Love |
|
6 | 7 | |
| Daily&Sun |
|
10 | 11 | |
| Daily&Chill |
|
11 | 14 | |
Extended plays
| Title | Details | Peaks | Sales | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPN Comb. [26] |
JPN Hot [31] | |||
| GOAT |
Track listing
|
3 | — | |
| No. O: Ring |
Track listing
|
1 | 1 | |
| God_i |
Track listing
|
3 | — | |
| 3XL |
Track listing
|
3 | — | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. | ||||
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certification | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPN Comb. [34] |
JPN Hot [35] |
WW [36] | ||||
| "GOAT" | 2024 | 2 | 1 | 154 | No. I | |
| "Blow Your Cover" | 6 | 5 | — | |||
| "Bon" | 6 | 2 | —[A] |
| ||
| "Inzm" | 3 | 1 | — |
| ||
| "God_i" | 2025 | 3 | 1 | —[B] |
|
No. II |
| "U.M.A." (未確認領域) | 4 | 1 | — | |||
| "3XL" | 2026 | 3 | 1 | —[C] | 3XL | |
| "Bugs Life" | 7 | 1 | — | TBA | ||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. | ||||||
As featured artist
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPN Comb. [41] |
JPN Hot [42] | |||
| "GBAD" (Number_i remix) (with Jackson Wang) |
2025 | 17 | 13 | Non-album single |
Promotional singles
Other charted songs
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPN Comb. [34] |
JPN Hot [44] | |||
| "Is It Me?" | 2024 | — | 79 | GOAT |
| "Midnight City" | — | 84 | ||
| "Fuji" | — | 66 | ||
| "Rain or Shine" | — | 99 | ||
| "OK Complex" | — | 81 | No. O: Ring | |
| "Square_One" | — | 71 | ||
| "No-Yes" | — | 65 | ||
| "I" | — | 80 | ||
| "Banana (Take It Lazy)" | — | 100 | ||
| "Ice" | — | 87 | No. I | |
| "Bye 24/7" | — | 92 | ||
| "Tōmei ni Naritai" (透明になりたい) | 32 | 35 | ||
| "Recipe" | — | 84 | ||
| "ILY" | — | 86 | ||
| "Hirakegoma" | 9 | 3 | No. I (Deluxe) | |
| "Romeo & Juliet" | 2025 | — | 74 | God_i |
| "i_Dog" | — | 59 | ||
| "Frisco" | — | 78 | ||
| "Psycho" | — | 65 | ||
| "Atami" | — | 82 | No. II | |
| "Pink Strawberry Chocolate Friday" (ピンクストロベリーチョコレートフライデー) |
— | 73 | ||
| "Lavalava" | 9 | 2 | No. II (Deluxe) | |
| "Supa Bro" | 2026 | — | 50 | 3XL |
| "Psyche Shock" (サイケSHOCK) | — | 57 | ||
| "Influ" (インフル) | — | 43 | ||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. | ||||
Music videos
| Title | Year | Type | Director(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "GOAT" | 2024 | Official | Yuichi Kodama | [45] |
| "Blow your cover" | Official | Yusuke Tanaka | [46] | |
| "Bon" | Official | Takuto Shimpo, Mino (Nanon Creative) (CG) | [47][48] | |
| "INZM" | Official | Takuto Shimpo | [49][50] |
Advertisement
- McDonald's Japan (April 2024-)[51]
- Kosé
- Vogue Japan
- YSL Beauty
- YSL Beauty Fragrance「LIBRE」（November 2023) (YSL Pop-up Store)[56]
Appearances
TV shows
- Tobe Live at Ariake Arena 2024: Number_i ~ No.O ~ring~ (August 15 2024, Episode 3)[57][58][59]
Concerts
- Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival 2024 (as part of 88rising Futures)[60][61]
- Rock in Japan Festival 2024[60][62]
- Summer Sonic 2024[60][63]
- Wired Music Festival 2024[60][64]
- 88Rising’s Head in the Clouds Festival at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena (2025)[21]
Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | GQ Men of the Year | Best Music Group Award[65] | Won |