BE:FIRST

BE: FIRST is a seven-member boy band formed in Tokyo, Japan, in 2021. The group's audition was broadcast live on Japanese television that spring, with singers Kubo Shunto, Shimao Sota, Hirose Manato, Kuroda Ryuhei, Ikegame Junon, Miyama Ryoki, and Kamimura Leo all being tapped to join the lineup. "Shining One," BE FIRST's debut single, was released in August 2021. An introduction to the band's mix of modern R&B music and fast-paced J-pop, it peaked at number 2 on Japan's Top 100 Billboard chart and paved the way for another Top 10 hit, "Kick Start," which reached number 7 on the same chart later that year. BE: FIRST earned its first number 1 single in November 2021, when "Gifted" topped the Billboard, Oricon, Line Music, iTunes, Recochoku, Amazon, and YouTube charts in Japan. The band's run of three successful singles helped BE: FIRST win the "Rising Star Award" at the MTV VMAJ awards in 2021, as well as the "Idol Category Award" at the same year's Yahoo! Search Grand Prize ceremony. Several months later, the band kicked off a new year with "Brave Generation," released in January 2022. The track reached number 6 on Japan's Top 100 Billboard chart and was included in BE:FIRST's studio debut Be:1, released later that year. The full-length not only topped several charts in Japan but was also certified gold in the United States. Following their first national arena tour throughout 2023 and 2024, the group unveiled their second album 2:Be in August 2024, preceded by the chart-topping singles "Mainstream," "Masterplan," and "Hush-Hush."  Their 6th single "Spacecraft/Sailing"(2025) was released was their first time simultaneously ranking first in both the Oricon Weekly Single Ranking and the Oricon Weekly Digital Single Ranking, and they also set a new record for the number of digital singles that have reached number one, which is the second-highest number of times in history.