Number i

Number_i (ナンバーアイ) is a Japanese boy band associated with Tobe, formed in October 2023. The group is formed by Sho Hirano, Yuta Jinguji, and Yuta Kishi.

Members

 * Sho Hirano (平野 紫耀)
 * Yuta Jinguji (神宮寺 勇太)
 * Yuta Kishi (岸 優太)

History
The now three former members of Johnny & Associates' King & Prince, left the group on 22 May 2023. Hirano and Jinguji cut ties with the agency that same day, while Kishi left on 30 September 2023.

On 7 July 2023, Hirano and Jinguji announced on a YouTube livestream their new affiliation to Tobe co., Ltd, established by Hideaki Takizawa. Kishi's announcement that he now belonged to Tobe co., Ltd, done on the 15 October 2023 YouTube livestream, also included the news about the formation of Number_i.

Kishi came up with "Number_i" and Sho 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.

On November 15, 2023, Number_i made their debut appearance on the cover of the magazine "NYLON JAPAN GLOBAL ISSUE 04.

On 1 January 2024, the 1st digital single "GOAT" was released.

On March 2, 2024, Number_i made its first TV appearance since its formation, appearing live on NHK's "Venue101."

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.

On April 12th, 2nd Digital Single "Blow Your Cover" was released.

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.

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".

On May 27, 2024, their first album “No.O-ring-” was released.

Their latest single Bon reached 1st place in the June 5 Oricon Weekly Digital Single ranking chart, with 60,120 downloads in its first week, while The O-Ring album reached the top spot in the June 5 Oricon Weekly Digital Album ranking chart, with 31,804 downloads in the first week.

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