Number_i’s Taiwan concert has been cancelled, while Naniwa Danshi is making progress in Asia
On August 19, the three-member group “Number_i,” consisting of Sho Hirano (27), Yuta Kishi (28), and Yuta Jinguji (26), digitally released their new song “INZM (Inazuma).” The music video was also released on the group’s official YouTube channel, drawing significant attention.
“The song is the lead track from ‘Number_i’s album ‘No.I,’ which will be released on September 23, and was produced by Jinguji. It features a hip-hop style with a complex melody that shifts multiple times and unique lyrics. By the third day of its release, on August 21, the music video had surpassed 15 million views.” (said an entertainment reporter from a sports newspaper)
The music video was filmed entirely overseas and is structured to alternate between a game world and the real world. The filming location had already stirred up some buzz among fans not long ago.
“In late July, information spread on X (formerly Twitter) that ‘Kishi and Jinguji were seen at a restaurant in Taiwan with people who appeared to be business associates.’ Because of this post, some fans believed that ‘Number_i’ would be performing live in Taiwan.
The seven-member group ‘IMP.’ (I.M.P), also from the same agency ‘TOBE,’ performed at a music festival in China in April and at a music event in Thailand on July 7. So, fans likely thought that ‘Number_i’ would also be pursuing music activities in the Asian region. However, it seems it was actually for the music video shoot.” (said an entertainment industry insider)
Looking back, Hirano and the other two revealed when they announced their departure from ‘King & Prince’ that one of the reasons for leaving the group was their overseas aspirations. Therefore, fans were likely expecting ‘Number_i’ to achieve success abroad. However, it seems that their “expansion overseas” has yet to progress significantly.
