K-pop Group Profile
&TEAM
앤팀
~4–6M
Monthly Listeners
13
Albums Released
25+
Awards Won
6M+
Social Followers
&TEAM (앤팀) is a nine-member multinational boy group based in Japan under YX LABELS, a subsidiary of HYBE Corp. - the South Korean entertainment powerhouse behind BTS, ENHYPEN, and SEVENTEEN. Widely recognized as HYBE's first global group, &TEAM was assembled through the survival reality show &AUDITION - The Howling in 2022, bringing together members from Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan under one unified identity.
Their Story
Biography & History
&TEAM is a nine-member multilingual boy group under HYBE Labels Japan, formed through the 2022 survival show &AUDITION – The Howling on Nippon TV. Four members – K, Nicholas, EJ, and Taki – were pre-selected from the Korean survival show I-LAND, while Fuma, Yuma, Jo, Harua, and Maki earned their spots through the competition. Built around a wolf-themed fictional universe called Dark Moon: The Grey City, the group debuted on December 7, 2022, with a devoted global fanbase known as LUNÉ – short for “Light Up New Energy.”
Pre-Debut & Debut (Late 2022)
Before their official debut, &TEAM released the pre-debut single “Under the Skin” on November 21, 2022, introducing their Dark Moon: The Grey City universe. Their debut mini album First Howling: ME dropped on December 7, 2022, alongside the music video for “Scent of You,” selling 151,000 copies in its first week.
2023: Building Their Name
&TEAM expanded their presence in Japanese entertainment through webtoon tie-in tracks, a drama theme song, and their first fan meeting tour across Japan. Their second mini album First Howling: WE introduced fan-favorite “Firework,” and by November, their first full studio album First Howling: NOW debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Japan Hot Albums chart – a major milestone barely a year into their career.
2024: Chart Domination
The group launched their first major concert tour across Japan and Seoul, released their debut Japanese physical singles Samidare and Aoarashi – the latter debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 – and contributed music to two anime series. Their second studio album Yukiakari closed out the year on a high note.
2025: The Korean Breakthrough
Their Korean-market single Go in Blind (月狼) became a massive hit, eventually earning RIAJ Million Certification with over 1,000,000 physical units sold. On October 28, 2025, &TEAM made their official Korean debut with the mini album Back to Life, which sold over 1.1 million copies on its first day – topping the Oricon Daily Album ranking and earning the group their first-ever television triple crown.
2026: New Milestones, New Heights
Their third mini album We on Fire, released April 21, 2026, became the first Japanese album to surpass 1 million sales on Korea’s Hanteo chart on release day. The group kicked off their second Asia tour Blaze The Way in May and are confirmed for KCON LA 2026 and the 2026 Weverse Con Festival, continuing to prove their extraordinary cross-market appeal.
The Artists
Meet the Members
Get to know each member of &TEAM — their roles, backgrounds, and what makes them special.
LeaderEJ · 의주 (ウィジュ)
Byun Eui Joo (변의주 / 邉義州)
BornSeptember 7, 2002
BirthplaceGoyang, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
Height / Weight184 cm / 62 kg
Zodiac Sign♍ Virgo
MBTIISTJ
Blood TypeA
Favorite Color
Sub-LeaderFuma · 후마 (フウマ)
Murata Fuma (村田風雅 / 무라타 후마)
BornJune 29, 1998
BirthplaceShizuoka, Japan
Height / Weight180 cm / N/A
Zodiac Sign♋ Cancer
MBTIINTJ
Blood TypeB
Favorite Color
Performance Leader · CenterK · 케이 (ケイ)
Koga Yudai (古賀祐大 / 코가 유다이)
BornOctober 21, 1997
BirthplaceChiba, Japan
Height / Weight186.5 cm / 66 kg
Zodiac Sign♎ Libra
MBTIINFP
Blood TypeA
Favorite Color
Vocalist · Rapper · DancerNicholas · 니콜라스 (ニコラス)
Wang Yixiang (王奕翔 / 왕이샹)
BornJuly 9, 2002
BirthplaceNew Taipei City, Taiwan
Height / Weight179 cm / 67 kg
Zodiac Sign♋ Cancer
MBTIENFP
Blood TypeO
Favorite Color
VocalistYuma · 유마 (ユウマ)
Nakakita Yuma (中耒田悠真 / 나카키타 유마)
BornFebruary 7, 2004
BirthplaceHyogo, Japan
Height / Weight174 cm / N/A
Zodiac Sign♒ Aquarius
MBTIISTJ
Blood TypeAB
Favorite Color
VocalistJo · 조 (ジョウ)
Asakura Jo (朝倉穣 / 아사쿠라 죠)
BornJuly 8, 2004
BirthplaceYokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
Height / Weight185 cm / 63 kg
Zodiac Sign♋ Cancer
MBTIINFP
Blood TypeO
Favorite Color
VocalistHarua · 하루아 (ハルア)
Shigeta Harua (重田美琉愛 / 시게타 하루아)
BornMay 1, 2005
BirthplaceNagano, Japan
Height / Weight173 cm / N/A
Zodiac Sign♉ Taurus
MBTIESFJ
Blood TypeB
Favorite Color
Dancer · VocalistTaki · 타키 (タキ)
Takayama Riki (高山りき / 타카야마 리키)
BornMay 4, 2005
BirthplaceJapan
Height / Weight176 cm / N/A
Zodiac Sign♉ Taurus
MBTIENFP
Blood TypeB
Favorite Color
Dancer · VocalistMaki · 마키 (マキ)
Riki Wilhelm Mauss (리키 빌헬름 마우스)
BornFebruary 17, 2006
BirthplaceJapan
Height / Weight183 cm / N/A
Zodiac Sign♒ Aquarius
MBTIESTJ
Blood TypeO
Favorite Color
Did You Know?
Trivia & Fun Facts
Interesting details and fun facts about &TEAM.
★
&TEAM's "&" symbol literally represents "connection" - linking members, music, and fans across all borders.
★
The group's official concept is: "9 diverse members forming a team and connecting diverse worlds."
★
Their official greeting - "ONE TWO! We Link! Hello, we're &TEAM!" - was coined with the phrase "We Link" suggested by member Yuma.
★
K, Nicholas, EJ, and Taki all competed on the South Korean survival show I-LAND in 2020, the same show that produced ENHYPEN.
★
K and EJ made cameo appearances in ENHYPEN's "Drunk-Dazed" MV on April 26, 2021 - before &TEAM even debuted.
★
All nine members are fluent in both Japanese and Korean.
★
Nicholas speaks four languages: Mandarin, English, Japanese, and Korean.
★
Maki speaks Japanese, German, English, and Korean - his father reportedly speaks nine languages.
★
Fuma once served as a backup dancer for BTS during their Japan concerts.
★
K turned down a full athletic scholarship for marathon running to pursue his idol career.
★
&TEAM has the largest age gap among all HYBE boy groups - K (1997) and Maki (2006) are nine years apart.
★
Their fictional universe, Dark Moon: The Grey City, is set in the same HYBE multimedia world that features ENHYPEN as vampires.
★
The official lightstick is called the "&bong" - combining the Korean word for lightstick (봉) with their group symbol.
★
Seven of the nine members are from Japan; EJ is Korean and Nicholas is Taiwanese.
★
Maki is of Japanese and German descent and trained in ballet and musical theater as a child.
★
Fuma applied for Produce 101 Japan Season 2 but withdrew before filming began.
★
Harua worked as a child actor under Japanese talent agency Stardust Promotion before joining &TEAM.
★
Jo played competitive basketball through high school and is left-handed.
★
Yuma was a trainee at both AVEX and Johnny & Associates before joining HYBE.
★
EJ was an active fencer in middle school and has the nickname "Ponyo."
★
Nicholas auditioned for I-LAND but was eliminated in episode 3; he later earned his way into &TEAM through &AUDITION.
★
K is often described as the group's choreography guide, helping structure rehearsals and contributing to some of their original choreographies.
★
Taki's first performance on I-LAND was "Blood, Sweat & Tears" by BTS - which he calls his all-time favorite song.
★
All members except Yuma and Harua enjoy pineapple on pizza.
★
All nine members share a love of Bossam green onion (Bossam-style green onion side dish).
★
Maki decided to become an idol after watching I-LAND with his mother - the very show four of his future members competed on.
★
Their debut EP First Howling: ME sold 151,000 copies in its first week.
★
First Howling: NOW debuted at No. 1 on Billboard Japan Hot Albums upon release.
★
Samidare was certified RIAJ Double Platinum for 500,000+ physical copies sold.
★
Aoarashi became their first No. 1 on Billboard Japan Hot 100 Singles in August 2024.
★
Go in Blind reached RIAJ 3× Platinum and hit 1 million physical copies, the first &TEAM single to do so.
★
Back to Life sold nearly 1.14 million copies on its first day, making it a double million-seller for the group.
★
Back to Life made history as the first Korean album by a Japan-based artist to top Oricon's Daily Album ranking.
★
We on Fire (April 2026) became the first Japanese album to surpass 1 million Hanteo sales on its release day.
★
&TEAM earned a television triple crown with "Back to Life" - winning The Show, Show Champion, and Music Bank in November 2025.
★
Their opening theme "Beat the Odds" was used for the anime Trillion Game (2024).
★
They provided both the OP "Magic Hour" and ED "Wonderful World" for the anime Honey Lemon Soda (2024–2025).
★
&TEAM appeared in the Japanese live-action film Ya Boy Kongming! the Movie (April 2025).
★
EJ describes his personal motto as "Be humble." - a phrase he lives by as the group's leader.
★
Fuma's role model is Taemin from SHINee, and his charm point is his noticeably deep voice.
★
K's role models include Jungkook from BTS and JUNGWON from ENHYPEN.
★
Jo is often called a "poker face" by the other members despite being deeply warm-hearted.
★
Maki's close friend is Seok Matthew from ZEROBASEONE - the two trained together at HYBE before &AUDITION aired.
★
Harua insists he is not cute, but every member and every fan disagrees loudly.
★
Nicholas is frequently compared by fans to Sandy Cheeks from SpongeBob and the Pokémon Squirtle.
★
In January 2025, &TEAM members launched a biweekly podcast titled "&TEAM's Fortunate Chance to Talk."
★
&TEAM's performance gear was displayed at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles during a special K-pop exhibit in August 2024.
★
Fuma competed in the 41st season of SASUKE and won gold medals in both the 50m sprint and relay at the 2024 Chuseok Idol Athletics Championships.
★
As of January 2026, the dorm arrangement is: EJ, Nicholas & Harua in Room 1; K, Jo & Taki in Room 2; Fuma, Yuma & Maki in Room 3.
★
&TEAM is confirmed for both KCON LA 2026 and the 2026 Weverse Con Festival, expanding their live global presence further than ever before.
Music Catalog
Full Discography
Every release by &TEAM, organized by category.
Studio Albums
Studio Album 🇯🇵
First Howling : NOW
November 15, 2023
11 tracks
Studio Album 🇯🇵
Yukiakari (雪明かり)
December 18, 2024
10 tracks
Mini Albums (EP)
Mini Album 🇯🇵
First Howling : ME
December 7, 2022
6 tracks
Mini Album 🇯🇵
First Howling : WE
June 14, 2023
6 tracks
Mini Album 🇰🇷
Go in Blind (月狼)
April 23, 2025
6 tracks
Mini Album 🇰🇷
Back to Life
October 28, 2025
6 tracks
Mini Album (JP/KR) 🌏
We on Fire
April 21, 2026
6 tracks
Single Albums
Single Album 🇯🇵
Samidare (五月雨)
May 8, 2024
4 tracks
Single Album 🇯🇵
Aoarashi (青嵐)
August 7, 2024
4 tracks
Watch Now
Popular Music Videos
Watch &TEAM's music videos directly — no need to leave the page.
Recognition
Awards, Achievements
& Milestones
A record of awards, certifications, chart milestones, and notable achievements earned by &TEAM.
0 (as of mid-2026)
Daesang Awards
25+
Total Trophies
10+
Countries Recognized
10+
Chart Milestones
2023
Global Sensation (nominee)
Recognized at MAMA 2023 for global breakthrough
2023
Best New Asian Artist (nominee)
Nominated for breakthrough in Asian markets
2025
Hot Trend Award
Recognized for trending impact in Korean digital market
October 2025
Hanteo 1M Day-1 Sales — Back to Life
Sold 1,139,988 copies on release day
April 2026
Hanteo 1M Day-1 Sales — We on Fire
First Japanese album to hit 1M on Hanteo Day 1
October 2025
Gaon Album Chart #1 — Back to Life
Topped the Gaon weekly album chart
2024
Global Generation Award — TMA
The Music Awards ceremony; first appearance
2024
Grammy Museum K-Pop Exhibit
Performance gear featured at Grammy Museum Los Angeles
August 2024
World Music Awards — "United World Chart"
Aoarashi charted at No. 30 with 96,000 points
April 2025
RIAJ Platinum — First Howling: ME
Debut EP certified Platinum in Japan
2024
RIAJ Double Platinum — Samidare
500,000+ physical copies certified
2025
RIAJ 3× Platinum - Go in Blind
750,000+ physical copies certified
August 2025
RIAJ Million Certification - Go in Blind
1,000,000+ physical units sold
2023
Japan Gold Disc Award - Best 5 New Artists
Recognized as one of Japan's top 5 new artists
2022–2024
Oricon 5 Consecutive #1s
Five straight No. 1 releases since debut
November 2023
Billboard Japan Hot Albums #1 - First Howling: NOW
First studio album tops Billboard Japan
August 2024
Billboard Japan Hot 100 Singles #1 - Aoarashi
First single to top this chart
October 2025
Oricon Daily Album #1 - Back to Life
First Korean album by a JP-based artist to do so
November 2025
Korean TV Triple Crown - Back to Life
Won The Show + Show Champion + Music Bank
April 2026
Hanteo 1M Day-1 Sales - We on Fire
First Japanese album to hit 1M on Day 1
April 29, 2026
Show Champion Win - We on Fire
Music show win for 2026 comeback
Journey
Group Timeline
Key moments and milestones that have defined &TEAM's story.
Jan 1, 2021
HYBE Japan Global Project Announced
Big Hit Japan reveals the Global Debut Project; K, Nicholas, EJ, Taki confirmed as fixed members
MilestoneNov 4, 2021
&AUDITION Announced
HYBE Labels Japan officially announces the survival show with the four fixed members confirmed to participate
MilestoneJul 9, 2022
&AUDITION Premieres
Survival show airs on Nippon TV and Hulu Japan; 11 trainees compete for 5 spots alongside fixed members
MilestoneSep 3, 2022
Group Formation
Live finale from Tokyo reveals 5 new members; &TEAM named officially
MilestoneSep 5, 2022
First TV Appearance
Members appear on Nippon TV's morning show Sukkiri and perform The Final Countdown
MilestoneSep 26, 2022
Fandom Name Revealed
"LUNÉ" announced as official fandom name (Light Up New Energy)
MilestoneNov 21, 2022
Pre-Debut Single
"Under the Skin" released, introducing the Dark Moon universe
DebutDec 5, 2022
Webtoon Launch
Dark Moon: The Grey City webtoon publishes its first chapter
MilestoneDec 7, 2022
Official Japanese Debut
First Howling: ME released with MV for "Scent of You"; 151K copies sold Week 1
DebutMar 17, 2023
Sub-Unit Track
"W.O.L.F. (Win Or Lose Fight)" released by EJ, K, Nicholas, and Taki as webtoon OST
AlbumMay 6, 2023
Drama OST
"Blind Love" released as NTV drama Dr. Chocolate theme song
MilestoneMay-Jun 2023
2nd Mini Album
First Howling: WE released; "Firework" becomes a fan staple
AlbumSep 3, 2023
1st Anniversary Event
"縁 Day" held in Japan, followed by Seoul event Sep 9
MilestoneNov 15, 2023
1st Studio Album
First Howling: NOW released; #1 on Billboard Japan Hot Albums
AlbumDec 19, 2023
First Concert Tour Announced
First Paw Print tour announced across Japan and Korea
MilestoneJan-Mar 2024
First Paw Print Tour
Concert tour in 7 Japanese cities + Seoul
MilestoneApr 28, 2024
Digital Single
"Maybe (君にカエル)" released
AlbumMay 8, 2024
1st Japanese Single
Samidare released; RIAJ Double Platinum
AlbumJun 10, 2024
RIAJ Certification
Samidare achieves Double Platinum (500K+ copies)
AwardJul 2024
Grammy Museum Feature
&TEAM's gear displayed at Grammy Museum LA K-pop exhibit
AwardAug 7, 2024
2nd Japanese Single
Aoarashi released; hits #1 on Billboard Japan Hot 100
AlbumAug 2024
First Arena Tour
First arena tour across Japan
MilestoneAug 20, 2024
World Music Awards
Aoarashi enters United World Chart at No. 30
AwardSep 2024
2nd Anniversary Event
"縁 Day" 2nd anniversary event held
MilestoneOct 2024
Multiple Digital Releases
"Beat the Odds" (anime OST), "MEME," "Feel the Pulse," "Jyuugoya" released
MilestoneDec 18, 2024
2nd Studio Album
Yukiakari released, including anime OSTs for Honey Lemon Soda
MilestoneJan 9, 2025
Anime OST
"Magic Hour" / "Wonderful World" released for Honey Lemon Soda
MilestoneJan 2025
Podcast Launched
"&TEAM's Fortunate Chance to Talk" biweekly podcast begins
MilestoneApr 23, 2025
Korean EP
Go in Blind (月狼) released; 3× RIAJ Platinum, 1M+ physical copies
MilestoneApr 25, 2025
Film Appearance
Ya Boy Kongming! the Movie released in Japan featuring &TEAM
MilestoneAug 2025
RIAJ Million Cert
Go in Blind receives RIAJ Million Certification
AwardSep 3, 2025
3rd Anniversary + Korean Debut Announced
Korean debut EP Back to Life revealed at anniversary event
DebutOct 2, 2025
Documentary
&Team 100日密着: Howling Out to the World begins airing on Hulu Japan, Nippon TV, YouTube
MilestoneOct 28, 2025
Official Korean Debut
Back to Life released; 1.13M copies sold Day 1; #1 on Oricon Daily
MilestoneNov 4–7, 2025
Triple Crown
"Back to Life" wins The Show, Show Champion, and Music Bank
MilestoneFeb 11, 2026
3rd EP Teased
YX LABELS reveals We on Fire logo motion
MilestoneFeb 20, 2026
Remix Release
"Kawasaki (&TEAM Remix)" with Santos Bravos released
MilestoneMar 14, 2026
Pre-Release Single
"Sakura-iro Yell" drops ahead of We on Fire
MilestoneApr 21, 2026
3rd EP Released
We on Fire - 1M+ Hanteo Day 1 sales; first Japanese album to achieve this
MilestoneApr 29, 2026
Music Show Win
Show Champion win for "We on Fire"
MilestoneMay 2026
Blaze The Way Asia Tour
Second Asia tour kicks off across multiple countries
MilestoneJun 2026
KCON LA 2026
&TEAM confirmed for KCON Los Angeles 2026
MilestoneJun 2026
Weverse Con Festival
Confirmed for 2026 Weverse Con Festival lineup
MilestoneThe Fandom
Fan Club & Light Stick
Everything that makes &TEAM's fandom unique — from their name to their official light stick.
Fandom Name
LUNÉ
LUNÉ (pronounced loo-NAY) is the official fandom name of &TEAM, first announced on September 26, 2022 - just weeks after the group's formation. The name is a clever backronym standing for "Light Up New Energy," reflecting the fandom's role in energizing and illuminating &TEAM's journey. But LUNÉ also carries a second layer of meaning: it evokes the moon (from the French/Latin luna), connecting directly to the group's Dark Moon universe where werewolves are bound to the lunar cycle. Just as the moon pulls the tides and guides wolves through darkness, LUNÉ guides &TEAM - and the group gives that light right back. Every concert becomes a shared ritual, with fans waving their &bong lightsticks and creating a glowing "moonlit" sea around the stage.
Light Stick
&bong
The official &TEAM lightstick is called the "&bong" - a name that blends the Korean word for lightstick (봉 / bong) with &TEAM's signature "&" symbol of connection. The &bong is the physical expression of LUNÉ's energy at live events, and its design draws from the group's signature Dark Moon aesthetic, with wolf motifs and the unifying "&" mark. When LUNÉ holds up their &bong at concerts, the resulting wave of light is sometimes called the "&bong Ocean" - a symbol of the unbreakable bond between &TEAM and their global fandom.
Photos
Photo Gallery
A curated collection of official photos from &TEAM.
