GRe4N BOYZ

Overview

GRe4N BOYZ is a Japanese all-male vocal group from Kōriyama, Fukushima Prefecture, made up of HIDE, navi, 92 ("kuni") and SOH. Until March 2024 they were known as GReeeeN; on March 19, 2024 they left their management office, High Speed Boyz, and changed their name. All four members work as dentists alongside their music careers, and to protect their professional lives they long kept their faces hidden, appearing on television as mascots, illustrations, CG or voice only. Their 2008 single "Kiseki" holds the Guinness World Record as the best-selling download single in Japan, and in 2020 they made their first appearance on NHK's Kōhaku Uta Gassen.

Name origin

HIDE explained in a March 2009 blog post that the name GReeeeN means endless, unknown potential that remains unfinished. The four "e"s represent the number of members and their dental background, evoking the teeth visible in a smile. When announcing the new name, navi said the group would keep making music joyfully, as rookies with the same boyish spirit they had when they first met.

Career

Formation (2002–2005): HIDE and navi, then students at Ohu University's dentistry faculty, formed the trio "greeen" (three e's) in 2002 with the support of HIDE's older brother JIN. SOH and 92 joined in 2004, creating the current four-member lineup.

Debut (2006–2007): After self-releasing the EP Greeeen in 2006, the group was signed to Nayutawave Records, a Universal Music Japan subsidiary, in March 2006. They debuted with the single "Michi" on January 24, 2007. Their third single "Ai Uta" followed on May 16, 2007, and their debut album A, Domo. Hajimemashite arrived in June 2007, debuting at #2 on the Oricon Weekly Albums Chart and certified Triple Platinum by the RIAJ. They won the New Artist of the Year award, among others, at the 22nd Japan Gold Disc Awards.

Rise in popularity (2008–2009): "Kiseki", released May 28, 2008 as the theme song for the drama Rookies, topped the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart and the Billboard Japan Hot 100 Year-End 2008 chart, and was certified Four Million for downloads. Their second album A, Domo. Ohisashiburi Desu. debuted at #1 in June 2008 and was certified Million. With BACK-ON they formed the supergroup BAReeeeeeeeeeN, releasing "Ashiato" in October 2008. In March 2009 a monument, "GReeeeN's Door", was installed at Kōriyama Station. Their third album Shio, Koshō (June 10, 2009) debuted at #1 with over 452,000 first-week copies and became their second Million-certified album; its release coincided with the single "Haruka". In June 2009 Guinness World Records certified "Kiseki". Disbandment rumours surfaced before the greatest-hits album Ima Made no A Men, B Men Dest!? (November 25, 2009), but HIDE denied them and the group continued. They also appeared voice-only at the Japan Record Awards in December 2009.

2010–2012: Their Nintendo DS collaboration with Hudson Soft, Hudson x GReeeeN Live!? DeeeeS!?, was released on April 1, 2010, and by that year all members had earned dental licenses. After the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, they launched the "Green boys project" on May 6, 2011, releasing "Green boys" (theme of NHK's Athlete no Tamashii). "Every" and "Hana Uta" were also released in 2011. In April 2012 they took part in Niconico Chokaigi 2012.

2019 onward: In 2019 they were appointed Frontier Ambassadors for Kōriyama. In 2020 they appeared on NHK's Kōhaku Uta Gassen for the first time, with a 43.6% rating in the Kantō region. The group changed its name to GRe4N BOYZ in March 2024. As of 2024 they had released studio albums and held national tours every year, and four songs, including "Ai Uta" and "Kiseki", had reached a million digital downloads.

Musical style

The members write their own lyrics and music, spanning pop, rock, reggae, breakbeats and hip-hop. Their official catchphrase is "Rock 'n' Breakbeat with four microphones," and sound production has been overseen by JIN. They have also written for other artists, including MISIA ("Ai no Katachi"), NEWS ("weeeek"), Hikawa Kiyoshi ("Aoshi") and TOMORROW X TOGETHER ("Ito"). Vocally, HIDE is leader and main vocalist, navi handles high vocals, 92 low vocals and rap, and SOH low vocals.