GReeeeN (GRe4N BOYZ)

Overview

GRe4N BOYZ, known as GReeeeN until March 2024, is a Japanese all-male vocal group formed in Kōriyama, Fukushima Prefecture. The members are HIDE, navi, 92 (read "kuni") and SOH. On March 19, 2024, the group left its agency, High Speed Boyz, and changed its name; its label is Polydor Records. Every member is a practicing dentist, and to keep their medical careers undisturbed they have kept their faces hidden, appearing on TV as mascots, illustrations, CG or voice only. Their 2008 hit "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, which drew a 43.6% rating in the Kanto region, fourth among performers. In 2019 they were appointed Frontier Ambassadors of Kōriyama.

Name origin

HIDE explained that GReeeeN means endless, unknown potential that remains forever unfinished. The four "e"s represent the four members and the smiling row of teeth, a nod to their dental background, and the "e" in the logo is tilted at 18 degrees, a pun on "good teeth" (ii-ha = 18). At the 2024 renaming, navi said the group would keep making music joyfully as rookies, with the same boyish spirit as when they first met.

Members

• HIDE: leader and main vocalist, born April 3 in Takatsuki, Osaka.
• navi: high-pitched vocals and harmonies, born April 30 in Sendai and raised in Chiba.
• 92: low vocals, harmonies and rap, from Okinawa, who cites Okinawan folk songs as his musical roots.
• SOH: low vocals, from Saga, who joined at HIDE's invitation with no prior musical experience.

Career

Formation (1999–2005): HIDE and navi met at a Tokyo prep school in 1999 and entered Ohu University in Fukushima in 2001 to study dentistry. In 2002, with support from HIDE's older brother JIN, they formed the predecessor trio "greeen" (three e's). SOH and 92, classmates in the same faculty, joined in 2004, completing the current lineup.

Debut (2006–2007): In February 2006 they self-released the mini-album Greeeen, limited to 50 copies at a CD shop in front of Kōriyama Station. Universal Music Japan recruited them that March, signing them to its subsidiary Nayutawave Records. They debuted on January 24, 2007 with the single "Michi", followed by "HIGH G.K LOW" and, on May 16, "Ai Uta", which peaked at #2 on the Oricon weekly chart and was certified Two Million for full-track ringtone downloads. Their debut album A, Domo. Hajimemashite. arrived in June 2007, debuting at #2 and later certified Triple Platinum. They won the Rookie of the Year at the 22nd Japan Gold Disc Awards.

Breakthrough (2008–2009): "Kiseki", released May 28, 2008 as the theme of the drama Rookies, topped the Oricon weekly chart, sold over 500,000 copies, topped Billboard Japan's 2008 year-end Hot 100, and was certified Four Million for single-track downloads. The second album A, Domo. Ohisashiburi Desu. debuted at #1 and was certified Million. In October 2008 they formed the supergroup Bareeeeeeeeeen with Back-On, releasing "Ashiato". A monument, "GReeeeN's Door", was installed at Kōriyama Station in March 2009. On June 10, 2009 they released the single "Haruka" and the third album Shio, Koshō, which debuted at #1 with over 452,000 first-week copies and became their second Million-certified album. Guinness certified "Kiseki" on June 29, 2009. The greatest hits album Ima Made no A Men, B Men Dest!? followed on November 25; reports of a breakup were denied by HIDE and their label. On December 30 they appeared on the Japan Record Awards with voices only, their first public broadcast of their real voices.

2010–2012: By 2010 every member had obtained a dental license. They collaborated with Hudson Soft on the Nintendo DS game Hudson x GReeeeN Live!? DeeeeS!? (April 1, 2010). After the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, they launched the Green boys Project on May 6, 2011, releasing "Green boys", the theme of NHK's Athlete no Tamashii, free for a limited time with lyrics translated into several languages. They also released "Every" (April 2011, used in Asahi Beer commercials) and "Hana Uta" (June 2011), and took part in Niconico Chokaigi 2012.

2020 onward: In 2020 they made their first Kōhaku Uta Gassen appearance. They released the albums Baby Teeth (December 2021) and Rockin' Beats (December 2022), along with singles including "Ryusei no Kakera", "Jibun Kakumei", "Mikata", "Bakemono", "SONG 4 U", "Juvenile", "Green Peas", "LIFE", "WONDERFUL", "Wasurenagusa" and "Hirari" through 2023. In March 2024 they left their agency and became GRe4N BOYZ. As of 2024 they continue to hold nationwide tours and release studio albums annually.

Musical style

The members write their own lyrics and music, spanning pop, rock, reggae, breakbeat and hip-hop. Sound production is overseen by HIDE's brother JIN, who mainly creates the tracks, and the group's official catchphrase is "Rock 'n' Breakbeat with four microphones." Four songs, including "Ai Uta" and "Kiseki", have surpassed a million digital downloads. They have also written for other artists, including MISIA's "Ai no Katachi", NEWS's "weeeek", Kiyoshi Hikawa's "Aoshi" and TOMORROW X TOGETHER's "Ito". Individually, HIDE hosted a regular NHK-FM program, while 92 hosts an Okinawan radio show and serves as general director for the Ryukyu Golden Kings basketball team.