Number_i

Overview

Number_i (ナンバーアイ) is a Japanese three-member boy group under the agency TOBE. The members are Sho Hirano, Yuta Jinguji and Yuta Kishi. They debuted on January 1, 2024 with the digital single "GOAT", released worldwide simultaneously. Their fan name is "iLYs". "GOAT" reached 10 million YouTube views three days after release, the fastest ever for a Japanese male artist's debut single, and the group has since set a string of Oricon records, performed at Coachella and signed with Atlantic Records and WME.

The Name

Kishi proposed several candidates and the members chose the name together. The "i" stands for Number One and Only One, expressing the aim of being number one while valuing the journey. It also stands for "愛" (love) in Japanese and "I" (me) in English, reflecting their theme of shining and enjoying themselves in their own way alongside their fans.

Career

Formation (2023)

On May 22, 2023, Hirano, Jinguji and Kishi left King & Prince. Hirano and Jinguji also left Johnny & Associates that day and on July 7 announced they were joining TOBE, founded by Hideaki Takizawa. Kishi left the agency on September 30, and on October 15, during a YouTube livestream from Tokyo Dome, his move to TOBE and the formation of Number_i were announced. On November 15 the trio appeared on the cover of NYLON JAPAN GLOBAL ISSUE04, which went to reprint before release. Official X, Instagram and TikTok accounts opened on December 29.

2024

"GOAT" was released on January 1 and topped YouTube's daily music video chart globally on January 3. The group made its first TV appearance live on NHK's Venue101 on March 2. On March 6 the first CD single "GOAT" went on sale exclusively through the TOBE Online Store, selling 481,475 copies in its first week and topping the Billboard Japan weekly single sales chart. In March they also joined to HEROes on "Be on Your side" (Kishi, Hirano and Jinguji's group contributing lyrics) and the "TOBE 1st Super Live" was held at Tokyo Dome. The digital single "Blow Your Cover" followed on April 12, and on April 14 they made their Coachella debut on the 88rising Futures stage, performing "FUJI" and a "GOAT" collaboration with Jackson Wang of GOT7. Their first album, "No.O -ring-", arrived on May 27; it and the single "Bon" both took No. 1 on Oricon's weekly digital charts (31,804 and 60,120 downloads in the first week, respectively). Summer brought Rock in Japan Festival (August 11) and Summer Sonic (August 17 and 18), and "INZM" was released on August 19. Their first full-length album "No.I" came out on September 23, exclusively through the TOBE Online Store, and in October they appeared as special guests at WIRED MUSIC FESTIVAL'24. In the Oricon 2024 annual digital album ranking, "No.O -ring-" placed first, "No.I" third and "GOAT" fifth, the first time one artist had three works in the top five. A deluxe edition of "No.I" followed on December 2.

2025

"GOD_i" was released on January 27, and the "TOBE 2nd Super Live" played Tokyo Dome and Kyocera Dome Osaka in March and April. "GBAD (Number_i Remix)" with 88rising and Jackson Wang appeared in April. On June 1 they performed at Head in the Clouds Los Angeles at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. "GOAT" passed 200 million cumulative streams on Oricon's weekly streaming ranking on June 11, and on June 25 the "GOD_i" EP topped Oricon's first-half 2025 digital album ranking, making the group the first artist to be No. 1 two years running. The Prime Video series "THE_i -what is Number_i-" (four episodes) began on June 27. In August they released "未確認領域" and hosted Number_i's All Night Nippon. After "Numbers Ur Zone" on September 15, the second album "No.II" arrived on September 22, sold for a limited time at all Tower Records stores, TOBE's first CD sales at physical retail. They performed at MUSIC EXPO LIVE 2025 at Tokyo Dome on November 3, and "No.II (Deluxe)" was released on December 1. On January 1, 2025, a cosmetics company's social media account posted a derogatory message about the group's NHK Kouhaku appearance; after fan backlash the company apologized and closed its business.

2026 and beyond

On January 2, 2026 they released "DAiLY&LOVE", "DAiLY&CHILL" and "DAiLY&SUN" together, followed by the single "3XL" on January 29. In early February it was announced that they had signed with talent agency WME for worldwide representation, with TOBE continuing to handle management. The "TOBE 3rd Super Live" was held in April and May at Vantelin Dome Nagoya and Daiwa House Premist Dome. On May 18 they signed with Atlantic Records and opened a global official TikTok account. Their first release afterward, the single "REBON/BUGS LIFE/DIGITAL GIRL" (September 23), sold 300,000 copies in its first week and gave them their first No. 1 on Oricon's weekly singles chart. "Number_i LIVE TOUR 2025 No.II" took first place in three categories at once on Oricon's weekly video ranking on August 27, a first for the group. On August 3 they announced "Number_i LIVE TOUR No.III", their first five-dome concerts and first overseas tour: "Chapter 1: Japan" at domes in Hokkaido, Tokyo, Aichi, Osaka and Fukuoka in October 2026, and "Chapter 2: Asia & North America" planned for 2027. Other 2026 activities include the fan meeting "Numbers Ur'26" (Osaka-jo Hall and TOYOTA ARENA TOKYO), Rock in Japan Festival 2026 (September 19) and a ceremonial first pitch at Dodger Stadium (September 1).

Awards

In 2024 the group won Oricon first-half and annual digital album No. 1s ("No.O -ring-"), a Special Award at the 66th Japan Record Awards, GQ Men of the Year 2024 Best Music Group and first place in the musician category of Yahoo! Search Awards 2024. In 2025 they received the Best of Listeners' Choice: Japanese Song award for "GOAT" and a Request Special Award at MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2025. In 2026 "GOD_i" won the same listeners' choice award at MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026, and "3XL" [EP] topped Oricon's first-half 2026 digital album ranking.

Media and Endorsements

The group has appeared in streaming shows such as Tobeban (YouTube), TOBE no Natsuyasumi (ABEMA) and TOBE HIGH SCHOOL (TikTok), and hosts "Number_i Radio" on Apple Music. Endorsements include YSL Beauty's LIBRE fragrance, McDonald's Japan, Suntory Beerball and KOSE Sekkisei (global brand muse).

Musical Style

Classified as J-pop, Number_i has been especially strong on streaming and digital charts. Their global outlook shows in appearances at Coachella and Head in the Clouds and collaborations with 88rising and Jackson Wang, and the members have also been involved in creation, including writing lyrics for "Be on Your side".