By: Lisa Steinberg
Photo By Avex Music Creative Inc.
Q) Who are some musicians that have influenced you as an artist?
REIA: It’s BTS. They’re the artists who inspired me to pursue this path. When I went to their concert, the atmosphere was incredible and I saw how they truly change people’s lives—supporting and uplifting fans through their music. That’s the kind of impact I aspire to have as an artist.
Q) What inspired your new song “Tokyo Drift?”
NEO：“Tokyo Drift” was inspired by the energy of Tokyo at night and the culture around drifting and street racing. We wanted to capture that sense of speed and attitude in the sound. Also, a little TMI — the intro is actually sung by a songwriter friend of mine.
Q) What have the fans been saying to you about what makes the track on constant replay for them?
SOUMA: We officially sampled TERIYAKI BOYZ’s “Tokyo Drift” this time. We reinterpreted the track’s iconic sound in our own way—making it harder than the original while blending in more modern sounds and creating a catchier hook. In the music video, we leaned fully into Japanese aesthetics and tried to portray a version of Japan as seen from an international perspective, which I think helped the song reach a lot of people.
Q) The cars featured in the video are incredible! Did you have a favorite one – a car that impressed you the most?
TAKERU: My favorite would probably be the Nissan Silvia. It’s a car that appeared in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift and it was especially memorable for me because I actually got to ride in one—and even experience drifting in it! It was an unforgettable experience.!!
Q) What is the process you have for writing songs and how did you break down the song to fit each member’s voice?
MIZUKI: In the past, we mostly received songs and then recorded them. But over the last six months, the members themselves have been participating in songwriting camps. We share our ideas and perspectives—like discussing which parts would suit certain members best—and incorporate those viewpoints into the songs.
There are eight of us and each member has a unique voice. We work together with the members and the producers to decide the parts, making sure each person gets the section where they can shine the most.
Q) How much of a hand does the group have on the production side of the music you make?
NEO: We’re pretty involved. We share ideas about the direction, lyrics and the overall vibe of the track. I’m, personally, very involved in the production side. I like to work on lyrics, melodies and sometimes ideas for the beat as well. For me, creating the music itself is just as important as performing it.
Q) Your song “Power” was recently chosen as the ending theme song for the TV anime “Yoroi Shinden Samurai Troopers.” What does this mean to the group?
TSUBASA: “Samurai Troopers“ is an anime where five characters join forces to fight their enemies. In a similar way, the eight of us in ONE OR EIGHT are also working together and challenging the world as a team, so I think there’s a connection in that sense.
Q) Which tracks are favorites for you and what makes them special to you?
RYOTA: My choice would be “Tokyo Drift.”
Every song carries a story—our feelings, the message we want to convey and the challenges we faced during the creation process. For this track in particular, I experimented with a vocal tone and nuances that I had never tried before. There were times when I struggled with how to express what I wanted to convey and spent a lot of time thinking about how to make it come across. That’s why this song feels especially meaningful to me, because it holds a deep story from the production process.
Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform?
SOUMA: It’s hard to choose because I love every country, but one moment that really stood out to me was during the SHŪKAI tour in Mexico. After one of the songs ended, the cheers from the crowd were incredible and left a really strong impression on me.
Q) Who are some artists that you have on replay at the moment?
YUGA: An R&B singer I’ve been listening to for a long time, and recently I started listening to him again – Avant’s “Read Your Mind.”
Q) We know Reia would love to team up with BTS one day, but who are some other artists would you love to collaborate with on music in the future?
REIA: Recently, an artist I’ve been paying attention to is CORTIS. Even though they’re still young, the members are actively involved in the production process and creating their own music. I really like their songs and their style is very appealing to me. I hope we can collaborate someday.
Q) Yuga, you’re known for your great skin. Care to share a bit of your routine for fans?
YUGA: My skincare routine starts as soon as I wake up – beginning with gargling.
Then, I follow this order: face wash → booster/serum → face mask (twice a week) → toner → cream → mist → sunscreen.
I think it’s important to take your time with each step and let the products properly absorb into your skin.
But the biggest change I made was trying to cut back on sweets and sugary drinks as much as possible. Another thing I try to do is go to bed early and wake up early so I can stay consistent with my routine.
Q) What would you like to say to everyone who are fans and supporters of you and the incredible music that you make as One or Eight?
TSUBASA: To all the 1DERZ who always support us, and to all the listeners—thank you so much. Because there are people who love our music, our world and our performances, we’re able to continue our activities with confidence.
We’ll keep working hard to bring you the best music possible. Please continue to support our challenge as we take our music to the world.
Our tour will also be starting in April, so we hope to see you there!