INI (Japanese boy group)

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INI
INI in March 2023
INI in March 2023
Background information
OriginJapan
GenresJ-pop, K-pop[1]
Years active2021 (2021)–present
LabelsLapone Entertainment
Members
  • Masaya Kimura
  • Hiromu Takatsuka
  • Shogo Tajima
  • Kyosuke Fujimaki
  • Takumi Ozaki
  • Hiroto Nishi
  • Jin Matsuda
  • Xu Fengfan
  • Rihito Ikezaki
  • Yudai Sano
  • Takeru Goto
Websiteini-official.com

INI (Japanese: アイエヌアイ, Aienuai) is a Japanese boy band formed through the reality competition show Produce 101 Japan 2. The group is composed of eleven members: Masaya Kimura, Hiromu Takatsuka, Shogo Tajima, Kyosuke Fujimaki, Takumi Ozaki, Hiroto Nishi, Jin Matsuda, Xu Fengfan, Rihito Ikezaki, Yudai Sano and Takeru Goto. Like the winners of the first season of Produce 101 Japan, INI is intended to be a permanent group. The group is managed by Lapone Entertainment, a joint company between Yoshimoto Kogyo and CJ ENM.[2]

They made their debut on November 3, 2021, with the single A.[3]

Name[edit]

INI official logo.

The group's name, INI, was chosen by Lapone Entertainment among all the suggestions given by the viewers through Produce 101 Japan's official website. The name was announced during the final episode of the show.[4]

The official meaning of the name is "the 11 of us (me/I) who met on Produce 101 Japan Season 2 connect (Network) with you (I)".[5][4]

Members[edit]

  • Masaya Kimura (木村 柾哉)
  • Hiromu Takatsuka (髙塚 大夢)
  • Shogo Tajima (田島 将吾)
  • Kyosuke Fujimaki (藤牧 京介)
  • Takumi Ozaki (尾崎 匠海)
  • Hiroto Nishi (西 洸人)
  • Jin Matsuda (松田 迅)
  • Xu Fengfan (許 豊凡)
  • Rihito Ikezaki (池﨑 理人)
  • Yudai Sano (佐野 雄大)
  • Takeru Goto (後藤 威尊)

Discography[edit]

Albums[edit]

List of studio albums, with selected details, chart positions and sales
Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Certifications
JPN
[6]
JPN
Hot

[7]
Awakening
  • Released: December 14, 2022
  • Label: Lapone Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, digital download
1 1
  • JPN: 266,814 (phy.)[8]
Match Up
  • Released: February 14, 2024
  • Label: Lapone Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, digital download
1 1
  • JPN: 269,020 (phy.)[10]

Singles[edit]

List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Certifications Album
JPN
[11]
A 2021 1
  • RIAJ: 2× Platinum (phy.)[13]
Awakening
I 2022 1
  • RIAJ: 3× Platinum (phy.)[15]
M 1
  • RIAJ: 3× Platinum (phy.)[17]
Drop That 2023 1
  • RIAJ: 2× Platinum (phy.)[19]
Match Up
Tag Me 1
  • RIAJ: 2× Platinum (phy.)[21]
Frame 2024 TBA

Promotional singles[edit]

List of promotional singles, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Certifications Album
JPN
Hot

[22]
"Rocketeer" 2021 2
  • JPN: 18,304 (dig.)[23]
  • RIAJ: Platinum (st.)[24]
A
"Brighter" [A]
"Call 119" 2022 1
  • JPN: 5,000 (dig.)[26]
  • RIAJ: Platinum (st.)[27]
I
"We Are" 86
"Password" 1
  • JPN: 1,846 (dig.)[28]
  • RIAJ: Gold (st.)[29]
M
"Spectra" 16 Awakening
"Fanfare" 2023 2
  • JPN: 9,343 (dig.)[30]
Drop That
"Hana" (HANA_花) 2
  • JPN: 5,883 (dig.)[31]
Tag Me
"Legit" 2024 27
  • JPN: 2,008 (dig.)[32]
Match Up
"Whatever Happens" 62
  • JPN: 5,774 (dig.)[33]
Non-album single
"Loud" TBA The Frame
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Awards and nominations[edit]

Name of the award ceremony, year presented, award category, nominee(s) and the result of the award
Award ceremony Year Category Nominee/work Result Ref.
Asia Star Entertainer Awards 2024 The Best Performance (Japan) INI Won [34]
Japan Gold Disc Award 2022 Best 5 New Artist Won [35]
Japan Record Awards 2021 Best New Artist Won [36]
Line Music 2021 Trend Award 2021 Trend Artist Won [37]
Mnet Asian Music Awards 2021 Favorite Asian Artist Won [38]
MAMA Awards 2023 Favorite Asian Male Group Won [39]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ "Brighter" did not enter the Billboard Japan Hot 100 Chart, but peaked at number 57 on the component Download Chart.[25]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "From J-pop to K-pop and back to J-pop once more". Korea JoongAng Daily. August 26, 2001. Archived from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  2. ^ Naoko, Yokota (September 22, 2019). "韓国の人気オーディション番組 吉本と組んで日本上陸" [Popular Korean audition show landed in Japan in partnership with Yoshimoto.]. Nikkei Sports (in Japanese). Archived from the original on December 27, 2022. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  3. ^ "INI debut single "A" will be released on Wednesday, November 3, 2021!". INI Official. September 18, 2021. Archived from the original on February 5, 2024. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "11人のメンバーで構成のグローバルグループ"INI"(アイエヌアイ)11月3日デビュー決定!" [The 11-member global group INI will debut on 3 November!]. Screen Online (in Japanese). September 8, 2021. Archived from the original on February 2, 2023. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  5. ^ "【INI】メンバーの年齢、身長、出身地、メンバーカラーなどプロフィールを紹介!" [[INI] Profile of members, including age, height, hometown and member colours!]. More (in Japanese). June 21, 2023. Archived from the original on June 16, 2023. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  6. ^ Peak chart positions on the Oricon Albums Chart:
    • "Awakening". Oricon (in Japanese). December 12–18, 2022. Archived from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
    • "Match Up". Oricon (in Japanese). February 12–18, 2024. Archived from the original on February 21, 2024. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  7. ^ Peak chart positions on the Billboard Japan Hot Albums Chart:
  8. ^
  9. ^ "Japanese album certifications – INI – Awakening" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved January 19, 2023. Select 2022年12月 on the drop-down menu
  10. ^ 月間 アルバムランキング 2024年02月度 [Oricon Monthly Album Ranking – February 2024] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on March 13, 2024. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  11. ^ Peak chart positions on the Oricon Singles Chart:
  12. ^ 月間 シングルランキング 2021年11月度 [Oricon Monthly Single Ranking – November 2021] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on December 8, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  13. ^ "Japanese single certifications – INI – A" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved May 13, 2022. Select 2021年11月 on the drop-down menu
  14. ^ Cumulative sales of I:
  15. ^ "Japanese Triple Platinum certifications – INI – I" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved January 19, 2023. Select 2022年4月 on the drop-down menu
  16. ^ Cumulative sales of M:
  17. ^ "Japanese single certifications – INI – M" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved January 19, 2023. Select 2022年8月 on the drop-down menu
  18. ^ Accumulated Sales on Oricon Chart:
  19. ^ "Japanese single certifications – INI – Drop That" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved November 10, 2023. Select 2023年10月 on the drop-down menu
  20. ^ Accumulated sales on Oricon Chart:
  21. ^ "Japanese single certifications – INI – Tag Me" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved December 8, 2023. Select 2023年11月 on the drop-down menu
  22. ^ "INI Billboard Japan Hot 100 Chart History". Billboard Japan. Archived from the original on May 13, 2024. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  23. ^ "週間 デジタルシングル(単曲)ランキング 2021年11月15日付" [Weekly Digital Singles Ranking – November 15, 2021]. Oricon (in Japanese). November 1–7, 2021. Archived from the original on November 10, 2021. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  24. ^ "Japanese single streaming certifications – INI – Rocketeer" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved April 23, 2024. Select 2024年3月 on the drop-down menu
  25. ^ "Download Songs [2021/09/29 公開]". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on October 10, 2023. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  26. ^ "週間 デジタルシングル(単曲)ランキング 2022年05月02日付" [Weekly Digital Singles Ranking – May 2, 2022]. Oricon (in Japanese). April 18–24, 2022. Archived from the original on April 27, 2022. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  27. ^ "Japanese single streaming certifications – INI – Call 119" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved July 26, 2022. Select 2022年6月 on the drop-down menu
  28. ^ "週間 デジタルシングル(単曲)ランキング 2022年09月05日付" [Weekly Digital Singles Ranking – September 5, 2022]. Oricon (in Japanese). August 22–28, 2022. Archived from the original on August 31, 2022. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  29. ^ "Japanese single streaming certifications – INI – Password" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved November 10, 2023. Select 2023年2月 on the drop-down menu
  30. ^ Total sales of "Fanfare":
  31. ^ "週間 デジタルシングル(単曲)ランキング 2023年10月23日付" [Weekly Digital Singles Ranking – October 23, 2023]. Oricon (in Japanese). October 9–15, 2023. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  32. ^ "週間 デジタルシングル(単曲)ランキング 2024年02月19日付" [Weekly Digital Singles Ranking – February 19, 2024]. Oricon (in Japanese). February 5–11, 2024. Archived from the original on February 14, 2024. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  33. ^ "週間 デジタルシングル(単曲)ランキング 2024年04月15日付" [Weekly Digital Singles Ranking – April 15, 2024]. Oricon (in Japanese). April 1–7, 2024. Archived from the original on April 10, 2024. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  34. ^ Lee, Ha-na (April 10, 2024). "대상 주인은 스트레이 키즈, TXT 4관왕→트레저·더보이즈 3관왕(종합][ASEA 2024]" [Grand Prize winner is Stray Kids, TXT 4 wins → Treasure and The Boyz 3 wins (Overall)[ASEA 2024]]. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 11, 2024. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  35. ^ "第36回日本ゴールドディスク大賞". 日本ゴールドディスク大賞 (in Japanese). Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  36. ^ "【レコ大】INI、新人賞受賞に「イエーイ」 30日生放送は「感謝の気持ちを込めて」 | ORICON NEWS". December 8, 2021. Archived from the original on December 8, 2021. Retrieved May 6, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  37. ^ "LINE MUSIC 2021 トレンドアワード発表!". December 1, 2021.
  38. ^ "JO1が「BEST ASIAN ARTIST JAPAN」、INIが「FAVORITE ASIAN ARTIST」をそれぞれ受賞!<2021 MAMA>". Model Press (in Japanese). December 11, 2021.
  39. ^ Saxena, Saumya (November 28, 2023). "MAMA Awards 2023 Day 1 Winners: BTS, TXT, RIIZE, TREASURE and more bag prestigious awards". Pinkvilla. Archived from the original on November 28, 2023. Retrieved November 28, 2023.

External links[edit]