In the last episode of JYP Entertainment and Sony Music Entertainment's survival program 'Nizi Project' aired on the 26th of June, JYP announced its final line-up and group name.
As announced in the last episode, JYP Entertainment's new girl group will be called 'NiziU'!
The new group will consist of nine members, just like their labelmate and JYP's most successful leading girl group, 'Twice.'
After a rigorous elimination process, the nine final members of 'NiziU' include Yamaguchi Mako, Oe Riku, Yokoi Rima, Hanabishi Rio, Katsumura Maya, Suzuno Mihii, Oguo Mayuka, Arai Ayaka, and Hillman Nina.
Since the goal of the project is to form a Japanese girl group, all nine members of 'NiziU' are pure Japanese except for Nina, who is half Japanese and half American.
JYP himself explained that the group name 'NiziU' included the meaning of 'Need You,' "You can never succeed alone; you need each other and the fans," Kpopthing reported.
He added that 'NiziU' would be preparing for a pre-debut mini-album entitled 'Make You Happy' that will be released simultaneously in Korea and Japan on the 30th of June.
The upcoming group is already popularly known worldwide due to the 'Nizi Project.'
'Nizi Project' is a survival program that began airing in January 2020 and featured 26 Japanese trainees who trained for six months, all vying for a spot in JYP Entertainment's first Japanese girl group.
According to Business Times, the final nine members are scheduled to debut in Japan and Korea this fall. They are also expected to expand to global promotions because the members are fluent in Japanese, Korean, and English.
'NiziU' is the fruit of JYP Entertainment's three stages of globalization program wherein instead of merely exporting Korean talents to different countries, JYP would be involved in developing local homegrown talents.
JYP is definitely set to replicate the success of TWICE with NiziU!