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TOZ From ‘Boys Planet’ to Make Korean Debut in Early May

The Mnet survival show Boys Planet has already given us many successful K-pop groups. There’s EVNNE, ONEPACT, and of course, the winning nine-member team of ZEROBASEONE. But it seems the show isn’t done being the gift that keeps on giving. Another group—the four-member Japanese act TOZ—is set to make their official Korean debut. Their EP, TO my new friends, will be released on May 2.

TO my new friends is TOZ’s second EP, following their debut EP Flare, which included five Japanese tracks and was released simultaneously in Japan and Korea last September. The upcoming EP, featuring all Korean lyrics, aims to cement TOZ’s presence in the Korean music industry. A promotional poster featuring a light blue teddy bear and the EP’s release date was shared on the band’s social media pages, sparking excitement among fans.

Meet the members of TOZ

All four members of TOZ were popular contestants on Boys Planet, but they didn’t make the ZEROBASEONE lineup. Anthonny, the group’s leader and main vocalist of Filipino-Japanese descent, trained under WAKEONE for a while before joining Boys Planet. He also participated in Produce 101 Japan Season 2. When he’s not onstage, he enjoys drawing, playing badminton, and watching movies. His role model is AB6IX’s Lee Dae Hwi.

Haruto has a rich multicultural background. He lived in the US—specifically in New Jersey—which is how he became fluent in English. He can also speak Japanese and Korean, and is currently trying to learn Chinese. Not only is he multilingual, but he’s also adept at various styles of dance including ballet, breakdancing, and tap dancing. His smooth moves made him popular on Boys Planet and an integral part of TOZ.

@toz_yyent

🐼🐶🍑❤ #TOZ #ANTHONNY #HART #YUTO #TAKUTO

♬ summerlove – kit 🎀

Like Haruto, Yuto is fluent in English, Japanese, and Korean. His admiration for BTS influenced him to become an idol. His favorite BTS song is “Spring Day.” When he’s not dancing, he can be found eating ice cream (he says his specialty is “eating food quickly”) or watching animated movies.

The youngest member, Takuto, is known for his love of nature. When he has spare time, he enjoys going on bike rides to soak up some fresh air. For his Boys Planet audition, he dressed up as a boxer, charming both the judging panel and his fellow contestants. He can do backflips and round-offs, which make him a compelling presence onstage. His favorite song is “Cheers” by the SEVENTEEN leaders.

A wide variety of content

According to their agency YY Entertainment, TOZ will hold live concerts, perform on music shows, and work on a wide variety of content to connect with the Korean audience. All four boys are determined to make their mark in the highly competitive K-pop scene, like many of their fellow Boys Planet alums have done. – K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: Anthonny, Hart, Takuto, and Yuto are so cute! Source: X/@TOZ_YYent.

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K-POP ARTISTS KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

4 ‘Boys Planet’ Contestants to Debut as Toz in Japan

Following the success of Mnet’s survival talent series Boys Planet, four more contestants from the show are set to turn their idol dreams into a reality. 

YY Entertainment revealed on Monday, August 14 that Anthonny Iinuma, Haruto Maeda, Takuto Toyonaga, and Yuto Takano signed an exclusive contract with their label. 

 

The four Boys Planet alumni are confirmed to form the boy group TOZ, which stands for “To Our Zone.” 

Additionally, the act is aiming to debut in Japan in the latter half of 2023. Final details about the debut album and date have yet to be disclosed. 

Moreover, the agency shared that the upcoming group will promote both in Japan and  Korea in the future. 

As to why they chose these four members, YY Entertainment shared that despite not making it to the debut team, each still gained global popularity among fans for their charms and proficient Korean skills. 

Following the news, TOZ started releasing updates from the members on their social media accounts. 

 

Although a new agency, YY Entertainment is home to B.A.P’s Bang Yong-guk, actor Bae Na-ra, and Lee Joo Ahn, among others. 

Where are the ‘Boys Planet’ contestants? 

Boys Planet, which started with 93 trainees, gave birth to the formation of ZEROBASEONE or ZB1. 

The group’s members include Sung Han-bin, Kim Ji Woong, Zhang Hao, Seok Matthew, and Kim Tae-rae. Ricky, Kim Gyu-vin, Park Gun-wook, and Han Yu-jin are also part of the lineup.

ZB1 made their debut on July 10 with the release of their mini-album YOUTH IN THE SHADE. Shortly after, YOUTH IN THE SHADE set the record for being the best-selling debut album in K-pop history. Over 1,240,700 copies were sold in just 24 hours of sales. 

ZB1 is a project group that will promote under WakeOne Entertainment, a CJ ENM subsidiary, for around two and a half years. 

Meanwhile, seven contestants from Boys Planet will also debut as the boy group EVNNE under agency Jellyfish Entertainment. 

The septet consists of Ji Yoon Seo, Keita, Lee Jung Hyun, Moon Jung Hyun, Park Han Bin, Park Ji Hoo, and Yoo Seung Eon

Featured image: Anthony, Haruto, Takuto, and Yuto are forming the boy group TOZ. Credit: Twitter/The Hallyu News

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