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.
TOZ(티오지) Korea 1st Mini Album
【𝑇𝑂 𝑚𝑦 𝑛𝑒𝑤 𝑓𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑠】
👟2024.05.02#TOZ #티오지#TO_my_new_friends#TOZ_KOREA_1ST_MINI_ALBUM pic.twitter.com/qg2B2CSI3v— TOZ (@TOZ_YYent) April 8, 2024
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
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.
TOZ(티오지) Korea 1st Mini Album
【𝑇𝑂 𝑚𝑦 𝑛𝑒𝑤 𝑓𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑠】
𝑆𝐶𝐻𝐸𝐷𝑈𝐿𝐸👟2024.05.02 THU 12PM (KST)#TOZ #티오지#TO_my_new_friends#TOZ_KOREA_1ST_MINI_ALBUM pic.twitter.com/kFwvzpqchv
— TOZ (@TOZ_YYent) April 10, 2024
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.