The four finalists of PRODUCE 101 JAPAN THE GIRLS, one of the largest audition programs ever held in Japan, are set to make their Japan debut from Universal Music on June 19 as the brand-new group IS:SUE.
The members are RIN (Rin Aita), NANO (Nano Kenmotsu), YUUKI (Yuuki Tanaka), and RINO (Rino Sakaguchi), all signed to LAPONE GIRLS Inc. The name of the group is a play on words, from the Japanese word “ishu” meaning “a different kind” and the English word “issue,” with the group aiming to become “a fascinating and different kind of existence that always captivates people through newsworthiness and topicality (issues).”
The title of the brand-new group’s debut single, “1st IS:SUE,” signifies it is the inaugural issue as a group, and the lead track “CONNECT” is a song with a message showing the girls’ strong will to connect with the world again with the strength they’ve gained and the connection between members born through trials and tribulations.
“Our debut single ‘1st IS:SUE’ has become an important piece of work that incorporates our experiences up to now and our thoughts in the lyrics,” the group comments in a release. “We will never forget our gratitude to our fans who have been waiting for us, and will continue to strive to become a group that can succeed not only in Japan but also globally. We’d be happy if our music could reach many people”.
IS:SUE is set to perform for the first time on the KCON STAGE and SHOWCASE on the first day of KCON JAPAN 2024 taking place from May 10 to 12, and also on the M COUNTDOWN STAGE at ZOZO Marine Stadium on the last day.
When IS:SUE joined LAPONE GIRLS in March and the group launched its official social media accounts, they were quickly followed by over 500,000 fans. When news broke that the new group would take the stage at KCON JAPAN 2024, it fueled comments and speculations online about the identity of the members, with fans wondering, “Who is this mysterious group?” and “Who are the four members of IS:SUE?”