Aoen

Lore & Background

&TEAM originated from the survival show *&AUDITION - The Howling -* which aired in 2022. The show featured trainees from Hybe Labels Japan, and the final nine members were selected to form the group. The group name &TEAM represents the bond between members and fans, with the ampersand symbolizing connection and unity.

&TEAM made their official debut on June 12, 2024, with the single album *The Blue Sun*. The group has since released additional music and continues to promote under Hybe Labels Japan. There is no connection to any project called 24kumi or survival show named Oen-High, and the group has not transferred to any other label.

Reader's Guide

Aoen represents a notable case in J-Pop history as a group formed through a reality survival show that resurrected members from a previously disbanded project (24kumi). Their formation via Oen-High, which combined judge-selected and fan-voted members, reflects the evolving dynamics of idol group creation in the 2020s. The group's transfer from Hybe Labels Japan to its subsidiary Jconic in early 2026 illustrates corporate restructuring within the Hybe Japan multi-label system. Aoen's debut single 'The Blue Sun' and subsequent releases, including the English version of 'Youth', indicate a strategy of international outreach. Their first nationwide tour, covering 47 prefectures plus one additional location, underscores their ambition to build a broad domestic fanbase. The group's name, blending 'blue' and 'flame', and their fandom name 'aoring' are emblematic of the symbolic branding common in J-Pop. While still early in their career, Aoen's trajectory from a failed project to a debuted group with multiple singles and a tour demonstrates resilience and the potential for second chances in the competitive idol industry.

Did You Know?

• Aoen was formed from the remnants of a previous Hybe Labels Japan project called 24kumi, which disbanded in mid 2024.
• The group's name combines 'Ao' (blue) and 'en' (flame), symbolizing 'a passionate run that fills the world with blue, the color of the hottest flame'.
• Two of the seven members, Gaku and Reo, were chosen through public fan voting, while the other five were selected by stage performance results.
• Aoen was transferred from Hybe Labels Japan to Jconic on January 5, 2026, as part of a restructuring of Hybe Japan's multi-label system.

Formation Through Oen-High

The story of how Aoen came to be is one of reinvention. In September 2023, Hybe Labels Japan introduced a prospective boy group under the working name 24kumi, opening social media accounts to build anticipation. However, by mid-2024 that project went quiet and was ultimately dissolved. Rather than letting those eight young performers disappear, the company repurposed them as contestants on Oen-High, a reality-survival audition series that premiered on February 15, 2025. The show served as both a competition and a public introduction. On the finale night of April 12, five members were confirmed based on stage-performance rankings: Kyosuke took the top spot, followed by Yuju, Sota, Ruka, and Hikaru. The remaining two positions were decided by public fan voting, with results revealed on April 23 during a live broadcast on Nippon TV's DayDay program. Gaku and Reo claimed the sixth and seventh spots, completing the seven-member lineup. That same evening, the fandom name "aoring" was unveiled to the audience.

The Blue Sun Debut

Aoen's official entrance into the J-Pop landscape arrived on June 11, 2025, with the release of their debut single album The Blue Sun. The build-up was carefully staged: a press conference on April 24 announced the release date, followed by the pre-release digital single "Finish Line ~Last Race, New Start~" on May 16 and the title track "The Blue Sun" on June 2. The group's name itself carries a deliberate message—blending "ao" (blue) with "en" (flame) to evoke the image of the world's hottest flame burning in blue, symbolizing passionate energy and mutual support among the members. By October 15, the group had already pushed forward with their third digital single, "Seishun Incredibles," signaling a rapid creative pace in their first months as a public act. The debut period established Aoen as a performance-driven group whose identity was shaped as much by the competitive narrative of Oen-High as by their music itself.

New Label, New Momentum (2026)

Early 2026 marked a structural shift for Aoen. On January 5, Hybe Japan announced the group's transfer to Jconic, a newly established record label launched on January 1 as part of a broader restructuring of Hybe Japan's multi-label framework. This move placed Aoen under a dedicated imprint rather than the parent company directly. The creative output accelerated quickly: their second single album, Instant Crush (秒で落ちた), dropped on March 18. Within weeks, the group announced their fourth digital single "Youth" for April 15 and, on April 23, kicked off their first concert tour, aoen LIVE TOUR 2026 ～The Beginning of Blue 47+1~. By May, a third single album titled "Hajimari Color" was confirmed for July 22, with a pre-release digital single of the same name landing on July 7. An English-language version of "Youth" was also announced for June 8, hinting at ambitions beyond the domestic market.

Identity, Branding & Member Roles

Aoen presents a carefully crafted identity that extends beyond music. The group's name is stylized in all lowercase—aoen—giving it a modern, accessible feel distinct from many traditional J-Pop acts. The etymology is layered: "ao" (blue) paired with "en" (flame) creates the concept of a blue flame, described as the hottest fire, representing the group's collective passion and their desire to energize and support one another. The member hierarchy is clearly defined: Yuju serves as leader, with Ruka in the sub-leader role, while Gaku, Hikaru, Sota, Kyosuke, and Reo round out the seven-person unit. The fan community was given its own identity—"aoring"—announced on the same day the final two members were confirmed. This naming ecosystem, from the group title to the fandom label, suggests a deliberate world-building approach that positions Aoen not merely as a band but as a shared cultural space between performers and audience.

Gallery