Be First
Japanese boy band formed via reality competition The First.
Be:First (stylized in all caps) is a Japanese boy band managed by BMSG and signed to B-ME, a joint label with Avex. The group was formed on August 13, 2021, when the lineup was announced through the reality competition show *The First*, hosted by Sky-Hi, and officially debuted on November 3, 2021, with their single "Gifted." The lineup includes six members: Sota, Shunto, Manato, Ryuhei, Junon, and Leo; Ryoki left the group in 2025. Be:First is BMSG’s first act, founded by Sky-Hi after he identified problems in Japan’s music industry—specifically, a shortage of platforms for talent, which drove skilled performers to seek opportunities abroad, particularly in Korea.
The name Be:First was chosen to reflect an ambition to “always aim for the top,” with Sky-Hi hoping the group would “continue to respect and love the fact that others are number one at the same time as they continue to be number one themselves.” Their official fandom name is BESTY (stylized in all caps), a combination of 'Be' and 'bestie,' meant to evoke the idea of a best friend.
The audition for *The First* began airing on April 2, 2021, on Nippon Television’s program *Sukkiri* and streaming service Hulu. The group’s name and members were revealed on the final episode on August 13, and their pre-debut digital track “Shining One” was released on August 16. On the Billboard Japan chart dated August 25, “Shining One” debuted at number one on Download Songs, number two on Streaming Songs, and number two on the Japan Hot 100. It also topped Oricon’s Weekly Digital Single and Weekly Streaming rankings, making Be:First the second artist ever to achieve that double crown with the same work. Before their official debut, the group performed on several TV shows, including *Sukkiri*, *Buzz Rhythm 02*, *Shibuya no Oto*, and *Premiere Melodix!*, and were featured in *Nikkei Entertainment*. On September 18, 2021, they opened at the SuperSonic festival, their first live audience performance. On November 3, they released their debut single “Gifted,” which topped the Billboard Japan Hot 100 and amassed over 14 million streams in its first week—the third-highest weekly streaming total in Oricon history, behind BTS and LiSA.
In 2022, Be:First collaborated with Jonas Blue on a Japanese version of “Don’t Wake Me Up,” released July 13. Their debut album *Be:1* came out on August 31, preceded by singles “Gifted.” and
- formed
- August 13, 2021
- debut
- November 3, 2021
- origin
- Japan
- genre
- J-pop
- label
- B-ME (with Avex)
- members
- Sota, Shunto, Manato, Ryuhei, Junon, Leo (former: Ryoki, 2021–2025)
- notable_achievement
- First artist in Oricon history to achieve seven digital double crowns across multiple works
Lore & Background
Be:First was formed through the audition program The First, which aired on Nippon Television Network's Sukkiri and Hulu starting April 2, 2021. The group name and members were announced on August 13, 2021, and their pre-debut track 'Shining One' was released on August 16, 2021. The song debuted at number one on Billboard Japan Download Songs and number two on the Japan Hot 100, and Be:First became the second artist in history to achieve a double crown on Oricon's weekly digital single and streaming rankings simultaneously. They made their major debut on November 3, 2021 with the single 'Gifted', which topped the Billboard Japan Hot 100 and achieved over 14 million streams in its first week. Ryoki's departure from the group was announced in 2025; while he had faced health challenges, the illness has not been confirmed as the sole reason for his leaving.
The group released their debut studio
Reader's Guide
Be:First emerged as a significant force in Japanese pop music, formed by Sky-Hi to counter the outflow of Japanese talent to the Korean music industry. Their rapid rise was marked by record-breaking streaming and download achievements on Oricon, including becoming the first artist to achieve seven digital double crowns for a single work. The group's debut album Be:1 achieved gold certification, and their tours expanded from national arenas to international stadiums, reflecting their growing global reach. Their formation through a reality competition show and their consistent chart dominance positioned them as a leading act of the 2020s J-pop scene. The departure of member Ryoki in 2025 marked a transition, but the group continued with six members, maintaining their presence through world tours and fan meetings. Their legacy includes breaking Oricon records and demonstrating the viability of domestically formed groups in an industry often influenced by K-pop.
Did You Know?
- Be:First's fandom name is Besty, coined from the first and last two letters of the group's name to mean 'bestie'.
- They became the first artist in Oricon history to achieve number one rankings in both downloads and streams in the same week for a single work three times.
- Their pre-debut track 'Shining One' debuted at number one on the Billboard Japan Download Songs chart.
- Ryoki left the band in 2025 and did not participate in the European leg of their first world tour due to illness.
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