{"id":516555,"date":"2026-03-03T19:04:20","date_gmt":"2026-03-03T19:04:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/516555\/"},"modified":"2026-03-03T19:04:20","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T19:04:20","slug":"and-now-team-mens-folio","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/516555\/","title":{"rendered":"And Now, &TEAM – Men’s Folio"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"\u201cWhether BTS<\/a> are actually part of K-pop at this point is a hotly debated topic among their fans, known as ARMY \u2014 many believe the group has transcended the label,\u201d wrote a Rolling Stones profile almost a decade ago. With the band\u2019s colossal global success in the West, and the subsequent tidal-like Hallyu takeover over the next ten years, the boundaries that draw the lines between genres have been endlessly blurred since. You see it in the way Blackpink members are discussed online when it comes to their nominations as solo acts. Is it K-pop by virtue of their origins, or have they moved beyond the orbit of K-pop, given their international audience and production teams? When you witness Diplo gushing to every major press about his involvement with BTS\u2019 unreleased album, it should come as no surprise that this wave of East Asian- led entertainment industry no longer navigates in the niche; it now dominates the mainstream.<\/p>\n

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(On HARUA) Sweater, shirt, shorts, all Prada; (On JO) Coat, jacket, pants, all Prada<\/p>\n

Enter BTS\u2019 juniors, &TEAM \u2014 a nine-member group that asserts on being recognised as a global group. Without any context, one might be quick to view this as a marketing ploy to fluff up the group\u2019s presence, even though it\u2019s Japan- based. Upon closer listen, you would find it almost instinctive to view what members EJ, FUMA, K, NICHOLAS, YUMA, JO, HARUA, TAKI and MAKI do as being globally-oriented. Beyond owning the title of being the first-ever Japan- based group to sell a million CDs in both Japan and South Korea, their first Asia tour AWAKEN THE BLOODLINE has too, attracted 160,000+ attendees in over 10 cities \u2014 &TEAM boasts that kind of stats that would convince chronically online naysayers who are quick to label the meteoric rise of certain acts \u2014 especially those who debut under HYBE and its subsidiaries \u2014 as \u201cpayola\u201d. Moving globally was never a \u201chappy accident\u201d; it has always been a strategic decision right from its inception. Men\u2019s Folio chats with members JO and HARUA to further understand what makes &TEAM a global force.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs the first group from HYBE to debut outside of Korea, we\u2019ve continued down a path that hasn\u2019t been taken before. The challenges have allowed us to grow little by little and shaped us differently,\u201d says JO. Since &TEAM\u2019s debut in 2022, they feel encouraged, acknowledging other label mates like KATSEYE and Latin America\u2019s SANTOS BRAVOS are taking up similar paths. \u201cWe hope to continue paving the way with our own style, and materialise our goal of \u2018Japan to Global\u2019 by working steadily to broaden our activities beyond borders,\u201d he adds. For HARUA, a significant moment was their Korean debut last year, which allowed them to truly feel the support they received beyond Japan. \u201cKnowing that the support from our fans, LUN\u00c9, has come from around the world has always given us strength,\u201d HARUA explains.<\/p>\n

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Tank top, Prada<\/p>\n

Although conceived as an audition program, &AUDITION, like many of its industry peers, has diverged from an often entertainment-first, competition- later format. \u201c&AUDITION was pretty supportive of the trainers. It was overall fun and lighthearted compared to many other survival shows. The boys were never pitted against each other, so you see the trainees bond and support each other throughout the program,\u201d wrote one Reddit user. For JO, the biggest lesson gained from being part of the program was knowing the importance of working as a group. \u201cWe truly understand the meaning of bringing a project to life as a team; this mindset still influences how we work today. The nine of us work and support each other closely, while making sure each member\u2019s individual colour [personality] comes through.\u201d On the other hand, HARUA values the importance of communication. \u201cWhen we were trainees, we had monthly evaluations that we prepared for on our own accord. Once &AUDITION began, the missions were mostly team-based. This meant that we needed to communicate our ideas with each other openly to succeed,\u201d the 20-year-old said.<\/p>\n

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Sweater, shirt, all Prada<\/p>\n

With &TEAM\u2019s diverse composition of talent, what is foundational to their appeal \u2014 transcending language and culture \u2014 is their core desire to share their music with the world. \u201cEven if &TEAM is not confined to a single genre or language in our lyrics, I think we have built a sound that is uniquely ours. When our thoughts and feelings are accurately conveyed, we get to connect with LUN\u00c9 and become one beyond language,\u201d explains HARUA. JO shares a similar sentiment. \u201cEven if they do not fully understand the words, they can still connect with the emotions behind our songs; when lyrics aren\u2019t completely clear, sincerity carries us through.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Sweater, shirt, all Prada<\/p>\n

Like much of HYBE\u2019s other acts, &TEAM\u2019s discography is crafted with impeccable polish, resulting in a lustre that catches light and is hard to turn away from. As heard on their track \u201cMISMATCH\u201d, you might wonder what business a band with members born past 1996 has in creating slinky, 90s-inspired R&B. However, a conversation with them will soon reveal that they are students of pop culture, excited to put their own spin on it rather than create carbon copies of the past. \u201cMichael Jackson inspires me, not just for his dancing and performance, but especially for his aura. I find it truly amazing that he could completely captivate Sweater, shirt, all Prada Features Cover an audience once he steps onto the stage \u2014 this says a lot about his presence,\u201d JO explains. Beyond heroes from the music realm, HARUA turns to basketball players for inspiration. \u201cSince we are appointed as ambassadors for the 10th anniversary of the B.LEAGUE in Japan, we\u2019ve had more opportunities to be involved with the sport. I was really moved by the way the basketballers dedicate themselves to basketball when watching them closely \u2014 especially when they focus wholeheartedly on the ball and the court \u2014 which has really left a strong impression.\u201d<\/p>\n

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(On HARUA) Coat, sweater, all Prada; (On JO) Coat, jacket, pants, all Prada<\/p>\n

Be it onstage or offstage, the one thing that remains constant for JO is his passion. \u201cOnce I commit to something, I give it my full effort, and that dedication remains whether I\u2019m performing or not,\u201d he explained. This translates into his love of putting everything together as a group during dance practice and refining the smallest details when he goes over the choreography repeatedly. Acknowledging his calm and steady demeanour in his daily life, HARUA, however, finds a way to raise his energy for performances. \u201cI get my heart rate up and prepare myself mentally so I can deliver our music passionately to LUN\u00c9! Between onstage and offstage, I\u2019d say that my emotional intensity differs the most.\u201d For him, anticipation begins when he receives a new demo. \u201cI always look forward to hearing our new songs for the first time. What excites me most is when we start shaping the song to make it our own,\u201d HARUA shares. He asks for LUN\u00c9\u2019s patience as they prepare for their 3rd EP, We on Fire, slated for 21 April this year.<\/p>\n

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Shirt, Prada<\/p>\n

For &TEAM, costuming is not just an auxiliary element that is secondary to the music \u2014 it tells a full story. JO and HARUA both share the sentiment that the right stage costumes, alongside hair and makeup, work in tandem to create the perfect confidence boost and set the mood for the performance. \u201cOnce the stage costumes come on, our mindset shifts and we\u2019re able to immerse ourselves fully in the performance. It\u2019s completely different from rehearsing in our own clothes,\u201d shared HARUA. \u201cI loved our outfits when we promoted \u2018Deer Hunter\u2019 in Korea. Several variations included suit-inspired looks and others that were rougher, like bandage styling and distressed details that gave a dramatic impression.\u201d JO\u2019s favourite was the black suit that featured firework-shaped jewellery details when the band appeared on NHK K\u014dhaku Uta Gassen, as he felt that the look was a symbolic reflection of &TEAM\u2019s identity and charm.<\/p>\n

Beyond just performing, JO and HARUA find themselves exploring the idea of being more involved with the creative process. \u201cBecause of all the experiences we get to have, there are so many emotions and thoughts that I want to hold on to \u2014 if I could turn those feelings into lyrics and share them through our music, that would be very meaningful,\u201d shared JO. While HARUA is still open to exploring, he considers the prospects of designing their merchandise or perhaps playing instruments on stage. Given the surreal nature of being in the entertainment industry, are there parts that feel like second nature, or otherwise? \u201cNothing feels particularly easy yet, although we\u2019ve had several comebacks. Each one brings a new challenge and something to improve on. That said, I do notice growth compared to before, and that keeps me going,\u201d JO confided. HARUA, too, reflect similar feelings as their work requires them to stretch into different areas \u2014 acting, appearing on variety shows and magazine shoots. \u201cEach setting requires a different mindset, and adjusting between the scenarios can be challenging. A magazine shoot would require me to focus on posture and expression, while on a variety show, I concentrate on conversation and timing,\u201d HARUA shared.<\/p>\n

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Sweater, pants, all Prada<\/p>\n

LUN\u00c9\u2019s presence and constant support make it all worth the challenges that come &TEAM\u2019s way. Both JO and HARUA agree that the warmth and attention shed by the fans remind them of why they do what they do. \u201cThe encore show of our Asia tour last year is something I\u2019ll never forget. LUN\u00c9 had been with us throughout the tour, and performing in such a large venue felt like giving back to them. Our upcoming tour, BLAZE THE WAY, will allow us to revisit Bangkok and perform in Singapore for the first time \u2014 so we hope our fans are just as excited as we are!\u201d JO teased. All dressed in Prada<\/a> for this shoot, HARUA, too, recalled the time he got to attend the Prada show in Milan last February with JO, which allowed him to meet fans from Europe. What makes it all worth it for them is the opportunity to perform on stage, hearing their fans cheer, seeing their smiles and feeling their energy.<\/p>\n

Just as moonlight illuminates every surface of our planet, &TEAM\u2019s global-first approach to connecting is not rooted in the novelty of something foreign; nor is it meant to highlight the differences and disparities that wedge us apart. Not knowing the full meaning of a song\u2019s lyrics has never prevented us from enjoying it \u2014 in ways that melodies, movement and visual presentation have too, played their part in striking a connection between the artist and listener. What makes &TEAM global is not just its high-octane presentation, but its ability to leverage music\u2019s universality.<\/p>\n

Photography Kim Jiyoung
Creative Direction & Styling Izwan Abdullah
Grooming Mizuna Mori | Inyeon
Hair Toshiyasu Oki | Continue
Visual Creative Hirokazu Shikano, Mari Hatanaka
Fashion Coordination Manfred Lu
Production Oh Seoyul | SY Production<\/p>\n

Once you are done with this story, click\u00a0here<\/a>\u00a0to catch up with our February 2026 issue.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u201cWhether BTS are actually part of K-pop at this point is a hotly debated topic among their fans,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":516556,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[64,63,134,136],"class_list":["post-516555","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-music","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-entertainment","tag-music"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/516555","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=516555"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/516555\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/516556"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=516555"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=516555"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=516555"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}