Complete List of Japan Boy Group Survival Show 2025

The K-Pop and J-Pop fever has not only hit through songs and dramas, but also the Japanese Boy Group Survival Show that always manages to attract attention. With the presence of various survival shows, producers are ready to produce new stars in the Japanese music industry. From talent shows involving trainees from various backgrounds to the same agency, all offer excitement and tension that makes us curious. Who will succeed in shining and achieving their dreams? Let's take a look at the complete list of Japanese boy group survival shows until 2025.

Produce 101 Japan season 1

Produce 101 Japan season 1 is a Japanese boy group survival show. Produce 101 Japan is a 2019 Japanese reality competition show, co-produced by Yoshimoto Kogyo and CJ E&M. It is a spin-off of the South Korean Produce 101 franchise. The premiere episode aired on September 25, 2019 on TBS.

The show was hosted by Hideyuki Yabe and Takashi Okumura of comedy duo Ninety-nine, who previously hosted the talent competition series Asayan in 1999. The cast included Vocal trainers Hidenori Sugai and Sayaka Yasukura, Dance trainers A-non and Warner, and Rap trainers Cypress Ueno and Bose. The show had 101 contestants with the goal of producing a permanent eleven-member boy group.

The final eleven contestants debuted as the permanent boy group JO1. JO1 is a Japanese boy band formed by Lapone Entertainment. The group consists of eleven members: Issei Mamehara, Ren Kawashiri, Takumi Kawanishi, Shosei Ohira, Shion Tsurubo, Ruki Shiroiwa, Keigo Sato, Syoya Kimata, Junki Kono, Sukai Kinjo, Sho Yonashiro.

Produce 101 Japan season 2

Produce 101 Japan season 2 is one of the Japanese boy group survival shows. Produce 101 Japan is a Japanese reality competition show that features 101 trainees with the goal of producing a permanent 11-member boy band. It premiered on April 8, 2021.

The show is hosted by Hideyuki Yabe and Takashi Okumura of comedy duo Ninety-nine, who previously hosted the talent competition series Asayan in 1999. The show's cast includes Vocal trainers Thelma Aoyama and Hidenori Sugai, Dance trainers Rino Nakasone and KENZO (DA PUMP), and Rap trainer KEN THE 390. The show aims to debut an 11-member boy band in 2021 for the global music market.

The top 11 winners debuted under the name INI. The group consists of eleven members: Masaya Kimura, Hiromu Takatsuka, Shogo Tajima, Kyosuke Fujimaki, Takumi Ozaki, Hiroto Nishi, Jin Matsuda, Xu Fengfan, Rihito Ikezaki, Yudai Sano, and Takeru Goto. The group is managed by Lapone Entertainment, a joint venture between Yoshimoto Kogyo and CJ ENM.

&Audition – The Howling

&Audition – The Howling is a Japanese boy group survival show. &Audition – The Howling – is a Japanese and South Korean reality competition program that follows the formation and debut of the first boy group under HYBE Labels Japan. The show began airing on July 9, 2022.

The producers of the show are Special Advisor Bang Si-hyuk, Mentors Pdogg and Son Sung-deuk, Performance Director Sakura Inoue, Producer and Sound Director Soma Genda, and Special Producers Ryosuke Imai, Scooter Braun, and Zico. &Audition – The Howling features 15 trainees moving forward together towards their dreams; a documentary-style program that features various performances and stories as they strive to debut.

On the live finale on September 3, 2022, the nine members of &TEAM were revealed. They debuted on December 7, 2022. &Team is a Japanese boy band based in Japan and South Korea formed by YX Labels. The group consists of nine members: K, Fuma, Nicholas, EJ, Yuma, Jo, Harua, Taki, and Maki.

Nizi Project season 2

Nizi Project season 2 is one of the Japanese boy group survival shows. Nizi Project season 2 is a 2023 Japanese reality competition show, and is the second season of the Nizi Project series. The series is a joint project between JYP Entertainment and Sony Music Entertainment Japan with the aim of creating a global Japanese boy group.

The cast includes producer JY Park and judges JYP Training Center Dance Team. Nizi Project season 2 centers on JYP Entertainment founder Park Jin-young selecting members for a boy group from 20 boys..

The selected members debuted as NEXZ, a Korean and Japanese boy band based in South Korea. The band is managed by JYP Entertainment and Sony Music Entertainment Japan. The group consists of seven members: Tomoya, Yu, Haru, So Geon, Seita, Hyui, and Yuki. The group debuted on May 20, 2024.

Oen-HIGH: The Starting Line of Dreams

Oen-HIGH: The Starting Line of Dreams is a Japanese boy group survival show. Oen-HIGH: The Starting Line of Dreams is a Japanese survival show produced by YX LABELS (formerly HYBE LABELS JAPAN). The show aired from February 15, 2025.

The cast of the show includes Mentors Kim Jae Joong and Honda Hitomi, MCs Kazuya Kojima and Naoki Yasumura, and judges Kim Hyeon Ju (A&R Label YX), Kim Su Rin (Creative Director), Yoon Jeong In (Performing Director), Cho Min Ji (Performing Director), and BreadBeat (Producer). A total of 11 trainees competed for a place in the top 7.

The selected trainees will debut as aoen, a seven-member boy group that will soon be formed by YX LABELS. The members are Yuju, Ruka, Gaku, Haku, Sota, Kyosuke, and Reo. They will make their debut on June 11, 2025.

A look at the landscape of Japanese boy group survival shows reveals the incredible dedication and talent of its participants. Each program, with its unique format and challenges, has produced talented groups that continue to captivate fans around the world. This list is not only a historical record, but also a testament to the healthy competitive spirit and persistent dreams of young men aspiring to stardom.

Moving forward, Japanese boy group survival shows will likely continue to innovate, introducing new formats and fresh talent. For fans, following the journey of the contestants and witnessing the formation of a group is a thrilling and emotional experience. With the popularity of K-Pop and J-Pop continuing to grow globally, Japanese boy group survival shows will continue to be an important stage for launching the next generation of idols.