Five years since its debut, Japanese boy group BE:FIRST is leaning more firmly into its identity with the release of its latest single, “BE:FIRST ALL DAY,” a track the group says reflects its growth while signaling a bigger push onto the global stage, including its first visit to the Philippines.
Formed in 2021 through the reality competition show “The First,” BE:FIRST has steadily built a following beyond Japan as part of a new wave of J-pop acts reaching international audiences.
Marking its fifth anniversary, the group described their new single as a defining statement of who they are now and where they are headed, capturing both continuity and momentum in their music and identity.
“This song represents our determination to continue being BE:FIRST even beyond our fifth anniversary — it’s a statement of who we are moving forward. Rather than just reflecting on the past, this song is a statement to the future: that we are still here, we aren’t changing our core, and we are only going to accelerate,” the group said in an email interview with The Manila Times.
“It captures the composure and confidence we’ve gained over these five years, and above all, the absolute certainty that the six of us are moving forward together. For us, this isn’t just a new song; it’s our new calling card,” they continued.
Beyond serving as an anniversary release, the group said the track also carries a message meant to reassure fans even as its sound continues to evolve.
“Five years have passed since our debut, and in that time, our musical expressions have constantly evolved. As we move forward and continue to take on new challenges, our style may shift and take on new forms. But what we want to convey most is our strong will — that no matter how much the situation changes, ‘we are still here,’” they said.
“We hope that everyone who supports us can feel that BE:FIRST will continue to exist, no matter what form that may take. When you listen to this track, I hope you feel a sense of security knowing we are always by your side, mixed with excitement for the future ahead. We will always be a part of your daily lives,” they added.
Looking back, the group pointed to key creative milestones that helped define its sound, particularly when members became more involved in the music-making process.
“I feel like our fourth single, ‘Mainstream,’ was a turning point where we really defined what BE:FIRST’s music is. It was a song that came from the members initiating conversations and working closely with our CEO and producers, so it holds a very special place for us. We spent nights talking it through as a group,” they said.
They said that deeper involvement in shaping their music also strengthened their artistic identity.
“By being involved from the very roots of the creative process, our sense of responsibility and pride in our music became much firmer. That process helped us become more confident in expressing our identity beyond Japan.”
“Seeing that song hit No. 1 and receiving reactions from fans all over the world gave us the conviction that the style we believe in is the right path. That confidence is exactly what fuels our ambition to take on the world today,” they added.
That ambition now extends across borders, most recently through a collaboration with Filipino group SB19 on the track “Toyfriend,” which has already posted strong chart results in Japan, reaching No. 1 on the mora Singles Chart (a Japanese digital music download ranking), No. 6 on the Billboard Japan Top Download Songs chart and No. 4 on the Genius Japan Weekly Top 10.
“We’ve had opportunities to collaborate with artists like Jonas Blue and ATEEZ, and through those experiences, fans from different countries began connecting with each other, which meant a lot to us. That naturally led us to want to explore more cross-border collaborations, including with SB19,” the group said.
“We felt a profound sense of shared vision with them, especially in the sheer energy of their performances and their drive to push P-pop to the global stage,” they added.
“When we finally met in person, all the SB19 members are very open and easy to talk to — it felt like building a new kind of relationship. While we struggled with differences in language at times, we had our common languages of music and dance. By deeply respecting each other’s cultures, we were able to create something at the highest level of creativity. We hope this collaboration serves as the spark to further energize the music scenes in Japan, the Philippines, and all of Asia.”
The collaboration also gave both groups the chance to learn from each other’s strengths.
“SB19 are incredibly strong vocalists. As a vocal group ourselves, we felt a profound sense of respect for the range and emotional depth of their voices,” they said.
They also pointed to performance dynamics as a key takeaway.
“Through performing together at events like D.U.N.K., we learned a lot from their sense of rhythm and how they present themselves on camera,” they said.
“Their stage presence and the way they control the atmosphere through their camera work provided so much for us to learn from. By letting these two distinct identities collide, we’ve built a dynamic relationship where we truly bring out the best in one another,” they added.
As BE:FIRST prepares for its first visit to the Philippines, the group said it is excited to finally meet Filipino fans.
“Since this will be our first time visiting the Philippines, the entire group has been incredibly excited. In a good way, we don’t have a fixed image yet, which makes us curious and excited,” they said.
They added that they are eager to experience Filipino fan culture firsthand.
“We often hear that fans in the Philippines are the most passionate in the world and they can sing very well — we can’t wait to feel your singing voices and energy firsthand,” they said.
“Also, we’re looking forward to experiencing the local culture, including the food and the atmosphere of the city. Please share your recommendations with us!”
With J-pop reaching wider audiences, the group said it hopes to help reshape global perceptions of Japanese artists.
“It’s incredibly exciting to feel that J-pop is being heard more than ever across the globe. As for us, we still feel that we are at the beginning of our journey,” they said.
They emphasized their goal of broadening what audiences expect from Japanese groups.
“We want to show the world that Japanese groups aren’t just about dance and vocal technique — we bring a unique creativity and a strength where each member’s individuality truly shines,” they said.
“Through our music, we want to establish a new standard: ‘Wow, a Japanese group can be this cool,’ or ‘They can create this kind of sound.’ If our challenge can help expand the possibilities for future artists and the J-pop scene as a whole, there would be no greater happiness for us,” the group continued.
“We would like to take that experience further and continue performing internationally, meeting audiences in different parts of the world. With our fifth anniversary as a starting point, that determination has only grown stronger. Please look forward to witnessing a BE:FIRST that never stops evolving,” the group said.
