Japanese group JO1 brought electrifying energy to Los Angeles for the final night of their North American tour on Oct. 11. The nine-member group—Issei Mamehara, Ren Kawashiri, Takumi Kawanishi, Ruki Shiroiwa, Keigo Sato, Syoya Kimata, Junki Kono, Sukai Kinjo, and Sho Yonashiro—showcased their music with razor-sharp choreography and undeniable chemistry.
The show opened on a high note with the exhilarating “WHATCHA DOIN,” a perfect song to get the crowd’s energy pumping. JO1’s stage presence was magnetic, and the members knew how to rile up the audience with playful banter in Japanese. The group chose not to use an English translator during these conversations. Without interruptions, the banter flowed naturally, though many English-speaking fans couldn’t fully follow along. The JAMs didn’t seem to mind, cheering and laughing along whenever the members spoke.
JO1’s dynamic choreography elevated each performance, especially “Handz in my Pocket” and “Animal.” Singing and dancing all night is no easy feat, but the group made it look effortless. It was hard to believe this was their U.S. debut.
The group also showed off its vocal talent by slowing things down for a stripped-down performance of “Hiraku” with Junki on keyboard. The intimate moment highlighted the strength of their vocals. To keep fans on their toes, the members then split into units. Takumi kicked off the segment with a solo rap performance, followed by a dance break featuring Ren, Keigo, Sukai, and Issei. The segment closed with Syoya, Junki, Ruki, and Sho covering Taylor Swift’s “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.” The mega-popular song had the whole audience singing along.
The night ended with the adrenaline-pumping “IGNITE.” Its rock sound, driven by guitar and drums, had the entire venue rocking out.
