J-pop boyband ONE OR EIGHT are putting Japanese music back on the map. The eight-member group—comprising MIZUKI, NEO, REIA, RYOTA, SOUMA, TAKERU, TSUBASA and YUGA—get their name from a Japanese idiom meaning “all or nothing”, embodying their determination to leave their mark on the global stage. Formed through a year-long battle style audition programme, the group’s fiery resolve comes with years of training and fierce competition—and it shows in their music.

Within a year of their debut, ONE OR EIGHT are already making waves, seamlessly blending their heritage through their lyricism and distinctive style that taps on subversive Japanese subcultures with pop and hip-hop sensibilities. They also collaborated with major names in hip-hop across the world on their song “KAWASAKI” featuring Big Sean, which later spawned remixes with Korea’s pH-1, Filipino rapper Felip and Vietnamese-American R&B singer thủy. In September, ONE OR EIGHT also made history as the first Japanese boyband to walk the red carpet at the MTV VMAs, flaunting an eye-catching ensemble of outfits inspired by Japanese school uniforms.

Following the release of their single “BET YOUR LIFE”, a new entry in their ‘Anthems of Challenge’ series, the group sat down with ELLE Singapore to discuss their off-duty style, musical inspirations and how their friendship as a team has evolved.

You just released your single “BET YOUR LIFE”. How does it reflect the ONE OR EIGHT spirit?

NEO: “BET YOUR LIFE” is the second song of our ‘Challenge of Anthems’ series. So, we have this slogan of “Bet On Yourself” and this song reflects our slogan and character. We’re really excited to share our story with you. 

What’s one thing you would bet your life on?

SOUMA: ONE OR EIGHT.

REIA: For us, it’s about betting on our own lives, really putting everything we have on the line. That’s what ONE OR EIGHT is all about. It's also about living fully in the moment—right here, right now.

ONE OR EIGHT became the first Japanese group to walk the VMA red carpet this summer. What was that experience like?

SOUMA: I got to see some really famous artists up close on the VMA red carpet, answering interviews and taking photos. Their poise and attitude were so elegant. As ONE OR EIGHT, we want each member to carry that same kind of dignity in everything we do.

TSUBASA: I couldn’t watch the performances, but I got to take a photo with YUNGBLUD. I’ve always been a huge rock fan and knew of him before, but seeing him really made me captivated by his music and stage presence. He’s now my favourite artist, and I’ve been inspired by the way he approaches music and his artistry.

Your outfits on the VMA red carpet were especially striking. Tell us about them, and what you liked about your own outfit?

MIZUKI: Everyone was wearing a school uniform, which I thought really shows a sense of  Japanese culture. My outfit, in particular, was a remake of a uniform-style piece from the Japanese brand DAIRIKU. I think there are many elements in these outfits that reflect Japanese culture and  essence, and it’s a great way to showcase Japan to the world.

SOUMA: Mine had a distressed design, which I personally think was the coolest detail.

YUGA: My outfit featured patches and pins, and included distressed details. It was my first time wearing a gakuran (traditional Japanese school uniform). They remade it really stylishly, and I think the patches and pins gave it a cool overall impression.

How would you describe your personal styles? Do they differ from your on-stage personas?

TSUBASA: I usually wear American-style clothes, but on stage, I often wear outfits that show more skin or have a punk-inspired style. It really helps me switch my mindset for the performance.

REIA: My everyday clothes are completely different from what I wear for performances. I usually wear streetwear or clean, casual outfits, but when I’m with the group, I often wear performance-focused outfits that have more impact. Since we often coordinate everyone in street-style outfits, I like to experiment with different styles to create a sense of unity on stage.

NEO: My personal style is similar to my style when I’m performing. I usually wear wear hoodies in my daily life but seldom do on stage, so that might be the main difference. I also wear a lot of jorts for performances, but I often wear long and baggy denims [in everyday life].

RYOTA: Normally, I really like bold, confident looks, but today’s clean, polished style is not something I usually wear. I enjoy performances because they let me discover a new side of myself.

Do you have any personal or professional milestones you want to achieve before the end of 2025?

NEO: I want to perform in Singapore again. I also really want to perform on a Japanese TV programme, because we haven’t done that yet.

REIA: This year, we’ve been able to travel to various countries for our ‘SHUKAI’ fan meetings and perform at different festivals, but we haven’t had the chance to perform on media platforms yet. I’d love to appear in media performances too.

YUGA: I’d like to challenge myself with Japanese media appearances. Personally, I want to try songwriting and composing.

TAKERU: Performing on Japanese media is one of my goals for this year. As a group, I’d be happy if we could return to Singapore. Personally, if there’s an opportunity to choreograph a dance for ONE OR EIGHT, I’d also like to do it with Reia at least once this year.

*This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.