IZONE News and Discussion Thread

My bad I didn't clarify that I wasn't taken into account the promotion cycle of the single which is something that must be done.
What I meant in that part is that when IZ*ONE appears in some events or tv shows in Japan ( when the promotion cycle of the single is over) the songs from Japanese single are completely ignored, but only the Oneiric Dairy showcase but some days before they had an event for Au and not a single song from Japanese songs was performed either.
I know they performed Buenos Aires and Vampire in Japan for the Eyes on Me but the fact there are more songs from Japanese discography that weren't performed at all was a big let down for me. And for those that were performed, the A-sides being added was a yes or yes situation, Toshishita Boyfriend was poorly executed because there was no dance and all the members see singing in unison like if the songs doesn't matter, and the Gokigen and Neko they performed were basically the ones from HEART*IZ with the same line distribution but with Japanese lyrics.
Time keeps going and it feels there's no plan for a Japanese single coming this year and I doubt there will be one in 2021.

 

I do wish/agree that they should put more effort into their Japanese songs sometimes. I think the sad truth is that people like me (us?) who genuinely enjoy the Japanese B-sides is fairly small; at least I get that impression on twitter. I know a lot of people that love to pretend the Japanese releases don't exist because they don't enjoy them. I personally love their Japanese discography and I listen to it more than COLORIZ or HEARTIZ (BLOOMIZ and Oneiric Diary are still fairly new so I listen to them a lot).

I disagree with that though. They're currently promoting in Japan, as much as is possible with the current situation. They had their showcase, and they also appeared on Buzz Rhythm 02 again this week just past. If I look at previous releases, it looks a bit like this:

• COLOR*IZ (2018.10.29) > Suki to Iwasetai (2019.02.06) = 3 months
• Suki to Iwasetai (2019.02.06) > HEART*IZ (2019.04.01) = 2 months
• HEART*IZ (2019.04.01) > Buenos Aires (2019.06.26) = 2 months
• Buenos Aires (2019.06.26) > Vampire (2019.09.25) = 3 months
• Vampire (2019.09.25) > BLOOM*IZ (2019.11.15) = 2 months
• BLOOM*IZ (2020.02.17) > Oneiric Diary (2020.06.15) = 4 months

Just Korean releases in comparison:

• COLOR*IZ > HEART*IZ = 6 months
• HEART*IZ > BLOOM*IZ = 7 months
• BLOOM*IZ > Oneiric Diary = 4 months

Just Japanese releases:

• Suki to Iwasetai > Buenos Aires = 4 months
• Buenos Aires > Vampire = 3 months

My guess is that, if the scandal and the global panedemic hadn't happened, we would have gotten another JPN single some time around Christmas or maybe January/February at the latest. There will definitely be a Korean send-off, probably a full length album, but that won't be until April 2021. So that means we have 11 months left. I'm pretty certain that AKS/Vernalossom played an important role in keeping IZ*ONE alive when X1 was disbanded, so they won't give the group up without any more releases happening.

If the previous release history is any indication, there is a gap of 2-4 months between every new release. That means the next release would be between August and October, but it won't be August at this point. All the Japanese singles were announced roughly one month before the release, so there's still a chance they will announce something in August to be released in September.

My prediction is

1. Japanese single in September 2020
2. Korean mini album in November 2020
3. Japanese single in February 2021
4. Korean full-length album in April 2021

Anything more would be too much to ask, but this seems feasible.

 

I know there's the hypothesis that AKS played a role that prevented IZ*ONE from getting disbanded but the most logical reason is because they all had already signed a contract with CJ unlike X1 members and agencies.
While most of the people think the Jp promotion of SSS is a sign of a Japanese single coming out, I think it's the opposite, why? Because it looks like they're promoting the jp version of a Korean tittle track in Japan as a way to compensate the lack of a Japanese release.
Even Sakura herself mentioned in a previous Saku no Ki that they made the jp of SSS and Merry Go Round because there's nothing for J-WIZ*ONE, so if there's actually a Japanese single coming out then there's no reason for Sakura to say that and for the group to make this promotion of SSS in Japan.

My guess is that something between OTR and Vernalossom happened (probably related to the production of Japanese singles), so they decided to indefinitely suspend the production of Japanese releases.
Japanese single are announced approximately 5 weeks before the release date, which means the preparations are from some days before the announcement. So saying that if the controversy didn't happen there would have released a Japanese single doesn't make sense because by the time the hiatus ended and promote BLOOM*IZ a Japanese single would have come out right after the promotions for BLOOM*IZ ended sinceteverything should have been prepared in theory.

 

why need to be arguing about this matter, they released vampire after buenos aires, and oneiric diary after bloom*iz, 3 albums released in jpn and 4 in korea atm, and OD seems to be like a half-half mix between kor and jpn, just be positive and reasonable, they cannot go to jpn due to pandemic, almost all idol from both country was greatly effected by covid issue , just be grateful that the kids still have a very decent jobs and activity, still got album, still got pb, still got invited on tv, still got online concert, vlive etc, their group finally come back breathing again, and it is not surprising if OTR have a specialist to produce a japanese albums if they have to do it by themselve if the pandemic situation issues goes on much longer, it's common in korean agency, we can see that cj stones are providing izone with a best songwriter and composer team from multiple agency in korea, like from jype, cube, etc, just be honest here , everything was great, i think there is one members saying that they have something that they've prepared before, but didn't manage to show it to the jwiz, probably, either due to hiatus or covid issues, means that they never stop working for their japanese works or forgetting their jwiz, ppl are just to oversensitive and too easy to make a conclusion about this matter without taking consideration of izone and their agency situation, chills a bit, no need to show of which side between kor & jpn mgmt is better, i'm sure both are trying hard and did their best

 

The group just had Vampire Hi-touch this past weekend through online calling. It actually went pretty well for most fans, but some experienced lag that ate up their Hi-touch time. I got the impression from a Sakura private mail that Vernalossom viewed this Hi-touch as a trial run if they were to release their next single during the pandemic.

 

if the video does not show watch the video here

I didn't see anyone post this, but anyone surprised there's a Japanese version of their Korean single? Now I wish they did La Vie En Rose in Japanese.

 

if the video does not show watch the video here

 

@Akusaiko
Well, it's not that I'm expecting or wishing that they can go to Japan to release a single and promote it like if there's no COVID. But that doesn't mean they can't release a single while being in Korea, I mean Twice did it. They have all the resources to prepare the songs, to film MVs ( like Vampire) and to virtually attend music shows. So I don't think Covid-19 is a good excuse.
And about what you mentioned about a member mentioning there was something they were preparing for J-WIZ*ONE but for some reason couldn't show it, if that's true then that proves what I mentioned before that it there was a 4th single coming out then the preparations shoul have been made by the time they were about to release BLOOM*IZ originally. But the reason why they stopped, was it really the controversy or the pandemic? If it were the first then the single must have been announced by March to be released in April, if it were the pandemic then the single must have been the first release since the start of the lockdown and not Oneiric Diary. So that's what I think the reason must be something else.
What made think about not getting future jp releases was not the time that have passed, it's actually the jp versions of their Korean songs. As I said before, it gives the impression they made them to compensate the lack of new jp discography.
And actually I've never thought they have abandoned J-WIZ*ONE so I don't know why the comment, specially since Oneiric Diary was #1 in Billboard Japan Download Albums category, and #3 in Top Albums category. So that means J-WIZ*ONE have been more enthusiastic with this mini-album than with all the 3 jp singles they released before.

If that's the same comment I saw from Sakura the I have to disagree on what she meant, because the Hi-touch events are scheduled until August 9th, so there are 4 more events until they finish with Vampire activities.
==================================
At this point only time is the one who can take my words back, so if I see the news of the 4th jp single or 1st album (with Vernalossom being involved in it) I'll do it.
I actually want a jp single or album but it's just that I doesn't seems possible to me, but July isn't over yet, so I guess there's still hope.

 

@ajma93632
Like i said, think rationally and positive, be cool and chill a bit, let say if OD was announced released as their new jpn single, dear, think of how much they actually could do a promotion for it, only online concert, and just the same stuff they currently been doing for OD jpnese showcase recently right?, how about appearing on tv broadcast?, in korea, they still be able to attend and appeared multiple times in 6 music station that are still running to promote their new album, mucore, mubank, mcdown, the show, show champ, & inkigayo, those music station are owned by different broadcasting company, KBS, SBS, MBC etc that also owned and produce tv shows in korea, do you know what kind of impact izone got when able to attend and appeared on those music station right? if they didn't fix and strengthening their connection back with these people, what could izone management could offers to fans in future later if they cannot recover from mnet issues in korea? and why do you think they've been doing the online showcase for their japanese fans recently?

they went on hiatus due to scandals that almost disbanding them just few month ago, they able to do successful comeback BLOOM*IZ at a bad economy state while all nation still facing pandemic issue, i see this decission move made by both of their management in korea and japan to released OD right after BLOOM*IZ in korea as the very best and right decission, it's an oppurtunity for izone to build back their momentum and gaining back trust from many organization and company of kpop industry in korea, we can see this effort has already yielded positive results to izone, aside from their vlive revival, the members slowly getting jobs and an offers to appeared on tv shows, first minju, then wony, now eunbi, like i said b4, OD is like a half-half mix between kor and jpn, and surprisingly, many jwiz fans praised mospick and the korean production team and said that SSOTS are still much better than most of aki p song after seeing SSOTS japanese version being performed, not to mention praised received by hitomi for MGR, from makeup, cloth, choreo, set setting to the song itself, it's perfect

and you can't just blatantly compared them to what jype been doing for twice, twice didn't facing huge issues like izone, and they are lifted as kpop NGG, standing on the top list of kpop gg atm, obviously jype could pulled such plans for them

i always mentioning reason why should they done so much things in korea over what they should do in japan, it's simple, everyone could notice it, they have been severed so badly in korea after the scandal exposed, but almost nothing severe happened to their conection in japan industry right?, and if it about jfans u r concerned, i bet nothing much changed bcuz we can clearly see that they're fit their reputation, i bet most of them are loyal and still buying albums as usual, just keep praying and be patient, with their name start rising back to the top in korea atm, i'm sure they'll be coming back to japan or released another successful japanese single soon from korea, just the same way you saw jype did for twice

Also i forgot to mention that, it's funny if izone suddenly able to resume their japan activity like releasing new album etc from korea, while their sister group fromis_9 Japanese debut that already finished being prepared at the same time as BLOOM*IZ are still on halt almost 4 month now, even through OTR could just resume it with an online event just like izone online showcase right? Not to mention about the period of time they doing a korean cb since their last with Fun Factory, even if we can't saw their company issue, but we know for sure that they do have some issue that holds them back, we're just fans, those guys are running business, we might taking their problems so lightly bcuz we're not the one who running a company and business

 

There is also a Japanese version of "Merry-Go-Round" on the official Oneiric Diary album. At the Japan Showcase, they also performed a Japanese version of "Welcome."


if the video does not show watch the video here


if the video does not show watch the video here

To answer your question, I'm personally not really surprised. They released 2 Korean albums back to back instead of alternating between KR–JP, so I expected something for J-fans. When they released Buenos Aires and Vampire back to back, they also included a Korean song on Vampire (Love Bubble); Love Bubble doesn't exist in Japanese though.

 

@Akusaiko
So you basically think my speculation might true but you think It's okay that way, right?
Well, it's your opinion. I listed to all of their songs and I definitely think their Korean songs are better produced. But I'm a bigger fan of their Japanese releases because I've seen many sides and concepts of the group that I can't see in their Korean songs. Like different Centers, different styles in their songs (A-sides and B-sides), regular unit songs, duo songs. And it's a kind of depressing to think there could be no more of that. And maybe it's even more depressing to notice an opinion like mine is so unpopular. Clearly J-WIZ*ONE never liked the songs from Aki-P and his team. So it feels like they're not needed anymore. Specially when it's been proved that it's enough by just including the Japanese version of two songs in a Korean mini-album to get sales like if it were released in Japan. And I think it was the sales in Japan that let the Japanese showcase to happen.
And I don't get why there are fans expecting or wanting a Japanese single of they're going to criticize it again. J-WIZ*ONE miss the girls being in Japan, not their Japanese singles. And OTR have found a way to reach them without releasing any Japanese single. I bet that if the pandemic didn't happen they would have gone to Japan to promote SSS in Japanese music shows and without releasing a Japanese single.
I'm pretty sure IZ*ONE got their momentum back in Korea already,I so if they don't announce anything within this month then that means there's nothing prepared. So I hope to be wrong even tough I'm pretty sure I'm not.
I know we're just fans and they're the businesses guys but It wouldn't be bad if they keep that premise of being Korean-Japanese group that releases music for both markets and not becoming another kpop group that releases kpop songs with Japanese lyrics.

 

Since their Japanese releases came up as a topic, I feel like their songs just became low effort after debut. "Suki ni Nacchau Daro" and "Yume wo Miteiru Aida" are great. The ones afterwards ranged from okay, but forgettable to bad.

Of course it's just my opinion, but it feels like since those 2 songs were airing on PD48, they got the good stuff.

 

Short video featuring Chaeyeon for JTBC's 'Just Comedy' show on 7/18:


if the video does not show watch the video here

 

if I can get more songs like Kimi Igai and Shigaisen nanka Buttobase, I want them to have more Japanese releases

 

Chaeyeon and yuri doing vlive, with a very fun contents https://m.vlive.tv/video/204373?channelCode=C1B7AF

 

Just out of interest, you're here from the K-pop side of the fandom, right? I saw that you mostly post in IZ*ONE's and Rocket Punch's thread.

I personally like Suki ni Nacchau Darou and Yume wo Miteiru Aida, but they're very K-pop sounding to me. I love all the Japanese songs (my favourites are Suki to Iwasetai, Toshishita Boyfriend, Target, Gokigen Sayonara and Fushigi Lucy) and I'm very glad IZ*ONE is not like the majority of K-pop groups releasing Japanese songs – by that I mean that they still release K-pop sounding songs, just in a different language. IZ*ONE's Japanese songs are actually J-Pop.

 

It's true I'm currently a k-pop fan, although before then I was a old school AKB fan, but lost interest after the 2nd time they shuffled the teams. I really liked Team K back in the day. 1st shuffle hurt, but then 2nd time and I was out lol.

It's one of the reasons this k-pop/AKB collaboration was so interesting for me. My old and new tastes collided. Also being a fan of Woollim and hearing that their trainee's were going to be on the show.

 

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To each their own, I guess? But I also read IZ*ONE fan from kpop side's comments on youtube (international one, ofc since I can't read hangeul) on how they like some Japanese releases, mainly like Suki to Iwasetai, Gokigen Sayonara, and Vampire. Some said Buenos Aires was bad, but they like the choreography. Some of them said the Japanese release are not blatantly bad, just they have a weird mixing. I personally like all their title song for Japanese release. Suki to Iwasetai was kinda boring at first but now it's like the most impactful Japanese single for IZ*ONE for me (perhaps because it's their Japanese debut track)

 

I'm on the side of the japanese releases having bad mixing. Suki to Iwasetai was good, but then both Buenos Aires and Vampire were mixed SO BADLY!