BE:FIRST Elevate J-pop In Unparalleled Fifth Anniversary Project
Japanese hip-hop group BE:FIRST are celebrating their fifth anniversary all year round as they continue to stack achievements onto their historic resume. If you’re not familiar with their game, allow BE:FIRST’s 2023 hit “Mainstream” to tell you what you need to know: “Top charts, hot words, rank in / No guard, homerun, hat trick / I won’t chase and I won’t be caught / I set the trend, trend, trend.”
Not only do members SOTA, SHUNTO, MANATO, RYUHEI, JUNON, and LEO possess a strong foundation in dance, vocal, and rap — they excel at all of the above. With another triumphant year under their belt, BE:FIRST’s artistry consistently represents their country with excellence.
EnVi met up with BE:FIRST on a sunny Los Angeles afternoon to discuss a myriad of exciting news including the groundbreaking “Doesn’t Really Matter (Remix),” upcoming “BE:FIRST WORLD SHOWCASE 2026,” and latest release, “Missing.” BE:FIRST didn’t let jetlag nor a tight schedule interfere as their thoughtful and humble responses echoed the sincerity they pour into their craft.
A Collaboration “Meant to Be”
In their most recent pursuit of spreading Japanese music to the world, BE:FIRST just collaborated with legendary talent and cultural innovator, Janet Jackson. BE:FIRST and Janet Jackson joined forces for “Doesn’t Really Matter (Remix)” in celebration of the special tour junket, “JANET JACKSON JAPAN 2026.”
Conceived for Janet Jackson’s role in Nutty Professor II: The Klumps, “Doesn’t Really Matter” represents the importance of unconditional love and character above all else. The song spent three consecutive weeks at #1 on the Billboard pop chart, and two decades later, it is back at the top of charts yet again.
The remix presents a cross-cultural reimagination of Janet Jackson’s beloved 2000 single. BE:FIRST add vocal harmonies, a Japanese rap verse delivered by SHUNTO and SOTA, and a modern G-funk influenced instrumental that lays the foundation for a new dance break. The momentum for “Doesn’t Really Matter (Remix)” continued with a joint stage on June 14 at K-Arena Yokohama before an audience of around 20,000 fans and music video release on June 17 commemorating the special moment.
“Janet Jackson is a huge artist, so I’m very grateful for this opportunity,” MANATO said. “All six of the members really love Janet Jackson and respect her. Since I was a child, I’ve been listening to her songs and even took dance lessons using her music […] Janet Jackson is a very kind person so I was able to understand why she is loved by so many people.”
MANATO also shared that he actually saw Janet Jackson in concert two years ago, and expressed how she seems to improve every single time he sees her perform. When EnVi affirmed that BE:FIRST also continues to improve with each performance, the members immediately bowed with respect to the compliment. LEO then turned to MANATO commenting “Fire,” with MANATO cheekily responding with the team’s new favorite buzzword, “Rizz.”
Global “Masterplan”
Images courtesy of B-ME.
“Doesn’t Really Matter (Remix)” wouldn’t be the first time BE:FIRST gave a modern, Japanese twist to a classic hit. “I Want You Back” was the lead single from their 2025 compilation album, BE:ST, and is another masterpiece from the Jackson family catalogue. BE:FIRST’s rendition of the 1969 classic operates in a similar vein to “Doesn’t Really Matter (Remix)” with reworked verses featuring Japanese lyrics and hip-hop focused flows.
“What I wanted to show through our covers was respect toward all of the culture and talent from the originals,” SOTA shared.
SOTA also revealed that their rendition of “I Want You Back” was what piqued Janet Jackson’s interest in collaborating with BE:FIRST. “I’m glad we were able to connect through our music,” SOTA warmly reflected.
BE:FIRST are committed to showcasing their artistry on a worldwide scale. They’ve done dance collaborations with K-pop stars like TOMORROW X TOGETHER, joined in on SB19’s latest album for “Toyfriend,” and even teamed up with major franchises outside of music like One Piece. Their next cultural exchange is a meaningful one for the team as they are gearing up for their second world tour.
“BE:FIRST WORLD SHOWCASE 2026” kicks off in September in Bangkok with stops in Taipei and Manila before their final two shows in New York City. As artists endlessly striving for improvement, BE:FIRST’s diligent preparations for this tour are already under way.
“We’re in the States to study English, and we’re in a language school as well, so my wish is to communicate with more global fans during the showcase,” RYUHEI said in respect to what they hope to accomplish this time around compared to their first tour in 2025, “Who Is BE:FIRST?”
“We’re going to four cities in total and with every city, the food and atmosphere is different so I want to be able to understand more about each city in depth,” LEO added. “Let us know any recommendations, please!”
When Five Years Becomes Forever
“Who Is BE:FIRST?” is a standout memory from BE:FIRST’s decorated career as they recognized they were making an impact in parts of the world they hadn’t even visited until that point.
“Through the last world tour, I was able to experience a lot of things, not just through music, but through life,” RYUHEI reminisced. “I was able to incorporate all of the experiences I went through during the world tour into my musical style.”
Images courtesy of B-ME.
RYUHEI suddenly added with a smile, “I really loved Thailand.” He went on to share two anecdotes when asked what made this trip in particular so special.
BE:FIRST were unexpectedly greeted with rainfall during their visit to the world-famous Chatuchak Market, but RYUHEI decided to lighten up the gloom by dancing. “It felt so good,” he commented as the members smiled in amusement.
The group also visited a restaurant along a river where RYUHEI would exclaim with enthusiasm to the passing boats: “Hi, I’m from Japan!”
The Many Moods of “Missing”
BE:FIRST’s fifth year anniversary celebrations show no sign of ceasing anytime soon. Their newest single, “Missing,” arrives as the next installment of their ongoing “BE:FIRST 5th Anniversary Project.” The song starts off slow, eventually building up to a tropical house chorus that invites listeners to dance and chant along.
“This is our second time collaborating with Jonas Blue, and I feel like ‘Missing’ has a relationship with the first single, ‘Don’t Wake Me Up,’ SHUNTO said. “The song is a little bit sad, but still enjoyable to where you can feel the summer mood. During festivals, this song is one where we can jump with our fans and enjoy together. But, if you listen through DSPs [digital streaming platforms], you can understand a lot about the lyrics — so there are many ways to enjoy ‘Missing.’”
BE:FIRST capture the complex energy of both the melancholic lyrics and upbeat rhythm. They reminisce in the chorus: “I want to be loved and want to keep loving / The you I loved won’t fade away.” Depending on which element you decide to focus on, each listening experience varies. “Missing” proves that farewells don’t always have to be a one-note, sad story — the memories you shared can still be remembered with a smile.
The two music videos further expand upon this contrast with a “Story” version and “Move” version. Both videos were filmed in Thailand, but each carries a profoundly different energy. In the “Story” version, actor Airu Kubozuka is engulfed by nostalgia when listening to “Missing,” causing him to relive his memories shared with a love, played by Nelinya Aphinaranithiwong (JANE), that is now lost.
The “Move” version hones in on the song’s summer vibe as BE:FIRST showcase their choreography skills and camaraderie across colorful Thailand scenery. Be sure to stay tuned until the end of the “Move” version for a cinematic surprise!
Becoming the BE:ST
Before becoming the powerhouses we know today, BE:FIRST’s journey began as survival program participants on THE FIRST. EnVi was curious to hear what BE:FIRST would say to the version of themselves five years ago as hopefuls seeking out the dreams they’re currently living.
LEO’s honest and instantaneous answer made the room erupt in laughter, “One word: English. You need to study more English.” MANATO chimed in, “Me too!” to which LEO playfully pushed back in a sing-songy cadence, “You can’t say the same! Another answer, please — please please please.”
“Keep on trying, keep on dreaming,” MANATO impressed the members with his confident reply in English like he was delivering a slogan.
RYUHEI steadily continued with another English phrase, “You have to feel this.”
“Have a good life,” JUNON cheerfully said in a commercial-like tone that conjured up some laughs.
Meanwhile, SHUNTO set a strict goal for his past self: “Keep on going to the gym.”
SOTA, who had the pressure of answering last, shared a message that we should all remind ourselves once in a while, “Enjoy your life.”
BE:FIRST are indeed enjoying their lives not just as established stars, but also as brothers growing together and exploring the world through their love for music. These icons are just getting started on yet another monumental chapter — and they want the world to join along.
“We feel that there are still a lot of people who don’t know BE:FIRST or don’t have much experience with J-pop yet,” LEO explained on behalf of the team. “To those people, we want to introduce BE:FIRST as a group who mixes various genres of music and have a lot of love and respect for music. Please enjoy our music!”
“Missing” is now available to stream on music platforms. Be the first to know what BE:FIRST has in store by following them on Instagram, TikTok, X, and YouTube.
Want more exclusives with your favorite artists? Check out EnVi‘s interview with the multinational K-pop group NAZE!
