Interview with ONE OR EIGHT in Brazil

Born from the "WARPs DIG" project, dance-vocal group ONE OR EIGHT has been drawing attention for their bold mix of hip-hop and pop, infused with a distinct Japanese touch and fearless attitude. This attitude is reflected in their name, which comes from the phrase "Ichi ka bachi ka," meaning “all or nothing.” During their first visit to Brazil, the members spoke with the JaME team about their debut, working with international artists and their mission to try the authentic Brazilian açaí.

For those who don’t know you yet, how would you introduce ONE OR EIGHT?

SOUMA: ONE OR EIGHT is a Japanese group inspired by the phrase “Ichi ka bachi ka,” which means something like “all or nothing.” We’re putting everything we have into this dream of sharing our music with the world.

What was it like being part of the “WARPs DIG” project?

SOUMA: I’m really proud to have debuted with this team and to be facing this challenge of taking our music global together. Thanks to this project, we were able to come to Brazil to perform — and that’s incredibly rewarding. It pushes us to keep going, with full commitment.

Are there any artists you admire or who have inspired you in a special way?

REIA: We have a lot of respect for Big Sean. He supported us so much during the recording of KAWASAKI — he was really kind and generous, even though we were just rookies.


Before your official debut, you released KAWASAKI, which went viral on YouTube. Later, you even collaborated with Big Sean. What was that like?

REIA: First, we released KAWASAKI, and then we made a new version with Big Sean, which ended up feeling like a whole new song. It was a really fun experience. Seeing the track take on a new form and recording with him was amazing.

In March, you released DSTM, which samples Rihanna’s Don’t Stop the Music. How did that idea come about?

MIZUKI: The idea actually came from our company, even before our debut. At first, we were a bit unsure — Don’t Stop the Music is such a huge hit! But we’re really happy with how it turned out, and the fans seem to love it. We can’t wait to hear everyone singing along with us at the show.

You’ve just debuted and are already on an international tour. What has that experience been like so far?

TAKERU: We honestly never expected to be touring internationally so soon after debuting. It’s been incredible — each country and each performance teaches us something new. Being here in Brazil, literally on the other side of the world, really makes us reflect on everything we’ve accomplished. It’s exactly what our name stands for: all or nothing. We’re so grateful for this journey.


What did you know about Brazil before coming here?

SOUMA: I already wanted to try açaí before we even came! It’s super trendy in Japan right now.

RYOTA: They say it’s really good for your skin.

SOUMA: We definitely want to eat it before heading back to Japan!

Did you know that in the Southeast, açaí is sweet, but in the North, it’s often eaten with savory dishes like fish?

SOUMA: Really?! You can eat it both ways? (surprised)

REIA: Is the sweet version made with honey?

Actually, it’s sweetened with guaraná syrup and can come with condensed milk, fruits and other toppings.

REIA: Like banana, right?

SOUMA: You can add coconut too, right?

Yes — shredded coconut! But the most popular toppings are banana and strawberry.

All: Ahhhh...

REIA: What about blueberry?

Blueberry’s not very common here — it’s mostly banana and strawberry. (laughs)

REIA: Ahhhh… (laughs)

RYOTA: I want to try it! I’m hungry!


What can fans expect from tonight’s show?

TSUBASA: I think everyone is just as excited as we are. I’m sure that the moment we step on stage and connect with the audience, it’ll be an unforgettable night. I promise it’s going to be a lot of fun!

JaME would like to thank ONE OR EIGHT, For Music and Studio Pav for this interview.

The members of ONE OR EIGHT also kindly recorded a short comment video for this interview, which you can check out below.