Girls Group Project "Nizi Project", shortened to Nizi Project, was a survival show, similar to TWICE’s SIXTEEN, created by JYP Entertainment and Sony Music to find girls across 8 cities in Japan, Los Angeles and Hawaii, coming from Japanese heritage, to hopefully debut as a member in NiziU. The name "Nizi" is taken from the Japanese word "Niji" (虹, Rainbow). Out of 10,000 applicants, 26 trainees were picked to participate in the show. From those 26, nine girls were selected to become members of NiziU.
Part 1, which focused on the regional auditions and the boot camp in Tokyo, was broadcasted on Hulu Japan from January 31st, 2020. Part 2 focused on the finals in South Korea and was broadcasted from May 22nd, 2020. Part 2 was also broadcast on YouTube.
Contestants[]
For the first part of the program, there were 26 contestants. From those 26 contestants, only 14 moved on to the second part of the show, which took place in South Korea.
Season 2 Contestants[]
- Yamaguchi Mako
- Oe Riku
- Nakabayashi Rima
- Hanabashi Rio
- Katsumura Maya
- Suzuno Miihi
- Ogou Mayuka
- Arai Ayaka
- Hillman-Makino Nina
- Inoue Akari
- Ahn Yuna
- Ikematsu Riria
- Hirai Momoka
- Ozaki Suzu (withdrew)
Eliminated after Season 1[]
- Hanada Erina
- Marutani Ayane
- Tanigawa Hina
- Plunkett Mei
- Yamashiro Moeno
- Sakurai Miu
- Taniya Kyoka
- Ito Rei
- Kishida Ririka
- Tayaka Funa
- Oguri Kako
- Sato Ana
Fail | Pass | Left | Final Member |
Ranking | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Kanji | Birthday | Dance | Vocal | Star Power | Personality | Result |
Arai Ayaka | 新井彩香 | June 20, 2003 | Pass | Fail | Pass | Pass | 14 |
Ahn Yuna | アン・ユナ | January 19, 2003 | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass | 06 |
Ikematsu Riria | 池松里梨愛 | September 20, 2002 | Pass | Pass | Fail | Pass | 12 |
Ito Rei | 伊藤れい | February 3, 2003 | Pass | Fail | Fail | Fail | - |
Inoue Akari | 井上あかり | September 3, 2004 | Pass | Pass | Pass | Fail | 11 |
Oe Riku | 大江梨久 | October 26, 2002 | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass | 05 |
Oguri Kako | 小栗かこ | January 2, 1998 | Pass | Fail | Fail | Fail | - |
Ogou Mayuka | 小合麻由佳 | November 13, 2003 | Pass | Pass | Pass | Fail | 13 |
Ozaki Suzu | 尾崎すず | TBA | Pass | Pass | Pass | Fail | 08 |
Katsumura Maya | 勝村摩耶 | April 8, 2002 | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass | 03 |
Kishida Ririka | 岸田莉里花 | July 27, 2002 | Pass | Fail | Fail | Fail | - |
Sakurai Miu | 桜井美羽 | January 11, 2002 | Fail | Pass | Fail | Fail | - |
Sato Ana | 佐藤アナ | October 1, 2003 | Fail | Fail | Fail | Fail | Left |
Suzuno Miihi | 鈴野未光 | August 4, 2004 | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass | 02 |
Takaya Funa | 高谷風菜 | TBA | Fail | Fail | Fail | Fail | - |
Tanigawa Hina | 谷川陽菜 | September 27, 2001 | Fail | Fail | Fail | Fail | - |
Taniya Kyoka | 谷屋杏香 | August 27, 1998 | Fail | Fail | Pass | Fail | - |
Hanada Erina | 花田恵理奈 | TBA | Fail | Fail | Fail | Fail | - |
Hanabashi Rio | 花橋梨緒 | February 4, 2002 | Pass | Pass | Fail | Pass | 10 |
Hirai Momoka | 平井桃伽 | August 24, 2004 | Pass | Pass | Pass | Fail | 09 |
Hillman-Makino Nina | ヒルマン (牧野) 仁菜 | February 27, 2005 | Fail | Pass | Pass | Pass | 07 |
Plunkett Mei | プランケット明 | September 27, 2003 | Pass | Fail | Fail | Fail | - |
Marutani Ayane | 丸谷彩音 | March 19, 2004 | Fail | Fail | Fail | Fail | - |
Yamaguchi Mako | 山口真子 | April 4, 2001 | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass | 01 |
Yamashiro Moeno | 山城萌乃 | April 13, 2003 | Pass | Fail | Pass | Fail | - |
Yokoi Rima | 横井里茉 | March 26, 2004 | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass | 04 |
Final ranking[]
The final ranking after the first season:
- Mako
- Miihi
- Maya
- Rima
- Riku
- Ahn Yuna
- Nina
- Ozaki Suzu
- Hirai Momoka
- Rio
- Inoue Akari
- Ikematsu Riria
- Mayuka
- Ayaka
Video Gallery[]
Season 1[]
Season One of Nizi Project focuses on the initial auditions, judged by J.Y. Park. J.Y. Park went to 8 Japanese cities and Los Angeles and Hawaii. Contestants were to perform one singing audition and one dancing audition, to songs of their choice. Out of 10,000 auditionees, only 26 obtained a Nizi Cube. These cubes, in the shape of the Nizi Project square logo, have four hollow sections to them. There are four cubes that were able to be obtained during the four evaluations that took place over the course of the first season. The red Star Nature Cube (スター性キューブ), the yellow Dance Cube (ダンスキューブ), the green Vocalist Cube ( ボーカルキューブ), and the blue Personality Cube (人柄キューブ) Each part of the cube is given to the contestants if they are able to prove to J.Y. Park that they have what it takes.
Auditions[]
Applications for Nizi Project began on May 7, 2019, with auditions beginning on July 13, 2019, in Nagoya. In three separate parts, J.Y. Park went to 8 different Japanese cities, and 2 places in America. These places were Nagoya (July 13), Osaka (July 14-16), Hiroshima (July 19), Fukuoka (July 20), Okinawa (July 21), Tokyo (July 27-31), Sendai (August 3), Sapporo (August 4), Hawaii (August 8), and Los Angeles (August 11). Auditionees had to prepare for 3 different auditions. The first audition being the initial audition. The second audition they would perform what they prepared to perform in front of J.Y. Park and were given the task of doing a freestyle dance. Then, with the third audition being their audition in front of J.Y. Park [1].
Auditions | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Audition City | Dance Audition Song | Vocal Audition Song | Results |
Arai Ayaka |
Tokyo | Miss A - "Bad Girl Good Girl" | N/A | Passed |
Ahn Yuna | Tokyo | Wonder Girls - "Irony" | N/A | Passed |
Ikematsu Riria | Fukuoka | TWICE - "Candy Pop" | JUJU - "Yasashisa de Afureru You ni" | Passed |
Ishi Miona | Tokyo | N/A | N/A | Did Not Pass |
Ito Rei | Tokyo | N/A | N/A | Passed |
Inoue Akari | Tokyo | TWICE - "BDZ" | Yasuda Rei - "Brand New Day" | Passed |
Oe Riku | Osaka | N/A | Aimer - "Hoshikuzu Venus" | Passed |
Oguri Kako | Sendai | N/A | N/A | Passed |
Ogou Mayuka | Osaka | N/A | N/A | Passed |
Ozaki Suzu | Sapporo | Sumni - "24 Sigani Mojara" | TWICE - "BDZ" | Passed |
Kakinuma Komaki | Tokyo | N/A | N/A | Did Not Pass |
Katsumura Maya | Tokyo | Sumni - "24 Sigani Mojara" | N/A | Passed |
Kishida Ririka | Osaka | J.Y.Park - "Eomeonimi Nuguni" | N/A | Passed |
Sakurai Miu | Nagoya | N/A | miss A - "Good-bye Baby" | Passed |
Sato Ana | Los Angeles | TWICE - "What is Love? -Japanese ver.-" | N/A | Passed |
Suzuno Miihi | Tokyo | TWICE - "What is Love? -Japanese ver.-" | Ito Yuna - "Precious" | Passed |
Takaya Funa | Tokyo | N/A | N/A | Passed |
Tanigawa Hina | Tokyo | miss A - "Bad Girl, Good Girl" | N/A | Passed |
Taniya Kyoka | Tokyo | N/A | N/A | Passed |
Nishihara Karin | Osaka | TWICE - "Candy Pop" | N/A | Did Not Pass |
Hanada Erina | Nagoya | TWICE - "Candy Pop" | N/A | Passed |
Hanabashi Rio | Nagoya | Aimer - "Hoshikuzu Venus" | N/A | Passed |
Hirai Momoka | Fukuoka | miss A - "Good-bye Baby" | Wonder Girls - "Be My Baby" | Passed |
Hillman Nina | Sendai | TWICE - "What is Love? -Japanese ver.-" | Yasuda Rei - "Brand New Day" | Passed |
Plunkett Mei | Los Angeles | miss A - "Bad Girl, Good Girl" | N/A | Passed |
Matsunosako Hina | Osaka | TWICE - "Candy Pop" | N/A | Did Not Pass |
Marutane Ayane | Osaka | J.Y. Park - "Eomeonimi Nuguni" | N/A | Passed |
Yazaki Sara | Tokyo | N/A | N/A | Did Not Pass |
Yamaguchi Mako | Tokyo | J.Y. Park - "Neo Ppuniya" | Uru - "Freesia" | Passed |
Yamashiro Moeno | Okinawa | J.Y Park - "Eomeonimi Nuguni" | JUJU - "Yasashisa de Afureru You ni" | Passed |
Nakabayashi Rima | Tokyo | miss A - "Bad Girl,Good Girl" | Wonder Girls - "Irony" | Passed |
*Not all auditionees were shown on the program.
Japan Training Camp[]
During their time in the Japanese Training Camp, they were tasked with performing for different evaluations. These evaluations would give the contestants an opportunity to obtain a Nizi Cube that corresponded with that evaluation.
Dance Evaluation[]
The dance evaluation gave the contestants the opportunity to show off their dancing skills to a song of their choice.
Dance Evaluation | ||
---|---|---|
Name | Dance Evaluation Song | Rank |
Yamaguchi Mako | 2PM - "I'll be back -Japanese ver.-" | 1 |
Suzuno Miihi | TWICE - "Cheer Up -Japanese ver.-" | 2 |
Ikematsu Riria | ITZY - "DALLA DALLA" | 3 |
Kishida Ririka | TWICE - "Cheer Up -Japanese ver.-" | 4 |
Ozaki Suzu | N/A* | 5 |
Oe Riku | TWICE - "FANCY" | 6 |
Nakabayashi Rima | TWICE - "FANCY" | 7 |
Ahn Yuna | TWICE - "LIKEY -Japanese ver.-" | 8 |
Hanabashi Rio | RIRI, KEIJU, Obukuro Nariaki - "Summertime" | 9 |
Inoue Akari | ITZY - "DALLA DALLA" | 10 |
Ito Rei | N/A* | 11 |
Katsumura Maya | ITZY - "DALLA DALLA" | 12 |
Yamashiro Moeno | Nakashima Mika - "Yuki no Hana" | 13 |
Plunkett Mei | N/A* | 14 |
Hirai Momoka | TWICE - "FANCY" | 15 |
Arai Ayaka | ITZY - "DALLA DALLA" | 16 |
Sakurai Miu | TWICE - "LIKEY -Japanese ver.-" | 17 |
Taniya Kyoka | N/A* | 18 |
Takaya Funa | TWICE - "FANCY" | 19 |
Oguri Kako | TWICE - "Cheer Up -Japanese ver.-" | 20 |
Ogou Mayuka | ITZY - "DALLA DALLA" | 21 |
Tanigawa Hina | N/A* | 22 |
Marutane Ayane | N/A* | 23 |
Hillman Nina | ITZY - "DALLA DALLA" | 24 |
Hanada Erina | ITZY - "DALLA DALLA" | 25 |
Sato Ana | N/A* | 26 |
*Performed but was not shown on the program.
Vocal Evaluation[]
During the Vocal Evaluation, contestants were responsible for performing a song of their choice in front of J.Y. Park and the other contestants.
Vocal Evaluation | ||
---|---|---|
Name | Vocal Evaluation Song | Rank |
Yamaguchi Mako | Nakashima Mika - "Yuki no Hana" | 1 |
Hillman Nina | 2PM - "I'll be back -Japanese ver.-" | 2 |
Suzuno Miihi | Nakashima Mika - "Yuki no Hana" | 3 |
Oe Riku | Nakashima Mika - "Yuki no Hana" | 4 |
Ozaki Suzu | N/A* | 5 |
Ikematsu Riria | N/A* | 6 |
Nakabayashi Rima | ITZY - "DALLA DALLA" | 7 |
Ahn Yuna | TWICE - "LIKEY -Japanese ver.- | 8 |
Inoue Akari | N/A* | 9 |
Sakurai Miu | ClariS - "Connect" | 10 |
Hirai Momoka | 2PM - "I Nolaereul Deudgo Dorawa" | 11 |
Katsumura Maya | GOT7 - "A" | 12 |
Hanabashi Rio | Nakashima Mika - "Yuki no Hana" | 13 |
Plunckett Mei | N/A* | 14 |
Tanigawa Hina | N/A* | 15 |
Takaya Funa | N/A* | 16 |
Ito Rei | N/A* | 17 |
Arai Ayaka | TWICE - "One More Time" | 18 |
Taniya Kyoka | N/A* | 19 |
Oguri Kako | N/A* | 20 |
Kishida Ririka | TWICE - "One More Time" | 21 |
Marutane Ayane | N/A* | 22 |
Yamashiro Moeno | N/A* | 23 |
Ogou Mayuka | Kato Miliyah x Shimizu Shota - "Love Forever" | 24 |
Sato Ana | N/A* | 25 |
Hanada Erina | N/A* | 26 |
*Performed but was not shown on the program.
Star Nature Evaluation[]
The Star Nature Evaluation, also known as the X-factor evaluation, is an evaluation to test the contestants on their charming personality and talents. Each contestant had to come up with a short skit or performance to show their charm.
Star Nature Performance Evaluation | |
---|---|
Name | Star Nature Performance |
Arai Ayaka | Tennis Course TWICE - "Cheer Up -Japanese ver.-" |
Ahn Yuna | Acrobatic performance |
Ikematsu Riria | N/A* |
Ito Rei | N/A* |
Inoue Akari | Cheerleading |
Oe Riku | Karate Gap Figure 2PM - "Again & Again" |
Oguri Kako | N/A* |
Ogou Mayuka | Playing the Ocarina |
Ozaki Suzu | Sailor Moon impression |
Katsumura Maya | "The Ugly Duckling" Picture-Story Show |
Kishida Ririka | N/A* |
Sakurai Miu | Mukbang |
Sato Ana | N/A* |
Suzuno Miihi | Baton performance |
Takaya Funa | N/A* |
Tanigawa Hina | N/A* |
Taniya Kyoka | Cooking tteok-bokki while performing |
Hanada Erina | Cheerleading |
Hanabashi Rio | N/A* |
Hirai Momoka | N/A* |
Hillman Nina | DJ Radio Broadcast |
Plunkett Mei | N/A* |
Marutane Ayane | N/A* |
Yamaguchi Mako | Eating lemons with no expression then doing calligraphy |
Yamashiro Moeno | N/A* |
Nakabayashi Rima | Playing drums |
*Performed but was not shown on the program.
Final Results[]
The Contestants who obtained all 4 cubes were able to proceed to training in Korea. In the end, the top 14 contestants (minus Ozaki Suzu) were sent to Korea for training and to participate in the second season of Nizi Project.
Season 1 Final Rank | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
# | Name | Dance Cube | Vocal Cube | Star Nature Cube | Personality Cube | Final Rank |
1 | Arai Ayaka | Acquired** | ✖ | Acquired* | Acquired | 14 |
2 | Ahn Yuna | Acquired** | Acquired** | Acquired* | Acquired | 6 |
3 | Ikematsu Riria | Acquired* | Acquired** | Acquired | ✖ | 12 |
4 | Ito Rei | Acquired** | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | |
5 | Inoue Akari | Acquired** | Acquired** | Acquired** | ✖ | 11 |
6 | Oe Riku | Acquired** | Acquired* | Acquired* | Acquired | 5 |
7 | Oguri Kako | Acquired*** | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | |
8 | Ogou Mayuka | Acquired*** | Acquired*** | Acquired*** | ✖ | 13 |
9 | Ozaki Suzu | Acquired** | Acquired** | Acquired* | ✖ | 8 |
10 | Katsumura Maya | Acquired** | Acquired** | Acquired* | Acquired | 3 |
11 | Kishida Ririka | Acquired** | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | |
12 | Sakurai Miu | ✖ | Acquired* | ✖ | ✖ | |
13 | Sato Ana | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | |
14 | Suzuno Miihi | Acquired* | Acquired* | Acquired* | Acquired | 2 |
15 | Takaya Funa | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | |
16 | Tanigawa Hina | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | |
17 | Taniya Kyoka | ✖ | ✖ | Acquired** | ✖ | |
18 | Hanada Erina | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | |
19 | Hanabashi Rio | Acquired** | Acquired** | ✖ | Acquired | 10 |
20 | Hirai Momoka | Acquired** | Acquired** | Acquired*** | ✖ | 9 |
21 | Hillman Nina | ✖ | Acquired* | Acquired* | Acquired | 7 |
22 | Plunkett Mei | Acquired** | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | |
23 | Marutane Ayane | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | |
24 | Yamaguchi Mako | Acquired* | Acquired* | Acquired** | Acquired | 1 |
25 | Yamashiro Moeno | Acquired** | Acquired** | ✖ | ✖ | |
26 | Nakabayashi Rima | Acquired** | Acquired** | Acquired* | Acquired | 4 |
*Earned during the evaluation test. **Earned by being in top rank (top 16 for dance, top 13 for vocal, additional 4 for star power). ***Earned at the final evaluation.
Season 2[]
In season 2 the contestants were given various missions to test their skills and improve themselves. They were then ranked for each mission, then those who receive the lowest rank two times will be disqualified. The contestants trained for one month in South Korea prior to the start of their evaluations.
Mission 1: Individual Evaluation[]
Individual Evaluation | |||
---|---|---|---|
# | Name | Song | Rank |
1 | Arai Ayaka | TWICE - "Precious Love" | 9 |
2 | Ahn Yuna | miss A - "I Don't Need A Man" | 10 |
3 | Ikematsu Riria | J.Y Park - "Who's your mama" | 11 |
4 | Inoue Akari | miss A - "Good-bye Baby" | 13 |
5 | Oe Riku | J.Y Park - "Who's your mama" | 3 |
6 | Ogou Mayuka | Wonder Girls - "Like This" | 8 |
7 | Katsumura Maya | miss A - "Touch" | 4 |
8 | Suzuno Miihi | Wonder Girls - "Nobody (Rainstone remix)" | 1 |
9 | Hanabashi Rio | Yubin - "Lady" | 6 |
10 | Hirai Momoka | TWICE - "BDZ" | 12 |
11 | Hillman Nina | Charlie Puth - "Attention" | 7 |
12 | Yamaguchi Mako | Sunmi - "24 Sigani Mojara" | 2 |
13 | Yokoi Rima | J.Y Park - "Honey" | 5 |
Mission 2: Team Mission[]
In the Team Mission, the contestants were split in 4 different groups to test their skills in working in a group. Along with that, the teams were put up against another team, the team that won would receive a pendant.
Seaside Faries | Sunrise | Heart Maker | Mr. Madonnie |
---|---|---|---|
TWICE "Dance the Night Away -Japanese ver.-" |
I.O.I "Very Very Very" |
TWICE "HEART SHAKER -Japanese ver.-" |
J.Y Park "Swing Baby" |
Hillman Nina (Leader) | Suzuno Miihi (Leader) | Oe Riku (Leader) | Yamaguchi Mako (Leader) |
Ogou Mayuka | Yokoi Rima | Ahn Yuna | Katsumura Maya |
Ikematsu Riria | Arai Ayaka | Hirai Momoka | Hanabashi Rio |
Inoue Akari | |||
Winner: Sun Rise | Winner: Mr. Madonnie |
Mission 3: Team Battle[]
During the third mission, the contestants were put into teams to test their image concept. The group that won would receive the pendant.
IRIS (Emotion) | We bling (Young & Energetic) | 2K5 (Entertainer) |
---|---|---|
TWICE "Feel Special" |
ITZY "ICY" |
2PM "Heartbeat" |
Katsumura Maya (Leader) | Yokoi Rima(Leader) | Yamaguchi Mako (Leader) |
Suzuno Miihi | Hanabashi Rio | Oe Riku |
Ahn Yuna | Ikematsu Riria | Ogou Mayuka |
Inoue Akari | Hillman Nina | Arai Ayaka |
Hirai Momoka | ||
1st Place | 2nd Place | 3rd Place |
Mission 4: Final Mission[]
WIP
Final Ranking: Season 2[]
WIP
References[]
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