ZILLION Members' "Other-Directed Introductions": What Are the 9 Personalities of This Gen Z Representative Group Climbing to the Top?
This interview was originally published in Japanese on thefirsttimes.jp. Translated by VK Chronicle.
ZILLION Interview: A Nine-Member Group United by Bonds Stronger Than Family
Born from auditions judged by Shota Shimizu, the audition “ONE in a Billion,” ZILLION is a nine-member next-generation dance vocal group. After their pre-debut digital single “Timeless” in late 2021, they’re releasing their second pre-debut single “やめとこっか” on March 20th. Their genre-defying musicality is already drawing attention. Forged through a year-long audition process, these nine members’ greatest weapon is their teamwork. This time, we’ve organized a special feature where members introduce each other—a concept we’re calling “introducing through others’ eyes.” We got a closer look at each member’s unique character.
INTERVIEW & TEXT BY Hissakatsu Tanaka PHOTO BY Yuki Ohashi
Hiroki Introduces Taira
Taira & Hiroki
■ There’s Even a Sense of Majesty in His Stage Performance
Q: Today we’re doing something special—members introducing each other in a circle. We want lots of people to understand the “strength” of ZILLION by getting to know the personalities and characters of these nine members, who boast bonds deeper than family. So, Hiroki, would you start by introducing Taira?
Hiroki: Taira is 17 years old from Nagasaki Prefecture and serves as ZILLION’s main vocalist. Despite being only 17, his presence on stage through singing and dancing is just incredible. But usually, he’s kind of… mysterious.
Taira: I don’t think I’m like that, really.
Hiroki: He’s pretty quirky, actually. When everyone else is having fun and chatting, he’ll just space out, staring off somewhere else. There are times when we’re like, “Hey, Taira… hello? Come back to us~” (laughs). It happens all the time.
Taira: People tell me that often (laughs).
Q: So the aura he gives off on stage comes from incredible concentration?
Hiroki: His on-off switch is very clear-cut, but it’s so extreme that I can’t tell which is the real Taira. On stage, his performances have such majesty that I’m always thinking, “That’s cool.” But during lessons and in everyday life, he’s kind of… spacey.
Q: He has the talent, and maybe being entrusted with the main vocal role activated some real switch inside him—a sense of responsibility?
Hiroki: There’s definitely a single-mindedness and stoicism to raising his performance level as an artist, and he’s stubbornly determined in a good way. He has a strong will to accomplish whatever he sets for himself, whether in work or his personal life. When he was in elementary school, his parents got him into karate, and in just three months, he won a medal at the prefectural tournament. He has a solid sense of self, so there’s a world to Taira that ordinary people can’t understand or enter.
Taira: I was a white belt and I beat someone who was a black belt.
Hiroki: My first impression when we met was that he seemed quiet and mild, but as we did lessons and worked on pieces together, that impression changed.
Q: You don’t usually talk about this stuff?
Taira: We don’t. But Hiroki praises me a lot, and that becomes motivation, which makes me even more determined.
Hiroki: Really? So it fires you up even more?
Taira: Yeah. Even more so.
Taira Introduces Keiji
Keiji & Taira
■ He Pulls Us Forward With That “Let Me Handle This” Attitude
Q: Alright, Taira, would you introduce Keiji next?
Taira: Keiji is 22 years old from Hokkaido and has a big-brother vibe. He’s multi-talented—he can do dance, vocals, human beatbox, and rap. He even created the rap flow and lyrics for our new song “やめとこっか.” Personality-wise, he’s pretty quiet, but when he starts talking, he won’t stop (laughs). That’s his charm point.
Keiji: I’m glad it’s seen as a charm point. I usually think of it negatively.
Q: Are you really that quiet?
Keiji: Yeah, I don’t talk much normally. It’s not that I’m disinterested or unmotivated—I just listen to everyone from a step back, you know? But once I start talking, I can’t stop. It’s kind of a zero-to-a-hundred thing, so I developed this bad habit of staying silent to avoid that gap.
Taira: Right, he does hold back a bit. He’s not someone who always voices his opinions, so sometimes I wonder what he’s thinking. But when he does talk, he’ll say things like “Actually, I think this way” or “Taira, you want to do it like this, right? I think that’s good,” and he really does think things through. I talk to him a lot about performance and singing stuff, and he’s the most interesting member to talk with.
Keiji: I appreciate that everyone’s mature (laughs).
Taira: Because he usually holds back, when it comes to things like the rap part in “やめとこっか,” when the moment comes, he’s like, “Alright, let me do this,” and pulls us forward. He has prior experience as a solo artist, so he takes the lead. This time too, he created the lyrics himself and presented them to the staff. There’s so much about him I respect.
Keiji: I’m being relied on (laughs). This is our second pre-debut single, so it’s about how much we can build momentum from here. I’m turning 23 this year, so unlike the others, I’m kind of out of time, you know? There’s that urgency, but I’m getting stimulated by everyone and doing whatever I can.
Keiji Introduces Lion
Lion & Keiji
■ A Leader Who Instantly Perceives and Communicates Everything
Q: Next, Keiji, would you introduce Lion?
Keiji: It’s rare for someone as quiet as me to introduce someone (laughs), but Lion is 18 years old from Osaka. From the audition days, he’d talk with me and play games with me. Even though I’m older, he ends up entertaining me (laughs). Age-wise, he’s in the middle of the group, but he’s always calm—a leader you can count on. He’s always watching everyone around him, instantly picking up on things, and clearly communicating them. I had no dance background, so he’d give me lots of advice. For the MV this time, there’s super-fast choreography, and even though his own part must be incredibly difficult, he looks at the whole picture and gives advice to everyone. Lion loves photography and art, and he brings a lot of creative ideas to the visual side. He has that creative brain I don’t have, so I’m envious.
Q: Does the age gap feel big?
Keiji: Not at all. Since I call him “Keiji-kun,” I tell him, “You can just call me Keiji. Let’s be casual,” but he insists on the formal version.
Lion: I still call him “Keiji-kun.”
Q: Did he become leader because he was meant to?
Keiji: Absolutely. I think all nine of us feel that way.
Lion: I’m so happy to be praised like this (laughs).
Lion Introduces Wataru
Wataru & Lion
■ A Dance Leader Who Loves Everyone
Q: Next, Lion, would you introduce Wataru?
Lion: Wataru is 20 years old from Yamaguchi Prefecture—he’s my older brother figure. Along with Hiroki, he’s one of the youngest among the male members. His nickname is “Wata-nii.” I came up with it. He’s got such a big-brother personality. Like, during travel, he’s always at the back of the bus watching over everyone. He’s a mood maker—sometimes we tease him, but he’s loved by everyone. Just having Wata-nii around makes the atmosphere warm.
Q: Was he like that from the start?
Lion: He gave off a good-guy vibe from the beginning. He wasn’t super open at first, but gradually opened up.
Q: He’s definitely the type you’d want to introduce to your parents (laughs).
Lion: Exactly—the type you’d want to bring home and introduce (laughs). He and Kashin share dance leader duties, and since I’m also doing the overall leader role, the presence of these dance leaders is really important. He always gives his input, and I really count on him.
Wataru: It’s thanks to Lion as the leader.
Q: Wataru, what’s your take on Lion as a leader?
Wataru: He’s a year younger than me and roughly in the middle age-wise in the group, but he’s really solid. He calmly looks at the whole group and each individual member properly—it’s amazing. There’s absolutely no one else but Onchan (Lion) for the overall leader role. I’m the dance leader too, but because there’s an overall leader, I can do what I do freely.
Lion: There was a period when I was really thinking hard about “What does it mean to be a leader?” and I was stressed about it without telling anyone. Then Wata-nii reached out and was like, “Onchan, you okay? You seemed off.” He really sees people, and he listens and advises me. Wata-nii brings up the group’s energy, and I bring things together—I think that’s our division of roles.
Q: Wataru also has that leader mentality—he can’t help but care about everyone.
Wataru: Yeah, I love everyone. So if anyone seems even slightly different or low-energy, I’ll secretly ask them later, “You good?”
Lion: He really does watch out for members well. That’s Wata-nii’s strength.
Wataru: I’m embarrassed (laughs).
Lion: But there’s one thing I wish he’d stop doing. Wata-nii is a quarter Italian, and his specialty is genovese pasta, but he just keeps saying weird English (laughs). Like “I see, I see”…
Q: Annoying English (laughs).
Lion: Yeah, he uses these bothersome English phrases all the time. They just stick in your ear, you know? I’m speaking on behalf of everyone (laughs). It’s funny though.
Wataru: I can’t even speak Japanese properly yet, let alone Italian, and I’m throwing out English (laughs).
Q: Listening to everyone, it really seems like ZILLION is family—even more than family.
Lion: Everyone’s warm. We’re family.
Wataru: Even on days off, we all stay in contact.
Lion: Because everyone loves everyone.
Wataru Introduces Moka
Moka & Wataru
■ A Strategic Presence Who Can View the Group Most Objectively
Q: Next, Wataru, would you introduce Moka?
Wataru: Let me introduce Ms. Moka. Moka is 20 years old from Saitama Prefecture, and this isn’t mean-spirited, but—she listens to people while not really listening (laughs). She’ll say “Uh-huh, I see” while people are talking, but when you follow up later, she didn’t hear any of it (laughs). That said, being the oldest among the female members, I think she sees the group most objectively. She doesn’t talk much, but she gives opinions and suggestions about dance.
Q: Has she always been in that position?
Moka: I don’t lead like a leader would, but I like thinking about efficient ways of doing things, so I often propose ideas to the leader—”What about this?”
Wataru: Even when I’m only seeing one direction, Moka will suggest something and I can see it differently. She really helps.
Q: So maybe the reason she can be objective is because she doesn’t listen fully (laughs).
Moka: You know what, that might be it.
Wataru: Could be.
Moka: That’s actually good then. My motto is not to overthink things (laughs).
Wataru: She gives her opinions at exactly the right moment. She’s really good at that.
Q: How’s this praise-heavy interview for you, Moka (laughs)?
Moka: I’m happy. People always tell me I don’t listen, so maybe it’s actually a strength?
Wataru: Normally she’s having a blast with the younger members. But when it’s time to do the work, she does it right and speaks up. She’s not a shadow leader exactly, but she’s solid support from behind.
Q: That support role is really important.
Wataru: Yeah. There are landscapes I couldn’t see without Moka, and she helps me. And like a pop icon for the group, even though she doesn’t talk much, she has presence just by being there.
Moka: That makes me happy (laughs).
Wataru: He’s always complimenting me.
Q: Listening to everyone today, I feel like this group has something close to rugby’s “One for All, All for One” spirit.
Wataru: Even if someone hits a wall, nobody abandons them. We immediately jump in with support, lifting each other up. We can be ourselves in front of each other, and since everyone has different strengths, when nine of us come together, we’re unstoppable.
Moka Introduces Kashin
Kashin & Moka
■ Full of Passion for the Group—Our Visual Department Head
Q: Next, Moka, would you introduce Kashin?
Moka: Kashin is from Fukuoka Prefecture, and we’re the only ones the same age—same year. He’s always energetic and bright—like vitamin C for ZILLION. Even when everyone’s sleepy in the morning, the moment Kashin arrives, everyone perks up and the atmosphere gets bright. He gives the most input about the group’s performance and thinks a lot about ZILLION. Actually, he’s got the most passion, and I really respect him. Oh, and he’s a beauty otaku (laughs).
Kashin: When it comes to beauty, I’m confident I have the most knowledge!
Moka: He knows more about skincare than the girls, and lately he’s been doing makeup for the female members.
Kashin: Taira and Kaora seemed pretty happy with theirs.
Moka: I consult with Kashin when I’m unsure about outfit coordination.
Q: From the start, were you interested not just in music but in makeup, men’s beauty, fashion—everything?
Kashin: I’m the type to dig deep into things I like. I was in a hidden position before, so I’m only now able to express myself. As my role in the group became clear, I started showing the true self I’d been hiding, and they’ve accepted me, I think.
Moka: Before, I just saw Kashin as fashionable and having great skin. But lately he’s been advising other members too, so it’s like ZILLION’s beauty guy = Kashin. Even when makeup or outfits don’t suit someone, he’ll honestly say it doesn’t suit them—which stings a little (laughs)—but objective opinions matter, so I take it and ask for suggestions. ZILLION’s visuals are getting more and more refined.
Q: You’re the visual director. How do you gather and study makeup and fashion information?
Kashin: I basically gather info from YouTube, and for things like special makeup or cornrows, I start with self-study, then actually try it, and then add my own touch to make it work. When I experimented daily, before I knew it, I could do lots of things my own way.
Moka: Not just his own stuff and men’s makeup, but he understands women’s stuff too and gives advice. That’s amazing.
Kashin: Once I get into something, I obsess over it to an embarrassing degree. That’s not common in guys (laughs). ZILLION members are all cute and cool, so I want to polish what they’ve got and maximize each member’s strengths, including myself.
Kashin Introduces Kaora
Kaora & Kashin
■ Great Dancer, Energetic, Unflinching
Q: Next, Kashin, please introduce Kaora.
Kashin: Kaora is 16 years old from Toyama Prefecture—an energetic tomboy.
Kaora: More like I