Former BLACKPINK creative director is launching a new girl group

03 Dec 2024, 17:56 by Sophie-Ha · allkpop

Japan’s largest telecommunications company, NTT Docomo, is making a major foray into the entertainment industry with the launch of a girl group modeled on Korea's K-pop system.

According to NTT Docomo Studio & Live, under a joint venture between NTT Docomo and Yoshimoto Kogyo Co., a girl group, called Cosmosy, will debut with their single on December 31.

Cosmosy is a four-member girl group composed entirely of Japanese members: a’mei, de_hana, himesha, and kamión. NTT Docomo Studio & Live explained that the group's name symbolizes "Youth's Possibilities," "Infinite Cosmos," and "Growth and Conflict," encapsulating the concept of COSMOS of Youth.

A teaser for the group was also unveiled, featuring visuals reminiscent of manga covers and live-action film characters to establish their universe. The video concludes with a scene exuding a "post-apocalyptic atmosphere" and displays the words, The a(e)nd of the World – D-29.

This project involves several prominent K-pop creators, including the creative director behind BLACKPINK's debut and contributed to the works of LE SSERAFIM, Red Velvet, IVE, IU, aespa, and TXT.

A representative from the Music IP Division of NTT Docomo Studio & Live stated, “We are collaborating with creators who have introduced iconic K-pop artists and outstanding works to the world. With Cosmosy, our first global girl group, we aim to showcase new potential for growth in the global market. Please look forward to their journey.”

The approach to launching this girl group draws comparisons to XG, a girl group also composed entirely of Japanese members based on the K-pop model. XG has achieved significant success after being produced using the K-pop system for training and marketing, highlighting the potential of Japanese companies using this model for their own groups.

Korean netizens commented:

"They're cleverly using BLACKPINK for promotion..."

"Feels like they're desperate to ride on the K-pop wave, just like XG."

"I’m not buying an all-Japanese group."

"That album or whatever looks like they copied IVE's 'I AM' concept exactly."

"Isn't it just a Japanese group? It's a Japanese company + with Japanese members, so isn’t it just a Japanese group with some Korean participation?"

"It's just a Japanese group."

"Looks like they took IVE and aespa as references."

"If it's a group with all Japanese members, then they should just promote in Japan."

"Leave BLACKPINK alone."

"This is just a J-Pop girl group."

"I thought it was a Korean girl group."

"The members are pretty though."

"The teaser reminds me of NewJeans."

"So it's not just one person in the K-pop industry participating. It's multiple people."

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