NCT Wish (Japanese: エヌシーティー·ウィッシュ, Hepburn: Enushītī Wisshu) is a Japanese boy band and the final sub-unit of the South Korean boy band NCT, formed and managed by SM Entertainment and Avex Trax with SM director and soloist BoA, in charge as the producer.[2][3] The group consists of six members: Sion, Riku, Yushi, Jaehee, Ryo, Sakuya. They released the single "Hands Up" on October 8, 2023, ahead of their scheduled debut in 2024.[4][5] The group officially debuted on February 21, 2024, with their eponymous single in South Korea and Japan simultaneously.

NCT Wish
NCT WISH logo
NCT WISH logo
Background information
OriginTokyo, Japan
GenresJ-pop
Years active2023 (2023)–present
Labels
Spinoff ofNCT
Members
  • Sion
  • Riku
  • Yushi
  • Jaehee
  • Ryo
  • Sakuya
Websitewww.smtown.com/artist/musician/10987

Name

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On January 17, 2024, NCT Wish was announced as the group's official name of the NCT Tokyo-based sub-unit, multi-national boy group that would promote actively in Japan. The name "NCT Wish" combines the acronym for Neo Culture Technology with the world "Wish" from the catchphrase 'WISH for Our WISH' meaning the ambition to support everyone's wishes and dreams and make them come true together through the music and love.[6][7]

History

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2019–2023: Plans, formation and NCT New Team

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Prior to the group's debut, Yushi was first introduced as a member of Japanese boy group Edamame Beans at the age of 11 but shortly left the group before debut in the same year. Yushi first auditioned for SM Entertainment in his fourth grade of elementary school and was accepted as a trainee in his 6th grade of elementary school. He later came to Korea in his 6th grade of elementary school and trained for about 7 years prior joining the survival show. Riku had filmed a visual advertisement for his cousin Ai Takahashi's own cosmetics brand Aimmx in October 2021.[8] Riku was cast through the 2022 SM Global Audition and was a trainee for about 1 years prior joining the survival show.[9] Sion was cast through Instagram's direct messaging and trained for 4 years prior joining the survival show.[10] In 2022, Ryo was first scouted by SM Entertainment while he was watching NCT 127's concert.[11] In January 2023, Jaehee was scouted by SM Entertainment.[12]

In January 2016, SM Entertainment founder and producer Lee Soo-man announced plans for a new boy group NCT with different units to be based in cities around the world.[13] On June 20, 2019, SM producer Chris Lee announced in a presentation that NCT would continue to debut international units, mentioning that the company was in the process of creating a Japanese one. This was re-iterated in an interview with Billboard the following day, where the unit's activities were confirmed to be managed between Avex Trax and SM Japan.[1]

On December 1, 2022, SM confirmed plans for a Japanese subunit based in Tokyo following the opening of their Southeast Asian branch.[14][15] As part of their 2023 strategy, the company revealed that the next NCT subunit, tentatively named "NCT Tokyo", would be debuting in the third quarter of the year.[16][17] On February 24, SM announced that NCT Tokyo would the group's final subunit.[18][19]

On May 23, 2023, SM announced that two future SM Rookies would be part of the new unit's lineup, with the remaining members selected via a pre-debut survival show.[20] The rookies were revealed to be Yushi and Sion on June 28;[21] two days later, SM confirmed that the survival show NCT Universe: Lastart would begin airing on July 27.[22] The official lineup of the group, now referred to as "NCT New Team", was unveiled during the final episode: Sion, Riku, Yushi, Jungmin, Daeyoung, Ryo, Sakuya.[23] The group served as the opening for the rest of NCT at their Japanese NCT Nation: To The World concerts at Yanmar Stadium Nagai in Osaka from September 9 to 10 and again at Ajinomoto Stadium in Tokyo from September 16 to 17.[24] The new NCT unit later embarked on a pre-debut tour beginning on October 8, which consisted of 28 performances across 10 cities in Japan.[25]

On October 2, 2023, SM announced that Jungmin, who had been absent from previous performances, would be departing NCT for health reasons.[26] The unit released their pre-debut single "Hands Up" on October 8, with their official debut confirmed for 2024.[27]

2024–present: Debut

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On January 17, SM Entertainment released a teaser titled "NCT Wish: Wish for Our Wish" and confirmed that NCT New Team would be debuting under the name NCT Wish scheduled in February.[28] The group made their debut on February 28 with the release of the single album Wish, along with both the Japanese and Korean version of the lead single of the same name.[29][30] They took their first music show win on SBS M's The Show, 21 days after they debuted.[31]

On February 21, NCT Wish performed their debut single "Wish" for the first time at SMTOWN Live 2024 SMCU Palace at Tokyo.[32][33]

On April 11, NCT Wish announced their first fan meeting titled "NCT Wish: School of Wish" which will be held for four times at Myunghwa Livehall in Seoul on May 25–26 and the pre-sale tickets were sold out within 15 minutes.[34] Later they added five more dates with a total of 14 meetings in five cities.[35][36]

On May 3, NCT Wish attended and performed their songs at GirlsAward, one of the biggest fashion events in Japan.[37][38] On June 25, NCT Wish released their second Japanese single "Songbird".[39] The Korean version of the single was released as the lead track for the single album of the same name on July 1.[40]

Public image

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In January 2024, US Grammy selected NCT Wish as "11 Rookie K-Pop Acts To Know In 2024" through their website.[41][42]

Members

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  • Sion (シオン)
  • Riku (リク)
  • Yushi (ユウシ)
  • Jaehee (ジェヒ)
  • Ryo (リョウ)
  • Sakuya (サクヤ)

Discography

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Single albums

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List of single albums, showing selected details, selected chart positions and sales
Title Details Peak chart positions Sales Certifications
KOR
[43]
Wish 1
Songbird
  • Released: July 1, 2024
  • Label: SM
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
TBA

Singles

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Japanese singles

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List of singles, showing year released, selected chart positions, sales figures, and name of the album
Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Certifications Album
JPN
[46]
JPN
Comb.

[47]
JPN
Hot

[48]
"Hands Up" 2023 [A] Non-album singles
"Wish" 2024 3 4 3
  • JPN: 69,009 (phy.)[50]
"Songbird" 3 3 4
  • JPN: 71,075 (phy.)[52]
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Korean singles

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List of singles, showing year released, selected chart positions, and name of the album
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
KOR
DL

[53]
"Wish" 2024 71 Wish
"Songbird" TBA Songbird

Filmography

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  • NCT Universe: Lastart (2023)

Shows and concerts

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Concert participation

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  • NCT Universe: Lastart Pre-Debut Tour (2023)[54]

As opening act

  • NCT Nation: To the World (2023)[55]

Awards and nominations

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Name of the award ceremony, year presented, award category, nominee(s) and the result of the award
Award ceremony Year Category Nominee/work Result Ref.
Asia Star Entertainer Awards 2024 The Best New Artist NCT Wish Won [56]

Notes

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  1. ^ "Hands Up" did not entered the Billboard Japan Hot 100, but peaked at number eight on the Heatseekers Songs.[49]

References

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  1. ^ a b Herman, Tamar (August 5, 2019). "SM Entertainment A&R Chris Lee Talks 'Cultural Technology' & Creating K-Pop Hits". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  2. ^ "보아, NCT WISH 프로듀서로 전두지휘". Naver News.
  3. ^ "NCT WISH, 프로듀서 '원조 한·일 요정' 보아가 맡는다". Naver News.
  4. ^ 정, 지원. "NCT NEW TEAM, 오늘(7일) 日 프리데뷔…'Hands Up' 발표". 조이뉴스24 (in Korean). Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  5. ^ 이, 재훈. "NCT 뉴 팀, 日 프리데뷔 싱글 발매…'핸즈 업'". Naver News (in Korean). Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  6. ^ 박, 정선. "NCT 마지막 팀 NCT WISH 2월 데뷔". Naver News.
  7. ^ "NCT 마지막팀, NCT WISH 2월 데뷔". 종합일간지 : 신문/웹/모바일 등 멀티 채널로 국내외 실시간 뉴스와 수준 높은 정보를 제공. January 18, 2024.
  8. ^ https://youtube/5QxTgN49KMQ?si=EPXDxt3Dh7ZtF_Ry.
  9. ^ https://youtube/mn6PuRvi2sc?si=cWXNUzd4GR6yI6me
  10. ^ "뉴스 : 네이버 Tv연예".
  11. ^ "엔시티 콘서트 갔다가 캐스팅된 썰 #Lastart". YouTube.
  12. ^ https://youtube/rinBf5MRB9w?si=mP6jcRZNz_JCupMY
  13. ^ "SM Entertainment continues expansion with New Culture Technology". Kpop Herald. November 23, 2018.
  14. ^ "South Korea's SM Entertainment plans to set up its Southeast Asia headquarters in Singapore". NBC. December 1, 2022.
  15. ^ Mandy Dalugdug (December 2, 2022). "SM ENTERTAINMENT TO ESTABLISH SOUTHEAST ASIAN HQ IN SINGAPORE". Music Business Worldwide.
  16. ^ Angela Patricia Suacillo (February 3, 2023). "SM Entertainment announces plans to debut four new K-pop acts in 2023". NME.
  17. ^ "SM, 멀티 레이블 체계 도입…올해 NCT TOKYO 포함 3개 신인 그룹 데뷔". Chosun (in Korean). February 3, 2023.
  18. ^ Gladys Yeo (February 27, 2023). "NCT Tokyo to be the last NCT sub-unit, SM Entertainment confirms". NME.
  19. ^ "NCT Tokyo, el último debut de NCT: ya no habrá miembros infinitos en el grupo k-pop". La Republica (in Spanish). February 24, 2023.
  20. ^ Puah Ziwei (May 24, 2023). "SM Entertainment to debut three new groups this year". NME.
  21. ^ "누가 봐도 SM상…SM루키즈 시온-유우시 공개". Naver News. Archived from the original on June 30, 2023. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  22. ^ "NCT to launch last team through reality show". The Korea Herald. June 30, 2023.
  23. ^ "SM 신인 NCT NEW TEAM 7인 확정, 프리 데뷔 멤버 얼굴 보니". Newsen. September 7, 2023.
  24. ^ "NCT 마지막 유닛, 프리데뷔 멤버 확정…뉴 팀 다섯 명 선발". Newsis (in Korean). September 7, 2023.
  25. ^ "NCT 뉴 팀, 프리 데뷔 7인 멤버 확정… 10월 日 투어 개최". JTBC News. September 6, 2023.
  26. ^ "Jungmin exits NCT New Team ahead of pre-debut tour in Oct, agency reveals why". Hindustan Times. October 2, 2023. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  27. ^ "NCT NEW TEAM releases pre-debut single 'Hands Up'". The Korea Times. October 8, 2023.
  28. ^ Ziwei, Puah (January 18, 2024). "NCT WISH, the final sub-group of K-pop boyband NCT, will debut next month". NME. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  29. ^ "NCT 위시, 韓∙日 동시 공략 나선다". Naver News.
  30. ^ "NCT 위시, 데뷔 카운트다운…SM타운 日 공연 출연한다". Naver.
  31. ^ Kim, Hyo-jin (March 12, 2024). 엔시티 위시(NCT WISH), '더쇼'서 첫 1위...데뷔 21일 만 [NCT WISH takes first place on 'The Show'...21 days after debut] (in Korean). Top Star News. Retrieved March 12, 2024 – via Nate.
  32. ^ "NCT WISH, 오늘(21일) 도쿄돔서 데뷔의 소원 이룬다". Naver.
  33. ^ "NCT Wish makes grand debut at Tokyo Dome". Naver.
  34. ^ Lee, Seon-myung (April 18, 2024). ‘최고 루키’ NCT위시, 팬미팅 4회차 15분만 전석매진 [‘Best Rookie’ NCT Wish, sold out all tickets for the four times fan meeting in just 15 minutes] (in Korean). Sports Kyunghyang. Retrieved May 5, 2024 – via Naver.
  35. ^ Sun, Mi-kyung (April 19, 2024). NCT WISH, 서울 찍고 전국 5개 도시 시즈니 만나러 간다 [NCT WISH shoots in Seoul and goes to meet Czennies in 5 cities across the country] (in Korean). Osen. Retrieved May 5, 2024 – via Naver.
  36. ^ NCT Wish [@nctwishofficial] (April 30, 2024). "NCT WISH : SCHOOL of WISH" (Tweet). Retrieved May 5, 2024 – via Twitter.
  37. ^ Kim, Soo-jin (April 30, 2024). NCT WISH, 日 최대 패션 음악 축제 '걸스어워드' 5월 3일 출연 [NCT WISH will appear at Japan's largest fashion music festival 'Girls Awards' on May 3] (in Korean). Star News. Retrieved May 5, 2024 – via Naver.
  38. ^ Yoon, Sung-yeol (May 4, 2024). NCT 위시, 日 최대 패션 음악 축제 떴다..'걸스어워드' 오프닝 장식 [NCT Wish appeared at Japan's largest fashion music festival..'Girls Awards' opening decoration] (in Korean). Star News. Retrieved May 5, 2024 – via Naver.
  39. ^ Lee, Min-ji (June 24, 2024). "NCT WISH, 오늘(24일) 싱글 'Songbird' 日 버전 최초 공개" [NCT Wish, first release of Japanese version of single 'Songbird' today (24th)] (in Korean). Newsen. Archived from the original on June 24, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2024 – via Naver.
  40. ^ Kim, Jin-seok (July 2, 2024). "NCT WISH, 국내 주요 음반 차트 일간 1위 차지" [NCT Wish, daily No. 1 on major domestic album charts] (in Korean). JTBC. Archived from the original on July 3, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2024 – via Naver.
  41. ^ "11 Rookie K-Pop Acts To Know In 2024: NCT Wish, RIIZE, Kiss Of Life & More | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com.
  42. ^ "라이즈·NCT WISH, 美 그래미 '2024년 주목할 K팝 신인'". Naver News.
  43. ^ Circle Weekly Album Chart:
  44. ^ Cumulative sales of Wish on Circle Chart:
  45. ^ "South Korean album certifications – NCT Wish – Wish" (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association (KMCA). Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  46. ^ "NCT WISHのシングル売" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  47. ^ "NCT WISHの合算シングル売" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
  48. ^ Peaks on the Billboard Japan Hot 100:
  49. ^ "Billboard Japan Heatseekers Songs – Week of November 8, 2023". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  50. ^ Total sales of "Wish":
  51. ^ "Japanese certifications – NCT Wish – Wish" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved April 10, 2024. Select 2024年3月 on the drop-down menu
  52. ^ オリコン週間 シングルランキング 2024年06月24日~2024年06月30日 [Oricon Weekly Single Ranking June 24, 2024 – June 30, 2024] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on July 3, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  53. ^ Peaks on the Circle Download Chart:
  54. ^ "NCT 뉴 팀, 7인 프리 데뷔 멤버 확정…10월 日 투어 개최 [공식]". MBC News. September 6, 2023.
  55. ^ "NCT NEW TEAM 7명 확정, 日스타디움 콘서트서 팬들 앞 첫선". News Culture. September 6, 2023.
  56. ^ Lee, Ha-na (April 10, 2024). "대상 주인은 스트레이 키즈, TXT 4관왕→트레저·더보이즈 3관왕(종합][ASEA 2024]" [Grand Prize winner is Stray Kids, TXT 4 wins → Treasure and The Boyz 3 wins (Overall)[ASEA 2024]]. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 11, 2024. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
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