Sho and Keigo of J-Pop Group JO1 on 'Handz in my Pocket'

It’s been an exciting and busy time for J-pop group JO1.

Group members Sho Yonashiro and Keigo Sato are sitting in a conference room at The Hollywood Reporter ’s L.A. office. The pair, dressed casually before they depart for a flight to Las Vegas for a stop at the iHeartRadio Music Festival, are the only two members of the 11-person J-pop group who have made the trip from Japan to the U.S.

The 11-piece outfit — comprised of members Yonashiro, the group’s leader, Ren Kawashiri, Ruki Shiroiwa, Junki Kono, Sato, Takumi Kawanishi, Syoya Kimata, Shosei Ohira, Sky Kinjo, Shion Tsurubo and Issei Mamehara — was formed through the Japanese spin-off of popular Korean music competition series Produce 101 Japan . In the five years since their 2020 debut, the group’s been busy.

It’s been an