Meet Ballistik Boyz, Japan’s Version Of BTS
BALLISTIK BOYZ is a new Japanese boy band produced by Exile’s HIRO, managed under LDH. The average age of the 7-member group is 18.8 years and the specialty of all members is vocals and performance.
The members include Hidaka Ryuta, Kanou Yoshiyuki, Kainuma Ryusei, Fukahori Miku, Okuda Rikiya, Matsui Riki and Sunada Masahiro who come from PROJECT TARO and VOCAL BATTLE AUDITION 5.
HIRO explained that the group was named “ballistic” because the members in charge of vocals and rap continuously change according to the song and their speedy image that resembles a bolt of lightning was strong.
HIRO added the group currently has a great balance as well as outstanding performance so he is looking forward to their future.
BALLSTIK BOYZ followed FANTASTIC 9’s nationwide tour and performed as the opening act from the Fukuoka performance on May 12, 2018.
The group was first introduced through LDH’s TV show Shuukan EXILE, which gave viewers a glimpse into how they look and sound as a group.
Clips of the group practicing dance and singing have proven their vocal and performance skills.
For those of you who are curious about what the BALLISTIC BOYZ look & sound like⬇️. Note: the songs they perform⬇️are covers so it's not an indication of their own music. Maybe it'll be a mix of this + Project Taro's sound.
video ©️tv_maniaapic.twitter.com/hhxdYc8M6l
— Em can't wait for Westworld season 3 (@minstradamus) June 7, 2018
Despite the potential and skills of this new group, Korean netizens have been claiming that the new group has copied BTS’ name as well as their concept and have been criticizing them for it.
- “They say they go by btz…it’s obvious that copied the name…and with 4 vocals and 3 rappers in a 7-member group, they even copied the construction of the group…this agency usually has a few members sing and the rest just dance like back dancers so this group formation is a first for them…in fact, even their showcase date is the sameㅋㅋㅋ I guess they’ll probably dance well since their from the EXILE agency, but it’s too obvious”
- “Is Japan starting to copy us now ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ”
- “ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋhow ridiculousㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋdo they think they’ll enter the Billboard just by copying?”
- “There are tons of international netizens mocking btz on Twitterㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋit’s hilariousㅋㅋㅋㅋ”
One netizen had even claimed that the agency had copied K-Pop many times in the past and uploaded an image to prove their point.
“This agency has copied K-Pop a few times. When Girls’ Generation was at their peak, they just took out the ‘girls’ and created a boy band called Generation and now that BTS is really popular, they took off the ‘s’ and made them btz. Girls’ Generation also had some goods including pink hair bands and E-girls came up with the same goods. They copied EXO’s MAMA movie opening and even copied BIGBANG.” – Netizen
Many international BTS fans have also been making a joke out of the new group.
I can't wait to hear BTZ's new title track REAL LOVE pic.twitter.com/LhpcUwGkGw
— american accented jeon jungkook (@contrlbeat) June 6, 2018
bts meeting btz at one of their japanese promotions pic.twitter.com/CWDNlsSALz
— jesslyoncé 💓 laial day (@jinrising) June 6, 2018
btz or ballistiz boys (tado sonyeondan) are a seven membered japanese boy group with four vocalist and three rappers please support their debut song "no more nightmare" pic.twitter.com/a8uabmIPr9
— jesslyoncé 💓 laial day (@jinrising) June 6, 2018
Meanwhile, many international fans have been feeling sympathy for the new group that has been receiving criticism even before their official debut and have been trying to clarify any misunderstandings.
I'm calling all EXILE TRIBE fams who can speak KOREAN to tell all bad commenters in this video about BALLISTIK BOYZ or EXILE/EXILE TRIBE in general. The boys just formed like last year but they already received many insults they don't deserve, I'm sad 😭https://t.co/BpYdYwzhHF
— iamicchaann (@amarika275) June 6, 2018
Let's clear up some info about BALLISTIK BOYZ :
-They aren't copying BTS, their name isn't even BTZ, but BALLIBO
-They take after DOBERMAN INFINITY (style that has been around since the 90's
-Role of vocals/MC's is changing/rotating
-Hip hop/soul r&b concept like EXILE (TRIBE)— Edaen (@xedaen) June 6, 2018
their name is ballistik boyz. not btz. they were never known as btz. please stop saying that their name is btz because it's not. their name is ballistik boys and their members are ryuta, yoshiyuki, ryusei, rikiya, riki, miku and masahiro. they're not btz. they're ballistik boyz.
— (〃` ^ ´〃) (@aeriseu) June 6, 2018
Ok ok ok. So I'm reading about BALLISTIK BOYZ and nowhere in Japanese articles are they calling them "Tado Sonyeondan".
First of all, "Sonyeondan" is a Korean word. The Japanese equivalent is "Shounendan". They only refer to them as BALLISTIK BOYS. https://t.co/lAJYTi5nSo
— Em can't wait for Westworld season 3 (@minstradamus) June 6, 2018
Ballistik Boyz fucking don't deserve that hate the group is 1 month old don't even have a song or a concept they don't even have a debut date yet they are still trainees. They are inspired and produced by Doberman Infinity another group under LDH they worked so hard gave up so
— RYU DAY (@Starebel_) June 6, 2018
Check out a full clip of Shuukan EXILE below!