They Shook Gen Z: "No Looks, No Self-Hate"?560,000 Tune In Live [Japan Side]

Debuted Through the "No No Girls" Audition: HANA
Emphasizing No Self-Hate and No Laziness Over Appearance
Breaking Idol Taboos and Captivating Gen Z

"Height, weight, and age are not required. Show us your voice and your life."

It's hard to believe this is the slogan for a girl group audition. However, the Japanese idol group "HANA," who debuted through this audition, ranked No. 1 in the annual sales category for rookies on the Oricon Chart as of January 9. At the end of last year, they were also selected by Japanese Millennials & Gen Z as one of the most talked-about figures for 2025. Furthermore, the producer who broke the long-standing conventions of the idol industry is the Korean-Japanese rapper Chanmina. Today, we share the story of HANA, the group that shook up Japanese Millennials & Gen Z.

The Japanese idol group "HANA," who debuted through the audition program "NoNoGirls." Official website.

Over 7,000 Global Applicants Drawn by 'No Looks or Age' Slogan

HANA is the debut lineup of the Japanese girl group audition "No No Girls," which was held over approximately three months starting in October 2024. The audition was organized by Japanese entertainment agency BMSG and rapper Chanmina. It followed a format similar to Korea's popular audition show "Produce 101," where contestants advance through rounds and the final debut group is selected from those who survive. The audition made headlines for its bold slogan of not considering appearance or age, and with no restrictions on nationality, nearly 7,000 people from inside and outside Japan applied.

The reason behind this slogan stems from the producer's own past. Although rapper Chanmina is now well-known and collaborates with Korean artists, she once thought, "With my looks and voice, becoming an idol would be impossible," and almost gave up on being a singer. In fact, her talents were dismissed because of conditions like appearance.

Korean page of the Japanese audition program 'Nonogirls'. Official website of Nonogirls.

Instead, the program set forth three other "No"s: "No fake" (be genuine), "No laze" (work hard without laziness), and "No hate" (affirm yourself instead of harboring hate). During the audition, these principles were reflected in rules such as banning lip-syncing, prohibiting lying in lyrics, and forbidding self-deprecation. Judges would often encourage contestants who lost confidence, saying, "Don't point fingers at yourself," or "It's okay to stop blaming yourself now."

As a result, the ten finalists who reached the last round shared their experiences: "I used to think music wasn't something I could achieve just by working hard, but looking back, I realized it was simply a lack of time and effort," "I started to love myself. It was the most intense period of my life," and "Having only heard 'you can't' all my life, I was able to take part in such an amazing place." You could see how their self-doubt transformed into self-affirmation.

Breaking Taboos and Achieving Success... Popularity Continues After Debut

The audition itself was a huge hit. At the final selection event held in January last year, over 560,000 people joined online simultaneously, and 20,000 fans packed the Yokohama K-Arena, showing the group's immense popularity.

The group debuted with six Japanese members and one Korean member. The group name "HANA" means "flower" in Japanese. Chanmina explained, "Everyone bloomed through hard work and effort, which is why I chose this name," adding, "We want to create a flower that never withers." Member Chima had been singing, dancing, and rapping since she was five but struggled with self-confidence; the Korean member and eldest, Jisoo, had outstanding vocal ability but tended to push herself to the extreme. Momoka, known for her rapping, was insecure about her low voice not fitting the idol image, but she turned it into her strength and succeeded in debuting.

HANA's second single 'Blue Jeans' album cover. Official website.

It was none other than Japanese Millennials & Gen Z who were moved by this story. The Japanese High School Student Newspaper surveyed 2,213 high school students nationwide about the "most talked-about figures of 2025," and HANA made the list. Responses included, "Each member has a unique personality," and "Their positive confidence, which breaks away from all the 'No's they've heard, empowers their fans." Recently, as they celebrated their first anniversary, the group was interviewed by various media outlets, and entertainment media have also taken notice of their rapid rise.

Japanese entertainment media Real Sound analyzed, "The factor that propelled them to stardom is none other than the power of empathy," adding, "The message of loving yourself as you are has resonated with many people. This is because, for a long time, idol culture has bound people to the values of loving cute and beautiful appearances and obedient attitudes."

They went on to praise, "From the audition stage, HANA was breaking down those barriers. There is no doubt they will continue to be a great source of hope for those struggling with their own complexes."

In the midst of an idol culture that has long prioritized standardized criteria like looks and age, HANA has sent a message that a different path is possible. The reason Millennials & Gen Z are so enthusiastic may be because the group challenges the generational notion of "what do you know," and questions a society that has valued stability over taking risks, suggesting that this is not the only answer.