KO1KEYZ (Japanese: コイキーズ, pronounced Koikīzu) is a Japanese male vocal group. The group was formed through the survival show PRODUCE 101 JAPAN SHINSEKAI (also known as Nippu Shinsekai), which aired from March 26 to June 6, 2026, and was sponsored by Yoshimoto Kogyo and CJ ENM. They are the fourth group to emerge from the PRODUCE 101 JAPAN franchise, following JO1, INI, and ME:I.
Background and Formation
Unlike previous seasons, PRODUCE 101 JAPAN SHINSEKAI held global auditions for the first time in various countries, including Japan, Korea, and the United States. The entire main filming and training process was conducted in South Korea, including at Paju English Village, in order to give participants an intensive K-pop-style training experience.
The final round was held on June 6, 2026 at Tokyo Gymnasium and was broadcast live by Nippon TV, Lemino, and Mnet Plus. In this round, the remaining 22 contestants presented their debut stages by performing the songs "Go Go" and "BORN TO BE". All finalists also collectively performed the ballad "Run Again", which was written and composed by Kawashiri Ren of JO1.
Members
Of the 22 finalists, 12 were announced as having passed and were selected as members of KO1KEYZ based on voting. The total number of votes collected in the final round reached 6,983,025. The member lineup consists of nine Japanese nationals, two South Korean nationals, and one person of mixed Japanese-Korean heritage. The following are the members' names in order of their final ranking:
K.DAIKI (Katō Daiki) was born on October 8, 2004 in Aichi Prefecture. K.DAIKI is known for his positive energy and has the nickname "Midori" because of his love of the color green. He managed to return to first place after briefly dropping to 10th place in the third round.
YOSHIKI (Yada Yoshiki) was born on June 18, 2004 in Nara Prefecture. YOSHIKI is characterized by his pink hair, is known for his melodious baritone voice, and has a skill for making macarons.
SIYOUNG (Park Si-young) was born on May 6, 2003 in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Before joining PRODUCE 101 JAPAN, he was a member of the Korean male vocal group MIRAE under DSP Media from 2021 to 2024.
SHINHAENG (Oh Shin-haeng) was born on May 3, 2004 in Mokpo, South Korea.
YUKI (Gotō Yūki) was born on December 24, 2007 in Kanagawa Prefecture.
ISSA (Yanagiya Issa) was born on March 10, 2005 in Gunma Prefecture.
KEITO (Ono Keito) was born on July 25, 2000 in Kōchi Prefecture.
YURA (Abe Yura) was born on June 16, 2005 in Ibaraki Prefecture.
RYOGA (Iizuka Ryōga) was born on January 21, 2005 in Gunma Prefecture.
RYUJI (Sugiyama Ryūji) was born on July 7, 2006 in Saitama Prefecture.
KOSUKE (Terui Kōsuke) was born on December 2, 2007 in Chiba Prefecture.
TOWA (Hamada Towa) was born on June 5, 2007 in Hyōgo Prefecture.
Etymology
The group name KO1KEYZ was chosen through a public contest entered by viewers (National Producers and SEKAI Producers). The name contains a clever play on words that combines several meanings: "KO1" is read similarly to "koi", which in Japanese means "come" as in the invitation "こっちへ来て、一緒に遊ぼう！ (Come here, let's play together!)", while at the same time "koi" also means "love" (恋). Meanwhile, "KEYZ" refers to the word "keys", meaning "keys". Thus, KO1KEYZ is interpreted as "the key that opens the door to a new world, calling fans to come (koi), opening their hearts, and ultimately falling in love (koi)". The group members themselves are also seen as symbols of the "keys" that connect fans' dreams with a wider new world.
Early Activities and Debut
KO1KEYZ is scheduled to make its official debut in the fall of 2026 simultaneously in Japan and South Korea. Prior to debut, they have been confirmed to appear at KCON LA 2026, which will be held on August 14, 2026. In addition, agency LAPONE Entertainment has also announced fan meeting schedules in three cities. The first meetings will be held in Tokyo and Hyōgo, Japan, in August and September 2026, followed by a meeting in Seoul, South Korea, in November 2026.
Discography
To date, KO1KEYZ has not released any official albums or singles. Songs performed during the final round, such as "Go Go" and "BORN TO BE", remain assignment songs from the show and have not been released as official group works.
References
"「日プ新世界」デビューグループ名は「KO1KEYZ（コイキーズ）」に決定". Modelpress. 2026.
"KO1KEYZ(コイキーズ)のメンバーは？PRODUCE 101 JAPAN 新世界(日プ新世界)からデビューするグループのプロフィールを紹介！". UtaTen. 2026.
"日プ新世界発、新ボーイズグループ「KO1KEYZ（コイキーズ）」デビューメンバーを全員紹介". TRILL. 2026.
"【日プ新世界】KO1KEYZ（コイキーズ）メンバー12人プロフィール＆最終順位まとめ！". TMTN. 2026.
"Знакомьтесь с KO1KEYZ: На шоу PRODUCE 101 JAPAN SHINSEKAI сформирована новая глобальная мужская группа из 12 человек". YesAsia.ru. 2026.
"日プ新世界発「KO1KEYZ」お披露目 夢は東京ドーム 唯一無二のグループ目指す". Oricon. 2026.
"KO1KEYZ: Grup Idola Jepang Baru yang Siap Mendunia". TEGAROOM ONLINE. 2026.