Japanese pop sensations Ohira Shosei and Mamehara Issei, members of the popular 11-member J-pop group JO1, recently experienced India for the first time and found themselves instantly charmed. Mamehara Issei described the visit as “crazy” and “very fun,” adding, “We were very happy to get to know a lot about this new culture.” Ohira Shosei echoed these sentiments, noting the warmth of the people: “Everyone walking around in India was very warm and welcoming, so I felt very happy and at home over here.”
With their upcoming song “Hands In My Pocket” set for release next month, the JO1 members are thrilled with the global reach of their music. Mamehara Issei observed, “Currently, be it Japanese or any kind of music, the beats reach to everyone. There are a lot of world tours which a lot of artistes do now, which is how the music keeps expanding.”
Watch their full video interview here:
The duo expressed immense gratitude for their international fanbase, with Ohira saying, “We love the fact that everyone from all over the world is listening to our music right now. We did not think that there would be a day where the music we make will be heard by people all over the world. This also gave us the opportunity to come to India. So, we are very happy about it. We love it.”
Inspired by their experiences in India, the members are keen to integrate Indian culture into their future projects. Mamehara Issei shared, “When we had gone to Hawaii, we learned their dance form and inculcated that in one of our music videos. After coming to India, we have learned a few Bollywood dance steps. So next time when we make a video, we want to try to include that in it.”
During their visit, they immersed themselves in Indian music, with Mamehara highlighting “Jai Ho” as a favorite for its unique blend of Indian and global sounds. Ohira was particularly impressed by the vibrant dance numbers in Indian music videos, expressing a desire to dance with a large team if they ever shoot a video in India.
A significant highlight for the artists was the chance to meet and potentially collaborate with music legend AR Rahman. Mamehara expressed, “He is creating and producing a lot of music not just in India but also overseas. Because of that, he can teach us about the best parts of Indian music as well as take the best parts of music from all over the world. So, if we get an opportunity to collaborate with him, it would be special.”
Beyond music, their culinary adventures included enjoying street food like vada pav and samosas, but the most memorable experience was trying paan. “The moment that I had pan was the biggest impression that India left on me. It was a huge shock to have that taste, it was completely new,” Mamehara exclaimed, eager to explore more variations of it.
The duo promised a return to India with the full JO1 band for concerts and fan meetings, aiming to connect more deeply with their Indian fans and share their music. “We want our Indian fans to learn more about our strengths and the music that we make. So, the next time when we come, we definitely want to do concerts, fan meetings and also go for a lot of meals with our fans,” Ohira concluded.