The members of the popular Japanese J-pop group JO1, Ohira Shosei and Mamehara Issei, recently embarked on their first-ever visit to India and found themselves instantly charmed by the nation. Mamehara Issei described the experience as “crazy” and “very fun,” highlighting their happiness in discovering a new culture. Ohira Shosei added that the welcoming nature of everyone they encountered made them feel right at home.
As JO1 prepares to release their new song “Hands In My Pocket” next month, they are appreciative of the global reach their music has achieved. Mamehara noted how music transcends borders, with beats connecting people worldwide, facilitated by international tours. Ohira echoed this sentiment, expressing joy that their music is heard globally and that this reach led to their visit to India.
Watch their full video interview here:
Inspired by their experiences, the duo aims to infuse Indian elements into their artistry. Mamehara shared how they previously incorporated Hawaiian dance into a music video and are now eager to include Bollywood dance steps in their future projects after learning them during their India visit.
During their trip, they explored Indian music, with “Jai Ho” being a particular favorite for its unique blend of Indian and international sounds. Ohira was particularly impressed by the group dance sequences in Indian music videos and hopes to replicate that energy with a large team in any future Indian productions.
A significant aspiration for the group is to collaborate with acclaimed Indian music composer AR Rahman, whom they recently had the pleasure of meeting. They believe Rahman’s extensive musical expertise, spanning both India and the world, could offer invaluable insights into Indian music and global music trends, making a collaboration truly special.
Beyond music, the JO1 members savored Indian street food, particularly vada pav and samosas. However, the most memorable culinary experience for Mamehara was trying paan, describing the taste as a “huge shock” and completely new. The duo plans to return to India with the full JO1 band for concerts and fan meetings, eager to share their music and connect further with their Indian fanbase.