Japanese boy group ONE OR EIGHT is hitting the gas in 2026 with their debut mini-album, GATHER. Anchored by the focus track “TOKYO DRIFT,” the project serves as a definitive statement on the group’s unity and collective resilience. According to member Souma, the core philosophy of the album is the importance of coming together to overcome individual weaknesses, turning shared struggles into a source of combined strength.
The release is defined by a series of empowering anthems that blend a futuristic sound with a nostalgic, familiar feel. The tracklist features clever interpolations of global hits, including a Pharrell-written reimagining of the Teriyaki Boyz’ classic “Tokyo Drift” (P.S. the same team on that track worked on this one!) and nods to Rihanna’s “Don’t Stop the Music” on the track “DSTM.”
Originally conceived as a rap-heavy performance, “TOKYO DRIFT” evolved to showcase the entire eight-member lineup, fusing bilingual English and Japanese lyrics with high-energy rhythms perfect for the dance floor.
Watch the music video below! A perfect way to meet the members, Souma, Mizuki, Tsubasa, Reia, Ryota, Takeru, Yuga, and Neo, and their performance style.
Beyond the focus tracks, the album includes the hard-driving single “POWER,” which was recently selected as the ending theme for the anime Yoroi Shinden Samurai Troopers. The project highlights the group’s global trajectory, featuring international collaborations like Big Sean on the track “KAWASAKI.”
As J-pop continues to evolve on the world stage, ONE OR EIGHT is set to bring their eclectic energy directly to fans with an upcoming tour across North and South America, hitting major stops in Los Angeles, Brazil, and Argentina. Full ticket information is available here!
To coincide with the release, all eight members sat down with The Knockturnal to discuss the creative process behind the record. From the tracks that inspired their new sound to the preparation for their upcoming tour (mentioning places they’d like to go to next!), the group offers an inside look at the start of their 2026 era. Below is the full conversation exploring the eclectic rap beats and evolving artistry that define GATHER, or watch it HERE.
The Knockturnal: Thank you so much for gathering with me today. I’m Emma Salehi from The Knockturnal, and I’m really excited to chat with you about your upcoming mini album, GATHER, and your pre-release track “POWER.” Before we dive in, I’d love to get introductions from each member.
ONE OR EIGHT: Hey everyone, we’re ONE OR EIGHT! *Member Introductions*
The Knockturnal: Thank you so much! I want to start by talking about “POWER.” It truly lives up to its name; the performance video has intense dance breaks, strong rap flows, and incredible vocal highs at the end. What made “POWER” the choice for the pre-release out of all the songs on GATHER? Was it the build, or the message of betting on yourself?
Neo: First of all, “POWER” is the ending theme for the anime Yoroi Shinden Samurai Troopers. We wanted to release it alongside the anime, which was one of the main reasons. It was also our first release of the year, and it really reflects what we want to achieve in 2026, powering through struggles and achieving a lot with “POWER”.
The sound, the message, everything matched what we want to represent this year, so we chose it as our kick starter of the year.
The Knockturnal: That’s amazing. Since the song is featured in Samurai Troopers, and I know some of you are anime fans, what was it like hearing your own song in an anime series? What were those reactions?
Tsubasa: I basically grew up watching anime, and one would obviously immediately think of the anime OSTs when you think of the anime itself. It has always been a dream and ambition for me when I debuted as an artist to be able to release an anime song. We were very fortunate enough to release this song that was tied up with Yoroi Shinden Samurai Troopers.
The Knockturnal: Huge congratulations! This one’s just for fun. If you could choose any ONE OR EIGHT song, released or unreleased, to be featured in an anime, which song and which anime would it be?
Mizuki: So this is a personal one… but I would choose “BET YOUR LIFE.” I’d love to see it as a tie-in for Jujutsu Kaisen. There are some commonalities because “BET YOUR LIFE” talks about being gritty and pushing forward, challenges, and taking them on with perseverance. That kind of thing! There’s a commonality with the protagonist within JJK and how the main character tries to go for his dream. Daring to face his destiny.
The Knockturnal: That’s a perfect match! Let’s talk about your mini album, GATHER. This is your second major release beyond singles and a big statement to start 2026. What does GATHER represent to you as a group? From the title’s meaning, is this a fresh start, or continuing your momentum… or both?
Souma: This mini album, GATHER, is about the importance of coming together. We all have our weaknesses and struggles, things we can’t overcome alone. As a team, there are those situations. It’s about harnessing our collective power and facing challenges together. All of them count, whether they’re big or small. It’s about gathering and supplementing each other, sharing our struggles. That’s the core meaning of this album.
The Knockturnal: That’s a beautiful message. I was able to listen to the title track “TOKYO DRIFT,” which samples the iconic Tokyo Drift theme, a bold and exciting choice. How familiar were you with the original track, and did it influence the lyrics or performance?
Yuga: Originally, the song was scheduled to be performed by the four rap members, but eventually, the four vocal members joined too. All eight of us perform it now. I personally love (Fast & Furious) Wild Speed and have watched it since I was a kid. That intro melody is so iconic and catchy, so being able to sample the song is a huge honor. I can’t wait to give the audience a high-energy performance.
The Knockturnal: Were there any songs on GATHER that feel especially personal to you or that you’re most excited to share with fans?
Neo: I love all the songs in GATHER; we all love the songs in GATHER. But “Young & Reckless” and “BET YOUR LIFE” were a huge turning point for us. We actively started to become a part of the song-making process from these songs. That made us more authentic in our sound. Those two songs were how we started off our (more) genuine music.
The Knockturnal: Beyond the music, you’ve reached fans all over the world, from Mexico City to Buenos Aires, New York, and LA. What does it mean to you to see fans connecting with your music globally, and where would you like to visit next?
Ryota: We’re really happy and fortunate that we’ve been able to deliver our performances to our global audiences. I am just really happy that we have this opportunity with the releases this past year with this album. I think we are very privileged to be able to connect with not just Japan but with the global audience. I really hope that the audience can look forward to seeing an updated, involved version of our songs. We have the new songs, but not just that, through learning, we’ve evolved emotionally as well. I look forward to sharing that. Regarding the future tour spots, I would like to visit France! Paris!
The Knockturnal: Fingers crossed, that would be amazing! As we’re just starting 2026, and after an incredible 2025 with chart success and walking the VMAs red carpet, what are your goals for the year ahead?
Mizuki: Our top goal is to meet fans (1DERZ) around the world again. We also want to expand our fandom and reach new listeners. We want to visit areas in countries we haven’t visited yet. We hope to make that happen in 2026.
The Knockturnal: To wrap up, do you have a message for fans and new listeners this year?
Souma: This year, we’ll continue taking on new challenges, just like we always have. We’d really appreciate your continued support. Also, please check out our YouTube channel, there’s a lot of content where you can see sides of us you don’t always see through music alone!
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