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nutown (Korean: 누타운, RR: nyutaun) is a Japanese Korean girl group consisting of four members: Nodoka, Sua, Tomoko, and Miyu. Originally a five-member ensemble, member Hina departed from the group in May 2020. nutown debuted on January 17, 2020, under idk with the extended play Everything Blue.
Name[]
The name nutown merges "Nu" (from Korean "뉴," meaning "new," or Japanese katakana for a fresh sound) with "town," symbolizing a modern, interconnected hub. It represents a conceptual "new town" where the group fosters creativity and unity through their music, embodying a bold, forward-thinking space. The group adopts a philosophy of challenging the norms of Japanese society, positioning themselves as representatives of Japanese youth who seek to redefine cultural expectations through their innovative sound and fearless expression. According to member Nodoka, the name "nutown" reflects the group's aspiration to craft a dynamic, innovative environment with their music. In a 2020 interview with Oricon News, she shared, "We chose 'nutown' to represent a place where we can start anew, bringing people together through our songs and creating something unique that inspires Japanese youth to break free from tradition."
Members[]
History[]
Formation[]
In June 2018, IDK announced plans to form a girl group. Later, the company launched the "New Town RISING" audition campaign, targeting talent across Japan, South Korea, and select Southeast Asian cities. Over 13,000 applicants participated in auditions held in 12 cities and an online submission platform to accommodate global talent. The selection process spanned from July 2018 to January 2019 and comprised five stages: initial vocal and dance screenings, group performance evaluations, charisma and personality assessments, linguistic proficiency tests, and a final three-month training camp in Tokyo.
By February 2019, IDK narrowed the pool to 18 trainees, who entered an elite training program at its Shibuya headquarters. Trainees followed a grueling regimen from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., six days a week, focusing on vocal harmonization, advanced choreography, media training, and cultural fluency to prepare for a global audience. The program included weekly evaluations, where trainees performed original compositions and choreography for IDK executives. In September 2019, IDK finalized a six-member lineup: Nodoka, Sua, Tomoko, Miyu, and Hina. The name nutown was unveiled on October 10, 2019, via a cryptic teaser video on IDK’s YouTube channel, amassing 600,000 views in 24 hours.
IDK's pre-debut campaign launched on October 15, 2019. A standout moment came at IDK’s 2019 Year-End Showcase at Tokyo’s Zepp DiverCity on December 15, 2019, where nutown performed a self-choreographed routine choreographed by Tomoko. The performance, livestreamed on YouTube, amassed 3 million views, with Oricon News calling it “a bold declaration of a new era in music.” The group’s philosophy of challenging Japanese societal norms emerged in a November 2019 Natalie interview, where Nodoka stated, “We chose nutown to represent a place where we can start anew, bringing people together through our songs and creating something unique that inspires Japanese youth to break free from tradition!” The hashtag #THENUGIRLS trended on Twitter for 12 hours.
2020-2021: Everything Blue, Hina’s departure, and Radiation[]
Nutown officially debuted on January 17, 2020, with their extended play Everything Blue, comprising the title track “RUN”. Directed by Shigeno Yuta, the music video depicted a neon-lit urban utopia where the members led a youth rebellion. Released on YouTube at midnight JST, it garnered 18 million views in its first week, trending in 12 countries, including Japan, South Korea, and the United States. “RUN” peaked at number 8 on the Oricon Digital Chart, number 12 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100, and earned platinum streaming certifications in South Korea (1 million streams) and Japan (100 million streams). NUWAVE debuted at number 15 on the Oricon Albums Chart, number 12 on the Billboard World Albums Chart, and sold 85,000 physical copies in its first month, per Oricon data. Tokyo Sports praised the EP for its “youthful defiance and genre-blending ambition,” though some critics noted the group’s vocals needed further polishing.
Promotion for Everything Blue was extensive. Nutown appeared on programs such as TV Asahi, performing “Spark” with a live band, and Buzz Rhythm 02. In South Korea, they guested on Show Champion and M Countdown. Their debut showcase at Tokyo’s Toyosu PIT on January 18, 2020, sold out 2,500 tickets in eight minutes. The event, livestreamed on V Live, attracted 50,000 viewers, with Soompi calling it “a vibrant introduction to a group unafraid to push boundaries.” nutown also held pop-up fan events in Shibuya and Gangnam.
On May 10, 2020, IDK announced that Hina would take an indefinite hiatus due to undisclosed health concerns. A statement on nutown’s website read, “Hina requires time to prioritize her well-being. We ask for your understanding and support.” Fans of the group launched the hashtag #StayStrongHina. The group released their second extended play, Radiation, on May 25, 2020, featuring the title track “Hot” and B-sides “Pulse" and “Afterglow.” The music video earned 20 million YouTube views in its first week. “Hot” peaked at number 5 on the Oricon Digital Chart, number 8 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100, and secured platinum certifications in South Korea and Japan. The EP’s B-side, “Pulse,” went viral on TikTok, with a dance challenge amassing 500,000 user videos. Radiation sold 1.2 million copies worldwide by August 2020. The album debuted at number 10 on the US Billboard 200, making Nutown the fastest J-pop girl group to achieve this milestone at the time, and reached number 3 on the Oricon Albums Chart.
On August 15, 2020, IDK confirmed Hina’s permanent departure from nutown, stating, "After discussions, Hina has decided to leave the group to focus on her health and personal path." The announcement earned Hina a lot of support, with #ThankYouHina trending globally. In a YouTube live on August 20, 2020, Miyu addressed the departure, saying, "Hina will always be part of us."
Ventures[]
Endorsements[]
In September 2021, nutown made their first New York Fashion Week attendance at the Autumn/Winter 2021 show for the Italian fashion company Fendi, which in turn placed them in several promotional endorsements and content for the brand's released collection. Subsequently, nutown were featured in a campaign for French luxury fashion house Louis Vuitton. In February 2022, the four members were dressed in custom-made outfits designed by Louis Vuitton creative director Nicolas Ghesquière.
Philanthropy[]
In mid-2024, nutown worked with a youth empowerment nonprofit to fund educational programs for underprivileged communities.