Japanese girl-group septet HANA don’t just defy standards — they set the standard. HANA debuted on April 2 to overflowing love and support from around the globe for these budding artists. It’s only been around half a year since HANA hit the world stage, yet their impact is undeniable.

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HANA are the result of the unprecedented competition program No No Girls. The show was a collaborative effort between producer SKY-HI of titan label BMSG and multifaceted artist CHANMINA. Produced with CHANMINA’s artistic-driven wisdom alongside BMSG’s strategic training, the final team is a girl-group unlike any the world has seen before. CHIKA, NAOKO, JISOO, YURI, MOMOKA, KOHARU, and MAHINA are the lucky seven narrowed down from over 7,000 applicants — that is approximately a 0.1% probability of debuting in the final group!

To learn more about their debut journey and hear about their latest release, “Blue Jeans,” EnVi connected with HANA through a Zoom call. It was Tuesday afternoon in Japan, with the septet casually dressed in a studio room. Though each of the members showed off their distinct individuality through their fashion, there was an undeniable chemistry that radiated when they all came together. The interview felt like HANA welcoming EnVi into their friend group as the members gave heartfelt advice, insight on their artistry, and, of course, shared plenty of laughs.

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Rejection Into Redirection

Accomplished trilingual rapper CHANMINA is like HANA’s fairy godmother. After facing her fair share of rejection in the harsh idol industry, CHANMINA set out to “save anyone who’s been told ‘no’” — hence the program’s name. No No Girls redefined the criteria of being in a girl group, which can be read through the application message: “We don’t care about your height, weight, or age. Just show us your voice and your life.”

YURI revealed that the most valuable lesson she learned from the program was “not to negate my past and who I was in the past” — a value which she continues to uphold to this day.

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YURI. Image courtesy of BMSG.

HANA consists of seven young women who were brave enough to try again after being told “no.” Their drive and determination echoes throughout their artistry, especially when they perform onstage.

MAHINA stepped up to share some words of advice for those hesitant to follow their dreams after rejection. MAHINA, who is constantly doted on as the youngest member, was immediately met with collective “awws” and cheers after volunteering to answer. “She’s just a baby chick!” the members affectionately chimed in.

“There are so many proficient artists out there, it is easy to get lost and sort of lose faith in yourself,” MAHINA said. “There might be times when you hit walls, but in the end it’s all about believing in yourself. Also, respect and believe in the three ‘no’s’ that CHANMINA states.”

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MAHINA. Image courtesy of BMSG.

When EnVi recited the crucial “no hate, no laze, no fake” catchphrase, MAHINA gave a cheeky gesture of approval — snapping her left hand with her head tilted and her tongue out. YURI nudged her and toppled over in laughter as the first to catch on to this gesture. MAHINA’s cute response quickly became infectious, leading the rest of the members, and even EnVi, to join in. A chorus of the word “period” quickly overtook the call amidst bursts of laughter.

MAHINA is only sixteen, and yet she has a mature outlook on perseverance thanks to her consistent efforts. However, it is candid moments like these that remind audiences, and even HANA themselves, that she is the beloved youngest of the team.

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Beautiful Thorns

HANA made their triumphant debut with the breakout single, “ROSE.” When EnVi shared their admiration for the song, HANA’s faces lit up with joy, expressing that they, too, were huge fans of “ROSE.” KOHARU spared no time to interject and say, “さいこう (saiko),” meaning “the best!”

KOHARU. Image courtesy of BMSG.

“ROSE” is an emotionally resonant anthem that melds dance-pop with alternative R&B. The song is HANA’s bold statement to the world after the completion of No No Girls — the most beautiful flower blooms in adversity. An addictive drum and piano melody carries throughout “ROSE,” solidifying its status as an irresistible ear-worm.

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“We are so grateful that we could have ‘ROSE’ as our debut song, because we always wanted to do music that could live in people’s minds for a very long time,” JISOO said.

“We would like to continue to be a flower that will not wither,” CHIKA shared in respect to their team identity. “No matter what shape we’re in, we’d like to continue to bloom beautifully with strength in any environment.”

HANA’s resilience is exemplified through the meaningful lyrics: “The flower still bloomed / though stained in mud / I can’t hide no more / With my beautiful thorns.”

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The song is layered with depth, sparking new discoveries upon each listen. MOMOKA advised fans to pay extra attention to the song’s third verse, where she and MAHINA rap together whilst YURI carries the melody.

“In the rap segment, we are rapping about strong feelings and emotions,” MOMOKA said. “But if you listen to what YURI is singing, she’s actually expressing what lies deep in the heart with those true feelings. Overall, this segment expresses how the heart can contain so many different feelings simultaneously.”

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MOMOKA. Image courtesy of BMSG.

Blue Jeans, Old Sneakers

HANA’s latest single demonstrates their artistic versatility as the team taps into a more youthful, carefree vibe. Released on July 14, “Blue Jeans” is a sentimental pop ballad track driven by a guitar sound. The song describes an unexpected encounter with love after drifting through life without much emphasis on their own appearance.

HANA find someone who shows them unconditional love, as they sing in the chorus: “Blue jeans, old sneakers / My hair was a mess, makeup ran off / Late night at 1 a.m., blue jeans, old sneakers / You come up and say, baby / You’re beautiful, blue jeans, old sneakers.”

Though it is quite the concept change from the dark intensity of “ROSE,” HANA are still committed to their ongoing pursuit of relatable music that empowers listeners. “Blue Jeans” embraces a different facet of femininity: “love will find you for who you are.”

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KOHARU introduced the concept of “青春 (seishun)” in respect to what HANA was most excited to express this time around.

“There is a word, ‘青春 (seishun),’ in Japanese; there is really no equivalent in English,” KOHARU explained. “It means enjoying youth, the youngness of mind, and not quite being an adult yet. It is that adolescence where you’re halfway between grown up, yet you’re still a child.”

The cinematic music video captures the essence of young love, with JISOO and YURI as the video’s protagonists. The two keep to themselves during their respective gigs, comparing their appearances to the others in the room. However, their authenticity is what sparks the sudden interest of their soon-to-be romantic partners. The other members also dive into the concept with interactive partner choreography.

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A Garden of Blossoming Flowers

HANA’s lives changed tremendously since they stepped into the No No Girls audition room. Their official YouTube has an accumulated total of over 1.3 million subscribers and 560 million views despite only being created on January 6 of this year. HANA was also able to occupy three spots within the Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart with the release of “Blue Jeans.” This is only a fraction of the amazing achievements HANA were able to accomplish within their debut year.

Image courtesy of BMSG.

When EnVi asked about HANA’s most significant moment thus far that they will remember for the rest of their career, EnVi was met with an unexpected, heartwarming response. Rather than expand on one of their many career milestones, HANA decided to touch on their sister-like camaraderie.

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“Everytime we finish a schedule, whether it is a performance or TV appearance, we go back to our hotel room to talk, laugh, and release all that pent up energy,” KOHARU said as the members tenderly smiled. “It’s something we always look forward to doing, and it is the time we treasure the most with each other.”

HANA’s bond, which transcended the computer screen and language barriers, shone throughout this conversation. The members were consistently receptive to each other’s thoughtful responses, showing off their impeccable teamwork. When one member answered, the rest of them would nod in agreement, with NAOKO and KOHARU even providing some hand gestures that aided the explanation.

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NAOKO. Image courtesy of BMSG.

Yes To HANA

As icons of empowerment, HANA took the interview as an opportunity to share some positive affirmations that keep them motivated.

“One of the words or phrases that is really important to me is ‘You only live once,’” MAHINA shared. “You only get one chance at life, so it would be a waste if you didn’t enjoy it, right? I will continue to enjoy life to the fullest with no regrets!”

JISOO responded in English: “There’s a quote from my favorite TV series, ‘Embrace the mess. That’s where the good stuff lives.’ I love this line, and it really helps me a lot.”

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JISOO. Image courtesy of BMSG.

It is hard to believe that this is only the beginning for the freshly debuted HANA. Just within the month of August, they attended the “Summer Sonic” music festival in Japan, Netflix’s Wednesday 2 world premiere in Sydney, and “NIPPON HAKU 2025” in Bangkok. HANA also wrapped up their first fanmeeting, “HANA with HONEYs,” where they announced their first nationwide hall tour. The members shared that they can’t quite disclose what is next for them just yet, but assured audiences that there is more exciting news on the way.

For their final words to readers, they all looked towards each other and simply said, “頑張ります (Ganbarimasu),” which translates to, “I will do my best!” KOHARU raised both of her fists in the air and cheered, with CHIKA following along. MOMOKA shyly raised both of her fists to shoulder-level with a small laugh.

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CHIKA. Image courtesy of BMSG.

As EnVi and HANA exchanged their goodbyes and gratitude, JISOO slipped in one last remark: “I like your necklace!” From the beginning of the interview, HANA were not shy at all about dishing out compliments.

Just like the message that penetrates throughout HANA’s discography, I left our conversation feeling confident, inspired, and most of all, empowered.

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Graphic courtesy of Srishti Bhawal.

Check out HANA’s latest single “Blue Jeans,” now available on streaming platforms. Stay up to date with HANA by following them on Instagram, X, TikTok, and YouTube.

Want more exclusive features from the hottest survival show starlets? Check out EnVi’s exclusive interview with K-pop boy-group AHOF here!