Oricon Japan recently released its ″K-POP Global Group Survey 2025,″ analyzing the awareness, popularity factors, and consumer trends of fifth-generation K-POP male idols in Japan. The survey focused on the fan acquisition channels and support methods of male idols in Japan.

According to the survey, &TEAM is the most well-known group in Japan. &TEAM achieved the highest recognition in the survey due to their extensive exposure in Japanese media. The most frequently cited reason for their popularity among fans was ″terrestrial TV entertainment programs.″ In particular, member K’s victory in the TBS ″All-Star Thanksgiving″ mini-marathon, aired in the fall of 2023, significantly boosted the group’s recognition.

Following &TEAM, ENHYPEN ranked second in recognition. Terrestrial music programs were cited as the most common reason fans favored ENHYPEN. Both Nteam and Enhypen cited BTS as their favorite artist of the moment. This is believed to be largely due to the BTS members’ appearances as mentors on audition programs. This reflects the trend of fans shifting their attention to and supporting younger groups during BTS’s military service.

Boynextdoor ranked third in popularity. Boynextdoor’s music, produced by Zico, and the members’ participation in song production were cited as key selling points. TWS, known as SEVENTEEN’s younger brother group, is notable for attracting a large teenage fan base through TikTok. Nteam, Enhypen, Boynextdoor, and TWS are all under the HYBE Entertainment label, and HYBE-affiliated male idols are showing a strong presence in Japan.

The popularity of TREASURE, the longest-running group under YG Entertainment, was attributed to its ″outstanding talent″ and ″performances that even non-fans can enjoy.″ RIIZE, under SM Entertainment, boasts a particularly large female fan base in their 40s. A key source of fan interest was the re-debut of former NCT members Sungchan and Shotaro as RIIZ.

Anteam, Enhypen, NCT Wish, TREASURE, and ZEROBASEONE all originated from audition programs. Of these, ZEROBASEONE, which debuted on Mnet’s ″BOYS PLANET,″ had the highest rate of ″entry″ through auditions. NCT Wish ranked first in ″participation in cheering activities″ and is leading the way in spreading trends, including fashion, based on their worldview.

This survey was conducted by Oricon Monitor Research with 7,500 Japanese men and women aged 10 to 50 (1,500 in each age group) nationwide. Of these, 833 (11.1% of the total) responded that they had a favorable impression of at least one of the ten fifth-generation K-pop male idol groups. Individual analyses were conducted on the eight groups with the highest number of respondents.