NCT Wish (Japanese: エヌシーティー·ウィッシュ, Hepburn: Enushītī Wisshu) is a Japanese boy band and the sixth and final sub-unit of the South Korean boy band NCT, formed and managed by SM Entertainment and Avex Trax, with SM director and soloist BoA in charge as the producer.[2][3] The group consists of six members: Sion, Riku, Yushi, Jaehee, Ryo, Sakuya. They released the single "Hands Up" under their temporary name NCT New Team on October 8, 2023, ahead of their scheduled debut in 2024.[4][5] They officially debuted on February 28, 2024, with the single "Wish" in both Japanese and Korean versions.

NCT Wish
NCT Wish in 2024 From left to right: Ryo, Riku, Yushi, Sion, Sakuya, and Jaehee
NCT Wish in 2024
From left to right: Ryo, Riku, Yushi, Sion, Sakuya, and Jaehee
Background information
OriginTokyo, Japan
Genres
Years active2023 (2023)–present
Labels
Spinoff ofNCT
Members
  • Sion
  • Riku
  • Yushi
  • Jaehee
  • Ryo
  • Sakuya
WebsiteOfficial website

Name

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On January 17, 2024, NCT Wish was announced as the group's official name of the NCT Tokyo-based sub-unit, multi-national boy group that would promote actively in Japan. The name "NCT Wish" combines the acronym for Neo Culture Technology with the word "Wish" from the catchphrase 'WISH for Our WISH' meaning the ambition to support everyone's wishes and dreams and make them come true together through the music and love.[6][7]

History

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2019–2023: Plans, formation and NCT New Team

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Prior to the group's debut, Yushi was first introduced as a member of Japanese boy group Edamame Beans at the age of 11 but shortly left the group before debut in the same year. Yushi first auditioned for SM Entertainment in his fourth grade of elementary school and was accepted as a trainee in his sixth grade of elementary school. He later came to Korea in his 6th grade of elementary school and trained for about seven years prior joining the survival show. Riku had filmed a visual advertisement for his cousin Ai Takahashi's own cosmetics brand Aimmx in October 2021.[8] Riku was cast through the 2022 SM Global Audition and was a trainee for about one year prior joining the survival show.[9] Sion was cast through Instagram's direct messaging and trained for four years prior joining the survival show.[10] In 2022, Ryo was first scouted by SM while he was watching NCT 127's concert.[11] In January 2023, Jaehee was scouted by SM Entertainment.[12]

In January 2016, SM founder and producer Lee Soo-man announced plans for a new boy group NCT with different units to be based in cities around the world.[13] On June 20, 2019, SM producer Chris Lee announced in a presentation that NCT would continue to debut international units, mentioning that the company was in the process of creating a Japanese one. This was re-iterated in an interview with Billboard the following day, where the unit's activities were confirmed to be managed between Avex Trax and SM Japan.[1]

On December 1, 2022, SM confirmed plans for a Japanese subunit based in Tokyo following the opening of their Southeast Asian branch.[14][15] As part of their 2023 strategy, the company revealed that the next NCT subunit, tentatively named "NCT Tokyo", would be debuting in the third quarter of the year.[16][17] On February 24, SM announced that NCT Tokyo would the group's final subunit.[18][19]

On May 23, 2023, SM announced that two future SM Rookies would be part of the new unit's lineup, with the remaining members selected via a pre-debut survival show.[20] The rookies were revealed to be Yushi and Sion on June 28;[21] two days later, SM confirmed that the survival show NCT Universe: Lastart would begin airing on July 27.[22] The official lineup of the group, now referred to as "NCT New Team", was unveiled during the final episode: Sion, Riku, Yushi, Jungmin, Daeyoung, Ryo, Sakuya.[23] The group served as the opening for the rest of NCT at their Japanese NCT Nation: To the World concerts at Yanmar Stadium Nagai in Osaka from September 9 to 10 and again at Ajinomoto Stadium in Tokyo from September 16 to 17.[24] The new NCT unit later embarked on a pre-debut tour beginning on 8 October, which consisted of 28 performances across 10 cities in Japan.[25]

On October 2, 2023, SM announced that Jungmin, who had been absent from previous performances, would be departing NCT for health reasons.[26] The unit released their pre-debut single "Hands Up" on October 8, with their official debut confirmed for 2024.[27]

2024–present: Debut, subsequent single releases, Steady, and Wishful

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On January 17, SM released a teaser titled "NCT Wish: Wish for Our Wish" and confirmed that NCT New Team would be debuting under the name NCT Wish scheduled in February.[28] On February 21, NCT Wish performed their debut single "Wish" for the first time at SMTOWN Live 2024 SMCU Palace at Tokyo.[29][30] The group made their debut on February 28 with the release of the single "Wish" in both Japanese and Korean versions.[31][32] They took their first music show win on SBS M's The Show, 21 days after they debuted.[33]

On April 11, NCT Wish announced their first fan meeting titled "NCT Wish: School of Wish" which would be held for four times at Myunghwa Livehall in Seoul on May 25–26 and the pre-sale tickets were sold out within 15 minutes.[34] Later they added five more dates with a total of 14 meetings in five cities.[35][36]

On May 3, NCT Wish attended and performed their songs at GirlsAward, one of the biggest fashion events in Japan.[37][38] On June 25, NCT Wish released their second Japanese single "Songbird".[39] The Korean version of the single was released as the lead track for the single album of the same name on July 1.[40]

On August 28, NCT Wish confirmed that they would release new music at the end of September and were in the final stages of preparations. The release was preceded by a pre-release track in early September.[41] Their first EP, Steady was released on 24 September.[42] On October 15, NCT Wish released the single "Make You Shine", the second ending theme for the Korean dub of Pokémon Horizons: The Series.[43]

NCT Wish's debut studio album, Wishful, was released on November 27, 2024. The 13 track album contains the group's six previously-released Japanese singles, as well as seven new tracks, including the lead single "Wishful Winter".[44]

Public image

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In January 2024, US Grammy selected NCT Wish as "11 Rookie K-Pop Acts to Know in 2024" through their website.[45][46]

Members

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  • Sion (シオン)
  • Riku (リク)
  • Yushi (ユウシ)
  • Jaehee (ジェヒ)
  • Ryo (リョウ)
  • Sakuya (サクヤ)

Discography

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Studio albums

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List of studio albums, showing selected details, selected chart positions and sales figures
Title Details Peak chart positions Sales
JPN
[47]
JPN
Hot

[48]
KOR
[49]
Wishful TBA

Extended plays

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List of extended plays, showing selected details, selected chart positions, sales figures, and certifications
Title Details Peak chart positions Sales Certifications
JPN
[47]
JPN
Hot

[48]
KOR
[49]
Steady
  • Released: September 24, 2024
  • Label: SM
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
8 10 1

Single albums

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List of single albums, showing selected details, selected chart positions, sales figures, and certifications
Title Details Peak chart positions Sales Certifications
KOR
[49]
Wish
  • Released: February 28, 2024
  • Label: SM
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
1
Songbird
  • Released: July 1, 2024
  • Label: SM
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
1

Singles

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Japanese singles

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List of Japanese singles, showing year released, selected chart positions, sales figures, certifications, and name of the album
Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Certifications Album
JPN
[55]
JPN
Hot

[56]
"Hands Up" 2023 [A] Wishful
"Wish" 2024 3 3
  • JPN: 77,672 (phy.)[58]
"Songbird" 3 4
  • JPN: 90,065 (phy.)[60]
  • RIAJ: Gold (phy.)[61]
"Wishful Winter" TBA
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Korean singles

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List of Korean singles, showing year released, selected chart positions, and name of the album
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
KOR
[62]
"Wish" 2024 [B] Wish
"Songbird" 196 Songbird
"Dunk Shot" 131 Steady
"Steady" 74

Soundtracks

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List of soundtracks, showing year released, selected chart positions, and name of the album
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
KOR
DL

[64]
"Make You Shine" 2024 152 Pokémon: Terastal Debut OST

Filmography

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  • NCT Universe: Lastart (2023)

Shows and concerts

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Tours

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  • NCT Wish: School of Wish (2024)
  • NCT Wish Asia Tour Log In (2024)[65]

Concert participation

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  • NCT Universe: Lastart Pre-Debut Tour (2023)[66]

As opening act

  • NCT Nation: To the World (2023)[67]

Awards and nominations

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Name of the award ceremony, year presented, award category, nominee(s) and the result of the award
Award ceremony Year Category Nominee/work Result Ref.
Asia Star Entertainer Awards 2024 The Best New Artist NCT Wish Won [68]
Korea Grand Music Awards 2024 IS Rising Star Won
MAMA Awards 2024 Artist of the Year Nominated [69]
Best New Male Artist Nominated

Notes

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  1. ^ "Hands Up" did not entered the Billboard Japan Hot 100, but it peaked at number 8 on the Heatseekers Songs chart.[57]
  2. ^ "Wish" did not enter the Circle Digital Chart, but peaked at number 71 on the Circle Download Chart.[63]

References

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  1. ^ a b Herman, Tamar (August 5, 2019). "SM Entertainment A&R Chris Lee Talks 'Cultural Technology' & Creating K-Pop Hits". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 19, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  2. ^ "보아, NCT WISH 프로듀서로 전두지휘". Naver News. Archived from the original on February 8, 2024. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  3. ^ "NCT WISH, 프로듀서 '원조 한·일 요정' 보아가 맡는다". Naver News. Archived from the original on February 8, 2024. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  4. ^ 정, 지원. "NCT NEW TEAM, 오늘(7일) 日 프리데뷔...'Hands Up' 발표". 조이뉴스24 (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 19, 2023. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  5. ^ 이, 재훈. "NCT 뉴 팀, 日 프리데뷔 싱글 발매...'핸즈 업'". Naver News (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 17, 2024. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  6. ^ 박, 정선. "NCT 마지막 팀 NCT WISH 2월 데뷔". Naver News. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  7. ^ "NCT 마지막팀, NCT WISH 2월 데뷔". 종합일간지 : 신문/웹/모바일 등 멀티 채널로 국내외 실시간 뉴스와 수준 높은 정보를 제공. January 18, 2024. Archived from the original on February 13, 2024. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  8. ^ 【初プロデュース】高橋愛、コスメを作る!〜撮影メイキング〜 [[First production] Takahashi Ai makes cosmetics! ~Making of the shoot~] (Video) (in Japanese). October 13, 2021 – via YouTube.
  9. ^ [#라스타트] Ep.02 하이라이트 - SM 연습생 공개 | NCT Universe : LASTART💫 [EN/JP] [[#LASTART] Ep.02 Highlight - SM Trainee Revealed | NCT Universe : LASTART💫 [EN/JP]] (in Korean). SM C&C Studio. August 4, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2024 – via YouTube.
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  22. ^ "NCT to launch last team through reality show". The Korea Herald. June 30, 2023. Archived from the original on June 30, 2023. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
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  24. ^ "NCT 마지막 유닛, 프리데뷔 멤버 확정...뉴 팀 다섯 명 선발". Newsis (in Korean). September 7, 2023. Archived from the original on September 6, 2023. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  25. ^ "NCT 뉴 팀, 프리 데뷔 7인 멤버 확정... 10월 日 투어 개최". JTBC News. September 6, 2023. Archived from the original on September 7, 2023. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  26. ^ "Jungmin exits NCT New Team ahead of pre-debut tour in Oct, agency reveals why". Hindustan Times. October 2, 2023. Archived from the original on November 8, 2023. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  27. ^ "NCT NEW Team releases pre-debut single 'Hands Up'". The Korea Times. October 8, 2023. Archived from the original on October 8, 2023. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  28. ^ Ziwei, Puah (January 18, 2024). "NCT WISH, the final sub-group of K-pop boyband NCT, will debut next month". NME. Archived from the original on May 5, 2024. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  29. ^ "NCT WISH, 오늘(21일) 도쿄돔서 데뷔의 소원 이룬다". Naver. Archived from the original on February 21, 2024. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  30. ^ "NCT Wish makes grand debut at Tokyo Dome". Naver. Archived from the original on February 21, 2024. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  31. ^ "NCT 위시, 韓∙日 동시 공략 나선다". Naver News. Archived from the original on February 8, 2024. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  32. ^ "NCT 위시, 데뷔 카운트다운...SM타운 日 공연 출연한다". Naver. Archived from the original on February 8, 2024. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  33. ^ Kim, Hyo-jin (March 12, 2024). 엔시티 위시(NCT WISH), '더쇼'서 첫 1위...데뷔 21일 만 [NCT WISH takes first place on 'The Show'...21 days after debut] (in Korean). Top Star News. Archived from the original on March 12, 2024. Retrieved March 12, 2024 – via Nate.
  34. ^ Lee, Seon-myung (April 18, 2024). '최고 루키' NCT위시, 팬미팅 4회차 15분만 전석매진 ['Best Rookie' NCT Wish, sold out all tickets for the four times fan meeting in just 15 minutes] (in Korean). Sports Kyunghyang. Archived from the original on July 10, 2024. Retrieved May 5, 2024 – via Naver.
  35. ^ Sun, Mi-kyung (April 19, 2024). NCT WISH, 서울 찍고 전국 5개 도시 시즈니 만나러 간다 [NCT WISH shoots in Seoul and goes to meet Czennies in 5 cities across the country] (in Korean). Osen. Archived from the original on May 5, 2024. Retrieved May 5, 2024 – via Naver.
  36. ^ NCT Wish [@nctwishofficial] (April 30, 2024). "NCT WISH : SCHOOL of WISH" (Tweet). Retrieved May 5, 2024 – via Twitter.
  37. ^ Kim, Soo-jin (April 30, 2024). NCT WISH, 日 최대 패션 음악 축제 '걸스어워드' 5월 3일 출연 [NCT WISH will appear at Japan's largest fashion music festival 'Girls Awards' on 3 May] (in Korean). Star News. Archived from the original on May 5, 2024. Retrieved May 5, 2024 – via Naver.
  38. ^ Yoon, Sung-yeol (May 4, 2024). NCT 위시, 日 최대 패션 음악 축제 떴다..'걸스어워드' 오프닝 장식 [NCT Wish appeared at Japan's largest fashion music festival..'Girls Awards' opening decoration] (in Korean). Star News. Archived from the original on May 22, 2024. Retrieved May 5, 2024 – via Naver.
  39. ^ Lee, Min-ji (June 24, 2024). "NCT WISH, 오늘(24일) 싱글 'Songbird' 日 버전 최초 공개" [NCT Wish, first release of Japanese version of single 'Songbird' today (24th)] (in Korean). Newsen. Archived from the original on June 24, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2024 – via Naver.
  40. ^ Kim, Jin-seok (July 2, 2024). "NCT WISH, 국내 주요 음반 차트 일간 1위 차지" [NCT Wish, daily No. 1 on major domestic album charts] (in Korean). JTBC. Archived from the original on July 3, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2024 – via Naver.
  41. ^ Lee, Soo-jin (August 27, 2024). [단독] 엔시티 위시, 9월 말 컴백... 2개월만 초고속 신보 발매 [[Exclusive] NCT Wish, comeback in late September... New album released in just 2 months]. Ilgan Sports. Retrieved August 27, 2024 – via Naver.
  42. ^ "NCT WISH, First Mini Album 'Steady' Comeback on September 24th". DIPE.CO.KR. September 2, 2024. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  43. ^ Hwang, Hye-jin (October 15, 2024). "'승승장구' NCT WISH '포켓몬스터' 엔딩 테마곡 가창" ['Winning' NCT Wish 'Pokemon' ending theme song singing] (in Korean). Newsen. Retrieved October 15, 2024 – via Naver.
  44. ^ Kyung, Ji-min (November 26, 2024). "NCT WISH, 27일 日 첫 정규 앨범 'WISHFUL' 공개..겨울 느낌 물씬" [NCT WISH, 27th Japanese first full album 'WISHFUL' released.. Full of winter feeling]. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  45. ^ "11 Rookie K-Pop Acts To Know In 2024: NCT Wish, RIIZE, Kiss Of Life & More | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com. Archived from the original on February 13, 2024. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
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  47. ^ a b "NCT WISHのシングル売" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
  48. ^ a b Peak chart positions on the Billboard Japan Hot Albums:
    • "Steady". October 23, 2024. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  49. ^ a b c Peak chart positions on the Circle Album Chart:
  50. ^ Cumulative sales of Steady on Oricon Chart:
  51. ^ Cumulative Sales of Steady:
  52. ^ a b c d "South Korean album certifications". Circle Chart. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
  53. ^ Cumulative sales of Wish on Circle Chart:
  54. ^ Cumulative Sales of Songbird:
  55. ^ "NCT WISHのシングル売" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on July 10, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  56. ^ Peak chart positions on the Billboard Japan Hot 100:
  57. ^ "Billboard Japan Heatseekers Songs – Week of November 8, 2023". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on November 8, 2023. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  58. ^ Total sales of "Wish":
  59. ^ "Japanese certifications – NCT Wish – Wish" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved April 10, 2024. Select 2024年3月 on the drop-down menu
  60. ^ Total sales of "Songbird":
  61. ^ "Japanese single certifications – NCT Wish – Songbird" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved July 10, 2024. Select 2024年6月 on the drop-down menu
  62. ^ Peak chart positions on the Circle Digital Chart:
  63. ^ "Download Chart – Week 9 of 2024". Circle Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 9, 2024. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  64. ^ Peak chart positions for singles on Circle Download Chart:
  65. ^ "2024 NCT WISH ASIA TOUR LOG in JAPAN". nct-jp.net. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
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