Protostar

* Regular
* Limited A
* Limited B

## Audio

***Protostar*** (stylized in all caps) is the debut extended play by Japanese boy group JO1, which was formed through the reality competition show *Produce 101 Japan*. It was released on March 4, 2020 by Lapone Entertainment.

There are three editions of the album: each features a total of four tracks, although the content varies. The song "Infinity" (無限大) serves as the title track on all editions and is accompanied by two new original songs and three songs which were previously performed on *Produce 101 Japan*.

## Background and release

After *Produce 101 Japan* ended, JO1 flew to South Korea to train for their debut and produce their first album. On October 24, 2019, Mnet denied rumors that the group would also debut in South Korea and stated that they would only actively promote in Japan.

On January 14, 2020, it was revealed that the group's debut extended play titled *Protostar* would be released on March 4, 2020. The album would include four tracks, including the title track "Infinity". A concept trailer for *Protostar* was released on January 28, 2020. On February 3, a music video teaser for "Infinity" was released, followed by a short version of the music video and a making video two days later. On February 16, the full music video was released. To further promote the EP, a short animated music video for "Running" and a performance video for "La Pa Pa Pam" were released.

The album is available in three editions: the Regular Edition, Limited Edition A, and Limited Edition B. They all feature "Infinity" (無限大) as the title track and the JO1 version of the *Produce 101 Japan* opening song "Tsukame (It's Coming)", as well as two other songs. The Regular Edition contains two new songs titled "Running" and "La Pa Pa Pam", while Limited Edition A and B each only feature one of the new songs and one re-recording of the *Produce 101 Japan* Debut Evaluation songs "YOUNG" and "GrandMaster".

To commemorate their debut, the group held a special live stream on YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram on March 4, 2020.

## Promotions

On March 24, 2020, JO1 performed "Infinity" on the *WE News* segment of the NTV morning show *Sukkiri*, making it their first ever live performance on a TV program.

The group also participated in Fuji TV's *Mezamashi Uchi Festival*, a special program hosted by the broadcaster's *Mezamashi TV* morning news. The program was set up to entertain viewers during the COVID-19 pandemic and JO1 contributed to said effort by delivering a special "home performance" of "La Pa Pa Pam". Their "home performance" consisted of individual videos of the members performing the song at their home and doing day-to-day activities, such as cleaning their rooms and playing games. Additionally, their leader Yonashiro Sho appeared live on the program. They also participated remotely on other music programs, such as Fuji TV's *Love Music* and NHK's *Shibuya Note*.

The group was also scheduled to perform at KCON 2020 JAPAN's main event "KCON 2020 JAPAN x M COUNTDOWN" on April 4, 2020 at Makuhari Messe. Since the event was canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak, they instead attended KCON:TACT 2020 SUMMER for a Meet & Greet, making them the first Japanese boy group ever to participate in the convention.

## Track listing

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.

* Regular Edition
* Limited Edition A
* Limited Edition B

The first press also includes a lottery ticket to apply for participation in an event and 1 out of 11 photo cards, which are all exclusive to this version.

This version comes with a DVD, which features a bonus interview called *JO1 Secrets* and a making of video. The first press also includes a lottery ticket to apply for participation in an event and 1 out of 11 photo cards, which are all exclusive to this version.

This version comes with a photo booklet. The first press also includes a lottery ticket to apply for participation in an event and 1 out of 11 photo cards, which are all exclusive to this version.
When purchasing all three editions in selected stores, buyers received a free poster in addition to their purchase. The type of poster depended on the store the purchase was made from and they were also only available for a limited time period. The stores that participated in the campaign were Tower Records, HMV, Tsutaya Records, and Rakuten Books. When purchasing all three editions from a different store, you got an announcement poster as a gift.

At the same time, Amazon Japan held a campaign where when you bought one of the three editions, you would receive a "Dekajacket", which is a bigger print of the album jacket of the edition you purchased.

## Sales and certifications

*Protostar* was a commercial success: upon its release, it peaked at number one on the iTunes real-time album charts in not only Japan but also in five other regions, namely Hong Kong, Thailand, Taiwan, Indonesia, and Malaysia. The EP also topped *Billboard Japan*'s Top Single Sales.

The EP debuted at number one on the Oricon Daily Singles Chart with an estimate of 215,409 copies sold. It held that spot for an entire week and ranked number one on the Weekly Singles chart as well, selling a total of approximately 327,187 copies. It also ranked third on the Monthly Singles Chart. Additionally, with a total of 379,000 copies sold, it ranked seventh on *SoundScan Japan*'s Singles Chart for the first quarter of 2020 and ninth on their singles chart for the first half of 2020 with 387,000 sold.

The album's continuous commercial success led to JO1's inclusion in various mid-year rankings. The group ranked 18th on Billboard Japan's 2020 Mid-Year Top Artists, a chart that combines points from *Japan Hot 100* and *Japan Hot Albums* for the first half of 2020, and ranked eighth on the 2020 Mid-Year Top Singles Sales. They also ranked sixth on Oricon's Mid-Year Singles Sales and tenth on Total Singles Sales. The group also ranked second on New Artist Total Sales ranking by earning an estimate of 640 million yen from one EP alone.

The EP later received a Platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of Japan for surpassing 250,000 copies sold.

"Infinity" digital sales

## Album Credits

* Lapone Entertainment
* Stone Music Entertainment
* Yoshimoto Kogyo
* Sony Music Labels Inc.

* **Executive Producer:** Shin Hwa Choi
* **Supervisor:** Jung Jun Park
* **Financial Team:** Choi Gi Young
* **Management Support Team:** Kook Shin Sook

- **Executive Producer:** Shin Hyung Kwan

- **Supervisor:** Jeong Chang Hwan

- **Producer:** Jeong Yoo Jin

- **Visual Creative:** Lee Joo Mi, Lee Yea Eun

- **A&R:** Nino, Park Chun Bin, Cha In Jun

- **Marketing:** Lee Sung Un, Lee So Jung

- **Publishing:** Chae Su Yun

- **Photography:** Lee Soo Jin @studi5

- **Set Design:** Park Kyung Seob

- **Album Design:** Jung Sae Rom @Like it Take it

- **Choreography (Infinity, Running):** Tamzin

- **Choreography (La Pa Pa Pam):** Sorr(AP)

- **Stylist:** Min In Hong

- **Hair:** Park Nae Joo, Hero, Choi Mu Jin, Han um Ji @Bit & Boot

- **Make-up:** Kwak Hye Ryoung, Ji Won @Bit & Boot

- **MV:** Director Beomjin Exp. VM Project Architecture

- **Product Management:** Kitahashi Yusuke (YOSHIMOTO KOGYO CO., LTD.), Mori Yoshikazu (YOSHIMOTO KOGYO CO., LTD.), Okawa Naoto (YOSHIMOTO KOGYO CO., LTD.)

- **Public Relations:** Sato Takafumi (YOSHIMOTO KOGYO CO., LTD.)

- **Sales Promotion:** Ikemori Yosuke (YOSHIMOTO MUSIC CO., LTD.), Doi Eiko (YOSHIMOTO MUSIC CO., LTD.)

- **Coordination:** Ikoma Chiharu (YOSHIMOTO MUSIC CO., LTD.), Nakane Ruriko (YOSHIMOTO MUSIC CO., LTD.)

- **Executive Producer:** Kamigaso Shu (YOSHIMOTO KOGYO CO., LTD.), Suzuki Toyoyasu (YOSHIMOTO MUSIC CO., LTD.)

- **A&R:** Johdai Yuki

- **Music Director:** Iida Takayuki

- **Public Relations:** Yamamoto Mari

- **Sales Promotion:** Yamada Kentaro, Abekura Naoyuki (Sony Music Solutions Inc.)

- **Supervisor:** Kawasaki Hiroshi, Watanabe Masashi

- **Executive Producer:** Fujiwara Shunsuke, Kimura Takeshi

## Notes

1. ↑ Oricon's cumulative sales for *Protostar* until 14 June, 2020.

	* 360,940: Oricon — 月間　シングルランキング. 2020年03月度 (archived)
	* 2,173: Oricon — 月間　シングルランキング. 2020年04月度
	* 1,957: Oricon — 月間　シングルランキング. 2020年05月度
	* 423: Oricon — 週間　シングルランキング. 2020年06月15日付.（2020年06月01日～2020年06月07日）(archived)
	* 508: Oricon — 週間　シングルランキング. 2020年06月22日付.（2020年06月08日～2020年06月14日）(archived)
2. ↑ Billboard Japan's cumulative sales for *Protostar* until June 14, 2020.

	* 344,299: Billboard Japan — Top Singles Sales. 2020/03/16 付け
	* 27,037: Billboard Japan — Top Singles Sales. 2020/03/23 付け
	* 4,822: Billboard Japan — Top Singles Sales. 2020/03/30 付け
	* 2,944: Billboard Japan — Top Singles Sales. 2020/04/06 付け
	* 1,801: Billboard Japan — Top Singles Sales. 2020/04/13 付け
	* 856: Billboard Japan — Top Singles Sales. 2020/04/20 付け
	* 527: Billboard Japan — Top Singles Sales. 2020/04/27 付け
	* 486: Billboard Japan — Top Singles Sales. 2020/05/04 付け
	* 487: Billboard Japan — Top Singles Sales. 2020/05/11 付け
	* 453: Billboard Japan — Top Singles Sales. 2020/05/18 付け
	* 561: Billboard Japan — Top Singles Sales. 2020/05/25 付け
	* 536: Billboard Japan — Top Singles Sales. 2020/06/01 付け
	* 597: Billboard Japan — Top Singles Sales. 2020/06/08 付け
	* 489: Billboard Japan — Top Singles Sales. 2020/06/15 付け
	* 565: Billboard Japan — Top Singles Sales. 2020/06/22 付け

## References

1. ↑ Naver News — 엠넷 "'프듀 재팬' 최종그룹 JO1, 한국 데뷔 계획 없다"
2. ↑ Naver News — "한국 활동은 NO"...日 '프듀' 데뷔조 JO1, 한국서 앨범 준비
3. ↑ Tower Records Online — JO1｜CD｜「PRODUCE 101 JAPAN」から誕生したグローバルグループ！デビューシングル『PROTOSTAR』3月4日発売｜イベント参加応募抽選券封入！
4. ↑ JO1 Official Website — JO1 1ST single 『PROTOSTAR』 Concept Trailer published
5. ↑ JO1 Official Website — JO1 Debut single title song 「Mugendai (INFINITY)」 teaser published
6. ↑ JO1 Official Website — JO1『Mugendai(INFINITY)』MV Short Ver. + Making Video published
7. ↑ JO1 Official Website — JO1『Mugendai(INFINITY)』MV published
8. ↑ JO1 Official Website — JO1『Running』Animation Video was published!
9. ↑ JO1 Official Website — JO1 『La Pa Pa Pam』Performance Short Ver. published
10. ↑ JO1 Official Website — JO1『La Pa Pa Pam』Performance Video published
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 JO1 Official Website — JO1 debut single "PROTOSTAR" singer photos and jacket photos published
12. ↑ JO1 Official Website — JO1 debut single "PROTOSTAR" released today!
13. ↑ JO1、デビューシングル『PROTOSTAR』ビジュアル公開　リード曲「無限大」ラジオ初OAも
14. ↑ JO1 Official Twitter — JO1公式YouTube＆Twitter＆Instagramにて配信します。
15. ↑ Natalie — JO1が明日「スッキリ」で生パフォーマンス
16. ↑ Fuji TV — 「めざましおうちフェス」の開催が決定！
17. ↑ Modelpress — JO1「めざまし」で"11人別々"おうちパフォーマンス「ダンス揃いすぎ」「さすがのクオリティ」
18. ↑ Fuji TV — JO1 川尻蓮 家の中でのパフォーマンスを披露するも「みんなの前で踊りたい」
19. ↑ Natalie — JO1とSIRUPがリモート出演で「シブヤノオト」2カ月ぶりのリベンジ
20. ↑ JO1 Official Website — "KCON 2020 JAPAN x M COUNTDOWN" 4/4 (Sat) appearance decision
21. ↑ JO1 Official Website — JO1 "KCON: TACT 2020 SUMMER" Meet&Greet appearance decision
22. ↑ Oricon — JO1、『KCON』初出演 日本人ボーイズグループで初の快挙 豆原一成「これからも出続けられるように」
23. ↑ *Protostar* (booklet). JO1. Lapone Entertainment. 2020.
24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 "Infinity" on Melon Music
25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 "Running" on Melon Music
26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 "La Pa Pa Pam" on Melon Music
27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 "Tsukame (It's Coming) (JO1 ver.)" on Melon Music
28. ↑ "YOUNG (JO1 ver.)" on Melon Music
29. ↑ "GrandMaster (JO1 ver.)" on Melon Music
30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Oricon — 週間　シングルランキング. 2020年03月16日付（2020年03月02日～2020年03月08日）(archived)
31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 Billboard Japan — Top Singles Sales. 2020/03/16 付け
32. ↑ Billboard Japan — Hot 100. 2020/03/16 付け
33. ↑ Oricon — 月間　シングルランキング. 2020年03月度 (archived)
34. ↑ WoW! Korea — 「JO1」、デビューシングル「PROTOSTAR」が“プラチナ”認定…オーディション開始から半年
35. ↑ Twitter — JO1 #PROTOSTAR iTunes Album Chart. As of 13PM JST, March 4th 2020. (better citation needed)
36. ↑ Oricon — デイリー　シングルランキング. 2020年03月03日付 (archived)
37. ↑ Billboard Japan — 【深ヨミ】2020年第1四半期　シングルセールスにみる売上の一極集中化とは
38. ↑ Billboard Japan — 音楽オーディオ首位はSnow Man vs SixTONES、オーディオ総売上金額は前年比71.5%に　2020年 上半期音楽ソフト売上動向発表【SoundScan Japan調べ】(archived)
39. ↑ Billboard Japan — 【ビルボード 2020年上半期TOP Artists】Official髭男dismとKing Gnuの大躍進、Mrs. GREEN APPLEジワリ前進（コメントあり）
40. ↑ Billboard Japan — 【ビルボード 2020年上半期TOP Singles Sales】AKB48『失恋、ありがとう』が首位獲得　乃木坂46/Snow Man/SixTONES/日向坂46が続く
41. ↑ Oricon — 【オリコン上半期ランキング2020】乃木坂46、総合で史上初の3年連続首位　SixTONES vs Snow Manは総売上20億円越え
42. ↑ Oricon — 【オリコン上半期ランキング2020】乃木坂46、総合で史上初の3年連続首位　SixTONES vs Snow Manは総売上20億円越え
43. ↑ Oricon — 【オリコン上半期ランキング2020】乃木坂46、総合で史上初の3年連続首位　SixTONES vs Snow Manは総売上20億円越え
44. ↑ Recording Industry Association of Japan Official Website — 月次認定作品　認定年月：2020年 3月
45. ↑ Billboard Japan — 【ビルボード】JO1「無限大」がシングル344,299枚を売り上げ総合首位　赤ちゃんが泣き止むと話題の反町「POISON」はTwitter 2位で総合38位に
46. ↑ Oricon — PROTOSTAR(初回限定盤A). JO1
47. ↑ Oricon — PROTOSTAR(初回限定盤B). JO1
48. ↑ Oricon — PROTOSTAR. JO1