Challenger

* Regular
* Limited A
* Limited B

## Audio

***Challenger*** (stylized in all caps) is the third extended play by Japanese boy group JO1. It was released on April 28, 2021 by Lapone Entertainment.

There are three editions of the album: each features a total of four tracks, although the content varies. The song "Born To Be Wild" serves as the title track on all editions. Their digital single "Tsutaerareru Nara," which was previously released as the song for a KitKat commercial, is also included on all editions. A special edition with all tracks was later released for digital streaming and download.

## Background and release

In early January 2021, JO1 reportedly arrived in South Korea in preparation of their new EP. During their second online concert on February 20, 2021 in Paju, member Kono Junki announced the release of their third extended play *Challenger* for April 28, 2021. First concept photos and the single's jacket photos were released on their first anniversary, March 4. While their previous releases detailed their journey to become their "shining selves", this time, the single will explore the concept of the members stepping into an unknown world. Additionally, the group revealed that they were going to hold their first live tour in Winter 2021.

On March 24, the music video for their new title track "Born To Be Wild" was released. Directed by Seo Dong Hyeok from the South Korean production company Flipevil, the theme of the music video was said to be "challenge": opening the door boldly full of fear and expectations, taking the first step, and overcoming it with determination. The new song, alongside the song "Tsutaerareru Nara", was distributed digitally through various streaming services the day after. "Tsutaerareru Nara" had already been released as a digital single on January 18 and was used as the theme song for a KitKat Japan commercial.

The album is available in three physical editions and one digital edition: the regular edition, Limited Edition A, Limited Edition B, as well as a digital Special Edition. All editions feature "Born to Be Wild" as the title track and the songs "Design" and "Tsutaerareru Nara". While the physical editions feature four songs each, the special digital edition includes all six songs for digital download and streaming. It is their first release to not include any re-released songs from *Produce 101 Japan*.

To commemorate the release of their third EP, the group held a special live stream on YouTube on April 28, which was followed by the release of the performance video for the track "Speed ​​of Light". The performance video for "Design" was released on May 3.

## Promotions

JO1 performed "Born To Be Wild" for the first time at KCON:TACT 3 on March 25, 2021. A day later, the group performed a short version of the song on their first terrestrial TV show *Toresugi JO1*.

Even before the full EP was released, "Born To Be Wild" was performed on various TV shows, inlcuding *Hey! Hey !Neo! Music Champ*, *CDTV Live Live*, and NHK's variety talk show *Numa ni Hamatte Kiitemita*. It was also used as the theme song for the nationwide TV commercial of Nike Air Max Infinity 2 by ABC-Mart.

## Track listing

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.

* Regular Edition
* Limited Edition A
* Limited Edition B
* Special Edition

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

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

This version comes with a photobook. The first press also includes a lottery ticket to apply for participation in an event, as well as 1 out of 11 photo cards and 1 out of 11 solo jackets, which are all exclusive to this version.

When purchasing their albums from selected stores, buyers received additional target store benefits. When buying all editions, Tower Records and HMV handed out two original stickers sets; Tsutaya Records and Rakuten Books gave away a "clear file" with every set of 3; forTUNE music passed out a storage box with every member's solo cut design; and any other store gave away an announcement poster.

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. Similarly, the Sony Music shop added a large group photo to every order. The official Lapone Online Shop included a large photo of a member, which could be chosen by the buyer, with every purchase and an additional large group photo for everyone who bought all three editions.

## Sales and certifications

Upon its release, *Challenger* debuted at number one on the Oricon Daily Singles Chart and eventually topped the Weekly Singles Chart with over 254,111 copies sold, earning JO1 an achievement as the twelfth overall group and the sixth male group in the history of Oricon charts to have first week sales of over 200,000 copies for three consecutive singles since its debut. The single also debuted atop the *Billboard Japan* Top Singles Sales, and eventually received a Platinum certification by the RIAJ for surpassing 250,000 copies sold. The commercial success of the single put JO1 in second place for the *Billboard Japan* Artist 100 on the week the EP was released which was also their highest placement on the chart to date.

"Born To Be Wild" debuted at number eighty-eight before eventually peaking at number one on the *Billboard Japan* Hot 100.

"Born To Be Wild" digital sales

## Album Credits

* Lapone Entertainment
* Stone Music Entertainment
* Yoshimoto Kogyo
* Sony Music Labels Inc.
* Production Staff
* DVD Staff

* **Executive Producer:** Choi Shin Hwa
* **Supervisor:** Jang Hyuk Jean
* **FC Management Team:** Son So Young
* **Digital Marketing Team:** Akihara Eri, Suzuki Reimi
* **Management Team:** Torigoe Ryo, Kim Ri Ahn, Mizuno Maiko, Jung Nam Chae
* **Music Business Team:** Akada Nariyuki
* **Live Business Team:** Matsumoto Haruki, Sekine Ryuji
* **Financial Team:** Suzuki Mari

- **Executive Producer:** Lee Sun

- **Producer:** Jeong Yoo Jin

- **Visual Creative:** Lee Sung Un, Lee Yea Eun

- **A&R:** James Rhee, Cha In Jun, Nino, Benny Kim

- **Marketing:** Lee So Jung

- **Publishing:** Chae Su Yun, Lee Da Young

- **Global Department:** Lim Hee Seok, Park Jung Jun

- **Product Management:** Kitahashi Yusuke, Okawa Naoto

- **Sales Marketing:** Mikami Koichi, Maebashi Kumiko

- **Public Relations:** Sato Takafumi, Hiraoka Tomoki, Tanikawa Kanako

- **Sales Promotion:** Ikemori Yosuke, Doi Eiko

- **Coordination:** Ikoma Chiharu, Nakane Ruriko

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

- **A&R:** Johdai Yuki

- **Music Director:** Iida Takayuki

- **Public Relations:** Hirao Kazuhiro

- **Sales Promotion:** Ozawa Takafumi, Takemura Kazuyuki, Doi Mizuki (Sony Music Solutions Inc.)

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

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

- **Photography:** Zoo Yong Gyun @Agency TEO

- **Set Design:** Choi Seo Yoon @Da;rak

- **Album Design:** Cho Dae Young, Shin Hyo Jin @RB

- **Choreography (Born To Be Wild):** Tamzin, Yu Seung Hyun, Ji Dae Hyeon, Sim Hyo Jin @Team Same

- **Choreography (Design):** Yu Seung Hyun @Team Same

- **Choreography (Speed of Light):** Kasper

- **Style Director:** Min In Hong

- **Hair:** Hero, Choi Soo Chan @Bit & Boot

- **Make-up:** Choi Su Ji, Son Ye Jin, Lee Jee Won @Bit & Boot

- **MV Production Company:** FLIPEVIL

- **MV Director:** Seo Dong Hyeok

- **DVD Producer/Director:** Morita Ippei (LIME Inc.)

- **Technical Crew:** DEEP Co., Ltd.

- **EED:** Makinose Hayato, Kataoka Yohei (Media Mitsumura Co., Ltd.),

- **MA:** Irako Shoichi (Media Mitsumura Co., Ltd.),

- **Hair & Make-up:** Sasaki Mika, Tamura Yuko, Nishio Sayuri, Komoto Akane

- **Stylist:** Fujinaga Syohei

- **Production:** LIME Inc.

## Notes

1. ↑ Oricon's cumulative physical sales for *Challenger* until September 30, 2020.

	* 254,111: Oricon — 週間　シングルランキング. 2021年05月10日付 (archived)
	* 15,898: Oricon — 週間　シングルランキング. 2021年05月17日付 (archived)
	* 23,210: Oricon — 週間　シングルランキング. 2021年05月24日付 (archived)

Digital sales:

	* 1,791: Oricon — 週間　デジタルアルバムランキング. 2021年05月10日付（2021年04月26日～2021年05月02日）
	* 299: Oricon — 週間　デジタルアルバムランキング. 2021年05月17日付（2021年05月03日～2021年05月09日）
2. ↑ Billboard Japan's cumulative sales for *Challenger* until June 16, 2021.

	* 289,433: Billboard Japan — Top Singles Sales. 2021/05/05 公開
	* 22,291: Billboard Japan — Top Singles Sales. 2021/05/12 公開
	* 28,261: Billboard Japan — Top Singles Sales. 2021/05/19 公開
	* 2,663: Billboard Japan — Top Singles Sales. 2021/05/26 公開
	* 1,418: Billboard Japan — Top Singles Sales. 2021/06/02 公開
	* 1,118: Billboard Japan — Top Singles Sales. 2021/06/09 公開
	* 751: Billboard Japan — Top Singles Sales. 2021/06/16 公開

## References

1. ↑ Sport TV News — '일본판 프듀' JO1, 25일 '엠카' 나온다…한국 음악방송 첫 출연 (공식)
2. ↑ Real Sound — JO1、3rdシングル『CHALLENGER』発売　リリース記念イベントも開催
3. ↑ Oricon — JO1が1周年記念日に新曲ジャケ写公開&今冬ツアー決定 JAMへのメッセージも
4. ↑ Modelpress — JO1、新ビジュアル解禁 2021年に初ツアー開催決定＜メンバーコメント＞
5. ↑ JO1 Official Website — JO1 3RD SINGLE「CHALLENGER」アーティスト写真、ジャケット写真解禁 & 2021年冬 初のツアー開催決定！！
6. ↑ Flipevil Official Instagram — JO1 - BORN TO BE WILD
7. ↑ Oricon — JO1、3rdシングル「CHALLENGER」から「Born To Be Wild」MV公開 ブンブンダンスがポイントに
8. ↑ Oricon — JO1、2021年初の新曲は「伝えられるなら」 20日からデジタル配信開始
9. ↑ Oricon — JO1、YouTubeでオリコンデイリー1位を生報告 オンラインライブ“円盤化”も決定
10. ↑ JO1 Official Website — 'Design' PERFORMANCE VIDEO公開！
11. ↑ NME — Here's everything you might have missed at KCON:TACT 3
12. ↑ Oricon — JO1、白熱の地上波オンエアバトル【ネタバレあり】 撮影秘話&インタビュー掲載
13. ↑ Modelpress — JO1、初地上波冠番組で新曲「Born To Be Wild」テレビ初披露 メンバーのリハーサル姿公開＜トレスギJO1＞
14. ↑ Oricon — NiziU、ダウンタウンとの初共演「とても幸せ」 JO1は新居での快適な生活を告白
15. ↑ Oricon — JO1『沼ハマ』初登場 「シンクロダンス」の秘密公開&新曲フルコーラスで披露
16. ↑ Oricon — 『CDTVライブ』第2弾はジャニーズWEST、平井大、flumpool 名作映画&主題歌特集も
17. ↑ Oricon — JO1、ABCマートのテレビCMに起用 「Born To Be Wild」がタイアップ曲に
18. ↑ *Challenger* (booklet). JO1. Lapone Entertainment. 2021.
19. ↑ 19.00 19.01 19.02 19.03 19.04 19.05 19.06 19.07 19.08 19.09 19.10 19.11 19.12 19.13 19.14 19.15 19.16 19.17 JO1 Official YouTube — JO1｜3RD SINGLE "CHALLENGER" HIGHLIGHT MEDLEY
20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 JO1 Official Website — 3RD SINGLE 『CHALLENGER』 4/28発売決定！
21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 JO1 Official Website — JO1 3RD SINGLE「CHALLENGER」対象店舗 先着特典公開！※3/18 “その他一般店”対象店舗公開
22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Oricon — 週間　シングルランキング. 2021年05月10日付 (archived)
23. ↑ Oricon — 週間　合算シングルランキング. 2021年05月10日付 (archived)
24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 Billboard Japan — 【ビルボード】JO1「Born To Be Wild」が289,433枚を売り上げ総合首位　星野源「不思議」総合2位、Ado「踊」総合4位に初登場
25. ↑ Oricon — 月間　シングルランキング. 2021年04月度 (archived)
26. ↑ Oricon — デイリー　シングルランキング. 2021年04月27日付 (archived)
27. ↑ Oricon — JO1、「CHALLENGER」が3作連続1位 川尻蓮「リリースするたびに責任感と嬉しさを強く実感」【オリコンランキング】
28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 RIAJ — 月次認定作品　認定年月：2021年 4月
29. ↑ Billboard Japan — Artist 100. 2021/05/05 公開
30. ↑ Oricon — CHALLENGER(初回限定盤A). JO1
31. ↑ Oricon — CHALLENGER(初回限定盤B). JO1
32. ↑ Oricon — CHALLENGER. JO1