JUNON

JUNON promoting BE:FIRST's 4th single

**JUNON** (ジュノン), birth name **Ikegame Junon** (池亀樹音), is a Japanese singer and dancer under Japanese management company BMSG as a member of BE:FIRST, a boy group selected by SKY-HI at the end of the audition show THE FIRST. He made his debut with the group in November 2021.

Before joining BMSG, Junon was a member of K-pop group **VERMUDA**.

### Early Life

Junon was exposed to music since he was a little boy, as his father is in a band and took him to his gigs often.

### 2018-2019

In July 2018, Junon auditioned to be a member of the K-pop group VERMUDA.

On September 25, it was announced that he had won and was now a part of the group. . However, the group disbanded in early 2019 and Junon never got to take part in any official activities.

In July 2019, he took part in the stage plays "Owari no Hajimari ni"/"Hajimari no Owari ni".

### 2021

In 2021, Junon auditioned for SKY-HI's THE FIRST and passed the Quality screening in Tokyo (conducted in-person) with "Yuki no Hana" by Nakashima Mika (vocal performance). He ranked 23rd out of 30.

In THE FIRST Artisism screening, Junon sang Nanairo Holiday by SKY-HI and was placed in Team F (with Kanshuji Tamotsu, Kamimura Leo, Nakagami Asahi, and Kinoshita Hiromu) to perform "Beautiful Now" by w-inds. At the end of the 3rd round, he ranked 11th, successfully continuing on to the training camp.

In the training camp Creativity screening, Junon was placed in Team B with Shunsuke, Ryoki, Ran, and Ryuhei. The song they created in this round is titled "Good Days". Junon ranked 9th after this round.

In the training camp Professional screening, Junon was placed in Team Be Free with Leo, Sota, Manato, Reiko and Rui. They performed Be Free, and Junon ranked 7th after this round.

In the training camp VS. Pro Artist screening, Junon performed To The First together with the remaining 10 THE FIRST members. He was the final contestant (ranked 10th) confirmed as the finalist of THE FIRST.

After a one month break from the training camp, Junon and the other finalists returned to the same location to prepare for the final round. Junon was placed in Team Shining, and performed Shining One with Shota, Sota, Manato, and Ryuhei.

In the Creative NEO screening, he teamed up with Leo and Ryoki to form "Club JRL". The song they created for this round is "Lonely Night", with instrumentals of "Stray Cat" by SKY-HI working as the backing track.

On August 13, Junon was chosen to be the fifth member of BE:FIRST.
On August 16, BE:FIRST released its pre-debut single, Shining One.
On November 3, BE:FIRST released its debut single, Gifted.

In November, Junon modeled for FIDES×FIRSTORDER

### 2022

On March 18, Junon made his debut as a runway model in the SYUMAN. | Animus. AUTUMN/WINTER 2022-23 Runway Collection “Listen to your Eyes” show.

On September 18 he released New Chapter as a part of BMSG ALLSTARS.

### 2023

On September 18, he released The Sun from the EAST as part of BMSG EAST.

## Personal Life

* Family
* Education
* Friendships
* Nicknames
* Name Meaning

Junon's father is in a band.

He has a little sister, Remi, younger by one and a half years, who is active as a singer-songwriter going by the name of Remifa#
He is also cousins with model and actress Shimamura Miyako and professional football player Shimamura Yushi

His family keeps a male Jack Russel Terrier named Renon.

On April 30, 2020, his pet dog and parakeet died when his house burned down. Later that year, his grandmother also passed away.

In March 2017, Junon graduated from high school.

In March 2021, Junon graduated from university. He had a job lined up, but decided to decline the offer in order to participate in THE FIRST.

* **RYUHEI**: he started getting close to BE:FIRST member RYUHEI through gaming
* **RYOKI**: he started getting close to BE:FIRST member RYOKI through THE FIRST Creativity Screening and spending long hours in the hot springs during THE FIRST Training Camp, as well as going shopping
* **MANATO**: he started getting close to BE:FIRST member MANATO through shopping

* **Junon-kun** (じゅのんくん): most common nickname
* **J** (ジェイ): used by BMSG artists
* **Juju** (ジュジュ): used by international fans

Junon's given name, "樹音", means "wood" (樹) and "sound" (音). Since both of his parents are musicians, they gave him this particular name in the hopes that he would be the sound (音) of the world ("樹" (ju) has a similar pronunciation to 'center', "中心" ('chuu'shin) in Japanese).

## Profile

* Information
* Q&A

* **Birth Name**: Ikegame Junon (池亀樹音)
* **Stage Name**: JUNON (ジュノン)
* **Nicknames**: Junon-kun (じゅのんくん), J (ジェイ  *J*)?
* **Birth Date**: May 23, 1998 (1998-05-23) (age 25)
* **Birth Place**: Tokyo, Japan
* **Blood Type**: A
* **Height**: 183 cm (6 ft 0 in)?
* **Western Zodiac**:  Gemini
* **Eastern Zodiac**:  Tiger
* **Emoji**: 🐢
* **BMSG Status**:
	+ 2021-08-13: Joined
	+ 2021-08-13: BE:FIRST member
* **BMSG Groups**:
	+ BE:FIRST (2021-present)
* **BMSG Units**:
	+ BMSG ALLSTARS (2022)
	+ BMSG EAST (2023)

* **Special Skills**: soccer, singing, making faces for photoshoots
* **Hobbies**: playing games (Overwatch), watching movies (sci-fi and horror), singing
* **Favorite artists**: TUBE, keshi, Michael Jackson, TWICE
* **Favorite Movies**: The Truman Show, Forrest Gump, Yes Man
* **Favorite Food**: Grilled meat
* **Favorite Jewelry**: jewelry he can build outfits around
* **His "song of destiny"**: "Kitto Dokokade" by TUBE, the first song that moved him to tears when he heard it live.
* **Healing Moment**: sauna
* **Energy Level**: Gets more energetic starting at 5 p.m., peaks around 12 a.m. to 2 a.m.
* **3 horror films he recommends**: "The Visit", "Get Out", "Us"
* **A country he wants to go to right now**: Europe (the continent) and United States (Las Vegas)
* **Something he would do 800 times**: live performing, because it allows him to let himself go and he enjoys it a lot
* **Something he doesn't want to do, even if he's asked 800 times**: walking around Shibuya in costume on a weekday
* **Something he would buy if he had 800 yen**: fast food
* **Memorable summer songs**: Somebody To You by The Vamps (he listened to it on his way to and from school during summer club activities), Natsu wo Dakishimete by TUBE and Dance The Night Away by TWICE
* **Role of Jewelry**: it raises his spirits
* **Memorable Christmas Memory**: spending Christmas at his English conversation class, but not liking the gift exchange because he never got what he wanted
* **If he could spend Christmas with BE:FIRST**: rent a big cottage and relax
* **2022 was**: the most intense year of his life

## Discography

*Main article: JUNON/Discography*
* BE:FIRST
* Collaborations
* THE FIRST

* **Digital**
	+ [2021.08.16] Shining One
	+ [2022.07.13] Don't Wake Me Up
	+ [2023.02.13] Boom Boom Back
* **CD**
	+ [2021.11.03] Gifted.
	+ [2022.05.18] Bye-Good-Bye
	+ [2022.08.31] BE:1
	+ [2023.04.26] Smile Again
	+ [2023.08.30] Sarracenia / Salvia
	+ [2023.09.13] Mainstream

* [2022.09.18] BMSG ALLSTARS - New Chapter
* [2023.09.18] BMSG EAST - The Sun from the EAST

During the audition JUNON participated in each of below performance screenings:

* **Creativity**
	+ Team B
	+ Song: Good Days

* **Professional Trial Stage - Be Free vs Move On**
	+ Team Be Free

* **Vs Professional Artist**
	+ Performance of To The First featuring all Top 11 finalists

* **Creativity NEO**
	+ Group name: Club JRL (JUNON, RYOKI, LEO)
	+ Song: Lonely Night

* **Final Screening - Team Shining vs Team One**
	+ Team Shining

## Live Events

*Main article: JUNON/Live Events*
* One Man Lives
* Featured Lives
* Tours

* [2022.12.12] Round A Ground Special 2022 (guest)

## Other Works

* Starring TV Programs
* TV Appearances
* Music Videos
* Modeling
* Theater

* [2021] THE FIRST
* [2021] Ano Hi no THE FIRST
* [2021] THE FIRST MOMENT
* [2021-2022] Gifted Days
* [2022] BE:FIRST Road to VIVA LA ROCK 2022
* [2022] ALL ABOUT BMSG
* [2022-] BE:FIRST TV
* [2023] D.U.N.K.

* [2022.12.22] Sukkiri / NTV

*Main article: JUNON/Music Videos*

Featured
* [2021] SKY-HI - ONE MORE DAY feat. REIKO  (cameo)

Collaborations
* [2022] BMSG ALLSTARS - New Chapter
* [2023] BMSG EAST - The Sun from the EAST

* [2019.05] MEDVECH
* [2021.11] FIDES×FIRSTORDER
* [2021.12] NYLON 365 Anniversary  (December 2nd, 4th, 12th, 14th, 25th, and 26th)
* [2022.03.18] SYUMAN. | Animus. AUTUMN/WINTER 2022-23 Runway Collection “Listen to your Eyes”
* [2022.11] FILA Brand Ambassador  (as BE:FIRST)
* [2022.11] Swarvoski Brand Ambassador  (as BE:FIRST)

* [2019.07.10-15] "Owari no Hajimari ni"/"Hajimari no Owari ni".

## Publications

*Main article: JUNON/Publications*
*See also: BE:FIRST/Publications*
* [2022.02.18] BARFOUT! vol. 318
* [2022.11.03] Sports Graphic Number (with SKY-HI)
* [2023.01.30] ROCKIN'ON JAPAN - March 2023 issue
* [2023.07.22] SPUR - September 2023 issue

## Trivia

* In his last year of middle school, Junon was around 178cm. Junon grew the most in height when he was 14, during the summer of his second year in middle school.
* His childhood dream was to be a football player. He played the sport throughout his school years (from elementary school until graduating from high school). He originally wanted to play baseball, but his parents asked him to try soccer and he loved it. He ended up being a part of three different teams and playing six days a week. He tried joining his middle school's soccer club but he didn't like the strict senior-junior relationship.
	+ His favorite football related memory is going to Brazil with his team and scoring a goal against the Palmeiras Junior team in a game.
	+ His favorite players are the Brazil national team players, in particular Kaka and Ronaldinho.
	+ He became stronger through the sport, both mentally and physically.
* He can speak some Korean and English
* Junon was in his final year of college and actually had a job lined up for him. He even went to the orientation for new recruits for his job , but auditioned for THE FIRST as his last shot at the industry. Upon being confirmed as one of the members for THE FIRST training camp, he rejected the job offer.
* Junon was the only contestant from THE FIRST to perform a song by a female artist in THE FIRST Quality screening round.
* Junon's in-ear monitors have black pearls in them because he thought they were cute and since they reflect color, they go with every outfit. He also chose to have the BE:FIRST logo in a big size. His in-ears match with RYUHEI's white pearl in-ears.
* Since debuting, his hair grew longer and he lost 10kg.
* Junon thinks BE:FIRST's strength lies in that the members get along well and are close with each other
* He used to have BBQs with his friends every summer, but he wouldn't cook anything. He would only eat.
* He loves k-pop girl group TWICE. He started listening to them in 2017, around the time of their Japanese debut, due to a college friend's recommendation. He's gone to all of their concerts in Japan and has seen them live in Korea as well. He loves the catchiness of their music and the friendship between the members.
* The hardest part of THE FIRST for him was saying goodbye to eliminated members.

## References

1. ↑ https://twitter.com/\_ye\_ji\_ap\_sa/status/1044584497402961920?s=20
2. ↑ https://twitter.com/rodony66/status/1151419544008658944
3. ↑ https://twitter.com/yoshi777888/status/1152124331155058688
4. ↑ THE FIRST Audition page
5. ↑ https://youtu.be/30lDQin6VfI
6. ↑ *BE:FIRST Twitter*
7. ↑ Junon's Twitter
8. ↑ Shimamura Miyako instagram
9. ↑  Shimamura Miyako Instagram
10. ↑ Miyako's YouTube Channel
11. ↑ THE FIRST #19
12. ↑ Bandwagon
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Modelpress - *BE:FIRST・JUNON、TWICEの熱烈ファンだった「大学時代はしょっちゅう渡韓」*
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 *Harper's Bazaar - BE:FIRST、スワロフスキーのきらめきとともに 2022/11/18*
15. ↑ *The Television - BE:FIRSTのチームワークの秘訣は？「年齢を感じさせないグループ」＜インタビュー＞ 2021/10/07*
16. ↑ Yahoo! Japan *初来日のIVEが「会いたかったです！」BE:FIRST、CRAVITYとそれぞれの色見せた「ネクステ」 2022/08/09*
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2  Yomiuri - 海外に僕らの音楽を　ありがとう言い続けたい…ＢＥ：ＦＩＲＳＴ　視線は世界へ（後編）
18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 LACHIC CENTURY SESSION
19. ↑ https://twitter.com/fivecard0604/status/1132992363612102660
20. ↑ BESTY Q&A 2022.03.05 in BMSG [BESTY] App.
21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3  *Number - 祝・BE:FIRSTデビュー１周年！ 生みの親SKY-HIとメンバーJUNONがサッカーから学んだこと「BMSGサッカー部を作りますか！」*
22. ↑  Ano Hi no THE FIRST #12
23. ↑ https://youtu.be/Pd41gyQv\_7g
24. ↑ ELLE Japan
25. ↑ Glitter
26. ↑  [Yomiuri -新曲「Ｂｙｅ―Ｇｏｏｄ―Ｂｙｅ」の振り付け練習はみんなで話し合って…ＢＥ：ＦＩＲＳＴ　視線は世界へ（前編)
27. ↑ *Dwango - BE:FIRST、“頂点”を叶えるべく集まった7人「自分たちがカルチャーを作る 2021/10*