The Star

* Regular
* Red
* Green
* Blue

## Audio

***The Star*** (stylized as ***The STAR***) is the first studio album of Japanese boy group JO1. It will be released digitally and physically on November 25, 2020 by Lapone Entertainment.

There are four editions of the album: one regular edition with 19 tracks and three limited editions with 15 tracks each. The song "Shine A Light" serves as the title track on all editions. The album features five new songs, two new JO1 versions of songs that previously appeared on *Produce 101 Japan*, and all tracks from their previous two releases *Protostar* and *Stargazer*.

## Background and release

On October 5, 2020, JO1 held a press conference at Esports Ginza Studio in Tokyo, where they announced the release of their first studio album *The Star* and their first online concert titled "Starlight". The group released star-themed concept photos the same day, which are supposed to express their "shining selves" and continue the concept of their previous releases. The music video for the title track "Shine A Light" was released on November 10. Performance videos for "Safety Zone" and "MONSTAR" were released on November 16 and December 3, 2020, respectively.

The album was released on November 25 and features all of their previously released songs from *Protostar* and *Stargazer*, as well as five brand new songs and two JO1 renditions of songs from *Produce 101 Japan*.

The album is available in four editions: the regular edition and Limited Edition Red, Green, and Blue. All editions feature "Shine A Light" as the title track, as well as "Starlight" and another new song, which varies depending on the edition. While the regular edition features 19 tracks, the limited editions include 15 tracks and bonus material. The regular edition is also available for digital download and streaming.

## Promotions

To commemorate the release of their new album, the group held a special YouTube live stream on November 25. They were also featured in a special program on *Music On! TV* a day before the album's release, and released their second official LINE stickers set.

On November 19, JO1 performed "Infinity" and "Shine A Light" at a special live event for MTV VMAJ 2020 as the recipient of the Rising Star Award. The performance was later broadcast on November 29. On December 2, they also performed "Shine A Light" as part of the lineup for 2020 FNS Music Festival.

Additionally, JO1 will a virtual pay-per-view concert titled *Starlight* via Pia Live Stream on December 19.

## Track listing

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.

* Regular Edition
* Limited Edition Red
* Limited Edition Green
* Limited Edition Blue

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

This version comes with a DVD, which features a bonus video called *JO1 PARTY*. The first press also includes a lottery ticket to apply for participation in an event, 1 out of 4 transparent photo cards and 1 out of 4 solo jackets, which are all exclusive to this version.

This version comes with a photo book. The first press also includes a lottery ticket to apply for participation in an event, 1 out of 3 transparent photo cards and 1 out of 3 solo jackets, which are all exclusive to this version.

This version comes with an accordion card. The first press also includes a lottery ticket to apply for participation in an event, 1 out of 4 transparent photo cards and 1 out of 4 solo jackets, which are all exclusive to this version.
## Critical reception

Takahashi Azusa from Real Sound praised the group's rapid growth that is evident throughout *The Star*, especially in singing. She also mentioned that one of the album's charms is the amount of versatility shown from the wide array of genres and concepts represented in their songs. Although some tracks have been performed before on *Produce 101 Japan*, she described those songs as "cohesive while retaining the freshness of the time." To close her review, Takahashi stated the album is good in showing "factors that makeup JO1 as an artist", namely the bond between the members, the "spices" found in the songs thanks to their uniqueness, and gratitude to their fans.

## Sales and certifications

The Star sold 145,356 copies in the first three days after its release and debuted at number one on the Oricon Daily Albums Charts with an estimate of 114,560 copies sold. It eventually ranked at number two on the Weekly Albums Chart after BTS' album *Be* with 158,333 copies sold. The album also ranked second on the *Billboard Japan* Hot Albums Chart and number one on the Top Albums Sales with an estimate of 166,188 copies sold in the week of its release. The commercial success of the album also put JO1 in the third place for *Billboard Japan* Artist 100 in the album's release week.

"Shine A Light" digital sales

## Album Credits

* Lapone Entertainment
* Stone Music Entertainment
* Yoshimoto Kogyo
* Sony Music Labels Inc.
* Jacket Staff
* Movie Staff

* **Executive Producer:** Choi Shin Hwa
* **Supervisor:** Jang Hyuk Jean
* **FC Management Team:** Son So Young
* **Management Team:** Tsunoda Shoichi, Kim Ri Ahn, Jung Nam Chae
* **Music Business Team:** Akada Nariyuki
* **Live Business Team:** Torigoe Ryo
* **Financial Team:** Choi Gi Yong, Suzuki Mari

- **Executive Producer:** Lee Sun

- **Producer:** Jeong Yoo Jin

- **Visual Creative:** Kim Yoon Kyeong, Lee Joo Mi, Lee Yea Eun

- **A&R:** Nino, Cha In Jun, Yun Mina

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

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

- **Global Department:** Jang Ji Hoon, Park Jung Jun

- **Album Design:** Cho Dae Young, Shin Hyo Jin, Shim Je Hee (RAINBOWBUS)

- **Choreography (Shine A Light, Safety Zone):** Tamzin

- **Choreography (MONSTAR):** You Seung Hyun

- **Style Director:** Min In Hong

- **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:** Yuki Johdai

- **Music Director:** Iida Takayuki

- **Public Relations:** Hirao Kazuhiro

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

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

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

- **Photographer:** Kamei Takashi

- **Retouch:** VITA, LiNK-UP

- **Creative Coordinator:** Shiozuka Tatsuya (COLLEGE Inc.)

- **Stylist:** Fujinaga Syohei

- **Hair & Make:** cheeks

- **DVD Producer:** Onuma Tomoaki (YOSHIMOTO KOGYO CO., LTD.), Takeishi Masato (IVS Television Co, Ltd.), Iguchi Kyoko (IVS Television Co, Ltd.)

- **Director:** Watanabe Masashi, Ohta Yoshinori, Chichibu Masumi, Yamada Koki, Hanaoka Ryo (IVS Television Co, Ltd.)

- **Technical Crew:** turn up Co., Ltd.

- **EED:** Yamazaki Minoru (Glinkstudio Co., Ltd.)

- **MA:** Fujino Tatsuki (JINOSONIC Co., Ltd.)

- **Stylist:** Fujinaga Syohei

- **Hair & Make:** cheeks

- **Production:** YOSHIMOTO KOGYO CO., LTD., IVS Television Co, Ltd.

## Notes

1. ↑ Oricon's cumulative physical sales for *The Star* until December 7, 2020.

	* 158,333: Oricon — 週間　アルバムランキング. 2020年12月07日付（2020年11月23日～2020年11月29日）

Digital sales:

	* 1,489: Oricon — 週間　デジタルアルバムランキング. 2020年12月07日付（2020年11月23日～2020年11月29日）
2. ↑ Billboard Japan's cumulative sales for *The Star* until December 7, 2020.

	* 166,188: Billboard Japan — Top Albums Sales. 2020/12/07 付け

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Natalie — JO1の新ダンス名をセンター川西拓実がとっさに命名、佐藤景瑚からの無茶ぶりで
2. ↑ Modelpress — JO1、1stアルバム＆オンライン単独ライブ決定 センターは川西拓実
3. ↑ JO1 Official Website — JO1 1st ALBUM 『Shine A Light』 MV 本日24時公開！
4. ↑ JO1 Official YouTube — JO1｜Shine A Light MV
5. ↑ JO1 Official Website — JO1 『Safety Zone』 PERFORMANCE VIDEO published！
6. ↑ Real Sound — JO1「Safety Zone」、聴くたびに新たな発見がある“スルメ曲”に　歌詞や歌声、ダンスのポイントを探る
7. ↑ JO1 Official YouTube — JO1｜Safety Zone PERFORMANCE VIDEO
8. ↑ JO1 Official Website — JO1 『MONSTAR』 PERFORMANCE VIDEO published！
9. ↑ JO1 Official YouTube — JO1｜MONSTAR PERFORMANCE VIDEO
10. ↑ Natalie — JO1が1stアルバム「The STAR」発売、オンラインライブ開催決定
11. ↑ Oricon — JO1、『The STAR』リリース記念生配信決定 JAMが喜ぶ新情報の発表も
12. ↑ TV Life — JO1の1stアルバム「The STAR」発売記念オリジナル番組 エムオン！で11・24放送
13. ↑ Oricon — JO1、LINEスタンプ第2弾発売 「ぴえん」や與那城奨の「ハイサイ!」など収録
14. ↑ Oricon — 【MTV VMAJ】JO1、大躍進が期待される新人アーティストに選出「21年もさらなる飛躍を」
15. ↑ Oricon — 『FNS歌謡祭』出演第1弾43組発表 嵐は初の2週連続 聖子20年ぶり ミスチル6年ぶり
16. ↑ Big Lobe News — JO1 初のオンライン単独ライブ JO1 1st Live Streaming Concert 『STARLIGHT』 チケット発売開始!
17. ↑ *The Star* (booklet). JO1. Lapone Entertainment. 2020.
18. ↑ 18.00 18.01 18.02 18.03 18.04 18.05 18.06 18.07 18.08 18.09 18.10 18.11 18.12 18.13 18.14 18.15 JO1 Official YouTube — JO1｜『The STAR』HIGHLIGHT MEDLEY
19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 "Infinity" on AWA Music
20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 "La Pa Pa Pam" on AWA Music
21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 "Running" on AWA Music
22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 "OH-EH-OH" on AWA Music
23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 "So What" on AWA Music
24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 "GO" on AWA Music
25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 "Voice" on AWA Music
26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 "Tsukame (It's Coming) (JO1 ver.)" on AWA Music
27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 "YOUNG (JO1 ver.)" on AWA Music
28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 "GrandMaster (JO1 ver.)" on AWA Music
29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 "KungChiKiTa (JO1 ver.)" on AWA Music
30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 30.3 "My Friends" on AWA Music
31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 31.3 JO1 Official Website — 1ST ALBUM "The STAR" to be released on November 25!
32. ↑ Real Sound — JO1、アルバム『The STAR』に詰まった様々な魅力　グループを構成するファクターが見える作品に
33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 Oricon — 週間　アルバムランキング. 2020年12月07日付（2020年11月23日～2020年11月29日）
34. ↑ Oricon — 週間　合算アルバムランキング. 2020年12月07日付（2020年11月23日～2020年11月29日）
35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 Billboard Japan — Hot Albums. 2020/12/07 付け
36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 Billboard Japan — Top Albums Sales. 2020/12/07 付け
37. ↑ Billboard Japan — Hot 100. 2020/12/07 付け
38. ↑ Billboard Japan — 【ビルボード】JO1『The STAR』が16.6万枚でALセールス首位　BTS/浦島坂田船が続く
39. ↑ Oricon — デイリー　アルバムランキング. 2020年11月24日付
40. ↑ Billboard Japan — Artist 100. 2020/12/07 付け
41. ↑ Oricon — The STAR(初回限定盤Red). JO1
42. ↑ Oricon — The STAR(初回限定盤Green). JO1
43. ↑ Oricon — The STAR(初回限定盤Blue). JO1
44. ↑ Oricon — The STAR. JO1