Rising trio Number_i – consisting of Sho Hirano, Yuta Jinguji, and Yuta Kishi – continue their momentum of success with their recent single "U.M.A." debuting #1 on Billboard Japan’s Hot 100 and latest single “Numbers Ur Zone,” out ahead of their sophomore album No.Ⅱ, out now.
The three-piece have only gone from strength to strength since their debut in 2024. From a hit Japanese nationwide tour to appearances at international music festivals including Head In The Clouds in Los Angeles, the band have carved out a distinct space for themselves in music with steady strides.
Poised to soar to greater global heights, the trailblazing trio chat to Earmilk about “U.M.A,” their album, creative process and much more.
1. What kind of emotions or inspiration are behind your single, U.M.A.? We’d love to hear about the theme of the track, and your mindset during the creative process.
Sho Hirano: First and foremost, we wanted to enjoy the process of creating this album ourselves—and to make music that conveys that sense of fun and excitement to everyone who listens. For this album, we had a strong concept centered around the theme of "U.M.A." as a way of stepping into the next phase of who we are as a group.
The lead track, "U.M.A." was created with that theme in mind. We really wanted to showcase a new side of ourselves that we haven’t revealed before, not just in that track but throughout the entire album. While there were challenges along the way, we worked together as a team and truly enjoyed the production process.
Thematically, the album carries a sense of grandeur—almost orchestral in scale. Some of the tracks even include live instrumental performances, so we’d love for listeners to pay special attention to those elements.
2. What are the unique characteristics of “ U.M.A.”? How does it differ from your previous tracks, and could you share any insights into your musical direction going forward?
Yuta Jinguji :We always value a sense of freshness in each of our tracks, so we feel that none of the tracks on this release overlap with what we’ve done in the past. One of the key characteristics of this album is that, in a good way, it feels more relaxed—there’s a certain lightheartedness and playful spirit sprinkled throughout, which we think really reflects who we are as a group.
3. “U.M.A” served as a spark for imagining the world of your album No.Ⅱ. What kind of story or themes unfold throughout the album as a whole?
Yuta Kishi : As Sho mentioned, the overarching theme of the album is "the next phase." Under that theme, each track is packed with the things we genuinely love—our personal tastes and styles. We’ve created a collection of tracks that reflect what we see as the cutting edge, and more importantly, what only Number_i can express. It’s a truly one-of-a-kind album that showcases who we are now.
4. Could you tell us about your songwriting and production process? What moments during music creation do you find most rewarding, and what parts do you find challenging?
Sho Hirano : The process was different for each track, but for “U.M.A.” in particular, we tried something completely new—we each wrote a full version of the track individually first, and then we pieced those ideas together like a puzzle to create the final version. It was a method we’d never used before, and that made it especially rewarding.
Every track has certain points we want listeners to focus on—moments where we really want to show something unique or highlight a specific feeling. Thinking through how to bring out those moments and shape the track around them is always a really fulfilling part of the creative process.
5. You’ve performed at various festivals, including Head In The Clouds. Are there any festivals or stages you dream of performing at in the future?
Yuta Jinguji : Lollapalooza is the kind of big festival I'm aiming to perform at in the future.
6. What has been the most “memorable” moment in your music career so far? And could you also share your aspirations for the future?
Yuta Kishi : It’s hard to choose just one most memorable moment, but something that always stands out is the moment a track is finally finished and the completed track reaches our hands. And of course, seeing everyone's reactions after we release it—that’s always really special.
As for our future ambitions, we want to keep sharing our music not only with the people who already love what we do, but also with those who haven’t discovered us yet. We believe there’s still so much charm in the music we create, and we want more people to discover and enjoy it.
7. If you were to describe "Number_i" in three words, what would they be? Please also tell us why you chose those words.
Sho Hirano : “Vibes”
When it comes to working—especially in the creative field—I think vibes are incredibly important, in the best way. As an artist, you can’t communicate something to others without putting your own vibes into it. It’s something essential to expression.
Yuta Jinguji : “Unconfirmed”
I think when people listen to our music, especially those who support us, they might find themselves wondering, “What is this?”—in a good way. It creates a mysterious, unconfirmed feeling.
To me, Number_i is an unconfirmed existence in the sense that we don't fit neatly into any genre or category. Even our relationship as three members—it’s not exactly like family, or just friends. There’s something undefined and unique about us that makes the group truly one of a kind.
Yuta Kishi : “Pioneer”
I chose the word pioneer because I want us to be trailblazers. I believe we’re a group unlike anything people have seen before. There’s a kind of effortless coolness and raw, fun energy we bring to the moment. I want us to be pioneers who take on challenges no one else is attempting—who can spark all kinds of emotions through our work.
8. Please leave a message for your fans.
All : We are Number_i!
Sho Hirano: We hope you’ve all been doing well. With the release of our new album No.Ⅱ, we believe we’re showing yet another new side of ourselves. We truly hope to keep sharing more of these new sides with all of our iLYs. Let’s continue creating fun and meaningful memories together.
Yuta Jinguji : To all our iLYs and everyone who’s been listening to our music—thank you so much. We took our time crafting this full album No.Ⅱ, which includes “U.M.A.”, to make sure you can really enjoy every part of it. We put in a lot of effort so you can enjoy it not just now, but all throughout the rest of this year and into the next—so please give it a listen and have fun with it!
Yuta Kishi: Truly, thank you so much! We’re really looking forward to seeing your reactions. Please continue to support us!
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