BiTE A SHOCK is a six-member co-ed dance and vocal group under WACK Music Production. They are WACK’s first mixed-gender group, consisting of MAHiTO, RYUUSEi, HARUTO, HANANO, RiNA, and SAORi. Their fans are collectively known as “BiTER.”

In 2023, the audition program BiSH THE NEXT was launched to create the “second BiSH.” Auditions were held in five cities across Japan and broadcast as a 30-minute program on NTV every Saturday. The group made their debut under immense public attention, performing live on the terrestrial music program THE MUSIC DAY just two hours after the final members were chosen.

Their debut song, “Patient!!”, was produced by (sic)boy, while “Canopus” was written and composed by CHIMERAZ and BAK, known for producing hit ballads like singer Yuuri’s “Dry Flower.” Many of their performances feature choreography by REiKA, the sister of AiNA THE END. We spoke with the six members of this promising new group, poised to lead the next generation of WACK.

– Please introduce yourselves one by one.

MAHiTO: I’m MAHiTO from BiTE A SHOCK. My hobby is muscle training, and my special skill is also muscle training. I have long hair and a pretty face!

— MAHiTO, what else do you like?

MAHiTO: Hmm… what do I like…?

HANANO: Protein?

MAHiTO: No, protein is just part of my daily routine—I wouldn’t say I particularly like it (laughs).

RYUUSEi: I’m RYUUSEi from BiTE A SHOCK. My hobby is watching sports, especially football and baseball. I often watch the English Premier League. I also enjoy cooking and make my own meals every day. Another thing I love is solo travel—I like to spontaneously decide where to go on a whim. My special skill is calligraphy, which I’ve been practicing since childhood, so I’m quite confident in it. I also played baseball until high school. I love singing and have been attending live concerts and festivals all over Japan since I was a child. One day, I’d love to go to music festivals all around the world. I’m also really interested in food, so I want to experience different cuisines from various regions.

RiNA: I’m RiNA from BiTE A SHOCK. My hobby is pinning places I want to visit on Google Maps (laughs). I categorize them into lists like “Ramen,” “Scenic Spots,” and “Hotels,” not just in Japan but also abroad. That way, if I ever get the chance to go somewhere, I can quickly choose from my list. People often tell me I’m good at “eating well” and that I make food look extra delicious when I eat (laughs). I used to be a nurse. I originally dreamed of going abroad and had planned to take a working holiday in Australia. I never imagined I’d end up in this profession (laughs).

HANANO: I’m HANANO from BiTE A SHOCK. My hobby is eating ramen—I always go for a big bowl! I especially love Jiro-style ramen. My special skill is playing the guitar. I also did rhythmic gymnastics for 10 years and once placed fourth in a national competition. But ironically, I’m now the stiffest person in the group (laughs). My goal this year is to travel to different countries. Since the beginning of this year, I’ve already been to Vietnam, Thailand, and three places in France.

HARUTO: I’m HARUTO from BiTE A SHOCK. My hobbies are watching YouTube and, more recently, randomly tuning into TikTok livestreams of people I don’t know (laughs). My special skill is drawing. People often call me “weird,” but I don’t really see it myself.

— In what situations do people call you weird?

HARUTO: Pretty much anytime I talk to someone, even if it’s our first time meeting, they almost always say, “You’re kinda weird” (laughs).

MAHiTO: He acts strangely out of nowhere. For example, in the middle of a conversation, he’ll suddenly stare into someone’s face just to see their reaction. I actually think he’s surprisingly smart, but people also call him “mysterious” (laughs).

SAORi: I’m SAORi from BiTE A SHOCK. My hobby is playing video games, and my favorite food is cucumber.

RYUUSEi: …… Huh? That’s it? Just two lines? (laughs).

— Is there anything you’ve been into lately?

SAORi: Animal Crossing.

RYUUSEi: I totally messed up the order of introductions (laughs).

— How did BiTE A SHOCK form?

RYUUSEi: When it was announced that BiSH, originally a WACK group, would disband, a new audition was also revealed. BiTE A SHOCK was born from that audition, with the members of BiSH directly involved in the selection process. After passing multiple rounds, the group was formed under the concept of becoming the “second BiSH,” carrying on BiSH’s spirit.

HANANO: The audition was broadcast as a TV program called BiSH THE NEXT in collaboration with NTV, airing every week in a documentary-style format.

RYUUSEi: BiSH wasn’t a typical “orthodox idol” group—they were more like an artist collective. So, the audition wasn’t just about “singing and dancing beautifully.”

HANANO: For the singing assessment, we were suddenly asked to perform TWICE’s “The Feels.” I didn’t expect to be given a K-pop song at first.

MAHiTO: Our instructor gave us serious choreography training, and out of nowhere, we were expected to perform at a K-pop level.

RiNA: There were also some unconventional tests—things you wouldn’t expect in a typical audition. For example, they held a surprise screening.

RYUUSEi: We had to test each other’s reactions to see how serious we were, and there was even a challenge where we had to surprise the BiSH members. The audition also tested our variety skills (laughs).

HANANO: MAHiTO even made a surprise confession to me (laughs).

MAHiTO: Since we’re a mixed-gender group, we needed to set clear boundaries between male and female members. So, they introduced a honey trap audition. I seriously tried to make them fall for me… but for the first time in my life, I got rejected (laughs).

— (Laughs) What was the final judging like?

MAHiTO: The final selection was broadcast live on TV, and viewers could vote as well.

HANANO: It was a one-on-one matchup—two groups would perform the same part, and only one would pass.

MAHiTO: I was paired against a close colleague, and only one of us could move forward. It was a pretty brutal audition.

HANANO: The reason BiTE A SHOCK exists today is because we made it through such an intense selection process.

— Is BiSH, who you mentioned earlier, seen as an ‘idol’ group in Japan? Or were they something different?

RYUUSEi: When someone unfamiliar with BiSH first sees them, they might appear to be an idol group. But the more you get to know them, the more you realize that they aren’t. In my opinion, idols are artists who focus on fan service and prioritize cuteness above all. BiSH, on the other hand, felt more like an artist collective rather than a traditional idol group, and I think we, BiTE A SHOCK, are closer to that side as well.

RiNA: I used to think of idols as sparkling, wearing cute outfits and mini-skirts, like AKB48. But when I discovered BiSH, that image completely changed. BiSH write their own lyrics, expressing raw and honest emotions, and their performances are more cool than cute. Their stage presence and the way they look at the audience are incredibly powerful—it felt like they were in a completely different category from the idols I had imagined.

— How did you personally perceive BiSH?

HANANO: In Japan, idols are often seen as unreachable figures—like AKB48—or glamorous stars to be admired from afar. But BiSH was different. They exposed all their struggles and hardships, which made them feel much more relatable. That’s why I saw them as artists rather than idols. Since BiTE A SHOCK debuted as the second BiSH, we are also a group that grows by openly showing our efforts and challenges. Maybe that’s why, deep down, we don’t really think of ourselves as idols either.

— So, rather than being idols, BiTE A SHOCK has inherited many aspects from BiSH, such as being artists who show their reality?

RYUUSEi: That’s right. There’s no single “correct” answer to this, but we place more value on showing our true selves rather than putting on a front. That’s the kind of group we want to be.

— BiTE A SHOCK is a mixed-gender group, which is rare in WACK.

HANANO: It’s actually really simple!

RiNA: When I was in school and working, I was always in environments surrounded by women. In those settings, relationships could be complicated, and conflicts would break out often. But because BiTE A SHOCK is a mixed-gender group, that kind of atmosphere doesn’t exist at all—it’s much more relaxed.

RYUUSEi: BiTE A SHOCK isn’t confined to the framework of being a “girl group” or a “boy group.” In a way, it feels like we function more like a school. Everyone can express their opinions from the same perspective, which makes it easier for us to come together as a team. Also, having both male and female members expands the range of our songs, brings more variation to our sound, and allows us to express perspectives from both sides. I think we’ve found a really good balance between the two.

— For people who are new to BiTE A SHOCK, what song would you recommend they listen to first?

MAHiTO: Definitely “Patient!!” It has rock elements mixed with hip-hop influences, making it a song that really represents BiTE A SHOCK’s style.

HANANO: It’s our debut song, and it’s just incredibly cool. The vocal quality that comes from having both male and female members makes it stand out. The wide range of sounds and the interplay between voices make it a really enjoyable track.

RYUUSEi: It’s an easy song to groove to and gets you hyped, so I’d love for people new to BiTE A SHOCK to listen to it first. We’ve been singing this song since the audition period, so all of us have a deep emotional attachment to it.

— Patient!! was written by (sic)boy, right?

RYUUSEi: Yes, (sic)boy is a well-known artist who frequently appears on the Japanese charts and is one of the top artists in the country. He has his own unique style, incorporating digital sounds, and he’s young but already a leading figure in the scene. Definitely someone to watch out for.

— So, what song would you recommend next?

RYUUSEi: “Canopus.” It’s a ballad with a strong J-pop feel.

— What’s the meaning behind the title Canopus?

RYUUSEi: Canopus is a star that’s difficult to see—you can only see it under certain conditions in specific places, but it’s always there. This song is about love, and it compares our differences and sorrows to Canopus.

HANANO: “Patient!!” and “Canopus” are complete opposites.

RYUUSEi: Just by listening to these two songs, you can get a sense of BiTE A SHOCK’s musical range. “Canopus” has a quieter tone, and its tenderness and sadness come through in the lyrics. While “Patient!!” showcases our powerful vocals, “Canopus” highlights each member’s delicate emotional expression. The music video also features many scenes from Japan, like a coffee shop and a train station, so you can experience a bit of Japanese culture while enjoying the song. Be sure to check it out on YouTube!

HANANO: No two BiTE A SHOCK songs sound alike. Every track has a completely different melody, and we explore various genres, so I hope people will listen to a wide range of our music.

— You used to cover BiSH songs, but you don’t do that anymore. What was the reason for that?

RYUUSEi: The main reason we started covering BiSH songs was simply because we didn’t have many of our own at first. Since we debuted as a group that inherited the spirit of BiSH, we were officially allowed to cover their songs. But in August 2024, we released our first full album, BiTE A SHOCK the FiRST, and we were finally able to perform live using only our own songs. From that point on, we shifted our mindset—from relying on BiSH’s music to standing on our own. We transitioned to a setlist centered entirely on our own songs.

HANANO: But we’d still love to do it again someday!

— So, you’d like to do it again sometime?

RYUUSEi: Yes, but covering BiSH songs came with a lot of pressure. These songs already had dedicated fans who loved them, and we knew we couldn’t perform them half-heartedly. We received all kinds of reactions—some people were happy, while others felt that BiSH’s songs should only be sung by BiSH. But I think all of that was part of our learning experience.

HANANO: Most of us in BiTE A SHOCK had no prior experience in the entertainment industry. Suddenly, we were thrown into a situation where we had to perform BiSH’s music, and it felt like hitting a huge wall. But looking back, that challenge made us so much stronger.

HARUTO: We were able to push through because we had confidence in the fact that the BiSH members themselves had chosen us. That belief became our motivation.

MAHiTO: And honestly, it felt great to prove ourselves to those who doubted us.

HANANO: I totally get that! In the beginning, people said all sorts of things about us, but as we kept performing, I could feel their opinions changing. That was really satisfying. Our goal for our first live show was to “win them all over!” (laughs).

RiNA: No, that’s not a good way to put it! (laughs).

HANANO: “Win them all over” means to move their hearts! I even wrote it on a whiteboard backstage before our shows so I wouldn’t forget (laughs).

— (Laughs) In the beginning, the audience had high expectations and set a tough hurdle for you, didn’t they?

HANANO: The atmosphere felt really distant. BiSH fans stood there with their arms crossed, as if they were completely testing us.

RYUUSEi: Yeah, it was like they were saying, “Can you really take over from BiSH?” Their expressions were so serious and full of doubt.

MAHiTO: At first, they wouldn’t even raise their hands, and when we finished a song, there was barely any applause. But as we kept performing more and more shows, I could see their reactions gradually changing, which made me really happy.

RYUUSEi: It’s interesting to experience that kind of change in real time at live shows. I think it gave us a lot of confidence.

MAHiTO: It was an amazing feeling to turn that cold, unwelcoming atmosphere into one filled with energy through our performance.

— SAORi, have you had any personal experiences in your career that made you feel like you’ve “overcome” something?

SAORi: …… Not really (laughs).

RiNA: She’s really an instinctive, natural-born talent.

RYUUSEi: Yeah, yeah. I don’t think she gets nervous or overthinks things—she just does everything in her own way.

MAHiTO: But talking is the most nerve-wracking thing for you, isn’t it?

SAORi: Yeah… More than singing or dancing, speaking makes me the most nervous.

— Do you have any memorable experiences with the members of BiSH?

SAORi: …… (struggling). I don’t know if I should say this, but… I was really happy when Aina the End gave me some lotion.

All: You can say that! (laughs)

RiNA: That was such a peaceful little moment (laughs).

— (Laughs) By the way, BiTE A SHOCK hasn’t had any overseas performances yet, right?

RYUUSEi: That’s right. We haven’t performed abroad yet.

HANANO: We really want to!

RYUUSEi: Right now, we’re still in the phase where we need to work even harder to make overseas performances a reality. First, we want to build our strength in Japan and make BiTER even bigger!

— Finally, please share a message for everyone interested in BiTE A SHOCK!

HARUTO: We haven’t had the chance to meet everyone overseas yet, but I’m looking forward to the day we can see you all in person. Please support us!

HANANO: Thank you for your interest in BiTE A SHOCK. Many of you support us from overseas, and we sometimes receive messages in English. Some of you even travel all the way to Japan just to see our live shows! So don’t be shy—come visit Japan and have fun with us!

RiNA: Thank you so much for discovering BiTE A SHOCK. Right now, we mainly perform in Japan, but one of our biggest goals is to perform overseas. We believe that experiencing different cultures and languages will help us grow into an even better BiTE A SHOCK. We will come to your country one day! I’d love for us to grow together as a group and as a community.

SAORi: Thank you for your interest in BiTE A SHOCK! We’ll do our best to make overseas performances happen, so please keep supporting us.

RYUUSEi: Thank you for learning about BiTE A SHOCK! You may not have listened to all our songs yet, but now you can get to know everything about us just by listening to our first album. We’re still a young group, so this is your chance to become an “early fan” (laughs). Although we’re based in Japan, we’ll definitely be traveling overseas to meet you all. And if you ever have the chance to visit Japan, please come see us live!

MAHiTO: Thank you for loving and supporting BiTE A SHOCK. I love you all so much! So if you’re even a little curious about us… just go for it! Oh, and give me a hug when we meet (laughs). Come experience BiTE A SHOCK in person at a live show—we can’t wait to see you!

RiNA: Oh, and when we meet, please tell us about all the amazing food from your country! (laughs)

All: (Laughs)

MAHiTO: The best thing about BiTE A SHOCK is that everyone can enjoy our music together! So please, come to our live shows!

INTERVIEW：Hiroo Nishizawa
Photo：Yuki Ohashi

■Live information

WACK in the UK Vol. 5
DATE: Wed. 26th Mar. 2025
OPEN: 7PM
VENUE: The Underworld (London)
APPEARANCE : KiSS KiSS,ASP and GANG PARADE

General Tickets: £30 (Entry from 7pm)
VIP Upgrade Ticket: £120 – strictly limited. It includes:
· Light lunch with the members
· Cheki photo with group of choice
· Cheki photo with member of choice (plus autograph)
· Exclusive T-shirt (Japanese XL size)
· Early entry to the show.
· VIP ticket holders do not need to purchase a general entry ticket.
To upgrade via DICE please purchase a general ticket, then log into your DICE account and choose the upgrade option.
————-
Timetable:
12:30 – VIP light lunch and cheki event
14:00 – Cheki ticket sale begins for general ticket holders.
14:30 – General cheki event
18:30 – VIP early entry
19:00 – General entry
19:30 – KiSS KiSS
20:20 – ASP
21:10 – GANG PARADE
22:00 – End
About Cheki event:
Cheki are a type of polaroid style photo that is popular in Japan. The VIP ticket already includes 2 cheki opportunities. Further opportunities, as well as opportunities for general ticket holders, will be available by purchasing cheki tickets from the mech stand. Each cheki ticket purchased will allow for one cheki to be taken with a member of the ticket holder’s choice.

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