"NiziU", a Japanese girl group formed by the collaboration of JYP Entertainment and Sony Music Entertainment Japan, comprises nine talented members: Mako, Rio, Maya, Riku, Ayaka, Mayuka, Rima, Miihi, and Nina. Emerging from the intense reality-survival program, Nizi Project (2020), the group officially debuted on December 2, 2020, with their inaugural single, "Step and a Step."
Prior to their debut, NiziU garnered widespread attention with their digital pre-debut EP, "Make You Happy," which was released on June 30, 2020, in Japan and South Korea, and globally on July 1, 2020. The EP achieved significant commercial success, topping charts such as Billboard Japan's Hot Albums and Oricon's Digital Albums. Their eponymous lead single from the EP also secured top positions on various Japanese music charts and made a notable international impact, reaching positions on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart.
In a remarkable display of their swift rise to fame, NiziU's debut single, "Step and a Step," not only dominated the Oricon Singles Chart but also claimed the top spot on the Billboard Japan Hot 100, marking the group's first chart-topping achievement. Their rapid success was further emphasized when the song became the second best-selling debut single by a female artist in Japan, trailing only behind Hinatazaka46's "Kyun."
NiziU's remarkable journey continued with a memorable appearance at the 71st NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen, a prestigious year-end musical show in Japan, making them the fastest artists to grace the event, a mere 29 days after their official debut. As the year concluded, NiziU solidified their position in the industry, ranking prominently on several Billboard Japan Year-End charts, including number 7 on the Year-End Albums and number 13 on the Year-End Streaming charts. Notably, the group received the Special Achievement Award at the 62nd Japan Record Awards, underscoring their exceptional accomplishments in a remarkably short span.
