&Audition

&Audition - The Howling (엔오디션- 더 하울링; 2022) was a Japanese audition program created by HYBE Labels Japan to form their new Japanese boy group. The show broadcasted the recruitment of new members. Four members from I-LAND (Season 1) were confirmed as members prior to the start of the show. They were K, EJ, Ta-ki, and Nicholas. The audition program broadcasted on July 9, 2022, through Nippon TV, Hulu, and YouTube.



The 9-member final debuting group was announced as &TEAM. The members are K, Taki, Nicholas, EJ, Jo, Fuma, Harua, Yuma, and Maki.



The "&" of &Audition symbolizes connecting people with people and the world.



The mentors on the show are Bang Si Hyuk (CEO), Pdogg (producer), Son Sung Deuk (performance director), Sakura Inoue (performance director), and Soma Genda (producer).



Summary

• Also known as andAudition
• Korean name: 엔오디션- 더 하울링
• Japanese name: エンオーディション
• No. of Contestants: 15
• Mentors: Bang Si Hyuk (CEO), Pdogg (producer), Son Sung Deuk (performance director), Sakura Inoue (performance director), and Soma Genda (producer)
• Broadcasted: July 9, 2022

Related: &TEAM, ENHYPEN, I-LAND (Season 1), I-LAND (Season 2).

&Audition - The Howling has 15 contestants born between 1997 and 2008. Four members were confirmed as part of the new boy group: K, EJ, Nicholas, and Taki. They were contestants from I-LAND (Season 1), the reality show that formed ENHYPEN. The other 11 contestants are Fuma, Hayate, Junwon, Yuma, Gaku, Jo, Hikaru, Harua, Maki, Minhyung, Yejun.



The oldest contestant is K (born Oct 21, 1997). He was 24 years old at the time of the show. The youngest contestant is Yejun (born Apr 28, 2007). He was 15 years old when the show aired.



Regarding nationalities, there are 10 Japanese contestants, 1 Taiwanese (Nicholas), and 4 Korean (Junwon, Yejun, Minhyung, EJ).

Contestants' age ranked from oldest to youngest



*International age as of the end of 2022 (year when the show was broadcasted)

&BALLS and &RING

The trainees are given a certain number of marbles called &BALLS that represent their scores during the interim checks. During these checks, contestants are evaluated on vocal and performance abilities. During actual performances, they are evaluated on not only vocal and performance, but also on new criteria that will change with each performance. In order to debut, trainees need to fill up a ring called &RING with the &BALLS to debut. If they fail to fill it up, they will not be able to debut.

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1) K

• Birth Name:
• Country of Birth: Japan
• Birthday: Oct 21, 1997
• Height: 187 cm (6'2'')
• MBTI: ENFP
• Fun Facts: K is the oldest member of the group. He is a Japanese native and ranked #7 in the finale of I-LAND Season 1. His specialty is dancing. He was a trainee for 2 years and 8 months prior to joining I-LAND. He was a high school athletic track team marathon runner and was top-ranked in the Japan Kanto region. He was ranked by top universities but chose to pursue dancing and choreography.

2) Fuma

• Birth Name: Murata Fuma
• Native Name: 村田 風雅
• Country of Birth: Japan
• Birthday: Jun 29, 1998
• Height:
• Fun Facts: Fuma is a former trainee from n.CH Entertainment. He was also a participant in Produce 101 Japan S2. He started taking music lessons at the age of 6. He has experience teaching at an academy. One of his best traits is that he is very diligent. He is the oldest among the new trainees.

3) Hayate

• Birth Name: Miyatake Hayate
• Native Name: 宮武 颯
• Country of Birth: Japan
• Birthday: Jan 25, 2001
• Height:
• Fun Facts: Hayate participated in K-stage along with Keiju, from JYP Entertainment. One of his specialties is rope jumping in an X shape. He is one of the shortest new trainees. Hayate is from Hyogo, Japan.

4) Nicholas

• Birth Name: Wang Yixiang
• Native Name: 王奕翔
• Country of Birth: Taiwan
• Birthday: Jul 9, 2002
• Height: 183 cm (6'0")
• Fun Facts: Nicholas is originally from Taipei City, Taiwan. His specialty is dancing. He started breakdancing when he was in high school. He also competed in badminton tournaments. He played during elementary and junior high school and won several competitions. His MBTI is ENFP-T.

5) EJ

• Birth Name: Byun Eui Joo
• Native Name: 변의주
• Country of Birth: South Korea
• Birthday: Sep 7, 2002
• Height: 186 cm (6'1'')
• Fun Facts: EJ is from South Korea. He was also a contestant from I-LAND. He was a trainee for 1 year and 6 months prior to joining the reality show. He practiced fencing in middle school. His favorite ice cream is chocolate ice cream. His role model is Yoo Jaesuk. His MBTI is INFP-T.

6) Junwon

• Birth Name:
• Country of Birth: South Korea
• Birthday: Apr 21, 2003
• Height:
• Fun Facts: He comes off as cute and innocent but transforms once he is on stage. He is very expressive and often makes faces when he talks to the other contestants. He thinks he is sexy. He is quiet and calm at home but more energetic when he goes out.

7) Yuma

• Birth Name: Nakakita Yuma
• Native Name: 中耒田 悠真
• Country of Birth: Japan
• Birthday: Feb 7, 2004
• Height:
• Fun Facts: Yuma is a former member of Avex Artist Academy. He likes creating things like making clothes, creating choreography, and writing songs. He loves clothes and fashion. He started dancing jazz as a kid because his sister was learning first. He has been dancing for 10 years. He loves joking around and telling stories. His specialty is acrobatics.

8) Gaku

• Birth Name:
• Country of Birth: Japan
• Birthday: Apr 25, 2004
• Height:
• Fun Facts: When he was a child, he would sing in front of his family. He can choreograph. He was a member of his school's relay team from first grade to sixth grade. He took dancing lessons as a kid. Gaku's specialty is hip-hop dancing.

9) Jo

• Birth Name: Asakura Jo
• Native Name: 朝倉穩
• Country of Birth: Japan
• Birthday: Jul 8, 2004
• Height: 181 cm (5'11'')
• Fun Facts: Jo was a participant in the Junon Superboy contest. He is very passionate about his goals and will give it his all. He has a poker face and is hard to read. He has a refreshing vibe. He has a charming voice. He played basketball from ninth grade in high school. He is one of the tallest contestants.

10) Hikaru

• Birth Name:
• Country of Birth: Japan
• Birthday: Mar 28, 2005
• Height:
• Fun Facts: He is from Gunma, Japan. His hobby is dancing classical ballet.

11) Harua

• Birth Name:
• Country of Birth: Japan
• Birthday: May 1, 2005
• Height:
• Fun Facts: Harua has two whorls in his head.

12) Taki

• Birth Name: Riki
• Native Name:
• Country of Birth: Japan
• Birthday: May 4, 2005
• Height: 180 cm (5'11")
• Fun Facts: Taki was one of the several Japanese contestants from I-LAND. His specialty is locking (dance). He ranked #11 in the reality show. He has been dancing since the age of 10. His personality type is ENFP-T and his role model is Suga from BTS.

13) Maki

• Birth Name: Hirota Riki
• Native Name: 宏田 力
• Country of Birth: Japan
• Birthday: Feb 17, 2006
• Height:
• Fun Facts: Maki is of mixed ethnicity. His mother is Japanese and his father is German. He can speak Japanese, German, and English. He has been taking vocal lessons since third grade. He may not look diligent but he is quite diligent about doing chores around the house. He is actually not very good at games. He is very interested in fashion. His favorite food is his mom's Katsudon.

14) Minhyung

• Birth Name:
• Country of Birth: South Korea
• Birthday: Jan 27, 2007
• Height:
• Fun Facts: He is a former BIG HIT trainee.

15) Yejun

• Birth Name: Kim Ye Jun
• Native Name: 김예준
• Country of Birth: South Korea
• Birthday: Apr 28, 2007
• Height:
• Fun Facts: Yejun was a model from SM Entertainment Kids Model First Generation. He started as a former child actor. He acted in Kdramas Arthdal Chronicles, Six Flying Dragons, Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo, and many others.