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For the British-German heavy metal band, see Empire (German band).

ExWhyZ
Also known asEmpire
OriginTokyo, Japan
GenresJ-pop
Years active2017–present
LabelsWACK
Avex Trax
EMI Records
Members
  • Yu-ki
  • Mayu
  • Maho
  • Mikina
Past members
  • Yuina Empire
  • Yuka Empire
  • Midoriko
  • Now
Websitewww.exwhyz.jp

ExWhyZ, formerly known as Empire (stylized as EMPiRE), is a Japanese alternative idol girl group formed between WACK and Avex Trax in 2017. They have released six studio albums, five EPs, and five singles since their formation. They re-branded to ExWhyZ in 2022 and re-debuted under EMI Records.

History

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2017–2018: Formation, debut as Empire and The Empire Strikes Start!!

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On April 2, 2017, WACK announced a joint project with Avex.[1] On August 23, The group name was announced as Empire. By September 28, all members of the group had been revealed. The group's first song "Empire is Coming" was released on October 6, the song was later featured on WACK & Scrambles Works.[2]

Empire's first album, The Empire Strikes Start!!, was released on April 11, 2018.[3] The song "Black to the dreamlight" was featured on Black Clover as an ending theme.[4] The group held their first concert named after their debut album on May 1. That same day the group's first member, Yuina Empire transferred to Bis and new members Maho Empire and Mikina Empire joined the group.[5] The Empire Next Edition Tour was held from July to September of the same year. On September 5, Empire released their first EP, Empire Originals.[6]

2019–2020: The Great Journey Album

[edit]

On February 27, 2019, Empire's first single, "Pierce", was released.[7] The song "Pierce" was featured on the final season of Fairy Tail as an ending theme.[8] From March 3 to 4 Empire broadcast the 24-hour live event "Empire Presents Twenty Four Hour Party People".[9] After the event, Yuka Empire left Empire to focus on academic work.[10] On March 30, Now Empire was added as the group's new member.[11] Empire embarked on their second concert tour, which was called the New Empire Tour, from April to June. On July 17, Empire's second single, "Success Story", was released.[12] On October 16, Empire's third single, "Right Now", was released.[13] The song "Right Now" became Empire's second song to feature on Black Clover, this time as an opening theme.[14] Empire embarked on their third concert tour, Empire's Great Escape Tour, from November to December. Empire's second album, The Great Journey Album, was released on December 18.[15]

The group was scheduled to hold the Super Feeling Good Tour from May to June 2020, however it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They released their second EP, Super Cool EP, on August 5, 2020.[16] They held the Empire Error Error Error Tour from November to December 2020.

2021–2023: Bright Future, rebranding to ExWhyZ and XYZ

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On March 17, 2021, Empire released a special single featuring new versions of "Don't tell me why" and "Tokyo Moonlight".[17] Empire's fourth single, "Hon-no / Iza!!" was released on May 12.[18] The song "Hon-no" was featured on High-Rise Invasion as an opening theme.[19] They held the Empire Ultra Vibes Tour from April to May 2021. Empire's third album, Bright Future, was released on November 10, 2021.[20] They held the Empire Dope Magic Tour from April to June 2022.

On June 2, the group held their final concert as Empire. It was announced at the concert that they would re-debut as members of ExWhyZ under EMI Records later that year.[21] Through July and August, Empire held their final tour.[22] On August 17, the group's final music release as Empire, a digital EP titled The Final Empire, was released.

On August 26, Midoriko went on hiatus due to a worsening chronic illness.[23] ExWhyZ released their debut album, XYZ, through EMI Records on November 2, 2022.[24] From November 2022 to January 2023 the group embarked on their first tour.[25] Midoriko resumed group activities on January 12.[26] XYZ was re-released on March 1, 2023, as XYZ [Hyper Edition], consisting of all of the original songs from the regular album but re-arranged to include vocals from Midoriko who was on hiatus at the time of the initial album recording and one new track.[27]

2023: Xanadu and How High?

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In April, they embarked on their second tour.[28] Their second album, Xanadu, was released on April 19.[29] They released the digital single "Furachina Summer" on July 5.[30] On July 13, Midoriko went on hiatus again.[31] They digital single "Moonlight, Sunlight" was released on August 18, followed by "Not Sorry" on September 8.[32] Their first EP as ExWhyZ titled How High? was released on October 18.[33] They released the digital single, "As you wish", on October 19.[34] On November 16, ExWhyZ performed at The Underworld in London alongside ASP and AinatoAoi (a duo consisting of Aina the End and dancer Aoi Yamada), as part of WACK's first multi-artist concert to be held outside of Japan.[35]

2024: Dress to Kill, Sweet & Sour and member departures

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On January 12, 2024, they released a cover of Shinichi Osawa's "Our Song",[36] followed by the digital single "Unknown Sense" on February 2.[37] Both songs feature on their third studio album, Dress to Kill, which was released on March 20.[38] On June 26, Mayu went on hiatus due to poor health.[39] ExWhyZ's second EP, Sweet & Sour, was released on July 31.[40] After being on hiatus since July 2023, Midoriko left ExWhyZ on August 7 due to the worsening of her chronic illness.[41] Now left ExWhyZ on October 31.[42]

Members

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Current

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  • Yu-ki
  • Mayu
  • Maho
  • Mikina

Former

[edit]
  • Yuina Empire
  • Yuka Empire
  • Midoriko
  • Now

Timeline

[edit]

Discography

[edit]

Studio albums

[edit]
Title Album details Peak chart positions
Oricon[43] Billboard[44]
Empire
The Empire Strikes Start!! 7 4
The Great Journey Album
  • Released: December 18, 2019
  • Label: Avex Trax
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 6 7
Bright Future
  • Released: November 10, 2021
  • Label: Avex Trax
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 6 7
ExWhyZ
XYZ 7 7
Xanadu
  • Released: April 19, 2023
  • Label: EMI Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 8 7
Dress to Kill
  • Released: March 20, 2024
  • Label: EMI Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 8 7

Reissues

[edit]
Title Album details Peak chart positions
Oricon[43] Billboard[44]
ExWhyZ
XYZ (Hyper Edition)
  • Released: March 1, 2023
  • Label: EMI
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 7 8

Extended plays

[edit]
Title Album details Peak chart positions
Oricon[43] Billboard[44]
Empire
Empire Originals
  • Released: September 5, 2018
  • Label: Avex Trax
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 8 4
Super Cool EP
  • Released: August 5, 2020
  • Label: Avex Trax
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 8 9
The Final Empire
  • Released: August 17, 2022
  • Label: Avex Trax
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 — —
ExWhyZ
How High?
  • Released: October 18, 2023
  • Label: EMI
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 8 10
Sweet & Sour
  • Released: July 31, 2024
  • Label: EMI
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 5 4

Singles

[edit]

As lead artist

[edit]
Title Year Peak
chart
positions 		Album
Oricon[43] Billboard[45]
Empire
"Pierce" (ピアス) 2019 5 16 The Great Journey Album
"Selfish People" — —
"Success Story" 5 15
"Right Now" 3 24
"Ordinary" 2020 — — Super Cool EP
"Super Feeling Good" — —
"Error" 2021 — — Bright Future
"Don't Tell Me Why (now type ver.)" 88 — Non-album singles
"Tokyo Moonlight (now type ver.)" —
"Let's Show" — — Bright Future
"Hon-no" 7 87
"Iza!!" —
"Nee" (ねぇ) 2022 — — The Final Empire
ExWhyZ
"Wanna Dance" 2022 — — XYZ
"Obsession" — —
"Answer" 2023 — — Xanadu
"Des Speeching" — —
"First Step" — —
"Furachina Summer" (フラチナサマー) — — How High?
"Moonlight, Sunlight" — —
"Not Sorry" — —
"As you wish" — — Dress to Kill
"Our Song" 2024 — —
"Unknown Sense" — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Collaborations

[edit]
Title Year Peak
chart
positions 		Album
Oricon[43]
Empire
"Jikan ga Tarinai" (時間が足りない) with Yuki Kashiwagi 2021 14 Non-album single

Filmography

[edit]

DVDs

[edit]
Title Album details Peak chart positions
Oricon[43]
Empire
Empire's Great Revenge Live
  • Released: April 8, 2020
  • Label: Avex Trax
  • Formats: DVD
 4
Empire Breaks Through the Limit Live
  • Released: April 7, 2021
  • Label: Avex Trax
  • Formats: DVD
 5
Empire's Super Ultra Spectacular Show
  • Released: April 6, 2022
  • Label: Avex Trax
  • Formats: DVD
 4
The Final Empire -Empire Dope Magic Tour 2022.06.02 at Line Cube Shibuya-
  • Released: August 17, 2022
  • Label: Avex Trax
  • Formats: DVD
 3

Blu-rays

[edit]
Title Album details Peak chart positions
Oricon[43]
Empire
Empire's Great Revenge Live First Press Limited Edition (Great Edition)
  • Released: April 8, 2020
  • Label: Avex Trax
  • Formats: Blu-ray
 10
Empire Breaks Through the Limit Live
  • Released: April 7, 2021
  • Label: Avex Trax
  • Formats: Blu-ray
 7
Empire's Super Ultra Spectacular Show
  • Released: April 6, 2022
  • Label: Avex Trax
  • Formats: DVD
 14
The Final Empire -Empire Dope Magic Tour 2022.06.02 at Line Cube Shibuya-
  • Released: August 17, 2022
  • Label: Avex Trax
  • Formats: DVD
 5

Concerts and tours

[edit]

Tours

[edit]
  • Empire Next Edition Tour (2018)
  • New Empire Tour (2019)
  • Empire's Great Escape Tour (2019)
  • Super Feeling Good Tour (2020; Cancelled)
  • Empire Error Error Error Tour (2020)
  • Empire Ultra Vibes Tour (2021)
  • Empire Dope Magic Tour (2022)
  • Moto-Empire Nari no Last Tour (元Empireなりのラストツア) (2022)
  • ExWhyZ First Tour XYZ (2022–2023)
  • ExWhyZ Tour 2023 Xanadu (2023)
  • ExWhyZ Tour 2023 'Elation' Part.1: Live House Series (2023)
  • ExWhyZ Tour 2023 'Elation' Part.2: with Special Guest Series (2023)
  • ExWhyZ Tour 2023 'Elation' Part.3 Final Series: Yearend Party (2023)

Concerts

[edit]
  • The Empire Strikes Start!! (2018)
  • Empire Presents Twenty Four Hour Party People (2019)
  • New Empire Tour "Evolutions" (2019)
  • The End of Summer at Okinawa with Empire (2019)
  • Empire's Great Party Vol. 0 (2019)
  • Empire's Great Party Vol. 1 (2019)
  • Empire's Great Revenge Live (2020)
  • Empire Breaks Through The Limit Live (2020)
  • Empire's Greatest Party "Eat Sleep Empire Repeat" (2021)
  • Empire's Great Party Caravans (2021)
  • Empire's Super Ultra Spectacular Show (2021)
  • WACK in the UK with ASP and AinatoAoi (2023)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "avex×WACKの新アイドルグループ「Project aW」 募集年齢はやや低め". Cinra.net. April 11, 2017.
  2. ^ "WACK×avexの新グループ・Empire、Bishアイナ振付による初MV「アカルイミライ」公開". Spice. December 6, 2017.
  3. ^ "Empire、本日4/11リリースの1stフル・アルバム『The Empire Strikes Start!!』より昨日夜まで撮影を続けた「Mad Love」MV公開". Skream!. April 11, 2018.
  4. ^ "WACK×avex新グループ Empire、4/11リリースの1stフル・アルバム・リード曲「Black to the dreamlight」がTVアニメ"ブラッククローバー"EDテーマに決定". Skream!. April 9, 2018.
  5. ^ "Empireブリッツ初単独ライブ大成功、新体制で"Next Edition"ツアーへ". Natalie. May 1, 2018.
  6. ^ "Empireのインタビュー＆動画メッセージ公開。攻撃性や高いエネルギーを凝縮し、短期間で変わりゆく6人の瞬間捉えたミニ・アルバム『Empire originals』を本日9/5リリース". Skream!. September 5, 2018.
  7. ^ "Empire、3/3-4開催の1stシングル『ピアス』発売記念24時間イベントをニコ生にて中継決定". Skream!. March 1, 2019.
  8. ^ "Empire、2/27リリースのニュー・シングル『ピアス』アートワーク＆アー写公開。カップリングはMayu Empire作詞のダンス・チューン「Eraser Head」". Skream!. January 15, 2019.
  9. ^ "Empire、24時間イベント「Twenty Four Hour Party People」をニコ生中継". Natalie. March 1, 2019.
  10. ^ "Empire、Yuka Empireの脱退を発表。Yuka最後の作品となる1stシングル表題曲「ピアス」MV公開、3/3-4に24時間リリース記念イベント開催も決定". Skream!. January 29, 2019.
  11. ^ "Empire、ニュー・ヴィジュアル＆新メンバー Now Empire加入決定からのライヴ映像含むショート・ドキュメント公開". Skream!. April 21, 2019.
  12. ^ "Empireのインタビュー＆動画メッセージ公開。彼女たちの止まらない勢いが体現された、Now Empire加入後初シングル『Success Story』を明日7/17リリース". Skream!. July 16, 2019.
  13. ^ "Empire、10/16リリースのニュー・シングル表題曲「Right Now」ファイヤーダンスを披露するMV公開＆先行配信スタート。沖縄ワンマン動画も公開". Skream!. September 15, 2019.
  14. ^ "アニメ『ブラッククローバー』新OPをEmpire、EDを安斉かれんが担当". Barks. September 30, 2019.
  15. ^ "Empire、12/18リリースの2ndアルバム『The Great Journey Album』収録の新曲7曲のパフォーマンス映像収めた期間限定動画を公開". Skream!. December 12, 2019.
  16. ^ "Empire、7曲入りEP『Super Cool EP』8/5リリース決定。アートワーク、新ヴィジュアル、ティーザー映像、収録詳細一挙公開". Skream!. June 24, 2020.
  17. ^ "Empire、デビュー・アルバム収録曲2曲を現メンバー6人で新録した"now type ver."7インチ・レコードでリリース". Skream!. October 9, 2020.
  18. ^ "Empire、5/12に初の両A面シングル『Hon-No / IZA!!』リリース決定". Skream!. March 19, 2021.
  19. ^ "Empire、新曲「HON-NO」がNetflixにて全世界独占配信のアニメ『天空侵犯』OPテーマに決定". Billboard Japan. January 14, 2021.
  20. ^ "Empire、11/10リリースの3rdアルバム『Bright Future』より「Happy with you」MV公開。新ヴィジュアル＆アルバム詳細も発表". Skream!. October 26, 2021.
  21. ^ "EMPiRE、新グループ「ExWHYZ」結成". Barks. June 2, 2022.
  22. ^ "EMPiREメンバー6名による新グループ"ExWHYZ"結成。"元EMPiREなりのラストツアー"開催も発表". Skream!. June 2, 2022.
  23. ^ "ExWHYZ、midorikoが療養のため活動休止「絶対戻って来るのでご安心くださいませ…！」". Natalie. August 26, 2022.
  24. ^ "ExWHYZ、1stアルバム『xYZ』が示す"生まれ変わり続ける"姿勢 EMPiREからの変化と進化が刻まれた決意の1枚". Real Sound. November 1, 2022.
  25. ^ "ExWHYZ、初ツアー"ExWHYZ First Tour xYZ"初日公演より「Obsession」ライヴ映像公開". Skream!. November 5, 2022.
  26. ^ "ExWHYZ、midoriko復帰公演で初の武道館単独公演&BiSHとの2マン企画を発表". Ototoy. January 12, 2023.
  27. ^ "ExWHYZ、アルバム『xYZ [hYPER EDITION]』リリース・パーティーを渋谷のクラブ WOMBにて3/4開催". 2023.
  28. ^ "ExWHYZ、日本武道館公演に向けて4月より4都市回る"ExWHYZ TOUR 2023 xANADU"開催". Skream!. February 9, 2023.
  29. ^ "ExWHYZが2ndアルバムのリリース発表、"新メンバー"アユニ・Dは新曲11曲をお披露目し脱退". Barks. April 1, 2023.
  30. ^ "ExWHYZ、新曲「フラチナサマー」7/5デジタル・リリース。沖縄で撮影されたMVティーザー映像も公開". Skream!. July 1, 2023.
  31. ^ "ExWHYZのmidoriko、活動休止中にコメント「引き続き治療に専念していきます」". September 7, 2023. February 16, 2023.
  32. ^ "ExWHYZ、新曲「Moonlight, Sunlight」と「NOT SORRY」をリリース". Barks. August 18, 2023.
  33. ^ "ExWHYZ、初EP『HOW HIGH?』リリース決定". Barks. September 8, 2023.
  34. ^ "ExWHYZ、Zepp Haneda公演アンコールにて生バンド＆ストリングス従え新曲「As you wish」サプライズ披露。デジタル配信もスタート". Skream!. October 19, 2023.
  35. ^ "WACK初の海外公演〈WACK in the UK〉開催決定". Ototoy (in Japanese). September 22, 2023.
  36. ^ "ExWHYZ、1/12に大沢伸一のアンセム「Our Song」カバーをリリース". Ototoy. January 9, 2024.
  37. ^ "ExWHYZがmaho作詞のアッパーチューン配信、アルバム「Dress to Kill」収録曲発表". Natalie. February 2, 2024.
  38. ^ "ExWHYZ、ファンやしずる村上などと作り上げた「Our Song」MV公開。新曲やリミックス収録したV.Aアルバム『Dress to Kill』3/20リリース決定". Skream!. January 12, 2024.
  39. ^ "ExWHYZメンバー・mayuが体調不良のため活動休止". Natalie. June 26, 2024.
  40. ^ "ExWHYZ、2nd EP『Sweet & Sour』リリース 新アー写＆ティザー公開、初回限定盤にはライブ映像収録". Real Sound. May 2, 2024.
  41. ^ "ExWHYZのmidoriko、本日付で脱退＆WACK退所". Natalie. August 7, 2024.
  42. ^ "ExWHYZのnowが10月31日付けでグループ脱退、WACK退所". Natalie. October 31, 2024.
  43. ^ a b c d e f g "ExWhyZ | Oricon Style". Oricon (in Japanese). May 30, 2022. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  44. ^ a b c "Hot Albums". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved December 18, 2019.
  45. ^ "Hot 100". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved December 18, 2019.
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