What is SM Entertainment's new girl group "GPP"? A detailed look at the profiles of the eight members (age, nationality, talent, position)!

GPP is the first girl group from SM ENTERTAINMENT JAPAN. The eight Japanese members, with an average age of 21, are aiming to become world champions after about a year and a half of intensive training. We take a deep look at their background, talent, and debut strategy.

table of contents

1. What is GPP?: The purpose of its debut and its timeliness

2. The meaning behind the group name and concept

3. Detailed profiles of the eight members

4. The production team and "SM direct performance DNA"

5. Debut song "Bring it Back" - Musicality and message

6. Documentary Project "GPP Fly" and Initial Strategy

7. The impact of GPP on the Japanese girl group market

8. Q&A: Frequently Asked Questions and Observations

9. Summary: How far can GPP fly?

1. What is GPP?: The purpose of its debut and its timeliness

GPP is the first girl group from the Japanese market to be directly trained and debuted by SM Entertainment, the company behind Girls' Generation, SHINee, EXO, Red Velvet, and aespa. The girl group market in Japan and Korea has undergone major changes in recent years, with an increasing number of newcomers blending K-pop performances into the J-pop scene. GPP symbolizes the emergence of a new structure in which a group born in Japan emerges equipped with K-pop-style training and a global vision.

GPP is not simply a "K-POP group active in Japan," but a "new J-POP artist model based in the Japanese-speaking world with an eye on the world."

2. The meaning behind the group name and concept

▪️G: Limit Break (Genkai toppa)
▪️PP: Paper Plane

The more folds (experiences and setbacks) a paper airplane has, the stronger its shape becomes and the further it flies. GPP chose this name to symbolize their determination to keep flying despite the many times they felt discouraged during their training. In other words, rather than being a glamorous idol group, they are a group that shows growth and challenges as a story in itself.

3. Detailed profiles of the eight members (organized in a table)

member	Real name	Birthplace/year of birth	Characteristics and Roles	Background and Keywords
RINKA	Rika Ando (2004)	Aichi	All-rounder / Nuclear	A strong presence from Girls Planet 999
HONOKA	Honohana Ito (2004)	Japan	Main Vocalist	High depth of expression and abundant stage experience
ANAMI	Ozono Awa (2005)	Japan	A presence that expands the scope of expression	Physicality cultivated through classical ballet
MOMOKA	Momoka Kurita (2004)	Japan	Acting × singing fusion	Experience as an actress. Highly expressive.
MIKA	Takamiya, M. (2002)	Japan	Main Dancer/Rapper	A dance prodigy who has won multiple world championships
MIA	Newbie Mia (2002)	English-Japanese	Fantastic vocal color	HYBE×Geffen trainee experience, half
SARA	Miyazaki, A. (2003)	Japan	The center of stability and brightness	Experience as a backup dancer
LUNA	Watanabe Luna (2005)	Japan	Visual × Dynamic Expression	A former model, she looks great on stage

All eight members have different strengths, and the team is characterized by a structure that builds on strengths rather than being structured to fill in weaknesses.

4. The production team and "SM direct performance DNA"

Supporting GPP is Shim Jae-won, the performance director who has been a symbol of SM for 25 years.
He is the architect of the expressions known as SM-ness, such as TVXQ's charisma, Girls' Generation and SHINee's perfected group dances, EXO's worldview, and the concepts of Red Velvet and aespa.

In addition, with TRAX's Jay Kim joining the music project, the combination of "performance x music x story" has been realized.

5. Debut song "Bring it Back"

The song smoothly connects drum and bass, EDM, dubstep, urban, and hip hop, with a structure that continues to build a sense of tension, making it a provocative ``declaration of war'' type of song for a debut song.

The lyrics are filled with a strong sense of self-reliance: "the determination to keep on facing challenges" and "proving one's own worth."

6. Documentary Project "GPP Fly" and Initial Strategy

The strategy of visualizing the story even before debut is similar to the methods used by SM in recent years, such as aespa and RIIZE. The path to giving viewers a reason to support their story is clear, and the aim is not to mark debut as the beginning, but to create a fandom that walks with them even before debut.

7. The impact of GPP on the Japanese girl group market

▪️Establishing performance standards cultivated through K-POP in Japan

▪️Expanding the integrated artist model of dance, singing, and worldview

▪️Reintroducing the “competition and growth story” to Japan’s development system

In particular, they have a high possibility of becoming a symbol of a "professional girl group" in an era where being "cute and friendly" alone is no longer enough to win.

8. Q&A: Frequently Asked Questions and Observations

Q1. Is GPP considered a K-Pop group?
→ Because they are Japanese and based in Japan, they are classified as J-POP, but their training system and performance style are K-POP. They are a hybrid of the two.

Q2. What is the difference between aespa and RIIZE?
→ GPP is "an SM style by artists who have been cultivated in the Japanese cultural sphere," and what is new about it is that it is SM that is rooted in Japan rather than imported from overseas.

Q3. Where is the core of fandom formation?
→ The documentary program and the stories of each member. RINKA and MIKA in particular tend to have iconic popularity.

9. Summary: How far can GPP fly?

GPP is a "new J-POP model" born in Japan, yet equipped with world-class performance as standard. A paper airplane made of folded paper, once it starts to fly, can reach anywhere. These girls demonstrate the new possibilities of Japanese idols.

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