KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 12 — Japanese girl group Hana is proving they are no ordinary rookie act.
Their latest single Bad Love, released earlier this week, has already surpassed 3.4 million views on YouTube, marking another milestone for the seven-member group born out of Chanmina’s No No Girls project.
The members – Jisoo (24), Mahina (16), Koharu (19), Chika (21), Yuri (19), Momoka (21) and Naoko (20) – describe the track as one of their most personal yet, tackling the pain of toxic love and the strength it takes to move forward.
“This is a powerful song that carries the feeling of wanting to overcome painful experiences and keep moving forward in life,” Jisoo, who co-wrote the lyrics alongside Momoka, told Malay Mail in a recent interview.
“This song portrays a love that turned toxic. It expresses the feeling of being unable to forgive even though we loved and cared deeply. Over time, trust faded, but in the end, it’s a story of finding the strength to move forward on our own,” Momoka added.
For Koharu, the track represents a turning point.
“It’s a high-energy, emotionally charged killer tune that portrays the resentment and heartbreaking experiences we’ve carried through life. Though the lyrics come from the personal experiences of the two who wrote them, I think it’s something everyone can relate to.
“After listening to it, I think you’ll be left with a sense of emotional release and a positive feeling,” she said.
Hana were officially formed in January 2025 and dropped their pre-debut single Drop the same month, which has since amassed 19 million views on YouTube.
In April, they released their major label debut Rose, which became a hit with 43 million views and a No.1 debut on the Billboard Japan Hot 100. Follow-up singles Burning Flower (June), Blue Jean (August), and now Bad Love have continued their momentum, with their YouTube channel closing in on 1.4 million subscribers.
Their meteoric rise has even surprised the members themselves.
“The response has been far beyond what I imagined, and I feel truly honored. One moment that stands out was when we announced the nationwide hall tour and saw Honeys’ hands in the air, celebrating with genuine joy. That scene is etched in my memory,” said Yuri, referring to their fandom.
“The fact that I get to sing every day is thanks to everyone who listens to our music and sees our performances, and I feel grateful every single day. My desire to make people smile hasn’t changed, and will not change,” Naoko said.
“Especially during the fan meeting tour, singing together with Honeys, seeing them mimic our gestures, it created so many joyful memories. I want to keep spreading that circle of smiles even more,” she added.
The group credited their producer Chanmina for guiding their creative direction.
“I really admire our producer, Chanmina. It’s like she meets expectations by defying them and she brings out a different side of Hana every time, and it’s amazing. Thanks to the Hana team creating not just music videos but also vlogs and short form videos, I believe many people are able to enjoy our content in various ways,” Chika said.
For Mahina, the youngest member, fan support has been especially meaningful.
“The response has been so overwhelming that I still can’t fully believe it. But when so many people tell me, ‘We are rooting for you’, it makes me incredibly happy and motivates me to keep going with a sense of responsibility.
“One moment that really stayed with me was during a fan send-off event, when someone said, ‘I’m grateful you’re in this world’ and ‘I’ll always support you’. Those words filled me with joy and left a deep impression,” she told Malay Mail.
Looking ahead, Hana hopes to visit Malaysia one day.
“I want to see the orangutans,” said Chika, while Yuri, Koharu and Jisoo are keen to visit the Petronas Twin Towers.
Mahina wants to explore Malaysia’s beaches, while Koharu added: “Every place I travel to, I always want to go somewhere where I can feel the nature and the culture, so I want to do that in Malaysia too. Please tell me your recommendations. I would also love to see the night view from Petronas Twin Towers.”
As for advice to young fans, Naoko said perseverance is key.
“It’s honestly, truly, way more intense than you’d expect. It takes more than you imagine so train yourself, both mentally and physically. I believe that people who genuinely enjoy music can bring joy to others through it. So first, make sure you enjoy it from the heart.”
Hana’s journey began when Japanese rapper and singer Chanmina, alongside producer Sky-Hi of BMSG, launched the No No Girls audition programme in late 2023 with the mission to discover raw talent without constraints of appearance, age or background.
The slogan: “Just show us your voice and life.”
Over 7,000 applicants from Japan, Korea, the US and beyond signed up, with multiple audition rounds eventually narrowing the field to 10 finalists.
The finale at K Arena Yokohama last January 11 saw seven members chosen to form Hana.
More on the group can be found via their official website and YouTube channel.
