generasia:Featured article for 2020 week 1
EXILE & EXILE THE SECOND
EXILE is a Japanese pop-R&B group under the avex trax sub-label rhythm zone, and managed by LDH agency. The group originates from the group J Soul Brothers. After SASA left J Soul Brothers, dancers HIRO, MATSU, USA and MAKIDAI were joined by vocalists ATSUSHI and SHUN to form EXILE.
In March 2006, SHUN decided to leave the group to pursue a solo career. In June of that same year, AKIRA, former member of RATHER UNIQUE, joined the group, and later in September TAKAHIRO joined to replace SHUN. In March 2009, EXILE announced that the seven members of Nidaime J Soul Brothers merged with them to become a 14 member group.
In April 2014, the group announced the addition of another five members who were finalists of the EXILE PERFORMER BATTLE AUDITION. Out of the five, two are also part of GENERATIONS, and another, who is a member of Sandaime J Soul Brothers.
EXILE THE SECOND, previously known as THE SECOND from EXILE, is a Japanese pop male dance & vocal group signed to rhythm zone label and LDH agency. The group features all the members of Nidaime J Soul Brothers except for NAOTO and NAOKI, as both returned for the third J Soul Brothers' generation. With the Hiatus of EXILE, first generation EXILE member AKIRA joined the group in 2016, bringing the member lineup to 6 members. All members are also active in the EXILE group.
Their joint single single, "Ai no Tame ni for love, for a child / Shunkan Eternal", is released this week on January 1st.
