Despite Their Rocky Debut, Opening For Big Bang, YG Entertainment's New Boy Band WINNER Makes A Big Splash In Japan

It's official, WINNER is a phenomenon.

Despite a rocky performance at the Nov. 16 debut of their two-month stint opening for Big Bang on their six-dome tour of Japan, WINNER has bounced back hard, drawing a crowd of 8,000 at their first-ever fan club meeting in Osaka's Serushi Square on Monday.

According to the five band members of WINNER, Kang Seung Yoon, Song Min Ho, Kim Jin Woo, Lee Seung Hoon and Nam Tae Hyun, the missteps at their first show opening for Big Bang could be chalked up to being a bit overwhelmed.

"We were too nervous of making mistakes [opening for] Big Bang and we were worried that we would be overpowered by the sheer size of the stage," one band member commented in a press release from their record label YG Entertainment shortly after their first show.

"Starting off from today's performance, we will return with better performances, and this will be a source of motivation to work harder."

And work hard, WINNER clearly has, as the members of YG Entertainment's newest boy band now find themselves experiencing an outpouring of Japanese support.

"WINNER speaks perfect Japanese and they even sang their songs in Japanese on the opening stage of Big Bang's dome tour," one Japanese music industry insider said.

"They showed improved Japanese skills at the event, naturally answering the host's questions on the stage...fans who exchanged greetings with WINNER members were moved to tears and WINNER was also pleased by the fans' enthusiastic welcome."

WINNER, or as fans of the television program "WIN: Who Who Is Next?" know them as Team A, were the winning team of a two-band reality show faceoff organized by YG Entertainment CEO Yang Hyun Suk.

"Now, the first fan event has been held in Osaka and fans all across Japan are calling for fan event in their towns," he added.

The group also reportedly picked 300 fans from the crowd to come on stage and greet the band members in person.

WINNER will be on tour with Big Bang until Jan. 13 when the tour concludes with a second batch of shows at Osaka's Kyocera Dome.

Once completed, WINNER the first boy band YG has created since debuting Big Bang in 2006, will have performed in 16 concerts in six cities.

In late October, Yang explained to the publication Daily Sports why his label is debuting WINNER simultaneously in Korea and Japan.

"The Japanese market is appealing," Yang said. "We have in mind a simultaneous debut in Korea and Japan. The first album will include songs recorded in Japanese."

All five members of WINNER speak Korean and Japanese.

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YG Entertainment
Big Bang
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