KPop group IZ*ONE. (Credit: Off The Record Entertainment via The Korea Herald)
Japanese members of K-Pop group IZ*ONE returned to their home boarding an airplane together on Thursday.
Miyawaki Sakura, Honda Hitomi and Yabuki Nako eagerly greeted fans gathered at the airport but upon hearing their warm parting words, turned solemn. Hitomi welled up with tears and the other two comforted her.
The group was disbanded on Wednesday as its contract with CJ ENM expired, wrapping up the 2 1/2 year career. Korean members will return to their original agencies except for Cho Yuri who will sign up with a new label.
The Japanese members are yet to announce their future plans, although there is speculation that Sakura may join a K-pop female band or that she might be picked up by Big Hit Music.
“Even though we’re disbanding, the fact that I was part of IZ*ONE and you of WIZOne will not be gone. It will be there forever,” said Sakura in her Japanese radio program Thursday.
The 12-piece girl group was formed through an audition program and gained popularity both in Japan and Korea. Its final activity was a standalone online concert held in March.