Junki Kono
JO1’s open-throated vocal engine, songwriter and professional volume setting. Junki can carry a difficult chorus, host a chaotic conversation and still find time to turn rain into a solo song.
Profile
| Full name | Junki Kono (河野 純喜) |
|---|---|
| Born | January 20, 1998 |
| Birthplace | Nara Prefecture, Japan |
| Height | 175 cm |
| Blood type | O |
| Group | JO1 |
| Creative lanes | vocals · songwriting · acting · broadcasting |
| Agency | LAPONE Entertainment |
| Status | Active · 2020–present |
Produce 101 Japan and JO1
Junki entered Produce 101 Japan with strong natural vocals but without years of idol training behind him. Viewers selected him for JO1, where the raw power became more controlled without losing the bright, immediate quality that first made him stand out.
JO1 debuted in March 2020 with PROTOSTAR and “Infinity.” The group’s scale means every member needs a distinct visual and musical function; Junki has built his through big vocals, energetic communication and increasingly specific songwriting.
Music, performance and credited work
Junki appeared in THE FIRST TAKE performances of “MUGENDAI,” “Voice,” “Bokura no Kisetsu” and “Move the Soul,” and joined Sho Yonashiro as a guest vocalist on SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]’s “OUTSIDERS.” His 2025 solo release “Singing in the Rain” carries his lyric credit.
His official writing record also includes JO1’s “YOLO-konde,” “Touch!,” “NEWSmile,” “Lemon Candy,” “Bon Voyage” and “Be brave!,” along with the LAPOSTA theme “LOVE ALL STAR.” The catalog matches his performance identity: direct emotion, a strong melodic spine and very little interest in whispering when a full note will do.
JO1 era guide
Junki’s released group timeline begins with JO1’s March 2020 debut single PROTOSTAR and “Infinity.” “OH-EH-OH,” “Shine A Light,” “Born To Be Wild,” “REAL,” “SuperCali,” “Tiger,” “Trigger,” “Love Seeker,” and later releases show how the group moved from survival-show formation into an established Japanese pop act with Korean-style training and global promotion.
His role is clearest in songs that need a chorus to open without losing rhythmic force. He can carry a large sustained phrase, but his development is also audible in quieter verses and blended harmonies. THE FIRST TAKE appearances are useful because the stripped format exposes breath, pitch, and phrasing more clearly than a choreography-heavy broadcast stage.
Songwriting and solo classification
Junki’s official writing credits belong to the same musical biography as his JO1 vocals. Songs including “YOLO-konde,” “NEWSmile,” “Lemon Candy,” and “Bon Voyage” show a growing creative role, while “Singing in the Rain” gives him an independently credited solo release. That release is why this canonical page can appear in both Members and Artists without creating a second identity.
Group songs, collaborative stages, and principal solo releases remain separately labeled. A JO1 track does not become a solo record because Junki wrote part of it, and a guest vocal does not replace the main artist’s credit. Future solo singles, OSTs, or albums should be added here with the official release and publishing information preserved.
Acting, broadcasting and side quests
Junki starred as Wataru Matsumura in a Short Program episode and played Tomohiro Iida in the drama That Child’s Child. He also voiced Jonathan in the Japanese premium dub of Disney’s live-action Snow White.
His broadcasting work includes a regular Hangul! Navi role and a Thursday-family run on TBS’s Love It!, plus music, quiz and variety appearances. His 2025 LAPOSTA show was built around “Singing in the Rain.”
Fandom notes and useful context
- Vocal file: Junki’s strength is projection with emotional clarity, not volume for its own sake.
- Language lane: his Korean-study broadcasting work became a recurring part of his public profile.
- Nara roots: his official profile lists Nara Prefecture as his birthplace.
- Writer file: multiple group songs now carry his lyric or composition credit.
RaeRae take
Junki has never met a quiet room he could not improve by singing into it. The useful part is that the voice is not just loud; it is generous. He performs like the last person in the arena also paid for the note.
YouTube tracking history
Junki Kono does not currently have a separately verified official solo-video catalog. JO1 group releases remain attached to the JO1 group profile so group totals are not duplicated as individual activity.