ZOO Profile
ZOO is a legendary Japanese dance and vocal unit formed in Tokyo in 1989. The group originated after eight dancers met on the TV competition show DADA L.M.D. At a time when street dance was still emerging in Japan, the members were widely respected for their high-caliber skills. They reached the peak of their popularity in the early 1990s, with a style heavily influenced by the New Jack Swing movement.
In May 1990, ZOO debuted with "Careless Dance." Their massive breakthrough came with their fourth single, "Choo Choo TRAIN," which sold over 1.05 million copies and reached No. 3 on the Oricon charts. The song's tie-up with JR East commercials made ZOO a household name and a definitive symbol of 90s Japanese pop culture.
The group disbanded in December 1995, but their influence continued through its members. HIRO went on to form the iconic group EXILE in 2001, while Yu-ki has performed as the lead vocalist of the chart-topping group TRF since 1993.