NiziU makes a Korean comeback with its first mini album, Sour Grapes, sharing new challenges, performances, and thanks to WithU.

NiziU is returning to its fans by releasing its Korean first mini album "Sour Grapes," which comes about 1 year and 6 months after its 2nd single. This first mini album includes the title track "Sour Grapes," which freshly reinterprets Aesop's fable "The Sour Grapes" and depicts a dignified figure who boldly jumps into choices that others hesitate to make, as well as a variety of other tracks with diverse charms. From "Petal's Song," "emoji," "Into The Dawn," to "Lullaby," five musical fairy tales unraveled from NiziU's own perspective fill the album. Their remarkable activities in Japan this year also stand out. NiziU stood at the top of the Oricon chart with the 2nd EP "GOOD GIRL BUT NOT FOR YOU" released in Japan, and also obtained Gold Disc certification with their first best album "Portfolio." In addition, they successively completed an arena tour of 12 performances in 5 regions and a second dome tour successfully, proving their global presence. — Since the 2nd single "LOVE LINE" in March 2025, they are迎える a comeback in Korea after 1 year and 6 months. When the news of the comeback arrived, expectations were raised from many fans. Please tell us about your feelings about the comeback and the excitement during the preparation process. Mako: We are making a Korean comeback after 1 year and 6 months, and we sincerely thank the fans who waited for a long time. We also strongly wanted to meet again as soon as possible. Every time we have made a comeback in Korea, we have created unforgettable memories, and through this activity, we want to try many new things that we have not yet been able to do together with WithU (the name of the fans). We want to spend fruitful and happy Korean activities together with the members and WithU, cherishing every minute and second. Maya: Since it is a long-awaited comeback, I am really excited and very happy! Korean activities are always a time when we can have new experiences and make good memories while communicating closely with the fans. This time too, we prepared hard with the expectation of being able to show a wonderful stage. We also made many new challenges so that we can show the fans who waited a more diverse charm of NiziU, and we thought a lot about how to make WithU happy. I would be happy if you love us a lot, a lot! Riku: I was very happy because it is an opportunity to meet WithU again in Korea who support us. I prepared while looking forward to being able to greet you through various contents including music programs. I am truly happy and excited to be able to make a Korean comeback together with the sweet-and-sour song "Sour Grapes"! — The new work "Sour Grapes" is NiziU's first mini album in Korea. I think you put in a lot of effort, but please tell us, including an introduction to the new album and title track, if there is any behind-the-scenes story from the production process that you would like to tell the fans. Ayaka: The choreography for the title track "Sour Grapes" was a style that NiziU had never tried before, so when we first practiced it, our whole bodies became sore from muscle pain. I remember that all the members practiced hard to raise the level of completion. There are really many points hidden throughout the choreography, so I would be happy if you would pay close attention! Mayuka: When we were doing the jacket shoot, we were given direction to "stare at the camera with a strong gaze," and I approached it wanting to show a new visual, and it was very fun. The music video was also filmed in Taipei, and it remains memorable because it was work where we were able to challenge ourselves with a different look than usual. Please listen to and love "Sour Grapes," where you can meet a new NiziU! Rima: We are making a comeback with our first mini album in Korea. We prepared a variety of tracks with a different atmosphere from before and a title track with a new style, so I hope fans will like it. The choreography also has a strong impact, and we practiced while paying special attention to expressing the movements large and powerfully. Please give lots of attention and love to the title track stage and NiziU's first mini album. — The title track "Sour Grapes" is a song that freshly reinterprets Aesop's fable "The Sour Grapes." Like the content of the song, please tell us about moments when NiziU members made bold challenges, or things you would like to try. Miihi: I recently ate mango for the first time! When I went to Taipei for the music video shoot, I ate it for the first time, and it was really delicious (laughs). Since then, I have started trying menu items like mango shaved ice. Small changes felt new to me. Nina: Every year, I cook together with the members at Christmas, and this year at the Christmas party I would like to try ravioli. I think I would be very happy if I could see the members eating it deliciously. — We are also curious about NiziU's new song performance. If you were to name the points to watch or the killing part, where would it be? Mako: There is a movement in the chorus that expresses grapes with the hands, and that part is the key point. Also, the phrase "Sour Grapes" appears repeatedly throughout the song, and the melody that you cannot forget once you hear it is also attractive, so please watch and listen a lot! Maya: This choreography has many delicate points as well as strength. In particular, the chorus is a style we are trying for the first time, so even while dancing ourselves, we expected it to be a part that would strongly remain in the fans' memories. Among them, the movement of eating grapes with the hands is, I think, the killing point of this song. — In 2026, the 2nd EP "GOOD GIRL BUT NOT FOR YOU" and the first best album "Portfolio" achieved good results on various local charts in Japan, and the solo arena tour "NiziU Live with U 2026 NEW EvoNUtion" and the dome tour "NiziU Live with U 2026 NiziU: THE CINEMA" were successfully completed. Moving the stage to Korea together with the new release "Sour Grapes" and planning to fill this year completely, if you were to express NiziU's current activities and this year as one keyword, what would it be? Riku: NiziU's "challenge." In the dome tour, we directly composed the set list together with the members, and in this Korean comeback we are greeting with a stronger concept different from before. In the sense that we are showing a charm different from the cute atmosphere shown in the previous activities, I think this year has been a succession of new challenges for NiziU. Ayaka: I would also like to express it as "challenge." It was a year in which we continued various new attempts, from songs and tours with new concepts to the set list of the dome tour that we composed together with the members for the first time. Since this comeback was also prepared with a new concept, I think it can be described as "a year in which NiziU challenged a lot." — Finally, please give a message to WithU, who always deliver fairy-tale-like love. Mako: WithU~ Thank you always for supporting and watching over us from the closest place. Every moment we spend with WithU is our most precious treasure. Let's continue to make many happy times together! Maya: Our beloved WithU~♡ The time when we can finally meet is approaching, and I am very, very excited. Thank you for always supporting us and sending us so much love. This is a mini album we prepared hard while thinking of WithU, so I would be happy if you like it a lot. Let's meet soon. Riku: First of all, thank you from the bottom of my heart to WithU, who always gives us great strength and support. I would be happy if you enjoy watching the new side of NiziU that we will show through the activities for "Sour Grapes." From now on, we will do our best to carry out activities so that WithU can be happy. I love you! Ayaka: I sincerely thank you for waiting so long for this comeback. I am truly happy to be able to meet you again after such a long time, and I hope this activity period will be one in which we can deliver even greater happiness to WithU with a new side different from the previous activities. I am always grateful, and I love you. Mayuka: WithU~ NiziU is finally making a comeback after 1 year and 6 months. Thank you for waiting for so long. Through this album, I think we can show you many new charms of NiziU. Let's make many, many happy memories together during the activity period ♡ Riku: Thank you sincerely for always supporting us. Every time I think of WithU, I receive great strength. We also prepared this album with sincerity while thinking of WithU, so I would be happy if you watch over us with love. I love you! Miihi: Our WithU who always supports us ♡ Thank you so much for waiting for so long. I hope this activity will also become a fun and happy time. I am very excited and looking forward to it from now on. I am always grateful, and I hope to continue to count on you. Nina: Our WithU, it has really been a long time, hasn't it? Since you waited so much, we prepared hard so that we can respond with wonderful performances and songs, so please look forward to it. WithU, we always love you!