WOLF HOWL HARMONY Brings KOKORO and YUGA Together for a New Take on “ココニイル Kokoniiru”

WOLF HOWL HARMONY has invited PSYCHIC FEVER’s KOKORO KOHATSU and ONE OR EIGHT’s YUGA to join them for a new version of “ココニイル Kokoniiru,” bringing three different vocal styles together on a song that has always been about facing difficult feelings while finding the strength to keep moving forward.

At the center of the collaboration is WOLF HOWL HARMONY, the four-member vocal and rap group made up of GHEE, HIROTO, RYOJI and SUZUKI. The group was formed through “iCON Z – Dreams For Children,” LDH’s largest-ever audition, which brought in approximately 48,000 hopefuls. GHEE and HIROTO were finalists from the first chapter of the audition, while RYOJI and SUZUKI joined through its second chapter after also performing together in chorus group DEEP SQUAD. Their different experiences are part of what gives WOLF HOWL HARMONY its identity, with the group built around the idea that each member carries their own story and their own feelings before finding their way into the same group. Since debut, that identity has taken them beyond Japan as they continue building an international audience, including through their activities in Thailand.

“ココニイル Kokoniiru” was already a song with plenty of emotion before KOKORO and YUGA entered the picture. Originally released as the ending theme for the TV anime Recommendation from Mr. Iwamoto, the ballad was written and composed by ☆Taku Takahashi of m-flo. Its lyrics explore the uncertainty that comes with facing yourself, questioning where you stand and trying to find the courage to keep going. There is a quietness to the original that allows the emotion to sit close to the listener, making it the kind of song where the vocals have to carry just as much feeling as the words.

That is where this new version becomes especially interesting. The harmonies are gorgeous. Rather than treating KOKORO and YUGA as additional voices placed on top of WOLF HOWL HARMONY, the collaboration gives each vocalist room to become part of the song’s emotional center. Their different vocal colors move around one another, sometimes standing out individually before settling into the larger blend. When the voices meet, there is a warmth that makes the song feel fuller without making it feel crowded.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlZw-FalEr4&feature=youtu.be

WOLF HOWL HARMONY already has the kind of lineup where vocal contrast is part of the appeal. GHEE, HIROTO, RYOJI and SUZUKI each bring their own character to the group’s sound, and hearing those voices joined by KOKORO and YUGA adds another layer to that mix. The result is not simply “more vocals.” It is the feeling of hearing different artists listen to one another and find the right places to meet. The harmonies give the song a sense of movement, with individual lines leading naturally into moments where the voices come together and make the emotion feel bigger than any one singer could create alone. KOKORO’s voice is particularly fitting for the song’s softer moments, bringing an emotional quality that can sit comfortably beside the members of WOLF HOWL HARMONY. YUGA adds another texture, giving the collaboration yet another point of contrast. When those voices begin to overlap, the differences become part of what makes the blend work. There is no need for everyone to sound the same. In fact, the beauty comes from hearing where each voice sits and how those individual tones complement one another.

This collaboration also serves a fun meeting between three groups that have each been making their own mark. PSYCHIC FEVER has spent the past several years growing its audience across Japan and Asia, with the seven-member group becoming particularly known for its combination of vocals, rap and performance. ONE OR EIGHT has been taking its music from Japan to audiences around the world since debuting in 2024, building international momentum through songs such as “KAWASAKI (with ph-1)” and “TOKYO DRIFT.” WOLF HOWL HARMONY has similarly continued expanding its activities outside Japan, including its growing presence in Thailand. Bringing KOKORO and YUGA into “ココニイル Kokoniiru” gives those different journeys a chance to meet through music.

For KOKORO, the collaboration was also a chance to work with artists he already has a close relationship with. “WHH and I are close, we talk about everything from deep conversations as vocalists to casual small talk, and I respect them deeply as fellow artists,” he shared. That familiarity gave him a different way to approach the song, particularly as he worked alongside YUGA for the first time in this setting. KOKORO explained that while recording, he focused on feeling the presence of the other artists and putting his own emotions into the performance, with the hope that listeners could feel the chemistry between WOLF HOWL HARMONY, ONE OR EIGHT and PSYCHIC FEVER.

YUGA came into the collaboration with a similar excitement. The ONE OR EIGHT member shared that he had previously thought it would be great to sing with the members of WOLF HOWL HARMONY someday, making this opportunity especially meaningful. Rather than trying to make the song sound like any one of the three groups, YUGA said that all of the artists approached the recording “with one shared heart,” bringing their individual feelings together while keeping the spirit of the original song intact. It is that balance between individuality and togetherness that makes the collaboration feel like more than a simple crossover.

And “ココニイル Kokoniiru” is not finished yet. WOLF HOWL HARMONY has two additional versions of the song planned, giving fans even more combinations to look forward to. One upcoming version will feature YUHI of THE JET BOY BANGERZ, while another will be performed by WOLF HOWL HARMONY alone. Each version is expected to offer its own interpretation of the song, allowing the same story to sound different depending on the artists sharing it.

YUHI has already shared what stood out to him when he first heard “ココニイル Kokoniiru.” He said he was struck by the way something so beautiful could come from the different personalities within WOLF HOWL HARMONY, noting that the contrast felt like a natural reflection of who the group is. The collaboration also gave him the opportunity to sing with RYOJI and SUZUKI again after some time apart, adding another personal connection to the recording. Like KOKORO and YUGA, YUHI approached the song by putting his own feelings into it rather than trying to simply recreate what had already been done.

That approach is exactly what RYOJI hopes listeners will hear throughout the project. For WOLF HOWL HARMONY, bringing different artists into “ココニイル Kokoniiru” is ultimately about connection. The group has been expanding its activities in Japan and overseas, and each new place, audience and artist relationship has become another part of their story. RYOJI explained that the group wanted to use the song to express their gratitude to the artists who joined them and, most importantly, to the fans who have continued supporting them throughout that growth.

The idea of connection has always been important to WOLF HOWL HARMONY. Even the group’s name reflects the individual stories each member carries, with their different personalities and experiences coming together to create one sound. That same idea now extends beyond the four members. By inviting KOKORO, YUGA and YUHI into the world of “ココニイル Kokoniiru,” WOLF HOWL HARMONY is allowing other artists to leave their own mark on a song that means something to the group.

For KOKORO and YUGA, the collaboration also adds another chapter to their own journeys. KOKORO and the members of PSYCHIC FEVER have continued building their global presence since their debut, while YUGA and ONE OR EIGHT have been taking increasingly large steps onto the international stage. ONE OR EIGHT recently completed their first ONE OR EIGHT 1st LIVE TOUR -GATHER-, performing across 10 cities in North and South America. Meanwhile, PSYCHIC FEVER has toured internationally, including their first U.S. tour, and continued growing their audience throughout Asia and beyond. Their participation in “ココニイル Kokoniiru” shows how those separate paths can cross in unexpected ways.

That is perhaps the most enjoyable part of this project for fans. A song that listeners may already know is being given new life through artists they may not have expected to hear together. WOLF HOWL HARMONY brings the foundation of the song, KOKORO and YUGA add their own colors, and the upcoming YUHI version will offer yet another perspective. Instead of one definitive version replacing another, each collaboration becomes another way to experience the same song.

“ココニイル Kokoniiru” started as a song about looking inward, dealing with uncertainty and finding the courage to move forward. Now, WOLF HOWL HARMONY is letting other artists step into that story with them. The result is a collaboration built around different voices, different experiences and a shared feeling that music becomes even more meaningful when it gives people a way to connect.