Wandering

Wandering (stylized in all capitals) is an extended play (EP) marketed as the fifth single of Japanese boy group JO1. It served as the third single for their second studio album, Kizuna (2022), and is the group's first single that features double lead tracks, namely and "Prologue". The latter was used as the ending theme song of the anime series Boruto: Naruto Next Generations. Consisting of a total of seven songs, the EP single was released digitally by Lapone Entertainment on December 13, 2021, while the four physical editions were released on December 15, 2021. It features the participation of various Japanese and South Korean producers such as Alive Knob, , Full8loom, and others. As part of the promotion, two B-side tracks were released as a digital single prior to the release of the EP single. "Run&Go", used as the theme song for Kit Kat Japan commercial, was released on September 15, while "We Alright" was pre-released on December 6. Wandering became the fifth single of the group that earned number one position on the Oricon Singles Chart and their first single that surpassed a half million copies sold in its release week according to Billboard Japan. It is also JO1's first release to be certified Double Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan. Background and release On September 1, 2021, two weeks after releasing their fourth EP single Stranger, JO1 announced that they would release a new song titled "Prologue", to be used as the ending song for the anime series Boruto: Naruto Next Generations starting October 10 and released on the next day. It was followed by the release of "Run&Go" as part of Kit Kat Japan's campaign two weeks later. On October 9, Lapone Entertainment announced that member Sukai Kinjo, who had missed the group's first performance with a live audience at the KCON World Premiere: The Triangle, a joint concert with other post-Produce 101 Japan groups, would suspend his activities after being diagnosed with adjustment disorder and the group would continue their activities as 10 members. On the next day, JO1 announced that their fifth EP single, Wandering, was set to be released on December 15, with double lead tracks, and "Prologue". They also mentioned that prior to his break, Kinjo had managed to participate in the recording of the single except for the song "Oasis". Wandering was said to contain the message saying that "it's okay to rest, it's okay to stand still, let's move forward slowly".