ONE OR EIGHT just changed how you see the Asian Squat

Leave it to ONE OR EIGHT to look at the "Asian Squat" and think: this should be a song.
On new single "YANKEE SQUAT", the group takes a pose once linked to Japan's rebellious yankee youth and turns it into something unexpectedly infectious.

Built on Latin heat, hip-hop textures and ONE OR EIGHT's signature bad-boy swagger, "YANKEE SQUAT" captures the kind of summer energy that can't be staged: the friends who turn convenience stores into meeting spots, parking lots into memories and ordinary street corners into places you'll never forget. It's loud, loose and unapologetically confident.

The title draws from the squat pose associated with Japan's yankee culture, often seen outside neighbourhood hangouts and late-night gathering spots. Rather than distancing themselves from that image, ONE OR EIGHT embraces it, reframing what was once dismissed as delinquent into a badge of individuality, local pride and the freedom to carve out your own space, wherever you are.

The accompanying music video runs with the idea further, following a fictional group of overseas researchers "studying" the yankee squat as if it were an anthropological curiosity, catching members performing it naturally in airports, shopping streets and city corners. The joke has a real number behind it: only 13.5% of Americans can reportedly hold the pose, and just 9% of them are Asian. It's a small stat with a clear point – most people watching this video won't be able to do what these guys are doing.

The video was directed by Pennacky, whose previous credits include OKAMOTO'S, Aimyon, Gen Hoshino and V6, and who won Best Music Video at Taiwan's 34th Golden Melody Awards in 2023 before being named to Forbes JAPAN's "30 Under 30 2025" list.

Member RYOTA calls the track a natural extension of the group's identity:

"'YANKEE SQUAT' is another new challenge for ONE OR EIGHT. It's an all-or-nothing track that really captures who we are as a group.

It's the kind of song that makes you want to shout, 'YANKEE! YANKEE! SQUAT!' Along with that energy, we also included uniquely Japanese elements like the yankee squat and bontan pants, so I hope everyone pays attention to those details. Also, don't miss the members' chants during the chorus!

The choreography features moves inspired by the yankee squat and the classic regent hairstyle, while showcasing the hip-hop style we're known for. It's packed with highlights that really bring out the spirit of yankee culture.

We hope you'll take a chance on 'YANKEE SQUAT' and enjoy both the song and the performance!"

Director Pennacky says the concept only came together once he looked past the joke:
"Before I heard this song, I never imagined revisiting the culture of the yankee squat in this way.

As I explored yankee culture more deeply, I realised that the attitude and mindset of ONE OR EIGHT share many of the same qualities that make this culture so compelling.
I feel we were able to create a fresh new interpretation of yankee culture together, and I'm really proud of what we made."

The result isn't just another Latin-inspired summer track. By filtering global influences through Tokyo's raw street atmosphere, "YANKEE SQUAT" feels distinctly ONE OR EIGHT: grounded in where they come from, but made to travel far beyond it.

They didn't just make a song out of the Asian Squat. They made it impossible to look at it the same way again.

Fans won't have to wait long to experience it live, and they won't need a ticket either. "YANKEE SQUAT" gets its live debut the day after release, at the Tokyo Zepp Haneda finale of ONE OR EIGHT's first-ever tour, "ONE OR EIGHT 1st LIVE TOUR -GATHER-", on 16 July. The show is being streamed worldwide free of charge via Z-aN, with the first 10 minutes also airing on the group's YouTube channel. Expect a few more surprises in the setlist too, with the night doubling as a first look at material from ONE OR EIGHT's debut EP "EN-GÏNE", landing 16 September.

And here's the fun part: "EN-GÏNE" isn't just getting a live preview, it's getting its own interactive site. ONE OR EIGHT is launching Konbini108 on 15 July, 8pm ET / 16 July, 9am JST, where fans build their own order at a Japanese convenience store using items inspired by each member's favourite picks. Once they've completed their order, they'll get a shareable digital receipt revealing which member their choices match most closely.