"ABEMA" Announces RINKA's Return in 3rd Round Elimination!, Mid-Evaluation Deciding Between 4 and 2 Members Before Final Round... LE SSERAFIM's KAZUHA Confesses Harsh Days Before Debut
ABEMA aired episode #9 of "WORLD SCOUT: THE FINAL PIECE," revealing the surprise return of RINKA, eliminated in the 3rd round, and featuring LE SSERAFIM's KAZUHA discussing her challenging pre-debut experiences.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 22, 2026 at 19:41
- 🔍 Collected: April 23, 2026 at 00:02 (4h 20m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 23, 2026 at 02:11 (2h 8m after Collected)
"New Future TV 'ABEMA' has aired episode #9 of the audition program "WORLD SCOUT: THE FINAL PIECE," a collaboration between HYBE and Geffen Records to discover Japan's top talent for a global debut in 2026. The episode aired for free on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at 8 PM JST.
■About "WORLD SCOUT: THE FINAL PIECE"
"WORLD SCOUT: THE FINAL PIECE" is a scout project by HYBE × Geffen Records, formed by HYBE, which has produced numerous global artists including BTS, and Geffen Records, a subsidiary of Universal Music Group, one of the world's largest music companies. This project aims to make a full-scale entry into the global market. With a focus on the 2026 global debut, the top scout team from HYBE × Geffen Records has come to Japan to conduct a large-scale audition targeting the entire country. Alongside EMILY, LEXIE, and SAMARA, who participated as trainees in 'The Debut: Dream Academy,' the project seeks to discover the 'single artist' who will be the final member of a new, globally active girl group from HYBE × Geffen Records in Japan.
The studio cast for this project includes Rino Sashihara, as well as SAKURA and KAZUHA, members of the globally active five-member girl group LE SSERAFIM from HYBE MUSIC GROUP LABELS' SOURCE MUSIC, and MOKA and IROHA, members of the five-member girl group ILLIT from HYBE MUSIC GROUP LABELS' BELIFT LAB. This star-studded cast will watch over the growth and decision-making moments of the participants who are challenging for their dreams.
In the episode aired on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 (#9), the identity of the 'additional candidate' announced by Jay In, Production Supervisor at HYBE × Geffen Records, in #8 was revealed. Emerging from the door was RINKA (Rinka Aratake), who had narrowly been eliminated in the 3rd round.
Regarding RINKA's rejoining, Jay In stated, "When agonizing over the four going to Los Angeles, she was always in my mind as a candidate." Son Sung Deuk, former choreographer for BTS and Executive Creator, said, "Now that HIORI has withdrawn, I wanted to give her another chance," and music producer SLO-RABBIT added, "If I could bring one more person, I would have wanted her." This miraculous reunion sent shockwaves among the other candidates.
SAKURA, who became close with RINKA during the 3rd round camp, rejoiced with tears, saying, "I never thought I'd see you again." Meanwhile, AYANA and AOI showed complex expressions with the increase in rivals.
RINKA, joining three weeks late, worked hard to catch up with the other three. Seeing RINKA's efforts, KAZUHA (LE SSERAFIM) recalled her own harsh efforts: "Since I was the last member to join the group when it was formed, I felt I had to work more than twice as hard as everyone else. The others were already practicing the debut song 'FEARLESS,' so I practiced in a separate room until the soles of my feet turned black."
As practice for the even higher-level challenge songs progressed, AOI, who had shown rapid improvement from being a beginner, shed tears, saying, "I probably don't have talent. Because I've only relied on my acting experience to create AOI, I've forgotten my true self." She expressed such a loss of confidence that she wrote in her diary, "I've lost my sense of expression."
In response, SAKURA (LE SSERAFIM), who is active at the forefront of the idol world, shared openly, "Even now, every time I prepare for a comeback, I hit my own wall, and there are so many moments when I think 'I can't do this.' So I really understand AOI's feelings. Because I've done various activities since I was a child, I wonder 'What is my true self?' and I understand envying those who are not yet molded. But not only children with star quality debut; it's really about balance."
MOKA (ILLIT) also added, "Around the fourth stage of 'R U Next?', I was also agonizing the most. Around that time, I think it's a period where you start thinking about how to present yourself, or what you're best at, and you get really worried."
■About "WORLD SCOUT: THE FINAL PIECE"
"WORLD SCOUT: THE FINAL PIECE" is a scout project by HYBE × Geffen Records, formed by HYBE, which has produced numerous global artists including BTS, and Geffen Records, a subsidiary of Universal Music Group, one of the world's largest music companies. This project aims to make a full-scale entry into the global market. With a focus on the 2026 global debut, the top scout team from HYBE × Geffen Records has come to Japan to conduct a large-scale audition targeting the entire country. Alongside EMILY, LEXIE, and SAMARA, who participated as trainees in 'The Debut: Dream Academy,' the project seeks to discover the 'single artist' who will be the final member of a new, globally active girl group from HYBE × Geffen Records in Japan.
The studio cast for this project includes Rino Sashihara, as well as SAKURA and KAZUHA, members of the globally active five-member girl group LE SSERAFIM from HYBE MUSIC GROUP LABELS' SOURCE MUSIC, and MOKA and IROHA, members of the five-member girl group ILLIT from HYBE MUSIC GROUP LABELS' BELIFT LAB. This star-studded cast will watch over the growth and decision-making moments of the participants who are challenging for their dreams.
In the episode aired on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 (#9), the identity of the 'additional candidate' announced by Jay In, Production Supervisor at HYBE × Geffen Records, in #8 was revealed. Emerging from the door was RINKA (Rinka Aratake), who had narrowly been eliminated in the 3rd round.
Regarding RINKA's rejoining, Jay In stated, "When agonizing over the four going to Los Angeles, she was always in my mind as a candidate." Son Sung Deuk, former choreographer for BTS and Executive Creator, said, "Now that HIORI has withdrawn, I wanted to give her another chance," and music producer SLO-RABBIT added, "If I could bring one more person, I would have wanted her." This miraculous reunion sent shockwaves among the other candidates.
SAKURA, who became close with RINKA during the 3rd round camp, rejoiced with tears, saying, "I never thought I'd see you again." Meanwhile, AYANA and AOI showed complex expressions with the increase in rivals.
RINKA, joining three weeks late, worked hard to catch up with the other three. Seeing RINKA's efforts, KAZUHA (LE SSERAFIM) recalled her own harsh efforts: "Since I was the last member to join the group when it was formed, I felt I had to work more than twice as hard as everyone else. The others were already practicing the debut song 'FEARLESS,' so I practiced in a separate room until the soles of my feet turned black."
As practice for the even higher-level challenge songs progressed, AOI, who had shown rapid improvement from being a beginner, shed tears, saying, "I probably don't have talent. Because I've only relied on my acting experience to create AOI, I've forgotten my true self." She expressed such a loss of confidence that she wrote in her diary, "I've lost my sense of expression."
In response, SAKURA (LE SSERAFIM), who is active at the forefront of the idol world, shared openly, "Even now, every time I prepare for a comeback, I hit my own wall, and there are so many moments when I think 'I can't do this.' So I really understand AOI's feelings. Because I've done various activities since I was a child, I wonder 'What is my true self?' and I understand envying those who are not yet molded. But not only children with star quality debut; it's really about balance."
MOKA (ILLIT) also added, "Around the fourth stage of 'R U Next?', I was also agonizing the most. Around that time, I think it's a period where you start thinking about how to present yourself, or what you're best at, and you get really worried."