Coach Enraged Right Before Mid-Term Evaluation... LE SSERAFIM's SAKURA & KAZUHA Share Grueling Pre-Debut Training Secrets | "WORLD SCOUT: THE FINAL PIECE" #10
ABEMA's audition program 'WORLD SCOUT: THE FINAL PIECE' #10 featured the mid-term evaluation for a global girl group selection by HYBE and Geffen Records, highlighting the intense training and growth of the candidates. LE SSERAFIM's SAKURA and KAZUHA also revealed their tough pre-debut training experiences.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 29, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 29, 2026 at 11:01
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 29, 2026 at 11:47 (46 min after Collected)
ABEMA, the "New Future TV," broadcasted "WORLD SCOUT: THE FINAL PIECE" #10, an audition program by HYBE × Geffen Records to discover Japan's top talent for a global debut in 2026, free of charge from 8 PM on Tuesday, April 28, 2026.
## What is "WORLD SCOUT: THE FINAL PIECE"?
"WORLD SCOUT: THE FINAL PIECE" is a scouting project by HYBE × Geffen Records, a collaboration between HYBE, which has produced numerous global artists including BTS, and Geffen Records, part of Universal Music Group, one of the world's largest music companies, to make a full-scale entry into the global market. For this project, HYBE × Geffen Records' top scouting team visited Japan to conduct large-scale auditions across the country, with an eye on a global debut in 2026. Alongside Emily, Lexie, and Samara, who participated as trainees in "The Debut: Dream Academy," the project aims to discover the "one and only artist" in Japan who will become the final member of a new global girl group debuting from HYBE × Geffen Records.
The studio cast for this project includes Sashihara Rino, 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 observes the growth and decisive moments of the participants who are staking their dreams.
Episode #10, broadcast on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, depicted the grueling days of the candidates leading up to the cruel mid-term evaluation, where the members advancing to the final round would be narrowed down from four to two.
RINKA, who joined three weeks late and, despite being a dance beginner, put her best into learning choreography, struggled with formations. Furthermore, she was assigned the chorus part of the challenge song "PARTY b4 the PARTY," adding immense pressure.
With only 10 days left until the evaluation, a conflict erupted between dance coach Martha and AOI. When dance coach Martha pointed out, "Why is the person who's least capable smiling the most and saying 'I want to go home'? You're not keeping up," AOI expressed her struggles with how to balance her individuality and professional conduct. Despite being told, "Just go home already," AOI looked forward, saying, "About 98% of me is enveloped in dark feelings, but about 2% sees a clear future." She then showed remarkable growth in subsequent practices, earning high praise from dance coach Martha, who said, "Her attitude during training and her energy, everything changed."
The program also revealed a secret story about LE SSERAFIM's tough pre-debut training. SAKURA (LE SSERAFIM) said, "Before LE SSERAFIM's debut, if we had 6 hours of practice, we definitely exercised for an hour." KAZUHA (LE SSERAFIM) then revealed that the toughest training was, "Doing 100 burpees for the first time was shocking." SAKURA (LE SSERAFIM) also added, "On the first day, I couldn't do 20, but after continuing for a week, I could do 100 continuously. We also sang while running on the treadmill." The studio was astonished by the overwhelming effort of the globally successful group.
In the latter half of the program, the fateful mid-term evaluation began. The challenge songs "PARTY b4 the PARTY" and "WE RIDE" were performed. SAKURA, a 15-year-old with no singing or dancing experience, was chosen to perform the challenging "split" move that concluded "PARTY b4 the PARTY." Despite struggling with her natural stiffness, she dedicated herself to stretching and practicing for this day, brilliantly performing the difficult move with an overwhelming performance, moving the judges. Studio personality Hikorohee also praised SAKURA's performance, saying, "SAKURA-chan was amazing."
On the other hand, AOI, who had shown rapid growth and confidence, saying, "I'm in great shape. I think I'll pass," received feedback from judge Bird Shudel, who produces songs for Beyoncé and others, saying, "The beginning...
## What is "WORLD SCOUT: THE FINAL PIECE"?
"WORLD SCOUT: THE FINAL PIECE" is a scouting project by HYBE × Geffen Records, a collaboration between HYBE, which has produced numerous global artists including BTS, and Geffen Records, part of Universal Music Group, one of the world's largest music companies, to make a full-scale entry into the global market. For this project, HYBE × Geffen Records' top scouting team visited Japan to conduct large-scale auditions across the country, with an eye on a global debut in 2026. Alongside Emily, Lexie, and Samara, who participated as trainees in "The Debut: Dream Academy," the project aims to discover the "one and only artist" in Japan who will become the final member of a new global girl group debuting from HYBE × Geffen Records.
The studio cast for this project includes Sashihara Rino, 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 observes the growth and decisive moments of the participants who are staking their dreams.
Episode #10, broadcast on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, depicted the grueling days of the candidates leading up to the cruel mid-term evaluation, where the members advancing to the final round would be narrowed down from four to two.
RINKA, who joined three weeks late and, despite being a dance beginner, put her best into learning choreography, struggled with formations. Furthermore, she was assigned the chorus part of the challenge song "PARTY b4 the PARTY," adding immense pressure.
With only 10 days left until the evaluation, a conflict erupted between dance coach Martha and AOI. When dance coach Martha pointed out, "Why is the person who's least capable smiling the most and saying 'I want to go home'? You're not keeping up," AOI expressed her struggles with how to balance her individuality and professional conduct. Despite being told, "Just go home already," AOI looked forward, saying, "About 98% of me is enveloped in dark feelings, but about 2% sees a clear future." She then showed remarkable growth in subsequent practices, earning high praise from dance coach Martha, who said, "Her attitude during training and her energy, everything changed."
The program also revealed a secret story about LE SSERAFIM's tough pre-debut training. SAKURA (LE SSERAFIM) said, "Before LE SSERAFIM's debut, if we had 6 hours of practice, we definitely exercised for an hour." KAZUHA (LE SSERAFIM) then revealed that the toughest training was, "Doing 100 burpees for the first time was shocking." SAKURA (LE SSERAFIM) also added, "On the first day, I couldn't do 20, but after continuing for a week, I could do 100 continuously. We also sang while running on the treadmill." The studio was astonished by the overwhelming effort of the globally successful group.
In the latter half of the program, the fateful mid-term evaluation began. The challenge songs "PARTY b4 the PARTY" and "WE RIDE" were performed. SAKURA, a 15-year-old with no singing or dancing experience, was chosen to perform the challenging "split" move that concluded "PARTY b4 the PARTY." Despite struggling with her natural stiffness, she dedicated herself to stretching and practicing for this day, brilliantly performing the difficult move with an overwhelming performance, moving the judges. Studio personality Hikorohee also praised SAKURA's performance, saying, "SAKURA-chan was amazing."
On the other hand, AOI, who had shown rapid growth and confidence, saying, "I'm in great shape. I think I'll pass," received feedback from judge Bird Shudel, who produces songs for Beyoncé and others, saying, "The beginning...