ABEMA 'WORLD SCOUT: THE FINAL PIECE' Final Episode | Who grabbed the 'FINAL PIECE' spot out of 14,000 people...? Sashihara Rino, Hikorohi and others astonished

ABEMA, the "new future TV," began free broadcasting of the final episode (#12) of 'WORLD SCOUT: THE FINAL PIECE,' an audition program by HYBE × Geffen Records to discover Japan's top talent for a global debut in 2026, from 8 PM on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, with free on-demand viewing available after the broadcast.

What is 'WORLD SCOUT: THE FINAL PIECE'?

'WORLD SCOUT: THE FINAL PIECE' is a scout project by HYBE × Geffen Records, a collaboration between 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, to fully enter the global market. In this project, HYBE × Geffen Records' top scout team visited Japan to conduct a large-scale audition across the country, aiming for a global debut in 2026. Together with Emily, Lexie, and Samara, who participated as trainees in 'The Debut: Dream Academy,' they aim 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, Hikorohi, SAKURA and KAZUHA from the 5-member girl group LE SSERAFIM, active globally under HYBE MUSIC GROUP LABELS' SOURCE MUSIC, and MOKA and IROHA from the 5-member girl group ILLIT, under HYBE MUSIC GROUP LABELS' BELIFT LAB. This豪華 cast watched over the growth and decisive moments of the participants challenging their dreams.

In the final episode broadcast on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, the final screening, the culmination of an audition that lasted approximately one year, was revealed. The stage for the final screening was a long-established live house where many big-name artists have performed. In front of an audience of 200 for the first time, candidates AYANA and SAKURA were surprised by the appearance of KATSEYE, a global new star nominated for two Grammy Awards, who directly cheered them on, marking a spectacular opening.

The first to perform was 15-year-old SAKURA, who rose through the ranks with overwhelming star quality despite no prior singing or dancing experience. She performed 'PARTY b4 the PARTY' with three existing members, gracefully succeeding in the difficult "split" move she had struggled with. Hikorohi in the studio was speechless at her astonishing growth in just a few months, saying, "That split was perfectly executed, when did she... amazing." ILLIT's MOKA also showed a look of astonishment, saying, "This is truly the first time I've seen someone inexperienced grow this much."

Next on stage was AYANA, a seasoned performer with 10 years of experience. She struggled until the very last moment with the challenge of "lacking individuality," but finally found the answer in "enjoying herself," and performed 'WE RIDE' completely breaking out of her shell. The judges highly praised her, saying, "She's truly a girl group member" and "Her singing voice is stable without wavering." AYANA herself showed a bright smile, saying, "I gave it 120%. I have no regrets."

Both presented completely different charms and perfect stages, and Sashihara Rino in the studio was also very excited, exclaiming, "How do you choose!?" The judging was extremely difficult, with LE SSERAFIM's KAZUHA saying, "I want to see both. I hope they are rewarded." Then came the announcement of the fateful winner. Standing at the pinnacle of 14,000 people and brilliantly grabbing the "FINAL PIECE" spot was SAKURA, who achieved miraculous growth from an inexperienced background.

Executive Creator Son Sung Deuk praised her potential and star quality. Music producer Bart Schoudel also gave the highest praise, saying, "She has a sparkle that cannot be acquired through training. In one word, it's 'spark.'"

Meanwhile, AYANA, who unfortunately dropped out at the very last moment, expressed her regret, saying, "I'm filled with sadness after dropping out right before my debut. I believed I would definitely debut this time..." However, she showed a strong forward-looking attitude, saying, "Even if this audition ends, I won't give up on my dream. I hope to move on to the next step."