ExWhyZ (stylized as ExWHYZ), formerly known as Empire (stylized as EMPiRE), was a Japanese alternative idol girl group formed between WACK and Avex Trax in 2017. They have released six studio albums, five EPs, and five singles since their formation. They re-branded to ExWhyZ in 2022 and re-debuted under EMI Records. The group disbanded in August 2026.
History 2017–2018: Formation, debut as Empire and The Empire Strikes Start!! On April 2, 2017, WACK announced a joint project with Avex. On August 23, The group name was announced as Empire. By September 28, all members of the group had been revealed. The group's first song "Empire is Coming" was released on October 6, the song was later featured on WACK & Scrambles Works.
Empire's first album, The Empire Strikes Start!!, was released on April 11, 2018. The song "Black to the dreamlight" was featured on Black Clover as an ending theme. The group held their first concert named after their debut album on May 1. That same day the group's first member, Yuina Empire transferred to Bis and new members Maho Empire and Mikina Empire joined the group. The Empire Next Edition Tour was held from July to September of the same year. On September 5, Empire released their first EP, Empire Originals.
2019–2020: The Great Journey Album On February 27, 2019, Empire's first single, "Pierce", was released. The song "Pierce" was featured on the final season of Fairy Tail as an ending theme. From March 3 to 4 Empire broadcast the 24-hour live event "Empire Presents Twenty Four Hour Party People". After the event, Yuka Empire left Empire to focus on academic work. On March 30, Now Empire was added as the group's new member. Empire embarked on their second concert tour, which was called the New Empire Tour, from April to June. On July 17, Empire's second single, "Success Story", was released. On October 16, Empire's third single, "Right Now", was released. The song "Right Now" became Empire's second song to feature on Black Clover, this time as an opening theme. Empire embarked on their third concert tour, Empire's Great Escape Tour, from November to December. Empire's second album, The Great Journey Album, was released on December 18.
The group was scheduled to hold the Super Feeling Good Tour from May to June 2020, however it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They released their second EP, Super Cool EP, on August 5, 2020. They held the Empire Error Error Error Tour from November to December 2020.
2021–2023: Bright Future, rebranding to ExWhyZ and XYZ On March 17, 2021, Empire released a special single featuring new versions of "Don't tell me why" and "Tokyo Moonlight". Empire's fourth single, "Hon-no / Iza!!" was released on May 12. The song "Hon-no" was featured on High-Rise Invasion as an opening theme. They held the Empire Ultra Vibes Tour from April to May 2021. Empire's third album, Bright Future, was released on November 10. They held the Empire Dope Magic Tour from April to June 2022.
On June 2, 2022, the group held their final concert as Empire. It was announced at the concert that they would re-debut as members of ExWhyZ under EMI Records later that year. Through July and August, Empire held their final tour. On August 17, the group's final music release as Empire, a digital EP titled The Final Empire, was released.
On August 26, Midoriko went on hiatus due to a worsening chronic illness. ExWhyZ released their debut album, XYZ, through EMI Records on November 2. From November 2022 to January 2023 the group embarked on their first tour. Midoriko resumed group activities on January 12. XYZ was re-released on March 1, 2023, as XYZ [Hyper Edition], consisting of all of the original songs from the regular album but re-arranged to include vocals from Midoriko who was on hiatus at the time of the initial album recording and one new track.
2023: Xanadu and How High? In April, they embarked on their second tour. Their second album, Xanadu, was released on April 19. They released the digital single "Furachina Summer" on July 5. On July 13, Midoriko went on hiatus again. They digital single "Moonlight, Sunlight" was released on August 18, followed by "Not Sorry" on September 8. Their first EP as ExWhyZ titled How High? was released on October 18. They released the digital single, "As you wish", on October 19. On November 16, ExWhyZ performed at The Underworld in London alongside ASP and AinatoAoi (a duo consisting of Aina the End and dancer Aoi Yamada), as part of WACK's first multi-artist concert to be held outside of Japan.
2024: Dress to Kill, Sweet & Sour and member departures On January 12, 2024, they released a cover of Shinichi Osawa's "Our Song", followed by the digital single "Unknown Sense" on February 2. Both songs feature on their third studio album, Dress to Kill, which was released on March 20. On June 26, Mayu went on hiatus due to poor health. ExWhyZ's second EP, Sweet & Sour, was released on July 31. After being on hiatus since July 2023, Midoriko left ExWhyZ on August 7 due to the worsening of her chronic illness. Now left ExWhyZ on October 31. They performed in London for the second time alongside ASP and Mameshiba no Taigun Tonai Bousho a.k.a. MonsterIdol on November 27. Mayu returned from her hiatus on December 8.
2025: iD, Don't Cry, and disbandment notice On July 30, 2025, they released their first single as ExWhyZ, titled "ID". The next single, "Don't Cry", followed on December 10, 2025. On December 1, former WACK Representative Director Junnosuke Watanabe announced that he plans to start the "Second Chapter" of the company and disband ExWhyZ in 2026. The remaining members could participate in WACK's March 2026 audition camp or leave the company by 2027; however, none of them appeared in the camp.
2026: Give You My Word, Zion, and ExWhyZ Last Live 'Hikari' In March, the members had the opportunity to participate in WACK Joint Audition or leave the company by 2027; however, none of them appeared in the camp.
ExWhyZ held their only solo tour outside Japan, ExWhyZ in the UK Tour, from January 29 to February 2, 2026. Their third single, "Give You My Word" was released on April 1. On February 16, the group announced their final tour, which took place from May 6 to July 4.
ExWhyZ released the digital single "Tonight Tonight" on May 6. Three more digital singles, "Not Enough", "00:00", and "Faded", respectively followed on May 20, July 1, and August 5. They feature on their final album, "Zion", released on August 26.
ExWhyZ disbanded on August 31, with their final digital single "Hikari" being released on September 1.
Members Final line-up Yu-ki Mayu Maho Mikina
Former Yuina Empire Yuka Empire Midoriko Now
Timeline
Discography Studio albums Title Album details Peak chart positionsOriconBillboard Empire The Empire Strikes Start!!Released: April 11, 2018 Label: Avex Trax Formats: Cassette tape, digital download 7 4 The Great Journey AlbumReleased: December 18, 2019 Label: Avex Trax Formats: CD, digital download 6 7 Bright FutureReleased: November 10, 2021 Label: Avex Trax Formats: CD, digital download 6 7 ExWhyZ XYZReleased: November 2, 2022 Label: EMI Records Formats: CD, digital download 7 7 XanaduReleased: April 19, 2023 Label: EMI Records Formats: CD, digital download 8 7 Dress to KillReleased: March 20, 2024 Label: EMI Records Formats: CD, digital download 8 7 ZionReleased: August 26, 2026 Label: EMI Records Formats: CD, digital download 9 36
Reissues Title Album details Peak chart positionsOriconBillboard ExWhyZ XYZ (Hyper Edition)Released: March 1, 2023 Label: EMI Formats: CD, digital download 7 8
Extended plays Title Album details Peak chart positionsOriconBillboard Empire Empire OriginalsReleased: September 5, 2018 Label: Avex Trax Formats: CD, digital download 8 4 Super Cool EPReleased: August 5, 2020 Label: Avex Trax Formats: CD, digital download 8 9 The Final EmpireReleased: August 17, 2022 Label: Avex Trax Formats: CD, digital download — — ExWhyZ How High?Released: October 18, 2023 Label: EMI Formats: CD, digital download 8 10 Sweet & SourReleased: July 31, 2024 Label: EMI Formats: CD, digital download 5 4
Singles As lead artist Title Year Peak chart positions AlbumOriconBillboard Empire 2019 5 16The Great Journey Album "Selfish People" — — "Success Story" 5 15 "Right Now" 3 24 "Ordinary"2020 — —Super Cool EP "Super Feeling Good" — — "Error"2021 — —Bright Future "Don't Tell Me Why (now type ver.)"88 —rowspan="2" "Tokyo Moonlight (now type ver.)" — "Let's Show" — —Bright Future "Hon-no"7 87 "Iza!!" — 2022 — —The Final Empire ExWhyZ "Wanna Dance" 2022 — — XYZ "Obsession" — — "Answer" 2023 — — Xanadu "Des Speeching" — — "First Step" — — — — How High? "Moonlight, Sunlight" — — "Not Sorry" — — "As you wish" — — Dress to Kill "Our Song" 2024 — — "Unknown Sense" — — "ID" 2025 5 39 Zion "Don't Cry" / "Regret" 7 42 "Give You My Word" 2026 4 42 "Tonight Tonight" — — "Not Enough" — — "00:00" — — "Faded" — — "Hikari" — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.
Collaborations Title Year Peak chart positions AlbumOricon Empire with Yuki Kashiwagi 2021 14
Filmography DVDs Title Album details Peak chart positionsOricon Empire Empire's Great Revenge LiveReleased: April 8, 2020 Label: Avex Trax Formats: DVD 4 Empire Breaks Through the Limit LiveReleased: April 7, 2021 Label: Avex Trax Formats: DVD 5 Empire's Super Ultra Spectacular ShowReleased: April 6, 2022 Label: Avex Trax Formats: DVD 4 The Final Empire -Empire Dope Magic Tour 2022.06.02 at Line Cube Shibuya-Released: August 17, 2022 Label: Avex Trax Formats: DVD 3 ExWhyZ ExWhyZ Tour 2024 Futura Free + 'Reinforce'Released: December 25, 2024 Label: EMI Records Formats: DVD 6
Blu-rays Title Album details Peak chart positionsOricon Empire Empire's Great Revenge Live First Press Limited Edition (Great Edition)Released: April 8, 2020 Label: Avex Trax Formats: Blu-ray 10 Empire Breaks Through the Limit LiveReleased: April 7, 2021 Label: Avex Trax Formats: Blu-ray 7 Empire's Super Ultra Spectacular ShowReleased: April 6, 2022 Label: Avex Trax Formats: DVD 14 The Final Empire -Empire Dope Magic Tour 2022.06.02 at Line Cube Shibuya-Released: August 17, 2022 Label: Avex Trax Formats: DVD 5
Concerts and tours Tours Empire Next Edition Tour (2018) New Empire Tour (2019) Empire's Great Escape Tour (2019) Super Feeling Good Tour (2020; Cancelled) Empire Error Error Error Tour (2020) Empire Ultra Vibes Tour (2021) Empire Dope Magic Tour (2022) (2022) ExWhyZ First Tour XYZ (2022–2023) ExWhyZ Tour 2023 Xanadu (2023) ExWhyZ Tour 2023 'Elation' Part.1: Live House Series (2023) ExWhyZ Tour 2023 'Elation' Part.2: with Special Guest Series (2023) ExWhyZ Tour 2023 'Elation' Part.3 Final Series: Yearend Party (2023) ExWhyZ presents 'SeihoWhyZ' (2024) ExWhyZ TOUR 2024 'HOPE' (2024) (unfinished) odds and ends (2025) Wide Open (2025) ExWhyZ in the UK Tour (2025) ExWhyZ Last Tour 'Dance Your Dance' (2026)
Concerts The Empire Strikes Start!! (2018) Empire Presents Twenty Four Hour Party People (2019) New Empire Tour "Evolutions" (2019) The End of Summer at Okinawa with Empire (2019) Empire's Great Party Vol. 0 (2019) Empire's Great Party Vol. 1 (2019) Empire's Great Revenge Live (2020) Empire Breaks Through The Limit Live (2020) Empire's Greatest Party "Eat Sleep Empire Repeat" (2021) Empire's Great Party Caravans (2021) Empire's Super Ultra Spectacular Show (2021) WACK in the UK (2023) WACK in the UK Vol. 4 (2024) CLUB Ex Vol. 1 (2025) Our Step→Future’ (2025) ExWhyZ Special Live 'I' -3rd Anniversary Final & Year End Party (2025) ExWHYZ presents 'CLUB Ex FINAL' (2026) ExWhyZ LAST LIVE 'Hikari' (2026)
References
External links Empire's official website ExWhyz's official website