ExWhyZ

For the British-German heavy metal band, see Empire (German band).

ExWhyZ
Also known as	Empire
Origin	Tokyo, Japan
Genres	J-pop
Years active	2017–present
Labels	WACK Avex Trax EMI Records
Members	Yu-ki Mayu Maho Mikina
Past members	Yuina Empire Yuka Empire Midoriko Now
Website	www.exwhyz.jp

ExWhyZ, formerly known as Empire (stylized as EMPiRE), is 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 will disband in 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.

On July 30, 2025, they released their first single as ExWhyZ, titled "ID".The next single, "DON'T CRY", will follow 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 can participate in WACK's 2026 audition camp or leave the company by 2027.

Members

Current

• Yu-ki
• Mayu
• Maho
• Mikina

Former

• Yuina Empire
• Yuka Empire
• Midoriko
• Now

Timeline

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Discography

Studio albums

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
		Oricon	Billboard
Empire
The Empire Strikes Start!!	Released: April 11, 2018 Label: Avex Trax Formats: Cassette tape, digital download	7	4
The Great Journey Album	Released: December 18, 2019 Label: Avex Trax Formats: CD, digital download	6	7
Bright Future	Released: November 10, 2021 Label: Avex Trax Formats: CD, digital download	6	7
ExWhyZ
XYZ	Released: November 2, 2022 Label: EMI Records Formats: CD, digital download	7	7
Xanadu	Released: April 19, 2023 Label: EMI Records Formats: CD, digital download	8	7
Dress to Kill	Released: March 20, 2024 Label: EMI Records Formats: CD, digital download	8	7

Reissues

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
		Oricon	Billboard
ExWhyZ
XYZ (Hyper Edition)	Released: March 1, 2023 Label: EMI Formats: CD, digital download	7	8

Extended plays

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
		Oricon	Billboard
Empire
Empire Originals	Released: September 5, 2018 Label: Avex Trax Formats: CD, digital download	8	4
Super Cool EP	Released: August 5, 2020 Label: Avex Trax Formats: CD, digital download	8	9
The Final Empire	Released: 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 & Sour	Released: July 31, 2024 Label: EMI Formats: CD, digital download	5	4

Singles

As lead artist

Title	Year	Peak chart positions		Album
		Oricon	Billboard
Empire
"Pierce" (ピアス)	2019	5	16	The 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	—	Non-album singles
"Tokyo Moonlight (now type ver.)"			—
"Let's Show"		—	—	Bright Future
"Hon-no"		7	87
"Iza!!"			—
"Nee" (ねぇ)	2022	—	—	The Final Empire
ExWhyZ
"Wanna Dance"	2022	—	—	XYZ
"Obsession"		—	—
"Answer"	2023	—	—	Xanadu
"Des Speeching"		—	—
"First Step"		—	—
"Furachina Summer" (フラチナサマー)		—	—	How High?
"Moonlight, Sunlight"		—	—
"Not Sorry"		—	—
"As you wish"		—	—	Dress to Kill
"Our Song"	2024	—	—
"Unknown Sense"		—	—
"ID"	2025	5	39	Non-album singles
"Don't Cry" / "Regret"	2025	7	42
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Collaborations

Title	Year	Peak chart positions	Album
		Oricon
Empire
"Jikan ga Tarinai" (時間が足りない) with Yuki Kashiwagi	2021	14	Non-album single

Filmography

DVDs

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
		Oricon
Empire
Empire's Great Revenge Live	Released: April 8, 2020 Label: Avex Trax Formats: DVD	4
Empire Breaks Through the Limit Live	Released: April 7, 2021 Label: Avex Trax Formats: DVD	5
Empire's Super Ultra Spectacular Show	Released: 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 positions
		Oricon
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 Live	Released: April 7, 2021 Label: Avex Trax Formats: Blu-ray	7
Empire's Super Ultra Spectacular Show	Released: 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)
• Moto-Empire Nari no Last Tour (元Empireなりのラストツア) (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)

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 with ASP and AinatoAoi (2023)
• WACK in the UK Vol. 4 with ASP and Mameshiba no Taigun Tonai Bousho a.k.a. MonsterIdol (2024)

External links

• Empire's official website
• ExWhyz's official website