UNIS Teams with Ichigo Ichie for Japanese Mini-Album 'UNI☆Sparkle!'

K-POP group UNIS is heading into summer with its first Japanese mini-album. The eight-member group released "UNI☆Sparkle!" on July 31 at midnight through major streaming platforms.

The EP arrives about seven months after the group's second Japanese digital single, "mwah...," which came out in December. UNIS has steadily rolled out Japanese original tracks since debut, and the new mini-album continues that push into the local market.

The group is Hyeonju, Nana, Gehlee Dangca, Kotoko, Yoonha, Elysia, Yuna, and Seowon.

For the release, UNIS teamed up with the Japanese character brand Ichigo Ichie. The collaboration turned each of the eight members into a character drawn in the brand's signature style. A special music video for the title track, "GimmeSummer☆," using those characters was also released.

The video blends Ichigo Ichie's world of love, friendship, and youth with a Y2K look built around UNIS. The retro styling sits at the center of the concept.

"UNI☆Sparkle!" was planned around that same Y2K feel. It carries five tracks in total, including the title song "GimmeSummer☆," "BBYBBY," "moshimoshi♡," "mwah...," and a Japanese-language version of "SWICY."

"GimmeSummer☆" is the group's first summer-season song since debut. The lyrics center on the daily lives of teenagers, with love and friendship as the main themes.

The song was written and composed by Kanata Okajima, who has worked with acts including BTS and M!LK, and Carlos K., known for producing Lilas Ikuta's "Sarangbaram." The choreography was created by Sako Makita, who also handled the choreography for "Do I Have to Be Just Cute?"