Asa is a main rapper, main dancer, and vocalist of YG Entertainment’s girl group BABYMONSTER. Known for her sharp performance skills and fierce charisma, Asa trained for over five years before debuting, having joined YG at just 12 years old. She gained attention for her lightning-fast rap delivery, strong stage presence, and ability to pick up choreography faster than anyone in the group. Asa also contributed as a co-writer and composer on the group’s debut single “BATTER UP,” showcasing her creative depth. Fluent in Korean and passionate about both music and performance, Asa continues to win fans over with her intense focus, quirky charm, and signature girl-crush energy.
Profile
Fun Facts
- Asa was born on April 17, 2006, making her one of the youngest idols to debut under YG Entertainment.
- Asa—along with Ruka—is one of the first Japanese female idols to debut under YG Entertainment.
- Asa is fluent in Japanese and Korean, showcasing her dedication to communicating with fans and teammates seamlessly.
- Asa has wowed fans with her rap abilities, often praised for her powerful delivery and sharp flow, making her a standout in BABYMONSTER.
- Asa holds the distinction of being the first Japanese female idol to debut under YG Entertainment, marking a new milestone for the company.
- Asa has shown a creative side, participating in song lyrics and choreography, hinting at her potential as a multi-talented artist.
- Asa is known for her playful and caring personality, often sharing heartwarming moments with her fellow BABYMONSTER members.
- Her strength is short-term memory, while her weakness is long-term memory—she tends to memorize things quickly but also forgets them just as fast.
- She has nine piercings.
- Asa’s favorite artist is Doja Cat, and she’s interested in tarot, sometimes even dressing according to her lucky color.
- She likes the number 37 because she says she was in her mother’s womb for 37 weeks.
- The other members picked her as the most “mom-like” in the team.
- She always carries a large bag filled with anything the members might need, like a real-life Doraemon.
- For Chiquita’s health, Asa eats 10 cherry tomatoes with her every morning.
- For the group’s next comeback, she said she’d like to try dark purple hair.
Early Beginnings
Born with a dream of becoming a singer, Asa began her journey at a young age. When she was in the second grade of elementary school, she enrolled in a dance academy. Her passion for performing grew stronger as she took her first steps on stage, dancing to Block B’s energetic track “Very Good.” This early exposure to performing in front of an audience solidified her dream and fueled her desire to pursue a career in entertainment.
In 2017, Asa expanded her artistic horizons by appearing in the Japanese musical LADYBIRD LADYBIRD. This experience not only showcased her versatility but also highlighted her ability to captivate audiences through different forms of artistic expression.
Asa’s turning point came in 2018 when she successfully passed YG Entertainment’s Japanese audition. Her acceptance into the company marked the beginning of a rigorous six-year training period. During this time, Asa honed her skills in singing, dancing, and overall stage presence, proving her commitment to excelling in the competitive world of K-pop.
In 2023, Asa participated in BABYMONSTER’s Last Evaluation, a critical stage in the group’s formation process. Although she initially ranked 7th and faced elimination alongside fellow trainee Laura, her story took an unexpected turn. Fans rallied to express their overwhelming support for Asa, prompting Yang Hyun-suk, YG Entertainment’s founder, to reconsider. Listening to the fandom’s voice, he decided to include her in the final lineup of BABYMONSTER.
Debut with BABYMONSTER
On February 20th, 2023 a video titled “BABYMONSTER – Introducing ASA” was published on the official channel of YG’s upcoming girl group BABYMONSTER”.
In the video, Asa, who was fascinated by YG’s unique hip-hop style and challenged the trainee audition, confidently passed with the aspiration of “I’ll make sure to become a Kpop artist.” Since then, she has been running towards her debut dream with constant effort, under YG’s systematic training system.
Asa never misses a single movement from the choreography, at the same time has the ability to freely move between powerful movements and soft grooves, and has attractive facial expressions and gestures. Dancer trainer LEEJUNG also praised the BABYMONSTER member, saying, “She’s the one that asks the most questions, and that’s why she understands quickly more than anyone else. She’s really smart in that sense”,
Asa’s musical talent was also exceptional. With her innate sense of rhythm, she surprised everyone with her tongue twist rap full of speed. While working on the self-composed song “DIARY”, Asa shed tears over feeling unsatisfied, providing a glimpse of her extraordinary passion for music. At this, a YG producer did not hold back their praise, saying, “When I teach her one thing, she takes it and upgrades it on her own. She’s like a perfectionist.”
Asa’s strong support was none other than Ruka, who was also from Japan. Asa expressed her affection, saying, “When I first came to Korea, Ruka stayed by my side, and I could really lean on her.”
Asa has grown into a decent artist with both performance and rap skills. At her end-of-month evaluation stage, she garnered rave reviews for her self-composed song that contained her sincerity. General producer Yang Hyun Suk, commented, “Coming to a foreign country where you can’t even communicate at the age of 12 and 13, and enduring everything while training, means they have a clear aim and dream. They’re doing it because they want to do it. I really want to applaud them. They’re amazing.”
Controversies
Thailand Event’s Attitude
In June, 2024, video capturing BABYMONSTER Asa at an event in Thailand garnered significant attention from the online community.
In the clip, as the group was leaving the event, most of the BABYMONSTER members were seen waving and interacting warmly with fans who were waiting for them. However, Asa’s actions sparked mixed reactions from viewers.
Specifically, Asa was criticized for allegedly displaying an unfriendly attitude towards fans. Asa was seen repeatedly covering her face with her hands while walking straight to the car without any interaction. Her actions of ignoring fans have drawn divided opinions online, with some accusing her of having a “diva attitude” despite being a rookie in the K-pop industry.
Education Level
On the July 6 episode of SBS’s Running Man, BABYMONSTER’s Asa and Ahyeon appeared as guests in the “Chilling Vacation Thriller” race.
During the episode, Yoo Jae-suk expressed curiosity about Asa, a Japanese member born in 2006, asking, “How long have you been living in Korea?” Asa replied, “My real name is Enami Asa. I’ve been in Korea for about six years.”
Surprised by the length of her stay, Choi Daniel asked, “Did you go through elementary, middle, and high school here?” Asa answered, “I graduated from kindergarten.” She explained that since becoming a trainee during her elementary school years, kindergarten is the only level of formal education she has completed. Haha responded in shock, saying, “This is the first time I’ve heard someone say they’re a kindergarten graduate.”
Netizens responded harshly to Asa’s revelation, calling the lack of formal education unacceptable and questioning her family’s responsibility. Many also expressed sympathy, saying it was unfortunate that Asa had to give up her studies to pursue idol training.
