ONE OR EIGHT’s Yankee Squat Turns Stereotype Into Swagger
ONE OR EIGHT just took a pose once dismissed as delinquent and turned it into the centerpiece of their boldest single yet. With “YANKEE SQUAT,” the group reclaims the crouch long associated with Japan’s rebellious yankee youth, transforming it from a symbol of trouble into a badge of pride. The result is loud, confident and impossible to ignore.
The track leans into Latin heat, hip-hop textures and the group’s signature bad-boy swagger to capture a very specific kind of summer energy. It’s the energy of friends turning convenience stores into meeting spots and parking lots into memories, the kind of unstaged chaos that defines youth culture wherever it shows up. ONE OR EIGHT doesn’t shy away from where that energy comes from, either.
Turning a Stereotype Into a Statement
The squat pose at the heart of the song has long been linked to Japan’s yankee subculture, often spotted outside neighborhood hangouts and late-night gathering spots. Rather than distancing themselves from the association, ONE OR EIGHT leans directly into it, reframing what was once written off as delinquent behavior into something closer to individuality and local pride. It’s a deliberate flip, and the group makes no attempt to soften it.
That reclamation carries into the accompanying music video, which follows a fictional group of overseas researchers “studying” the yankee squat like an anthropological curiosity, catching members performing it naturally in airports, shopping streets and city corners. The bit doubles as a flex: reportedly, only 13.5% of Americans can hold the pose, and just 9% of them are Asian. It’s a small stat that makes a clear point about who actually has the range to pull this off.
Behind the camera is director Pennacky, whose resume includes work with OKAMOTO’S, Aimyon, Gen Hoshino and V6. Pennacky won Best Music Video at Taiwan’s 34th Golden Melody Awards in 2023 and later landed on Forbes JAPAN’s “30 Under 30 2025” list, adding serious pedigree to the video’s concept.
A Tour Debut and a Bigger Rollout Ahead
Member RYOTA described the track as another “all-or-nothing” moment for the group, calling it a natural extension of their identity. He pointed to details like the yankee squat itself and the bontan pants worn in the video as intentional nods to Japanese culture, along with member chants woven into the chorus. The choreography follows suit, drawing on the yankee squat and the classic regent hairstyle while staying rooted in the group’s hip-hop foundation.
Pennacky said the concept only clicked once he dug deeper into yankee culture itself, discovering how closely its attitude mirrored the group’s own mindset. Fans won’t have to wait to see it performed live, either. “YANKEE SQUAT” makes its live debut the day after release at the Tokyo Zepp Haneda finale of ONE OR EIGHT’s first-ever tour, “ONE OR EIGHT 1st LIVE TOUR -GATHER-,” on July 16.
The show streams worldwide for free via Z-aN, with the first 10 minutes also airing on the group’s YouTube channel, and doubles as an early look at material from their debut EP “EN-GÏNE,” due September 16. Around the release, ONE OR EIGHT is also launching an interactive site called Konbini108, letting fans build a virtual convenience store order and get matched with the member who shares their taste. A limited merch line tied to the single’s visual world rounds out the rollout, with purchases over ¥12,000 unlocking bonuses like a one-on-one online talk with a member.
Between the song, the video, the site and the merch, “YANKEE SQUAT” is built to follow fans everywhere this summer. Don’t be surprised if the next Asian squat you see comes with a soundtrack.
