IVE dominates Japan’s charts yet again
K-pop girl group IVE—made up of An Yujin, Gaeul, Rei, Jang Wonyoung, Liz, and Leeseo—just dropped their third Japanese album ‘Be Alright’ and instantly soared to No.1 on Oricon’s Daily Album Ranking (July 29 release), according to Oricon’s July 30 chart update.
The victory comes nearly a year after IVE topped the same chart with their second Japanese album ‘ALIVE’, proving their unwavering popularity on the island.
‘Be Alright’ blends confidence and catchy hooks
The new album features five tracks, including the title track ‘Be Alright’, which was pre-released on July 16. The song carries a message about pushing forward without fearing change. It didn’t just dominate Line Music’s real-time Top 100—it also charted on Billboard Japan’s Hot 100, Hot Shot Songs, and Download Songs.
Other tracks include ‘DARE ME’—the OST from NTV’s Sunday drama ‘DameMane!’—and Japanese versions of ‘Accendio,’ ‘Blue Heart,’ and ‘WOW’ from their second Korean studio album ‘IVE SWITCH’.
Japan hearts IVE, and it’s mutual
IVE first debuted in Japan in October 2022 and they’ve been unstoppable since. Their first world tour ‘SHOW WHAT I HAVE’ brought them to the massive K-Arena Yokohama, followed by a two-day Tokyo Dome concert that attracted a whopping 95,000 fans—a rare milestone even among top global artists.
In April, they connected with another 100,000 fans through their ‘IVE SCOUT’ fan concert across four Japanese cities. And come September, they’ll be appearing at the iconic ROCK IN JAPAN FESTIVAL 2025.
What’s next for the ‘MZ wannabe icons’?
IVE’s been dubbed the ‘MZ wannabe icons’ for a reason—they blend boldness, charm, and pure pop power. With their confident aura and fresh musicality, ‘Be Alright’ is just another step in their global takeover.
The real countdown? Their much-anticipated Korean comeback at the end of August. All eyes are on what IVE conquers next.
[Photo = Starship Entertainment]
