If you keep asking yourself, "Where has this group been?" - chances are they are probably getting big in Japan. Check out the list of groups below who have met with more success in Japan than in Korea.
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Boyfriend
Away from the K-Pop scene for some time, Boyfriend are only getting bigger and bigger in Japan with hits such as "Be My Shine" and album 'We Are Boyfriend,' which brought in other 10,000+ guests for their first showcase. The boys have had over 5 yearly consecutive tours in Japan while only having one for 'Bewitch' during 2014 in Korea. Since then, they are still releasing Japanese singles with the current one being "To My Best Friend" and "Jackpot."
2PM
2PM go back and forth between Korea and Japan, but none can deny that they have a huge Japanese following! They received even more popularity back in 2011 from their hit debut single "Take Off," which was on OP for hit anime 'Blue Exorcist.'
They were also awarded the "2nd best-selling new artist" at Japan's Oricon Charts Awards. The group has released over 6 full albums in Korea but, in just a short amount of time, the boys managed to create 5 best-selling albums in Japan. Plus, their Japanese speaking skills are on point for Korean idols.
The Boss
Japan can't resist Korean boy bands! The Boss debuted in 2011 with their popular PV titled "Love Power." It met with huge success as the song placed 6th place on the Oricon daily chart and 9th place on the Oricon weekly chart. They have made over 2 successful albums in Japan while their Korean album was ultimately cancelled due to a controversy with their company. Since then, Japan has become their playground for fame and fortune.
Supernova
Debuting in 2007, Supernova wasted no time in going overseas and becoming a big hit in Japan. They gained popularity for releasing 3 consecutive singles in Japan in just one month and continued onward with the album 'Hana' soon after. While remaining busy due to their mandatory military service, they didn't go out without a bang. The group released their 7th Japanese album '7IRO' which placed number one on the Oricon charts.
CNBLUE
Japan loves a nice, sexy boy band - and CNBLUE delivered! "The Way" and "I Don't Know Why" were some of their first hits to land them top spots on the Oricon charts. Soon after they continued paving the way with their 2011 promotional tour in 4 of Japan's biggest cities - Osaka, Tokyo, Nagoya and Fukuoka. This year they released another Japanese album titled 'Supernova' which also placed them first on the Oricon charts.
NU'EST
If you have been wondering what this boy group has been up to, look no farther than Japan. While Seventeen is dominating Korea, NU'EST is working harder and gaining more popularity with Japanese audiences.
Not only did they remake some of their Korean songs but they also released singles such as "Shalala Ring." Although they are working on dominating a more global market, they have held more tours and concerts in Japan than in other countries.
Cross Gene
With member Takuya by their side, it comes as no surprise that Cross Gene met with success in Japan. The group has held many concerts in Japan and have various OST singles, but "Shooting Star" was the first song to pave the way to fame as they collaborated with hit Japanese drama 'Big.'
Collectively, the group has released more Japanese singles than Korean ones with their most popular being "Future," which earned them 3rd place on the Oricon charts.
B1A4
These cuties have a met with great success in Japan. Creating Japanese versions of their Korean hits, it seems B1A4 are Japan's favorite due to their boyish charms, quirky styles and gentle singing - which blends well with the Japanese pop scene. For example, "Beautiful Target" was one of their first songs to be made into a Japanese version and it stayed at #1 on the Oricon charts for four weeks straight.
Since then they have continued rising high on the charts with albums like '1', that stayed within the top 5 on Oricon. While they have had the same amount of tours in Korea and Japan, their last concert was 'The Great World of B1A4,' which was held throughout Japan before they started more international tours.
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