YOASOBI, a prominent Japanese band and a key player in the J-Pop phenomenon, has expressed their affection for K-pop and Korean fans.

YOASOBI, shining with their Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart-topping success, recently completed their first concert in South Korea at the Korea University Hwajeong Gymnasium. Following the concert, a press conference was held on the 18th at CGV Myeongdong Station Cine Library in Seoul.

The duo, comprising producer Ayase and vocalist Ikura, has made a mark in Japan with their debut song 'Running Through the Night', surpassing a billion streams - a first in Japan. Known for their rich band sound and Ikura’s exceptional singing, they have expanded their presence with unique music derived from novels and animations. Ayase, reflecting on the recent concert, appreciated the enthusiastic atmosphere created by Korean fans, highlighting how they sang along even to ballad tracks, a rare sight in Japan.

Originally planned as a single performance, the concert sold out in a minute, leading to the addition of a second show, underscoring the immense support from Korean fans. Ayase chose Korea as the first overseas concert venue in response to the numerous live requests from Korean fans on social media.

This year, the resurgence of J-Pop in Korea’s charts featured several Japanese musicians, with YOASOBI at the forefront, especially following the global release of the anime 'The Boy and The Beast' on Netflix in May. Their song 'Idol', part of the anime's OST, achieved massive success, making YOASOBI known worldwide.

'Idol' topped the Billboard Japan Hot 100 upon release and set records on Spotify's Global Top 200 and Apple Music's Global Daily Top 100, achieving the fastest 300 million views for a music video in J-Pop history.

While Ayase humbly refrains from claiming YOASOBI as the face of J-Pop, he takes pride in setting records previously unseen in Japan and is happy to be a pioneer in taking J-Pop global. K-Pop artists, including IVE's Jang Wonyoung and LE SSERAFIM, participated in dance challenges to 'Idol', garnering love on various platforms. Ikura, having seen all the 'Idol' challenges, expressed joy and respect for K-Pop artists covering their song.

YOASOBI has also shown love and respect for K-Pop, with Ikura noting the greatness of the K-Pop market. The duo intends to continue making music freely, not confined to a single genre, focusing on songs they enjoy and are confident in, rather than chasing chart success.