Category: KPOP NEWS

buki Nako, a Japanese actress and singer with a significant following in South Korea, has always been known for her cute and bubbly image. Her career began with the 2005 film Touch, followed by commercials and TV movies like Detective Samonji Susumu and My Father’s Longest Day. She joined the Fukuoka-based idol group HKT48 in 2013 and later held a concurrent position in AKB48. Her journey in the Mnet survival show Produce 48 led to her debut in IZ*ONE, where she remained until April 2021.

After returning to Japan and resuming activities with HKT48, Nako centered two singles before announcing her graduation from HKT48 in October 2022. Reflecting on her idol career, she said she has no regrets. “I had always decided that I would graduate HKT48 at the age of twenty. I wanted to find the right time, for me, the fans, and the other members. Whether it was performing in the center, or making the Senbatsu Election, or being selected for AKB48, I believe I achieved all my goals as an idol. I was diligent in my career.”

Nako‘s next move was to resume her acting career, and she did so with a bang. She’s currently starring in the J-drama 18-sai, Niizuma, Furin Shimasu, alongside Ryusei Fujii. The drama, based on the popular comic series by Shiho Watanabe, features Nako in a bold and mature role that deviates significantly from her previous image.

Yabuki Nako New Drama

Yabuki Nako is a brave and versatile actress

In the drama, Nako plays Meika Sanjo, who enters a contract marriage with Kou Fujimiya, portrayed by Fujii. The plot thickens as they navigate the complexities of love, marriage, and affairs. One particularly bold scene in the drama has garnered significant attention. Here, Meika tries to give in to Kou, bravely offering to sleep with him. Kou, seemingly accepting her offer, moves to kiss her. As they fall to the bed, Meika tells herself she can go through with it for Kou’s sake, yet her fear is palpable. In a twist, Kou chides her for trying to do something she isn’t ready for, and the scene concludes with Meika expressing gratitude to Kou for his understanding.

This scene, although devoid of explicit content, marked a dramatic shift from Nako‘s previously established cute image, shocking many fans. The lines delivered by Nako were notably risqué, discussing how “kissing and hugging could make Kou horny.” The stark contrast from her earlier roles and the mature theme of the scene highlighted Nako‘s versatility as an actress. This departure from her original image, while unexpected, showcased her ability to embrace more complex and mature themes in her acting career.

The reaction from fans has been mixed. While some expressed shock at the scene, others defended her choices as those of an adult. Regardless of the varied reactions, Nako‘s performance speaks volumes about her bravery and versatility as an actress. Her ability to take on roles that might intimidate others bodes well for her career. – K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: Apparently Nako filmed multiple kissing scenes for her new drama! Source: X/@NanteJapan.

TXT‘s Taehyun has recently responded to a poignant letter from a Palestinian fan named Tia, who expressed her deep admiration for him shortly before tragically losing her life. The letter, originally written in Arabic, was translated into Korean and shared on Weverse by another fan, bringing Tia’s words to Taehyun‘s attention.

In her letter, Tia described how Taehyun‘s personality and talents touched her heart. She wrote, “I started falling in love with Taehyun the first time I saw him. That little boy who has the eyes of a deer, brown hair that hugs his forehead lovingly. He has the most amazing features and great personality. He is the most beautiful thing in the world.”

Tia’s message continued, expressing how Taehyun‘s perspective on life and his words of encouragement helped her see life in a more positive light. She felt a close connection to him despite the physical distance. She described him as the first person to enter her heart and make her laugh. Tia’s heartfelt words reflect the deep emotional bond fans often form with their idols.

Acknowledgment from Taehyun

Her message to Taehyun reached him thanks to other MOAs, who translated it and shared it on the fan community platform Weverse. A touched Yeonjun—TXT’s mat-hyung or eldest member—left a comment on one such post. He wrote, “Taehyun-ah, you should see this.” That drew the younger member’s attention to Tia’s words.

Tragically, Tia, a recent engineering graduate passionate about creating content about TXT, met an untimely end. She and her family had moved to a relative’s house in the Gaza Strip, seeking safety from the conflict. However, a missile struck the house, claiming the lives of Tia and 19 others, mostly women and children. Only Tia’s father and brother survived the attack.

Taehyun, upon learning of Tia’s message and her fate, responded by “liking” the post on Weverse. This act of acknowledgment from Taehyun meant a great deal to MOAs everywhere, who mourn the loss of one of their own. Tia’s story and her love for TXT will remain a poignant reminder of the indiscriminate brutality of war and the enduring connection between artists and their fans. – K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: Our thoughts are with Tia and others affected by the conflict. Source: X/@BIGHIT_MUSIC.

Japanese idol group NiziU has made history by winning the Champion Song title on MBC’s Show Champion with their first Korean song, “Heartris.” This victory marks their first-ever win on any South Korean music show, a significant achievement for the group. They beat out Golden Child’s “Feel me,” IVE’s “Baddie,” and SEVENTEEN’s “God of Music.” Not even “Standing Next to You” by Jungkook of BTS could keep them from first place!

[MC석 코너] 친구같은 컴백 인터뷰! ‘NiziU’ 나!왔어✋🏻

The win was a momentous occasion, not just for NiziU but also for the industry as a whole, as they became the first non-Korean group to ever achieve this feat. The significance of this victory was evident in the emotional reactions of both the members and their fans. During their acceptance speech, the members expressed their heartfelt gratitude to fans worldwide for their unwavering support. They also had the opportunity to perform the iconic “Encore” stage.

NiziU‘s “Heartris” is the title track of their first Korean single album, Press Play, which came out on October 30. The song’s title is a portmanteau of the words “heart” and “Tetris.” It describes what happens when two different people come together like blocks in a game of Tetris. It was penned by Park Jin-young, the chief producer at their agency JYP Entertainment.

[HOT DEBUT] 니쥬(NiziU) – HEARTRIS

Congratulations, NiziU!

The group is part of JYP Entertainment’s Globalization by Localization project. They debuted in Japan in December 2020. They were assembled on the survival show Nizi Project, a joint venture with Sony Music Entertainment. Known for hits like “Make you happy,” “Chopstick,” and “Take a picture,” NiziU has nine members: Ayaka, Mako, Maya, Mayuka, Miihi, Nina, Riku, Rio, and Rima, all of whom are Japanese.

Language barriers posed a challenge during their Korean debut, but the group overcame these through teamwork and support from their producers. Members like Rio acknowledged their struggle to sing in Korean, while Miihi said Park Jin-young‘s guidance was instrumental in the process. “He taught us a lot, like how to address the song and how to deliver good vocals,” she said. “He also told us that the most important thing is us getting along.”

[쇼챔 1위] 11월 2주 챔피언송 ＜NiziU – HEARTRIS＞ 앵콜 Full ver.

They got along well on tour. NiziU‘s recent ‘COCO!nut Fest’ tour in Japan, ‘NiziU Live with U 2023,’ saw them perform 17 shows in eight cities, connecting with 185,000 fans across the country. Congratulations to NiziU on this achievement, a testament to their talent and the appeal of their music. – K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: The girls were so happy, they posed for a photo with their trophy! Source: X/@NiziU__official.

NewJeans, ADOR’s dynamic girl group, will perform at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards, which are just around the corner. They were the third act confirmed to perform at the event, after Mexican singer Peso Pluma and the duo of Bebe Rexha and David Guetta. The group, composed of members Danielle, Haerin, Hanni, Hyein, and Minji, will play “OMG” and “Super Shy,” two of their biggest Billboard Hot 100 hits.

The 2023 Billboard Music Awards, scheduled for November 19, starting at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, will feature performances and award presentations across BBMAs and Billboard social channels, as well as via BBMAs.watch.

NewJeans is up for five BBMAs this year, tying with Mexican-American regional Mexican band Eslabon Armado for the most nominations by a group. They’re in the running for Top K-Pop Album, Top Global K-Pop Artist, Top Billboard Global Excl. U.S. Artist, and Top Global K-Pop Song for “Ditto” and “OMG.”

Since debuting in August 2022 with their self-titled EP, NewJeans has made a significant impact on the Billboard charts. Beyond their success on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard 200, the girls have earned three top 10 hits on the Billboard Global 200, four top 10 hits on the Billboard Global (Excl. U.S.) chart, and six top 10 hits on the World Digital Song Sales chart.

A significant milestone for NewJeans

The 2023 BBMAs, presented by Marriott Bonvoy, will honor the year’s hottest names in music, determined by year-end performance metrics on the Billboard charts. The show, produced by dick clark productions, promises a reimagined awards show concept, entertaining fans with music and exclusive content. Performances and award celebrations will take place in global locations, on sold-out tours, and in custom venues.

The 2023 BBMAs will feature special performances and exclusive acceptance speeches hosted at hotel brands within the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio. Additionally, Marriott Bonvoy will provide select fans access to attend five BBMAs performances through Marriott Bonvoy Moments. Other sponsors include Lexus, which is offering a fan the ultimate VIP treatment. That includes the best seat in the house and use of a Lexus vehicle.

NewJeans to be the first K-pop girl group to perform at Billboard Music Awards

Meanwhile, the BBMAs and Spotify Fans First joined forces to identify fans who have streamed the most hours of music over the past year and driven their favorite artists to the top of the Billboard charts. These fans will receive a “golden ticket” to attend a performance curated by their favorite artists.

NewJeans‘ upcoming performance at the BBMAs marks a significant milestone in their rapidly rising career, showcasing their global appeal and talent on one of music’s biggest stages. But it’s not their only major performance. They’re also set to open the League of Legends World Championship this month. – K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: Here’s hoping the girls will make history by winning as many awards as possible! Source: X/@NewJeans_ADOR.