- &TEAM earned Triple Platinum in Japan for Back to Life.
- TXT’s Starkissed crossed Double Platinum and topped Oricon rankings.
- Japan continues to be a key physical-sales market for HYBE acts.
HYBE-backed K-pop boy bands &TEAM and Tomorrow X Together (TXT), reached significant commercial milestones in Japan this month. Both groups earned triple and double Platinum certifications in the country. Although streaming continues to dominate much of the sector, the achievement shows K-pop's continued global appeal through physical sales.
HYBE's &TEAM made their Korean debut with a mini-album, Back to Life, which bagged the Triple Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for shipments of more than 750,000 units in Japan. As per RIAJ standards, while 750,000 qualifies for Triple Platinum, Gold is certified at 100,000-unit sales and Platinum at 250,000. RIAJ also provided &TEAM’s third single Go in Blind, with the Million certification for surpassing 1M cumulative shipments. More than 300 television appearances in Japan have also contributed to the group's considerable popularity in the country.
TXT’s Japanese Releases Extend Chart Dominance
On the other hand, RIAJ data cited by various industry reports named TXT's third Japanese studio album, Starkissed, as double platinum after selling more than 500,000 units in the region. The album recently topped the Oricon Weekly Combined Album Ranking. It also ranked 17th and 92nd on Billboard Japan’s Top Album Sales and Download Albums charts for the year 2025. These rankings further cemented TXT's presence on Japan's competitive charts, leading to more popularity in the country.
The group has also received 15 RIAJ Gold Disc awards, including the Triple Platinum record CHIKAI (誓い). Meanwhile, Sweet and, Good Boy Gone Bad, have gained Double Platinum certifications, along with several titles, like The Name Chapter: TOGETHER, SANCTUARY, FREEFALL, TEMPTATION, and Chaotic Wonderland, have been certified Platinum.
Japan’s Physical Market Remains a K-pop Stronghold
According to industry insiders, these certifications are a significant indication of fan dedication in Japan, where tangible formats continue to hold premium value. The chart rankings are mostly determined by record shipments rather than digital-only metrics, and the data provides a more nuanced picture of fandom engagement and long-term financial success.
The Japanese and Korean edition rollouts have served as a market-specific tool for K-pop artists like &TEAM and TXT, for quite some time now. BTS also had some Japan-exclusive albums like Wake Up, Youth, Face Yourself (Crystal Snow), and Map of the Soul: 7 The Journey, plus compilations like The Best of BTS -Japan Edition- and BTS, THE BEST, featuring original Japanese songs (For You, Lights, Stay Gold, Film out). Such region specifics have allowed K-pop stars like them to balance chart performance with touring economics throughout Asia. With that model established, both &TEAM and TXT are ready to attempt greater international campaigns and touring scales in 2026.
