Aespa announces Japan tour
The group held the meet-and-greet, its first in Japan, over the weekend, and shared the news that it will tour four cities in the nation, holding 10 shows. The four members are set to go live in Fukuoka on Oct. 4-5 before visiting Tokyo twice as well as Nagoya and Osaka. All concerts will be held at arenas, including Yoyogi Stadium in Tokyo and IG Arena in Nagoya, which will open this summer.
Aespa officially debuted in Japan in July last year with single 'Hot Mess' and its second gig at Tokyo Dome the following month drew approximately 94,000 people.
Meanwhile, the quartet is expected to bring out a new album in June, about eight months after the fifth EP 'Whiplash,' its fifth back-to-back million-seller fronted by smash hit 'Supernova.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Korea Herald
07-08-2025
- Korea Herald
Is your underwear showing? For K-pop idols, that's the point
With saggy pants, visible waistbands, K-pop stars revive another Y2K look In today's K-pop scene, showing one's underwear is no longer likely to be a wardrobe malfunction. It is a fashion statement. A fashion trend known as sagging, where pants are worn low enough to reveal the waistband of one's undergarments, is making a comeback among young K-pop idols. The look was once popular in the 1990s and early 2000s, often associated with the Y2K era. Many from that time still remember it vividly. "I remember Justin Bieber always wearing his pants this way in paparazzi shots. I used to mimic the look, but it wasn't easy," said Park Jung-min, 34. "I walked uncomfortably." Back then, some Koreans who disliked the trend jokingly said it looked like someone had pooped their pants. Many millennials of the time referred to it as the "poop-in-the-pants look." However, the revival is now unmistakable. Fashion icon Jennie of Blackpink embraced the look with a red cropped top and black parachute pants, finishing the outfit with matching red underwear that peeked out above her pants. Aespa's Karina and Giselle also styled their outfits to leave the elastic band or lace trim of their panties visible, a move that quickly went viral with fans. Natty of girl group Kiss of Life also joined the trend, posting a photo on the group's Instagram with her pants unbuttoned to reveal part of her underwear's waistband. But perhaps the boldest take on the look comes from Tarzzan of boy band All Day Project. Known for his experimental style, he's been spotted multiple times layering underwear in contrasting prints, sometimes even matching them to his outerwear. While it's clear that the trend is circulating among K-pop idols, not everyone is sold. 'If a celebrity wears it, it's fashion. If a regular person does it, it just looks weird,' reads one online comment under an article introducing the trend. Another was more blunt, saying,'If someone showed up dressed like that in real life? I'd think they lost their mind.' However, the broader 'underwear-as-fashion' movement seems to be gaining traction, especially when it comes to tops that resemble camisoles. On Instagram, Rose of Blackpink recently posted photos wearing a lace camisole, channeling the 'underwear, but make it fashion' vibe. 'We're seeing more Gen Z consumers embrace underwear not just for its function, but as a styling piece like Rose,' a fashion industry insider told The Korea Herald. According to Korean fashion firm E-Land World, sales from January to July in the homewear category of its women's lingerie brand Evelyn, which includes stylish, lingerie-inspired clothing, rose nearly tenfold compared to the same period last year.
Korea Herald
06-08-2025
- Korea Herald
Is Rose of Blackpink headed for the Grammys after 8 MTV VMA nominations?
K-pop star leads Korean contenders at 2025 MTV VMAs, but Grammys path remains uncertain Rose of Blackpink is enjoying the biggest moment of her solo career yet, riding high on the success of her hit single 'APT.' featuring Bruno Mars. The track has earned her an impressive eight nominations at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards, fueling speculation that a Grammy nod could be next. 'APT.,' released in October 2024, is up for seven awards at this year's VMAs, including top categories such as video of the year and song of the year, as well as best collaboration, best pop, best direction, best art direction and best visual effects. The main track 'Toxic Till the End' from her debut album 'Rosie' also scored a nomination for best K-pop, bringing her total to a record-breaking eight nominations — the most of any K-pop artist this year. 'I've just heard that I've received eight VMA nominations,' Rose shared on social media, Wednesday. 'I am beyond shocked and I just don't know what to say. I am absolutely speechless.' Lady Gaga leads all nominees with 12 nominations, followed closely by Bruno Mars with 11. Other Blackpink members Jennie, Lisa and Jisoo also received nominations in the best K-pop category for their respective solo releases. They are joined by aespa's 'Whiplash,' BTS' Jimin with 'Who' and Stray Kids' 'Chk Chk Boom.' The MTV Video Music Awards, set for Sept. 7 in New York, is one of the major music awards in the US, presented by MTV to honor excellence in music videos. The VMAs were originally conceived as a video-focused counterpart to the Grammy Awards. However, there is little correlation between winning a VMA and securing a Grammy nomination — especially in major categories. Still, industry experts say that visibility through high-profile awards like the VMAs can help sway Grammy voters by boosting an artist's profile. Taylor Swift is a prime example. She won video of the year at the 2022 VMAs for 'All Too Well: The Short Film,' which later won best music video at the 2023 Grammy Awards. Similarly, Kendrick Lamar's 'Humble' took home video of the year at the 2017 VMAs and best music video at the 2018 Grammys. Grammys still distant Music critic Lim Hee-yun said if Rose wins a major award at the VMAs, it could boost her chances of getting a Grammy nomination. "Winning a big award at the VMAs would prove that Rose has a presence in the US music market. It would be a kind of green light," he said. Despite this momentum, Lim remains skeptical about Rose's chances at a Grammy nomination. 'The Grammys generally reward artists with strong chart performance in the US, consistent praise from critics and at least a full-length album or several singles released through a major American label,' Lim said. 'In Rose's case, her only real hit in the US is 'APT.' and that alone is unlikely to earn her a Grammy nomination. Unless a K-pop song performs on the level of 'APT.' or higher, K-pop doesn't get as much attention from American audiences as we might think,' Lim added. 'If we judge by the numbers alone, the odds are quite low.' Even BTS — the first K-pop group ever nominated for the Grammys — received three consecutive nominations from 2021 to 2023, but failed to win in any category. However, Lim said that recent changes in the music industry could shift the dynamic. 'Grammy ratings have plummeted in recent years. The Recording Academy may consider nominating a K-pop artist simply to generate buzz and viewership. K-pop has a massive and loyal fanbase and even just nominating a K-pop act could boost ratings,' he said.
Korea Herald
06-08-2025
- Korea Herald
aespa announces Asia tour
A poster for aespa's upcoming world tour, including stops across Asia, was uploaded on Wednesday via label SM Entertainment. The four members will open the tour in Seoul on Aug. 29 and is set to head to Japan in October. They will have two shows each in Fukuoka, Tokyo and Nagoya before returning to Tokyo the following month. The Japan leg will be followed by live shows in Bangkok and Osaka, Japan. Next year, they are expected in Hong Kong, Macao and Jakarta. The quartet took to the stage at KCON LA 2025 last week and on Sept. 5 will bring out its sixth EP 'Rich Man.' The set will have six tracks including the lead single of the same title. It comes about three months since single 'Dirty Work' which became its sixth consecutive million-seller.
