The group ILLIT officially debuts today (1st) in Japan. Having already received awards at major music ceremonies such as the Japan Record Awards, and showing a strong presence in various local charts, there is keen interest in their full-scale local activities.
ILLIT (Yoona, Minju, Mocha, Wonhee, Iroha) released their first Japanese single "Toki Yo Tomare" (original title 時よ止まれ/토키 요 토마레) at midnight. They will hold a debut showcase in Tokyo on the same day, presenting their new song performance.
The single "Toki Yo Tomare," meaning "stop time," tells the tale of the sparkly moments of youth that one wishes would never end. The title track captures the daily lives of summer girls right in the middle of their youth, resonating with their peers. The song was penned by popular Japanese musician Murasaki Ima, enhancing ILLIT's bubbly charm. Characterized by a lively melody, this disco-pop genre track accentuates ILLIT's clear and bright vocals and energy.
The music video resembles a youth film. ILLIT cutely wishes that on the last day of summer vacation, time would stop. Amid ILLIT's unique lovely girl sensibility and visuals, their simple daily moments at school and in parks are filled with the purity of youth. ILLIT's signature finger-point choreography was also unveiled, raising expectations for their stage.
The single features a total of 4 trendy and addictive songs. Included are the title track "Toki Yo Tomare," the pre-release track "Topping," the Japanese version of the title track from their mini album 3, "Borrowed Cat (Do the Dance)," and their first Japanese original song "Almond Chocolate," which created a sensation by re-entering the local charts after being released in February.
ILLIT is catching attention with collaborations that target the preferences of global 1020 fans. The pre-release track "Topping," which was unveiled on the 11th of last month, features the popular Japanese musician noa, a key player in the short-form craze, and is already gaining attention in dance challenges on TikTok and other platforms. Additionally, this song has been included as the music for the new sneaker collection advertisement of global fashion brand Lacoste Japan, receiving a positive response. Limited items, including a collaboration edition with the global popular character "Care Bears" and dolls and key rings, are also being released.
Meanwhile, ILLIT will appear on TBS's "CDTV Live! Live!" today (1st) to perform their title track. They will hold a fan concert titled "2025 ILLIT GLITTER DAY IN JAPAN" at Osaka Castle Hall on the 3rd and 4th. Following that, they will step onto various large festival stages, including the "41st Mynavi Tokyo Girls Collection 2025 Autumn/Winter" on the 6th and the "Rock in Japan Festival 2025" on the 14th.
[Photo] Belif Lab
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