ILLIT's first Japanese single 'Toki yo Tomare' receives gold certification, marking a significant achievement for the group in Japan.
February/10/2026 13:50Related Groups & Members
ILLIT has added another new achievement in Japanese works. On February 10, according to the Japan Record Association, ILLIT's first Japanese single 'Toki yo Tomare' has received gold certification for January 2026. The Japan Record Association announces gold-certified works monthly, awarding 'gold' certification to works with cumulative shipments of over 100,000 copies. This is the first time ILLIT has received certification in the gold disk category. Previously, ILLIT received 'double platinum' certification for 'Magnetic' (cumulative playback of 200 million times) and 'gold' certification for 'Lucky Girl Syndrome' and 'Almond Chocolate' (cumulative playback of 50 million times) in the streaming category announced monthly by the Japan Record Association. The first Japanese single 'Toki yo Tomare' is a work that incorporates the sparkle and fleeting youth of straightforward and earnest girls. In addition to the title track 'Toki yo Tomare,' it includes the pop genre song 'Topping,' which depicts the diverse emotions of a girl on her first date, and 'Karite Kita Neko (Do the Dance) (Japanese Ver.),' based on the French house genre, which captures the excitement and freshness of a first date, as well as 'Almond Chocolate,' which expresses passionate feelings and love by likening a crush to almond chocolate. Various scenes of sparkling youth, where love and friendship make one wish for the moment to never end, are depicted with ILLIT's unique free and lively charm. This work has attracted attention since its release and has dominated major charts in Japan. It ranked second in the Oricon 'Weekly Single Ranking' (as of September 15) and second in Billboard JAPAN 'Top Singles Sales' (counting period: September 1 to September 7, 2025). It reached the highest position for a foreign artist at fourth place in Billboard JAPAN 'Hot 100' (counting period: September 1 to September 7, 2025). Furthermore, in the same counting period, it became the only K-POP girl group to enter the TOP 10 in the 'Artist 100.' The music video for the title track 'Toki yo Tomare' ranked fifth in YouTube Music Video Trending Worldwide. It was also selected as the theme song for the new ABEMA program 'Popteen vs egg MODELS CRUSH.' The included song 'Almond Chocolate' recorded several achievements, including winning the 'Excellence Award' at the 67th Japan Record Awards, the only overseas artist to do so. ILLIT's new original songs released this year are also attracting attention. The second Japanese digital single 'Sunday Morning,' released on January 13, was chosen as the opening theme for the TV anime 'Hime-sama “Goumon” no Jikan desu' and has taken over trends on short-form platforms like TikTok. Following this, the new song 'Bubee' has garnered attention as the opening theme for the upcoming TV anime 'Mahou no Shimai Lulut Lily,' which is the latest installment of the 'Magical Girl Series' produced by Studio Pierrot, continuing to be supported by many fans both domestically and internationally. 'Bubee' is a dance-pop song that fuses the essence of Shibuya-kei subculture with J-POP, featuring cute lyrics linked to the anime and a sparkling pop melody. The first main PV released allows listeners to hear part of the sound source in advance. ILLIT continues to make strides in Japan, and attention remains on them.
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ABEMA will launch 'WORLD SCOUT: THE FINAL PIECE' on February 24, 2026, an audition show by HYBE and Geffen Records to discover talent for a new girl group. The show features notable cast members and aims to find one standout artist from Japan, showcasing the intersection of top talent and production.
ILLIT's first single "NOT CUTE ANYMORE" has surpassed 100 million streams on Spotify, marking a significant milestone in just two months. The reggae-influenced pop song expresses a desire to be seen beyond just cuteness. With a cool vibe, it has gained popularity among fans and is trending on social media. ILLIT will embark on their first live tour across seven cities, starting in Seoul.
ILLIT has unexpectedly released the music video for their first single 'NOT CUTE ANYMORE,' featuring the track 'NOT ME.' The video captures the members' everyday life with a paparazzi-style approach, highlighting their stylish outfits and lively personalities. The song, characterized by its catchy rhythm and chic vocals, boldly discusses self-identity with the addictive phrase 'That's not my name.'
Wongi from ILLIT has been chosen as the first idol model for the popular Korean cosmetics brand rom&nd. This collaboration, starting February 23, reflects the brand's commitment to consumer involvement. Known for her love of makeup, especially rom&nd products, Wongi's selection follows her previous engagement with the brand, including participating in color gloss creation. The first product from this collaboration will be new shades of the bestselling 'Glasting Color Gloss', launching in Japan on March 3.
ILLIT has been chosen as the theme song artist for the upcoming anime "Magical Sisters Lulut Lily," airing in April 2026. The song, titled "Bubee," is a dance-pop track blending Shibuya subculture and J-POP. ILLIT has previously achieved success with their songs in other anime and is gaining popularity rapidly.
Minju from ILLIT has graduated from her role as MC of KBS 2TV's Music Bank after 1 year and 3 months. She expressed gratitude for the experience and support received, promising to continue her activities with ILLIT. The group will embark on their first live tour in March 2024, covering multiple cities in Korea and abroad.
On the afternoon of the 30th, ILLIT departed through Incheon International Airport after completing their overseas schedule. They will appear in a JACQUEMUS fashion show showcasing elegant red outfits. Additionally, details for their first live tour, 'ILLIT LIVE 'PRESS START︎❤',' have been announced, featuring 11 performances across 5 cities starting June 13.
ILLIT's inaugural live tour 'PRESS START❤' kicks off in Seoul on March 14-15, 2026, and visits five cities in Japan from June 13, including Aichi, Osaka, Fukuoka, Hyogo, and Tokyo, before concluding in Hong Kong on August 22. This tour marks their first solo performances in several cities, following a successful fan concert in Japan last year.
ILLIT showcased their presence at Paris Fashion Week by participating in the JACQUEMUS F/W Le Palmier collection show. They were the first K-POP group invited, wearing red outfits chosen by designer Simon Porte Jacquemus. Their popularity continues with their single 'NOT CUTE ANYMORE' ranking on Spotify's global chart for 8 weeks.
On the morning of the 24th, ILLIT members Minju, Yuna, and Wonhee left Incheon International Airport for Paris Fashion Week. They also announced their first live tour, which will include 11 performances across 5 cities in Japan. Additionally, ILLIT achieved 1st place on 'Music Core,' expressing their excitement and desire to become a group that fans look forward to.
