ILLIT captivates at FNS Music Festival 2025 with hits like 'Almond Chocolate' and a cover of '出逢った頃のように'.
December/11/2025 12:15Related Groups & Members
ILLIT appeared on the Fuji TV music special '2025 FNS Music Festival Night 2' broadcast on December 10, captivating with their hit song 'Almond Chocolate' and cover stage. ILLIT first appeared in a red check-themed outfit for the program's opening medley. They sang 'Koi Bito ga Santa Claus' (Yumi Matsutoya), and at the end of the song, all performers gathered to start the show in a glamorous opening. Next, they showcased their first original Japanese song 'Almond Chocolate', released in February this year. The song, provided by Nakajin of SEKAI NO OWARI, became a long hit, which is unusual for a K-POP group's original song in Japan. Against a backdrop of night scenery, they sang the sweet lyrics cutely, adding to the holiday season's atmosphere. Their cover stage of Every Little Thing's 'Deatta Koro no Yō ni' also attracted attention. Released in August 1997, it is one of Every Little Thing's representative songs and a major hit in the J-POP scene. ILLIT delivered the song with their five voices, as they stated, matching their clear singing voices with the song and captivating the audience with an emotional performance. Social media was flooded with comments like 'Their Japanese pronunciation is perfect' and 'Their transparent singing voice is charming', gathering a strong response. ILLIT also appeared in last year's 'FNS Music Festival', performing their globally successful debut song 'Magnetic', marking their second consecutive appearance in the year-end music special program. The showcased 'Almond Chocolate' has become a popular song following 'Magnetic' and won the 'Excellent Work Award' at the 67th Japan Record Awards, being the only overseas artist to receive this award. With this, ILLIT became the first K-POP girl group to win two awards: 'New Artist Award' last year and 'Excellent Work Award' this year (according to Universal Music). The presence of these two songs shines in annual rankings of major charts. Both songs ranked simultaneously in the Billboard JAPAN 2025 annual chart 'JAPAN Hot 100' and 'Streaming Songs', and in LINE MUSIC's 'Comprehensive TOP 100 - 2025 Annual', announced on the 5th and 8th, respectively. ILLIT is the only overseas artist to achieve simultaneous ranking in these charts. As the year-end approaches, they are also set to appear on TBS's 'CDTV Live! Live! Christmas LOVE SONG Fes.' on the 15th, TBS's '67th Japan Record Awards' on the 30th, and the '76th NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen' on the 31st. Their consecutive appearance in the '76th NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen' is a remarkable achievement, being the first and only K-POP 5th generation group to do so, proving ILLIT's strong popularity in Japan. Their rising momentum makes them increasingly unmissable.
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The judges for the audition show 'WORLD SCOUT: THE FINAL PIECE' have been revealed, featuring notable figures from HYBE and Geffen Records. They aim to discover a single star through rigorous evaluations of candidates. The show will air weekly starting February 24, 2026, on ABEMA SPECIAL.
ILLIT greets fans for the Lunar New Year, expressing gratitude for their support over the years. They hope fans enjoy time with loved ones and wish for their health and happiness. The group is set to embark on their first tour, 'ILLIT LIVE『PRESS START♥』', starting March 14 in Seoul and covering seven cities including Hong Kong.
The audition show 'WORLD SCOUT: THE FINAL PIECE' by HYBE x Geffen Records aims to discover a global star by 2026, featuring talents like Hikorohee and others. The show promises intense competition and emotional stories of the contestants, as they strive to become the final member of a new girl group.
ILLIT's first Japanese single 'Toki yo Tomare' has achieved gold certification from the Japan Record Association, marking a major milestone for the group. The single features four tracks, including 'Topping' and 'Almond Chocolate,' and has topped various Japanese music charts. Their new songs continue to gain attention, including 'Bubee,' the opening theme for the upcoming anime 'Mahou no Shimai Lulut Lily.'
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.
