PLAVE makes history with Japanese debut single “Kakurenbo (Hide and Seek)” and sells out first Asia tour
Virtual K-pop sensation PLAVE is breaking new ground — not just in the digital realm but in the real world too. With the release of their first Japanese single album 「かくれんぼ」 (Kakurenbo or Hide and Seek), the group has achieved a series of unprecedented milestones, solidifying their status as pioneers in the virtual idol space and chart-topping contenders in the global music industry.
Released in early July, Kakurenbo (Hide and Seek) has taken Japan’s music charts by storm. The single album topped the Oricon Daily Single Chart on July 8th, 9th, and 12th, making it PLAVE’s second chart-topping appearance on Oricon this year. Their previous record came in February with their third mini album Caligo Pt. 1, which hit No. 1 on the Oricon Daily Album Chart.
Their dominance didn’t stop there. Kakurenbo (Hide and Seek) also claimed the No. 1 spot on the Oricon Weekly Single Ranking and the Oricon Weekly Accumulative Single Ranking (July 7–13), scoring a staggering 221,385 Oricon points — the highest weekly total for any international artist in 2025 so far.
Additionally, the single peaked at No. 1 on Billboard Japan’s Top Singles Sales and Hot 100 charts for the week of July 16th, completing a rare sweep of Japan’s four major music charts. According to Billboard Japan, more than 388,200 copies of the single were sold during its first week — making it the highest first-week sales figure for a Japanese single by an international artist in 2025.
These achievements are even more remarkable considering PLAVE’s virtual origins. Since their debut, the group has consistently redefined what’s possible for digitally created performers. In February 2025, PLAVE became the first virtual idol group to enter Billboard’s Global 200 and Global Excluding U.S. charts. They also remain the only virtual group to have surpassed 2 billion cumulative streams on Melon, South Korea’s largest music platform.
Their rising global impact was further cemented in May 2025, when their hit track “WAY 4 LUV” from their second mini album earned them a nomination in the Best Song Asia category at the Music Awards Japan — making them the only virtual group recognized in one of the ceremony’s six major categories.
Looking ahead, PLAVE is gearing up for another historic moment as they prepare to embark on their first Asia tour, 2025 PLAVE Asia Tour [DASH: Quantum Leap]. The tour will span six cities, including Seoul, Taipei, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Bangkok, and Tokyo, kicking off in August 2025.
Ticket demand has already reached fever pitch. Pre-sale tickets for fan club members to the Seoul leg of the tour, which will be held at the KSPO DOME, were instantly sold out across all three dates, with over 30,000 fans queued online. This marks another groundbreaking feat, as PLAVE becomes the first virtual idol group to headline a concert at the iconic venue, which seats approximately 15,000 attendees.
Their success isn’t confined to Korea — both shows in Taipei at the NTSU Arena sold out within hours of ticket release, further proving PLAVE’s immense popularity and global reach.
From conquering charts in Japan to selling out massive arenas across Asia, PLAVE continues to redefine the boundaries between the virtual and real worlds. As they prepare to take the stage in front of thousands, the group is proving that in 2025, the future of K-pop isn’t just virtual — it’s unstoppable.
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