MANILA, Philippines – Korean girl group KARA’s second Japanese album debuted at No. 1 on Japan’s Oricon chart.
On Nov. 23, KARA released their new album “Super Girl” in Japan and it quickly sold 73.076 copies on the first day.
Based on Oricon’s daily album chart, KARA is No. 1 followed by Japanese artists Nana Mizuki (19,271 copies of new album sold), Toshinobu Kubota (19,608 copies), rock band The Hiatus and Kiyoshi Hikawa.
KARA’s album also topped the iTunes Japan chart when the group released the digital version of “Super Girl.”
DSP Media, the group’s agency, announced that “Super Girl” has received 360,000 in pre-orders.
“Super Girl” includes KARA’s hit songs such as “Jet Coaster Love,” “Winter Magic,” and “Go Go Summer.”
KARA, 2NE1 and TVXQ are nominated in the 53rd Japan Record Awards.
KARA’s “Go Go Summer” and TVXQ’s “Why? (Keep Your Head Down)” are running for the best song of the year, or the Japan Record Award.
The two are the only Korean groups nominated in the category. They will be competing with Kana Nishino’s “Esperanza,” AAA’s “CALL,” JUJU’s “We Stop This Night,” Kaori Mizumori’s “In the Wind,” Kiyoshi Hikawa’s “Mariachi Passion,” Funky Monkey Babys’ “I Still Believe,” AKB48’s “Get Flying,” and Ikimono-gakari’s “Waratteitanda/NEW WORLD MUSIC.”
In the Newcomer of the Year award, 2NE1 will be competing with Super Girls, Fairies and Ito Miyu.
“Go Go Summer” is KARA’s fourth Japanese single. It achieved gold status in Japan for selling at least 100,000 copies.
According to the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ), the single also achieved double platinum status for selling 500,000 copies in ringtone downloads, platinum status for selling 250,000 in full-length cell phone downloads and another platinum status for selling 250,000 in PC downloads.
The Japan Record Awards, administered by the Japan Composers’ Association, will be held on Dec. 30.