BTS's Jimin has proven his overwhelming popularity in Japan, backed by strong support from Japanese fans. His second solo album, "MUSE," has surpassed 100,000 units in shipments as of July, earning a "Gold" certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ). The RIAJ awards certifications based on cumulative album shipments: Gold (over 100,000 units), Platinum (over 250,000), Double Platinum (over 500,000), Triple Platinum (over 750,000), and Million (over 1 million).


Jimin previously received a Platinum certification for his first solo album "FACE," marking the first and most successful Korean solo album in K-pop history. Now, with the Gold certification for his second album "MUSE," he has added another milestone, earning two consecutive certifications from the RIAJ.


Jimin’s influence in Japan is further highlighted by his first-place win in a poll conducted by the Japanese media outlet "Danmee," which ran from July 16 to July 23. Jimin received 3,357 out of 6,716 total votes, continuing his 17-month streak of winning "Best Korean Male Celebrity of the Month." The "Danmee" poll carefully selects the most noteworthy candidates based on past votes, voting rates, idol activity scores, brand scores, and social media responses, allowing only one vote per person to ensure fair results.


Additionally, Jimin’s title track from "MUSE," "Like Crazy," reached No. 1 on Japan's Spotify Weekly Top Songs chart (August 23-29), making him the first solo artist in 2024 to achieve this. He also maintained a strong presence on Billboard Japan's main singles chart, "Hot 100," staying on the chart for seven consecutive weeks, further solidifying his popularity in Japan.


Written by Mun Wan Sik
Translated by Lee So Yun