PLAVE Breaks Records in Japan with First Japanese Single “Kakurenbo (Hide and Seek)

Virtual K-pop group PLAVE has officially crossed into new territory—topping Japan’s biggest music charts and cementing themselves as one of the most groundbreaking acts in the industry, virtual or not.

Their first Japanese single, 「かくれんぼ」(Kakurenbo / Hide and Seek), didn’t just debut well—it dominated. Within a month, the song reached:

• No. 1 on Oricon’s Daily Single Chart (July 8, 9, 12)

• No. 1 on Oricon’s Weekly Single and Accumulative Single Rankings

• 221,385 Oricon points, the highest for any international artist in Japan in 2025

• Over 388,200 first-week physical album sales

• No. 1 on Billboard Japan’s Top Singles Sales and Hot 100

PLAVE has now topped all four of Japan’s major music charts—a rare feat for any K-pop group, let alone a virtual one.

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From Virtual Origins to Global Phenomenon

This isn’t PLAVE’s first time breaking barriers. Earlier in 2025, their mini-album Caligo Pt. 1 landed on the Billboard Global 200 and Global Excl. US—making them the first virtual idol group ever to chart globally. With over 2 billion streams on Melon, Korea’s largest streaming platform, PLAVE’s reach is both virtual and very real.

Each member contributes behind the scenes:

• YEJUN, NOAH, and EUNHO produce and write music

• BAMBY and HAMIN direct choreography and performance

With striking webtoon-inspired visuals and a self-producing model, PLAVE is redefining what it means to be an idol in 2025.

Their First Asia Tour Is Already Selling Out

The group’s 2025 PLAVE Asia Tour [DASH: Quantum Leap] kicks off this August in Seoul, Tokyo, Taipei, Bangkok, Hong Kong, and Jakarta. Fan demand is intense:

• All three dates in Seoul at KSPO DOME (15,000 capacity) sold out instantly

• Over 30,000 people were in queue for pre-sale

• Taipei shows at NTSU Arena sold out just as fast

PLAVE is now the first virtual idol group to headline KSPO DOME, adding yet another industry first to their résumé.

Why “Kakurenbo” Hits So Deep

PLAVE didn’t just release a chart-topping song—they released a story. The music video for “Kakurenbo (Hide and Seek)” is emotional, cinematic, and symbolic, with fans uncovering layered meanings about parallel timelines, missed connections, and longing for each other across lifetimes.

Here’s how fans are reacting:

“I didn’t expect the scenes… it hits so much. Let’s grow together and always find each other—even in the most unexpected universes.” — @ara_miimu

“THE M/V = 100%. THE EMOTION = 100%. DAMN, ALL 100%! PLAVE ALWAYS ATE!!!!” — @enthusiast_nochu

“They were all chasing someone who had just left, caught in a loop of missed encounters.” — @riirys1207

“Maybe finding each other and making music together is the greatest happiness in PLAVE’s lives... In every reality, they choose each other.” — @bongbibong1507

“Even with all the sadness, PLAVE will always wait for one another. That’s why it’s called Hide and Seek.” — @막살기로한거예요

“They’ve mastered the emotional power of virtual storytelling. You can’t help but feel something real.”— @사사-d8u

🎥 Watch the Official “Kakurenbo (Hide and Seek)” Music Video

Let it speak for itself.

Final Thoughts

PLAVE isn’t just changing what K-pop looks like. They’re changing what it feels like. As the lines between virtual and real continue to blur, one thing is certain: PLAVE is here to stay—and we’re lucky to be living in their era.