aespa's First Japanese Mini Album 'KISS N TELL'
aespa will release their first Japanese mini album 'KISS N TELL', targeting the Japanese market for the first time since their debut, on July 24, 2026. Up until now, their Japanese activities have primarily focused on local releases of Korean music or joint performances, but this time, it's significant as it's an album exclusively planned for Japan. As this is their first package officially targeting the Japanese fandom, how the stage composition and choreography will be localized is the biggest point of interest.
What Has Been Revealed
The officially confirmed information so far is as follows:
- Release Date: July 24, 2026
- Title Track: 'KISS N TELL'
- Included Tracks: Consisting of a total of 6 songs, 'KISS N TELL', 'ATTITUDE', and 'In Halo' have been revealed first, with the remaining three songs to be announced sequentially.
- Distribution: Known to be under Warner Music Japan, it will be released in multiple versions including Limited Edition, Poster Edition, KISS N TELL Edition, and Store Edition.
The titles of the remaining tracks, music video release timing, and music show/Japanese local promotion schedules are still being revealed in stages. For the exact track order and first-week sales/pre-order benefits, it is safest to check the official channel announcements.
Dance and Performance Points of Interest
aespa's strengths lie in their distinct group choreography, backed by the 'Kwangya' worldview, and the distribution of member movements. Japanese mini album titles are usually structured to imprint a key point choreography in the chorus at once, so 'KISS N TELL' is also highly likely to spread as a challenge with hand-movement-focused point choreography. You can enjoy the differences in each stage version by observing how the camera work follows Karina and Winter's center shifts, Giselle's rap part transitions, and Ningning's high-note build-up sections. During Japanese activities, performance videos with subtitles and pronunciation guides are usually released separately, so it's fun to compare the choreography details and facial expressions with Korean stages, even for the same song.
Within aespa's 2026 Flow
In 2026, aespa is expanding their activities in both Korea and Japan. The Japanese mini album is not seen as a one-off event but as a step to regularize contact with local fans, forming a foundation that will lead to solo events or tours in Japan later. As the release is scheduled for the summer season, there is also potential for increased exposure in conjunction with major music festival stages held domestically and internationally around the same time.
How to Enjoy It
- Music Source/MV: On the day of release, check the version video released along with the official music source first.
- Version Selection: As the enclosed contents (photocards, posters, etc.) differ among multiple versions, it is recommended to compare the configuration tables of each version on the official store if collecting.
- Compare Local Stages: Once Japanese music program stages are released, compare the choreography and set differences with the Korean version.
If you are curious about the trends of K-pop outdoor stages in the same summer season, you might also refer to the Waterbomb summary. Detailed schedules and included tracks may change, so we recommend always prioritizing official announcements for final confirmed information.
