Stray Kids are proving their global popularity once again with the release of their second Japanese studio album, GIANT.

Released on November 13, GIANT is the group’s first Japanese full-length album in nearly two years, following THE SOUND in February 2023.

As soon as the album dropped, it topped multiple charts in Japan, including Apple Music, iTunes (overall, pop, and K-pop), LINE Music’s Real-Time Album Top 100, and AWA’s Real-Time Rising Album Top 100.

It also ranked No. 1 on iTunes Top Songs charts in nine regions and iTunes Top Albums charts in 19 regions, including Japan and the U.S. Impressively, GIANT became the first Japanese album by a K-pop artist this year to hit No. 1 on the U.S. iTunes Top Albums chart.

On top of that, the album dominated Oricon’s Daily Album Rankings for four consecutive days, from November 12 to November 15.

To celebrate the album’s release, Stray Kids teamed up with popular Japanese brands like Suntory, Tokyo Dome City, and Spotify for exciting promotional events.

As part of their Stray Kids World Tour "DOMINATE", the group also held three solo concerts at Tokyo Dome on November 14, 16, and 17, creating unforgettable moments for fans.

Since their Japanese debut in 2020, Stray Kids have consistently topped major music charts like Oricon and Billboard Japan. Last year, they became the first fourth-generation K-pop boy group to perform at all four major domes in Japan during their 5-STAR Dome Tour 2023, proving their massive popularity.

Stray Kids are keeping the momentum going with their upcoming album, SKZHOP HIPTAPE "合 (HOP)", set to release on December 13. This new album combines their signature sound with a fresh "hip-hop" concept, offering fans something truly unique to look forward to.

Stay tuned for more exciting updates from Stray Kids as they continue to make waves worldwide!

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BTS's V is making his fans fall even more in love with him as he shares moments from his life just 40 days before his military discharge.

On April 30, V posted several new photos on his Instagram story, giving fans a sneak peek into his daily routine.

Among the photos was a beautiful shot of cherry blossoms, accompanied by the word "cherry blossom" as he expressed his longing for spring.

He followed up with more photos, sharing how much he wanted to enjoy the season with his fans.

To make the post even more special, V added background music from BTS member J-Hope's song Sweet Dreams and Design by the American punk band Gustav.

It turns out that Gustav was grateful for V introducing their music to the world and even received fan comments saying they discovered the band through him.

In another adorable photo, V posed with CF director Ray J. Yi (Lee Jun Yeob), with flowers in his hair. The director also shared the cute photo, adding the word "flower" to express how happy he was with the moment.

But it wasn’t all about flowers and beauty—V also gave fans a peek at his workout routine. He proudly showed off his toned arm muscles in a picture, though his face appeared a little thinner.

This is likely due to his diet, as he’s been working hard to maintain his figure ahead of his discharge. Before enlisting, V weighed 62 kg, and during his service, he reached 86 kg. Now, he’s lost 10 kg and is preparing for his return to the public eye.

Interestingly, V has been working out at the same place where singer Kim Jong Kook films his popular YouTube channel Jim Jong Kook, sparking fan excitement and hopes that V might make an appearance on the show after he’s discharged.

As soon as V shared his latest update, his name—"KIM TAEHYUNG"—shot to the top of real-time trending charts worldwide. Fans from all over the globe, including in the U.S., couldn’t get enough of the updates, proving once again the massive impact V has.

He is set to be discharged from the military on June 10, and fans are eagerly awaiting his return.

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