Two of K-pop’s biggest global acts, BTS and BLACKPINK, have once again proven their enduring popularity in Japan after receiving prestigious Platinum streaming certifications from the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ).
According to RIAJ’s latest announcement, BTS’s Japanese track Let Go and BLACKPINK’s Japanese version of As If It’s Your Last officially surpassed 100 million streams in Japan, earning both songs Platinum status.
The RIAJ introduced streaming certifications in 2020 alongside its existing systems for physical album sales and digital downloads. Under the organization’s criteria, songs receive Silver certification at 30 million streams, Gold at 50 million, and Platinum after reaching 100 million streams. Notably, only streams from listeners within Japan are counted toward the certifications.
For BTS, Let Go was originally released in 2018 as part of the Japanese album Face Yourself. The song stands out as one of the group’s rare original Japanese tracks, as the album mainly featured Japanese versions of songs from albums including Wings and Love Yourself: Her. After more than eight years since its release, Let Go has now achieved its first Platinum certification in Japan, highlighting the lasting popularity of BTS’s music in the country.
Meanwhile, BLACKPINK also demonstrated impressive longevity as As If It’s Your Last -JP Ver.- crossed the 100 million streaming mark nearly nine years after its release. The song originally debuted in 2017 during the group’s early expansion into the Japanese market.
At the time, BLACKPINK generated major buzz by holding a showcase at Nippon Budokan, with tickets selling out rapidly. The group’s activities in Japan played a major role in establishing their strong fanbase in the region.
The latest achievement further solidifies the influence of BTS and BLACKPINK in Japan, widely considered one of Asia’s most competitive and demanding music markets.
Despite being released years ago, both songs continue maintaining stable streaming numbers, proving that the K-pop wave remains as powerful as ever among Japanese listeners.
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