Virtual K-Pop Group PLAVE Makes Japanese Debut with First Single ‘Kakurenbo (Hide and Seek)’

PLAVE Makes Their Japanese Debut with ‘Kakurenbo (Hide and Seek)’

On June 16, virtual K-pop idol group PLAVE made their debut in Japan with their single album ‘「かくれんぼ」’ (English title: ‘Kakurenbo (Hide and Seek)’). The release reflects the group’s core identity of using music to transcend barriers, linguistic, emotional, or even digital.

We’re excited to build great memories with Japanese PLLIs through our debut in Japan. We’re feeling a bit nervous, but we’re really looking forward to meeting you all. Please look forward to PLAVE’s growth in the future, and we hope you enjoy our new single.

– PLAVE

The album features three tracks: the title song ‘Kakurenbo (Hide and Seek)’ and Japanese versions of ‘RIZZ’ and ‘Chroma Drift’ from their third mini-album ‘Caligo Pt. 1’. The title track combines PLAVE’s signature band sound with distinctly Japanese musical influences. Using the metaphor of hide-and-seek, it explores the emotional distance between past and present, evoking feelings of nostalgia and longing. Members YEJUN, NOAH, and EUNHO contributed to the composition, while BAMBY and HAMIN led the choreography direction. Renowned Japanese producer UTA—known for his work with BTS, TVXQ!, ARASHI, and King & Prince—and lyricist JUN, who has written for BTS and Snow Man, also participated in the project.

Meanwhile, ‘RIZZ – Japanese Ver.’ brings a playful, dessert-inspired twist to flirtation with its hip-hop beat and autotuned flair. ‘Chroma Drift – Japanese Ver.’ closes the album with a retro-inspired city pop sound, layered with emotional saxophone and synths, reflecting PLAVE’s intricate lore.

Their Japanese debut follows a series of major milestones. PLAVE has surpassed one billion cumulative streams on South Korea’s streaming platform Melon and was nominated for the Music Awards Japan’s Best Song Asia category with ‘WAY 4 LUV’, becoming the only virtual idol group recognized in one of the ceremony’s six main categories.

The group is also set to kick off their 2025 Asia tour, DASH: Quantum Leap, with stops in Seoul, Taipei, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Bangkok, and Tokyo beginning in August. When tickets for the Seoul leg went on pre-sale for fan club members, all three shows sold out instantly, with over 30,000 fans in the queue. The Seoul concerts will also mark PLAVE as the first virtual idol group to headline at KSPO DOME, a venue that holds approximately 15,000 attendees.

Moreover, earlier this year, PLAVE made history as the first virtual idol group to enter both Billboard’s Global 200 and Global Excl. U.S. charts.

With each groundbreaking achievement, PLAVE continues to redefine the virtual idol landscape, not just as digital pioneers but as accomplished musicians and storytellers. Their Japanese debut marks yet another leap forward in their global journey.

While the digital version of ‘Kakurenbo (Hide and Seek)’ is now streaming on all major platforms, the physical release is set for July 9.

About PLAVE

PLAVE is a revolutionary virtual idol group redefining the K-pop and music industry landscape with members YEJUN, NOAH, BAMBY, EUNHO, and HAMIN. Introduced by VLAST, PLAVE combines cutting-edge technology, immersive storytelling, and self-produced artistry to push the boundaries of what’s possible in music and entertainment. By blending genuine artistry with groundbreaking innovation, PLAVE is pioneering the future of K-pop. Their webtoon-inspired character designs make them instantly recognizable, but beyond their virtual personas, PLAVE is a fully self-producing group, with each member actively contributing to their artistry. YEJUN, NOAH, and EUNHO handle all lyrics, composition, and production, while BAMBY and HAMIN are responsible for choreography and performance direction.

PLAVE debuted with their single ‘ASTERUM’ in March 2023 and quickly achieved many milestones once thought impossible for virtual idols. They became the first virtual idol group to top multiple major music charts and win first place on multiple music shows, such as Show Champion on MBC M and MBC every1, as well as on Show! Music Core, setting new benchmarks and cementing their status in K-pop and music history.

‘Caligo Pt. 1’ released in February 2025 reached over 11 million accumulated streams within a day of release on South Korea’s streaming platform Melon and received two major achievements on the platform for entering the Billions Club, which is given to artists who have recorded more than a billion streams accumulatively since their debut, as well as being the best millions streaming album within 24 hours. Six days after the album’s release, PLAVE’s cumulative streaming number surpassed two billion, and that number continues to grow each day. The title track ‘DASH’ from Caligo Pt. 1 granted the group’s first entry to Billboard’s Global 200 chart, and four tracks from the album were on Billboard’s Global Excluding US chart. All of these outstanding achievements only continue to prove the group’s worldwide influence and overall potential.

Watch the ‘かくれんぼ (Hide and Seek)’ MV here: