BTS Makes Triumphant Return: What to Expect from Their ‘ARIRANG’ Concert in Tokyo

[TV Daily reporter Han Seo-yul] K-pop supergroup BTS dominated the front pages of Japan’s major sports newspapers this week, underscoring the significance of their return to the country as a full group.

On April 17–18, five of Japan’s leading sports dailies — Nikkan Sports, Sports Nippon, Sports Hochi, Sankei Sports and Daily Sports — ran front-page coverage of BTS’s WORLD TOUR 'ARIRANG' IN TOKYO concerts.

Japanese outlets emphasized several themes: the group’s first full-group comeback in seven years, the electric atmosphere at Tokyo Dome and emotional reunions with the band’s fanbase, known as the ARMY. Reporters focused on the rarity of BTS appearing together on a Japanese stage and the fervent reaction of sold-out audiences.

These were BTS’s first full-group performances in Japan since July 2019’s BTS WORLD TOUR 'LOVE YOURSELF: SPEAK YOURSELF' – JAPAN EDITION, roughly seven years ago. Both Tokyo Dome dates sold out.

Local interest was reflected in sales figures. According to the Recording Industry Association of Japan, BTS’s fifth studio album, ARIRANG, surpassed 750,000 cumulative shipments as of March, earning a Triple Platinum certification. This is the group’s second Triple Platinum in Japan, following MAP OF THE SOUL: 7 – THE JOURNEY.

Notably, ARIRANG, released on March 20, shipped more than 750,000 copies in just 11 days to secure the Triple Platinum certification. It was the first album this year, domestic or international, to reach that milestone in Japan.

BTS also made strong showings on Japan’s Oricon charts. In the Weekly Streaming Surge Ranking (April 20 issue; tracking April 6–12), five of their songs appeared: “2.0” and “Hooligan” rose to No. 1 and No. 3, respectively. Fan favorites “Butter” (No. 6), “Dynamite” (No. 7) and “Permission to Dance” (No. 9) rounded out the top 10.

The group’s global chart performance remained robust. On Spotify’s weekly charts (tracking April 10–16), BTS topped both the Weekly Top Albums and Weekly Top Songs global charts for a fourth consecutive week, and all 14 tracks from ARIRANG stayed on Spotify’s Weekly Top Songs Global chart for the fourth week. ARIRANG also held at No. 5 on the U.K. Official Chart’s Official Albums Top 100 (April 17–23), remaining in the upper ranks for four weeks, while the title track “SWIM” reached No. 25 on the Official Singles Top 100.

[TV Daily reporter Han Seo-yul news@tvdaily.co.kr / Photo courtesy of BigHit Music]