”SEVENTEEN” ranks highest among foreign artists on Oricon's first half album chart... explosive popularity in Japan

Idol group SEVENTEEN is attracting attention after achieving the highest ranking for a foreign artist on Oricon's first half of the year album chart.
On the 25th, Oricon announced the "Oricon First Half Ranking 2025" for the first half of the year (collection period: December 9, 2024 to June 8, 2025).
According to the Daily News, SEVENTEEN's 5th full album "HAPPY BURSTDAY" ranked 2nd in the "Combined Album Ranking" and 3rd in the "Album Ranking".
This is the highest ranking among albums by foreign artists. "HAPPY BURSTDAY" rose directly to No. 1 on Oricon's "Daily Album Ranking" immediately after its release last month.
Starting with that, it topped the "Weekly Album Ranking" and "Weekly Combined Ranking". "SEVENTEEN" has shipped over 500,000 copies in just five days since the release of their fifth full-length album.
The album received an explosive response in Japan when it was awarded a gold disc "double platinum" certification by the Recording Industry Association of Japan.
In addition, "SEVENTEEN" released their 4th Japanese single "Shohikigen" on November 27 last year.
The album was ranked within the "Single Ranking" category, demonstrating its long-running popularity. The album not only swept the top spots on major charts in Japan when it was released, but also reached number one on the charts when it was released on the 6th.
It also topped the "Top Single Sales" category on Billboard Japan's "2025 First Half Chart" (compilation period: November 25, 2024 to May 25, 2025).
Meanwhile, SEVENTEEN will be performing the theme song "Where Love Passed" for the Japan-Korea co-produced TV series "First Love DOGS," which will be broadcast for the first time on the Japanese terrestrial channel TBS on the 1st of next month.
Woozi participated in the songwriting and lyrics, completing a sad, emotional song that longs for a love that has passed.