They just became the first Japanese act to crack the IFPI top 15. Now Mrs. GREEN APPLE is launching Phase 3: a National Stadium tour, the Frieren Season 2 opening theme, an NHK morning drama song, and a brand-new album this autumn. Here's what comes next for Japan's biggest band.

Recap: A Historic IFPI Ranking

As we previously reported, Mrs. GREEN APPLE made history by ranking 13th on the IFPI Global Artist Chart 2025, the first Japanese artist ever to break into the top 15. Their 10th-anniversary best album 10 simultaneously reached No. 10 on the Global Album Chart, selling over 1.04 million copies. They stood alongside Taylor Swift, Stray Kids, Drake, and Lady Gaga on the world's most comprehensive music industry ranking.

This article dives deeper into the numbers behind that achievement and explores what Phase 3 holds for the band.

"Almost Entirely Japan", And Still World No. 13

A fascinating detail emerged from Billboard JAPAN's latest feature article. According to LUMINATE's analytics platform CONNECT, approximately 95% of Mrs. GREEN APPLE's global streaming in 2025 came from Japanese users alone.

Let that sink in: without multilingual marketing campaigns, without a K-pop-style global rollout, a band powered almost entirely by domestic listeners broke into the global top 15. This speaks volumes about Mrs. GREEN APPLE's sheer dominance within Japan, and hints at the untapped potential if they pursue international expansion in earnest.

Their total streaming count has surpassed 16 billion plays, the highest ever for a Japanese artist. On Spotify Japan's daily artist chart, they have held the No. 1 position for over 1,500 consecutive days, a record no other Japanese act has come close to matching.

The BABEL no TOH Dome Tour: 550,000 Fans, One Towering Vision

The culmination of Phase 2 was the "DOME TOUR 2025, BABEL no TOH" (Tower of Babel), a 12-show run across Japan's five major dome venues that drew approximately 550,000 attendees.

The production was extraordinary even by Japanese concert standards: a 20-meter-tall (65 feet), 100-ton Tower of Babel set piece dominated the stage, with over 100 cast members supporting the performance. The tour has been confirmed for a theatrical film release this summer, following the successful 2025 releases of the live film FJORD ON SCREEN and documentary THE ORIGIN.

Phase 3: What's Coming in 2026

Mrs. GREEN APPLE entered Phase 3 in January 2026, and the pace hasn't slowed at all.

Frieren Season 2 Opening Theme, "lulu."

In January, the band released "lulu." as the opening theme for the second season of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End (葬送のフリーレン), one of the most acclaimed anime series worldwide. For international anime fans who may not have encountered Mrs. GREEN APPLE before, this tie-up serves as a powerful introduction. The series enjoys massive popularity across Asia, North America, and Europe.

NHK Morning Drama Theme, "Kaze to Machi"

Mrs. GREEN APPLE was also selected to perform the theme song for Kaze, Kaoru (風、薫る), NHK's latest asadora (morning drama series). These 15-minute daily dramas are a cornerstone of Japanese television culture, watched by millions every morning across the country, making this one of the most valuable tie-ups in Japanese entertainment.

The song, titled "Kaze to Machi" (Wind and Town), was written by vocalist Motoki Ohmori while he was simultaneously appearing as an actor in the previous asadora Anpan. Digital distribution began on April 13, 2026.

National Stadium Tour

Looking ahead, Mrs. GREEN APPLE has announced a six-day stadium tour: four shows at Tokyo's MUFG Stadium (the National Stadium, Japan's largest venue at 68,000 capacity) and two shows at Osaka's Yanmar Stadium Nagai. Titled "Zenjin Mitou to Immutable, Interlude," this marks a significant step up from dome venues to full-scale stadium performances.

For international context, the National Stadium is the venue built for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony, the same stage where the world watched the Games begin.

New Original Album This Autumn

A full original album, their first since ANTENNA in July 2023, roughly three years ago, is scheduled for release in autumn 2026. This will be the first album to fully represent the Phase 3 creative direction, making it one of the most anticipated releases in J-pop this year.

Beyond Music: Individual Member Activities

Mrs. GREEN APPLE's members are expanding well beyond the band:

Motoki Ohmori (vocals/guitar) has earned acclaim as an actor, appearing in NHK's morning drama Anpan and the feature film #Shinsou wo Ohanashi Shimasu. Ryoka Fujisawa (keyboards) made his debut in serialized television drama with the TBS Sunday Theater production Reboot. Hiroto Wakai (guitar) hosts the music variety show M:ZINE and will appear on NHK's Korean language program Hangul! Navi.

Additionally, the band's variety show TV × Mrs. (TBS) became a regular weekly program in April 2026, airing in the Monday 9 PM slot, prime time in Japan.

What This Means for J-Pop Globally

The IFPI No. 13 ranking may prove to be just the beginning. With a domestic foundation this strong, and growing international touchpoints through Frieren, overseas concerts (their first solo show abroad was Seoul in February 2025), and increasingly visible media presence, Mrs. GREEN APPLE is building the infrastructure for global recognition.

Phase 3 represents not just the next chapter for the band, but potentially a new chapter for J-pop's presence on the world stage.

Is Japanese pop music making its way into your country? Have you discovered Mrs. GREEN APPLE through Frieren or other anime? We'd love to hear from you, share your experience in the comments below.

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