Seven Japanese women, all songs in English, neither K-POP nor J-POP: they call it "X-POP." Selected from 13,000 audition candidates and trained for five years, XG performed at Coachella within four years of debut, toured 35 cities drawing 400,000 fans, and landed on the Billboard 200. Now their first full album has hit No. 1 on the Billboard Japan chart.

XG's 'THE CORE - 核' Tops Billboard Japan Hot Albums

On February 4, 2026, Billboard Japan revealed its latest Hot Albums chart (tracking period: January 26 – February 1), and XG's debut full-length album THE CORE - 核 (pronounced "kaku," meaning "core" or "nucleus" in Japanese) claimed the No. 1 spot. The album beat out Number_i's No.II at No. 2 and even Grammy-winning Lady Gaga's Mayhem at No. 7.

The album also topped Billboard Japan's Download Albums chart and debuted at No. 1 on Oricon's Weekly Digital Album Rankings, their second digital album chart-topper following their 2023 mini-album NEW DNA.

Who Is XG: The Story Behind Japan's Global "X-POP" Group

XG consists of seven members, JURIN, CHISA, HINATA, HARVEY, JURIA, MAYA, and COCONA, all born and raised in Japan. Despite being an all-Japanese group, every single song they release is performed entirely in English. They belong to XGALX (pronounced "X-Galax"), a production company founded in 2017 by executive producer JAKOPS, also known as SIMON (Simon Junho Park).

SIMON was born in Seattle to a Korean father and Japanese mother. After debuting as a member of the Korean boy group DMTN, he transitioned to producing, drawing on his experience across three countries, the U.S., Japan, and South Korea. His vision: to create a world-class act originating from Japan.

The "X-Galaxy Project" attracted roughly 13,000 audition applicants. Fifteen trainees were initially selected, and after years of rigorous training in both Japan and South Korea, the final seven members emerged. XG debuted in March 2022 with "Tippy Toes," which sold out on pre-order. Soon after, they made history as the first Japanese artists to hit No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard "Hot Trending Songs" chart.

XG defines their sound as "X-POP", neither J-POP nor K-POP, but a genre-fluid blend of hip-hop, R&B, and electronic music that refuses to fit neatly into existing categories.

Coachella, Tokyo Dome, Billboard 200: A Trail of Milestones

The numbers tell a compelling story. XG's first world tour, "The first HOWL" (2024–2025), spanned 35 cities across 47 performances, drawing approximately 400,000 fans. The tour finale at Tokyo Dome attracted 50,000 attendees.

In April 2025, XG became the only Japanese act to perform at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, one of America's largest music events. They headlined the Sahara stage. Their November 2024 mini-album AWE marked their first entry onto the Billboard 200, the main U.S. album chart.

Beyond music, XG has been tapped for global brand campaigns with McDonald's, Shiseido (ANESSA), and Coca-Cola. They also became the first Japanese girl group to appear on the cover of U.S. Billboard magazine.

Inside 'THE CORE - 核': What Makes This Album Special

Released on January 23, 2026, THE CORE - 核 contains 10 tracks, including pre-released singles "GALA" and "4 SEASONS," the lead single "HYPNOTIZE," the rap-forward "O.R.B (Obviously Reads Bro)," and the catchy "TAKE MY BREATH."

The title "核" (kaku) carries deep meaning. Member HARVEY told Apple Music, "This album represents our essence and confronts the core of our music." COCONA added, "I think people can feel XG's core in this album, and I hope listeners can also face their own essence and identity through it."

The lead single "HYPNOTIZE" is a house number blending ethereal sounds with rhythmic piano. Its music video uses "the deep sea" as a visual metaphor, a realm beyond ordinary human reach, symbolizing the internal world XG explores.

Notably, on January 12, 2026, Japan's Seijin no Hi (Coming of Age Day), a national holiday celebrating young people turning 20, XG announced a name change. As all members had reached age 20, they rebranded from "Xtraordinary Girls" to "Xtraordinary Genes." The word "Genes" represents the creativity and identity at the group's core, signaling their evolution beyond any label or framework.

Charting in 68 Countries: Global Impact

THE CORE resonated far beyond Japan. The album reached Apple Music's Albums Top 200 in 68 countries and regions. On iTunes, it peaked at No. 8 in the U.S. and No. 9 on the Worldwide chart.

"HYPNOTIZE" was added to Spotify's "New Music Friday" playlists across 43 countries, a personal record for the group. The song also set new highs for first-day and first-week streaming numbers across all platforms. Its music video topped YouTube Trending Worldwide.

In a Billboard fan poll for favorite new releases that week, THE CORE captured over 50% of votes, outpacing new releases from Louis Tomlinson and Harry Styles.

In South Korea, XG appeared on four major music shows, M Countdown, Music Bank, Show! Music Core, and Inkigayo, performing "HYPNOTIZE" and album track "ROCK THE BOAT" to enthusiastic audiences.

Producer SIMON's Ambition: "Creating the Greatest Record in the World"

In an interview with Billboard Japan, SIMON stated that his goal with THE CORE was nothing less than "creating the greatest record in the world." His creative leadership has been widely recognized, at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards Japan, he received the inaugural "Best Producer" award.

XG launched their second world tour, "XG WORLD TOUR: THE CORE," on February 6 at K-Arena Yokohama. The Japanese leg covers 8 cities with 16 shows (Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukui, Sendai, Kobe, Fukuoka, and Tokyo), with international dates to follow across Asia, North America, the UK, Europe, Australia, and Latin America. Total expected attendance for the Japanese leg alone is approximately 160,000.

A New Chapter for Japan-Born Global Artists

XG's success represents a turning point for the Japanese music industry. An all-Japanese group performing entirely in English, trained using K-POP methodologies, creating their own genre called "X-POP," and reaching the world's biggest stages within four years of debut, when the project launched in 2017, virtually no one in Japan's music industry would have predicted this trajectory.

THE CORE hitting No. 1 on Billboard Japan symbolizes a dual achievement: building a solid domestic fanbase while simultaneously making waves internationally. It's proof that artists from Japan can compete on the global stage on their own terms.

Does your country have artists or groups that have broken out of the domestic market to achieve global success? What does it mean to you when your country's music reaches the world? We'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences!

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