Zone (TVXQ album) explained

Zone
Type:studio
Artist:Tohoshinki
Cover:Tohoshinki-zone.jpg
Caption:Standard edition cover
Recorded:2023–24
Genre:
Language:Japanese
Label:Avex Trax
Prev Title:20&2
Prev Year:2023

Zone is the eleventh Japanese studio album by South Korean pop duo Tohoshinki, released on November 6, 2024, by Avex Trax. The album was released to commemorate the duo's twentieth debut anniversary in Japan, which falls on April 27, 2025. The duo will embark on a nation-wide arena live tour, titled the 20th Anniversary Live Tour: Zone, which starts in Saitama at the Saitama Super Arena on November 29, 2024.

Zone debuted at number five on the Oricon Albums Chart, number four on the Billboard Japan Hot Albums Chart, and number one on the Billboard Japan Download Albums Chart.

Background

On December 26, 2023, Tohoshinki celebrated their 20th debut anniversary in Korea with the release of their ninth Korean album 20&2 (2023).[1] On April 27, 2024, the day of the duo's 19th debut anniversary in Japan, they announced that they will embark on a nation-wide arena tour between November 2024 and March 2025, to commemorate their 20th anniversary.[2] Ticket lottery reservations for the tour started June 2024.[3]

On July 19, Tohoshinki revealed their 20th anniversary album Zone, subsequently confirming the name of the tour.[4] Zone is scheduled to be printed in four different versions: a DVD version which consists of 20 tracks and a bonus track; a Blu-ray version with the same package; a CD-only version with a different bonus track; a fanclub-exclusive Bigeast edition with another bonus track; and a first press limited "super deluxe" edition, an LP-size box which includes all three bonus tracks with three photobooks.

Release and promotion

On September 4, Tohoshinki teased "Damn Good", a new track from the album that was announced to be a tie-up song for their collaboration with the Korean ginseng brand, Cheong Kwan Jang.[5] From September 21 to 22, previews of the thirteen new tracks from Zone were teased through their official X account, confirming the album's tracklist.[6] "Sweet Surrender" was subsequently announced to be the album's lead single. [7] A finalized tracklist of the second CD, which included interlude tracks, was further revealed on September 28.

A teaser for "Sweet Surrender" dropped on October 6, with the music video premiering on October 7, 2024 at 6 PM JST on YouTube. The single was also released on October 7. After the video premiered, Tohoshinki debuted their first live performance of "Sweet Surrender" on the TBS music program CDTV! Live Live.[8]

The album's official special website was launched on October 12, in support of the album's promotions. The website included details of the album's contents, order benefits, as well as information about signing events.[9] From October 19 through 27, Tohoshinki revealed more promotional images from the album, culminating to the release of Zone's second lead single "Dearest" on October 28.

Commercial performance

Zone debuted at number three on the daily Oricon Albums Chart on the first day of release, selling 23,980 physical copies.[10] It sold 43,095 copies in the first week, entering the weekly Oricon Albums Chart at number five. It debuted at number one on the Oricon Digital Albums Chart, with 1,944 downloads.[11] For Billboard Japan, Zone debuted at number five on the Top Albums Sales chart, selling 44,105 copies.[12] On the second week, Zone dropped to number fifteen per the Oricon Albums Chart, selling 4,282 copies.[13]

Personnel

Musicians

Charts

Chart (2024)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Japanese Combined Albums (Oricon)[14] 5
Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[15] 4

Sales

ReleasedOricon chartPeakDebut salesSales total
November 6, 2024
Daily Albums Chart323,98047,377
Weekly Albums Chart543,095
Monthly Albums Chart (November)

Release history

Region! scope="col"
DateFormat(s)Label
VariousNovember 6, 2024Avex Trax

Notes and References

  1. Web site: . "규칙을 깨" 동방신기가 나아갈 길..20년 내공 담은 'Rebel' . Breaking the rules is TVXQ's path forward, TVXQ reveals 'Rebel' with 20 years of experience . December 26, 2023 . March 11, 2024 . ko.
  2. Web site: Tohoshinki Official Website . TOHOSHINKI LIVE TOUR (title TBD) to be announced! . April 27, 2024 . July 21, 2024.
  3. Web site: Tohoshinki Official Website . Announcement of the start of special advance by drawing lots reservations for "TVXQ LIVE TOUR (tentative title)" Super Premium Seats . June 5, 2024 . July 21, 2024.
  4. Web site: Tohoshinki Official Website. 2024年11月6日(水)東方神起 20th Anniversary FULL ALBUM「ZONE」発売決定 . July 19, 2024 . July 21, 2024 . ja.
  5. News: TOHOSHINKI new song "Damn Good" tie-up confirmed! . Tohoshinki Official Website . September 4, 2024 . September 22, 2024.
  6. News: TOHOSHINKI 20th Anniversary FULL ALBUM ZONE new song preview released! . September 20, 2024 . September 22, 2024 . Tohoshinki Official Website.
  7. News: Tohoshinki's Official X website . X.com . September 21, 2024 . September 30, 2024. ja.
  8. News: Tohoshinki Official Website . Appearance on TBS's "CDTV Live! Live!" on Monday, October 7th!! . September 30, 2024 . October 6, 2024.
  9. Web site: ZONE by Tohoshinki . Tohoshinki Official Website . October 12, 2024 . November 1, 2024 . ja.
  10. Web site: November 7, 2024. デイリー アルバムランキング . Daily Album Ranking. live . https://web.archive.org/web/20241107130134/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/d/2024-11-06/ . November 7, 2024 . November 9, 2024 . Oricon.
  11. Web site: Oricon Top 50 Digital Albums: November 18, 2024. Oricon. ja. November 13, 2024.
  12. Web site: November 12, 2024 . Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales – Week of November 13, 2024 . live . November 12, 2024 . Billboard Japan.
  13. Web site: November 25, 2024 . 週間 アルバムランキング . Weekly Album Ranking, 11 to 17 November 2024. November 19, 2024. Oricon. ja.
  14. Web site: Oricon Top 50 Combined Albums: 2024-11-18 . . November 14, 2024 . ja . https://archive.today/20241114045146/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/coa/w/2024-11-18/ . November 14, 2024.
  15. Web site: Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of November 13, 2024. Billboard Japan. ja. November 13, 2024.