Big Bang announces Japan tour dates

Korean idols Big Bang [YG Entertainment]

Korean male idols Big Bang have announced the dates for their upcoming concert tour in Japan in May, according to their agency YG Entertainment on Monday.

YG announced in a press release that the boys will kick off their concert tour titled "Love & Pain Tour" in Japan with their first performance at the Osaka Castle Hall located in Osaka of Japan on May 10 and 11, followed by a series of shows at the Makuhari Messe in Chiba city from May 13 till 15, and at the Nippon Gaishi Hall in Nagoya on May 17 and 18.

The boys kicked off a promotional event in Japan last weekend with their "Big Bang Collaboration Teeshirt" which went on sale at popular clothing store Uniqlo.

Late last year, Yang Hyun-suk, CEO of YG Entertainment, announced that the group will be concentrating on their singing careers in Japan, holding their concert tour and promotional events in the country starting in May.

Composed of members G-Dragon, T.O.P, Seungri, Taeyang and Daesung, Big Bang was discovered and trained by major talenthouse YG Entertainment. They have released several albums and hit songs such as "Dirty Cash," "With U," "Lies" and "Haru Haru" since their debut in 2006.

The group successfully crossed over into the Japanese music market in June 2009 with their debut single "My Heaven" which reached No. 3 on the prestigious Oricon daily singles chart and toured three cities in the country which attracted a total of 60,000 fans.

The quintet have released other singles in Japan such as "Tell Me Goodbye" and "Beautiful Hangover" and performed on the main stage at the Summer Sonic Festival August last year and they have recently been focusing on their duo unit ? mainly G-Dragon and T.O.P -- and solo activities.

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Reporter : Lucia Hong luciahong@
Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@