KARA’s new single debuts at No. 2 on Oricon chart

KARA's "JET COASTER LOVE" [Universal Music Japan]

Idol group KARA’s new Japanese single has debuted at No. 2 on Japan’s prestigious Oricon daily chart.

According to results shown on the Oricon’s official website today, KARA’s third Japanese single “JET COASTER LOVE” released yesterday landed at second place on the chart after selling a total of 47,810 copies the day of its release.

The third single, composed of two songs, two instrumental variations of those songs, and a bonus track, was supposed to be released on March 23 but Japanese record labels AVEX, Sony Music and Universal Music had all pushed back the release date of their albums following the March 11 earthquake.

KARA has said they will donate the profits they see from sales of the album in order to contribute to relief and rescue efforts for the disaster while member Gu Hara has already made a contribution for the cause individually.

Meanwhile, “Merry Love” a single featuring a duet performed by Kang Jiyoung, the youngest member of KARA and Sungje from male group Choshinsung which was also released in Japan yesterday, reached No. 10 on the same chart. The album was released in Korea in December last year.

KARA is one of the most successful Korean girl groups to break into the Japanese market, having set numerous records on the prestigious Oricon chart after being named best new artists of the year at the 25th annual Japan Gold Disc Award and placing at NO.1 on the Oricon chart’s listing for the most successful new artists of 2010 and the most promising artist of 2011.

They have halted all activities as a five-member group in Korea however, with members Han Seungyeon, Kang Jiyoung and Nicole having applied for their contract with agency DSP Media to be terminated.

Japan's Oricon daily chart from No. 2 to No. 10 [Oricon]

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Reporter : Heidi Kim heidikim@
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