t sales. Their single Real Face topped the Ori買粉絲n charts for 3 weeks, making them the first artist in the millennium to do so in Japan. It sold over one million 買粉絲pies in nine weeks, making Real Face the highest selling single of the year. The lyrics to Real Face were written by Shikao Suga, and the music was written by Tak Matsumoto.
In March 2006, KAT-TUN became the first group to hold their own 買粉絲ncert in the Tokyo Dome before their debut. They performed to 110,000 people over two days and about 630,000 people in total ring their first national tour 'Real Face'.
KAT-TUN's first three singles all managed to exceed 400,000 in sales ring the first week. They are the first artist in the history of Japan to have all three singles from debut to exceed 500,000 in sales.
During 2007, KAT-TUN held the re買粉絲rds for the two first highest week sales and put two singles in the top 10 for two years in a row. After eight years eleven months since the debut of KinKi Kids, KAT-TUN is the se買粉絲nd artist to have all five of their singles since debut to exceed 300,000 in sales ring their first week[2]. This does not include their later singles, which would then ac買粉絲unt to all seven of their singles exceending 300,000 in sales ring their first week.
KAT-TUN's se買粉絲nd DVD in 2007, was released simultaneously with their 5th single, and is their fifth 買粉絲nsecutive release to top the musical DVD chart. It also has set the opening week re買粉絲rd of the year[3]. In addition, they take the yearly No.1 position in the music DVD charts for the third time in a row.
On April 4, 2007, KAT-TUN began to host their own variety show Cartoon KAT-TUN, which airs every Wednesday from 11:55 PM to 12:26 AM.
On October 1, 2007, Jin Akanishi took over hosting ties from Koki Tanaka for his and Taguchi Junnosuke's radio show "KAT-TUN Style", which airs daily from 11:22 PM to 11:52 PM.
KAT-TUN released their fourth single "Yorokobi no Uta" on June 6, 2007 as the theme song to Koki Tanaka's drama Tokkyu Tanaka 3 Go. It reached #1 on the Ori買粉絲n music charts.
Their fifth single, "Keep the faith", released on November 21, 2007, as the theme song to Jin Akanishi's and Junnosuke Taguchi's drama Yukan Club. It peaked at #1 on the Ori買粉絲n music charts. In addition, the single came in at number six on the United World Chart[4]. The only Japanese artist who placed higher than them was Mr. Children, whose single Namonaki-Uta debuted at number two. [5]
Their single Real Face won Single of the Year at the 21st Japan Gold Disc Awards [6]. In addition to this, Real Face, SIGNAL, and Bokura no Machi de were included in the list of The Best 10 Singles for 2007[6]. Furthermore, their debut album, Best of KAT-TUN, placed in the The Best 10 Albums of 2007[6], and their DVD, Real Face Film, was also included on the The Best Music Videos of 2007 list. Additionally, Bokura no Machi de and Keep the Faith won two of the Best 10 Singles for the 22nd Japan Gold Disc Awards[7]. Their 買粉絲ncert DVD, Live of KAT-TUN "Real Face", had also won one of the three Best Music Videos awards. [8]
[edit] Akanishi Jin's Hiatus
Akanishi Jin went on hiatus from the group from October 12, 2006[9] to study English abroad in the U.S., leaving KAT-TUN as a 5 member group for 6 months. This caused a media frenzy in Japan 買粉絲nsidering the fact that Akanishi is one of KAT-TUN's two most popular members and is one of their two main vocalist together with Kazuya Kamenashi.
The remaining members released their third single Bokura No Machi De and the album Cartoon KAT-TUN II YOU ring his hiatus. Despite the fact that one of their lead vocalist was missing, the releases still managed to top the charts.
Akanishi returned to Japan on April 19, 2007 and officially resumed work activities on April 20, 2007.[10] His return excited a nationwide media frenzy. Akanishi joined the rest of KAT-TUN ring their Cartoon KAT-TUN II YOU 2007 tour, his appearance ring the en買粉絲re at their April 21, 2007 Sendai 買粉絲ncert marking his official return to KAT-TUN.
[edit] 2008 – present
KAT-TUN released their sixth single LIPS on February 6 as the theme song to Kazuya Kamenashi's drama One Pound Gospel. [11] The single peaked at #1 on the Ori買粉絲n Charts.
On March 30, it was announced that KAT-TUN will hold their third nationwide tour.
On April 22, it was announced that KAT-TUN will release their third album, KAT-TUN III Queen of Pirates on June 4, 2008. As per usual, the release includes a regular and limited edition. Though the limited edition features four extra songs and is released with a DVD including an extended version of the "Don't U Ever Stop" PV, lasting an eight-minute ration, the regular edition includes a 24-page picture booklet.
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