ITZY Ringo Album: The Hidden Stories Behind Their First Japanese Release

ITZY Ringo album marks a significant milestone as the popular South Korean girl group's first Japanese-language studio album. Released by Warner Music Japan on October 18, 2023, this collection represents their second overall studio album but first full-length Japanese project.

The album features an impressive tracklist spanning 36:09 minutes with 11 diverse tracks including original songs like "Sugar-holic," "Playlist," and "Style". Additionally, fans can enjoy the singles "Voltage" and "Blah Blah Blah," alongside Japanese versions of popular hits like "Sneakers," "Cheshire," and the fan-dedicated "Trust Me (Midzy)". Notably, ITZY first revealed their plans for this Japanese album during the Japan leg of their "CHECKMATE" World Tour in February 2023, building anticipation among their fanbase. The physical release comes in eight different versions, including Standard, Limited A, Limited B, and five member-specific limited MIDZY editions, giving collectors multiple ways to experience this landmark release.

The journey to ITZY’s first Japanese album

ITZY's path to releasing their first full Japanese album began long before the physical product hit shelves. Since their explosive debut in 2019 with "DALLA DALLA," the quintet has methodically built their international presence while establishing themselves as a powerhouse K-pop group.

From Korean hits to Japanese debuts

ITZY's expansion into the Japanese market followed a strategic pattern similar to many successful K-pop acts. After solidifying their presence in South Korea with hits like "ICY," "WANNABE," and "Not Shy," the group began testing Japanese waters with targeted releases. Their first foray into Japanese-language music came with the digital single "WANNABE (Japanese ver.)" in 2021, followed by their Japanese EP "What'z ITZY" in December of that year.

This initial EP contained Japanese versions of their Korean hits rather than original Japanese compositions. Nevertheless, it served as an important stepping stone, allowing ITZY to gauge market reception while building their Japanese fanbase. The group continued this approach with subsequent singles like "Voltage" in April 2022, their first original Japanese track that showcased their signature confident style while specifically targeting Japanese listeners.

The Checkmate Tour and surprise reveal

The momentum toward a full Japanese album accelerated with ITZY's ambitious "CHECKMATE" World Tour. During their February 2023 performances in Japan, the group made a surprise announcement that thrilled attending fans - they would release their first full Japanese album later that year. This strategic reveal during their concert tour created immediate buzz among those present and quickly spread through social media channels.

The announcement's timing was particularly effective, coming when Japanese MIDZYs (ITZY's fan community) were already energized by the group's live performances. This direct connection with fans transformed what could have been a standard album announcement into a special moment shared between the artists and their audience.

Why 'Ringo' marks a turning point

"Ringo" represents more than just another album in ITZY's discography - it signifies a deliberate expansion of their artistic identity. Unlike their previous Japanese releases that primarily relied on translated versions of existing hits, "Ringo" includes multiple original Japanese compositions. Songs like "Sugar-holic," "Playlist," and "Style" demonstrate the group's commitment to creating authentic content specifically for their Japanese audience.

The album's title itself - "Ringo," meaning "apple" in Japanese - symbolizes ITZY's fresh approach to the market. By moving beyond simply translating Korean hits and instead crafting original Japanese material, ITZY positioned themselves as artists genuinely invested in connecting with Japanese listeners through music created exclusively for them.

The concept and message behind 'Ringo'

Behind ITZY's first Japanese album lies a rich conceptual framework that blends fairy tale elements with the group's signature empowerment message. The title track and album showcase a sophisticated artistic vision that goes far beyond typical K-pop Japanese releases.

Fairy tale inspiration and symbolism

"Ringo" draws deeply from classic fairy tale imagery, particularly "Snow White." However, ITZY deliberately subverts traditional narrative structures where princesses await rescue. In the music video, the members reject the damsel-in-distress trope common in stories where female characters are defined primarily by beauty and romance. Instead, ITZY portrays themselves as heroines who rewrite their own stories, breaking out of conventional roles with strength and determination.

This conceptual direction aligns perfectly with the music video's fantasy aesthetic. Yet unlike traditional fairy tales, ITZY members aren't portrayed as passive characters - they're actively taking control of their narratives. The production incorporates Latin music influences, creating a unique sonic backdrop against which this empowering story unfolds.

The meaning of 'Ringo' and its apple motif

"Ringo" directly translates to "apple" in Japanese, a deliberate reference to the poisonous apple from "Snow White." In the traditional tale, this apple represents danger and victimhood. ITZY, however, transforms this symbolism by willingly embracing the apple, thus claiming agency over their own fairy tales.

The lyrics reinforce this concept with lines like "I'll swallow the poison apple" and "Nothing scares me". This powerful recontextualization of the apple motif serves as the album's central metaphor - taking something traditionally viewed as threatening and reclaiming it as a symbol of strength and self-determination.

Themes of independence and self-direction

The album carries the message of "charting one's path, instead of following the footsteps of already-written fairy tales". This theme appears consistently throughout the lyrics with declarations like "I'll change my fate" and "Baby, I'll rewrite my own world".

Furthermore, ITZY rejects princess archetypes explicitly with lines such as "The story line of chasing the prince, it's not so popular right now" and "I'm not a princess". Instead, they position themselves as warriors, stating "Rather than a mirror, I take up a sword and shield".

This conceptual direction continues ITZY's longstanding message of confidence and self-agency that has defined their work since debut. From "Dalla Dalla" through "Wannabe" and now with "Ringo," the group has consistently advocated for young women pursuing independent, carefree lives - a message that resonates deeply with their fanbase.

Inside the 'Ringo' tracklist

The eleven-track lineup of the itzy ringo album showcases the group's musical versatility across a 36:09 runtime. With a mix of original Japanese compositions and re-recorded versions of their Korean hits, the album offers both familiar favorites and fresh material for fans.

Original Japanese tracks

At the heart of Ringo are several original Japanese compositions that demonstrate ITZY's commitment to creating authentic content for their Japanese audience. The title track "RINGO" opens the album with its fairy tale-inspired concept, carrying the powerful message of charting one's own path.

The album features newer Japanese originals like "Sugar-holic," a soft track about finding sweetness in tough moments, "Playlist" with its retro-inspired production, and "STYLE," a bold track that embodies ITZY's signature confident sound.

Moreover, Ringo incorporates the group's previous Japanese singles. "Voltage," their first original Japanese song released in 2022, appears as the fifth track, followed by its B-side "Spice". The collection also includes "Blah Blah Blah," characterized by rhythmic rap and addictive synth melodies, coupled with "Can't tie me down," another 2022 Japanese release.

Re-recorded Japanese versions of Korean hits

Closing out the album are three re-recorded Japanese versions of previously released tracks. The electro-pop hit "SNEAKERS" and dance-pop track "Cheshire," both title tracks from 2022, receive Japanese language treatment while maintaining their original energy. These adaptations allow Japanese fans to connect with ITZY's biggest Korean hits in their native language.

Fan-dedicated songs and their significance

The album concludes with "Trust Me (MIDZY)" in its Japanese version, a song specifically created for the group's fanbase. Originally released in Korean in 2021, this track was pre-released on August 30, 2023, ahead of the full album.

Ending Ringo with this fan tribute creates a heartwarming finale, symbolizing the strong connection between ITZY and their supporters. Throughout their Japanese expansion, ITZY has consistently acknowledged their fans' role in their journey, making this track's inclusion especially meaningful as they establish themselves in a new market.

Release formats and promotional strategy

For the itzy ringo album release, JYP Entertainment crafted an extensive promotional strategy with diverse physical formats and a systematic teaser campaign, maximizing collector appeal and building anticipation.

Limited editions and fanclub exclusives

The physical version of the album arrived in eight distinct variations, giving fans multiple collecting options. The Standard edition provided the base album experience, whereas Limited Edition A came packaged in a sleeve case with a 36-page lyric booklet, one random trading card (from 11 possibilities), and a special offer serial number. In contrast, Limited Edition B featured a sleeve case, a 20-page lyric booklet, a regular edition trading card, plus a remarkable ten random trading cards selected from 27 different designs.

First and foremost, dedicated fans could purchase five member-specific MIDZY editions (MIDZY being ITZY's official fanclub name). Each MIDZY version featured a member's solo jacket/picture, a 16-page booklet, a complete set of three solo trading cards for that member, and a special offer serial number. These exclusive fanclub editions created a personal connection between each member and their fans.

Pre-release singles and teaser campaigns

The promotional rollout for "Ringo" began on August 7, 2023, when ITZY posted intriguing photos captioned "Bring me an Apple!" across their social media platforms. This cryptic message sparked immediate speculation before the group formally announced their first Japanese full-length album's October 18 release date.

To maintain momentum, JYP strategically released three singles ahead of the full album:

"Trust Me (MIDZY) (Japanese Ver.)" on August 30, 2023
"RINGO" (title track) on September 27, 2023
"Sugar-holic" on October 11, 2023

Following the album release, behind-the-scenes photos appeared on the group's Twitter account between October 21-24, extending the promotional cycle past the initial release date.

Visual storytelling through album art

The album's visual identity centered around the apple motif, directly connecting to the "Ringo" title. Teaser images depicted ITZY members with bright red apples, establishing the fairy tale aesthetic that would define the album's concept. This imagery reinforced the Snow White-inspired narrative while creating a visually cohesive identity across all promotional materials.

In essence, the distinctive CD packaging and visual elements complemented the album's thematic focus on rewriting fairy tales and taking control of one's destiny—themes established throughout the music and lyrics themselves.

Chart performance and fan reception

Upon its release, the itzy ringo album made a significant impact on Japanese music charts, demonstrating the group's growing popularity in a competitive foreign market.

Oricon and Billboard Japan rankings

The album debuted at number 7 on the Japanese Albums Oricon Chart during its first week, selling 21,778 copies in its initial release period. On Billboard Japan's Hot Albums chart, "Ringo" achieved an even higher position, reaching number 5. For the month of October 2023, the album secured the 19th position on the Oricon Monthly Albums Chart with 24,071 copies sold. Throughout 2023, "Ringo" accumulated 30,700 sales in Japan, ranking #126 on Oricon's Albums of the Year.

The album's charting pattern showed initial strong performance followed by a gradual decline, still managing to appear on the charts for a total of 11 weeks - a respectable achievement for a non-Japanese act in the competitive Japanese market.

Fan reactions and social media buzz

Although specific social media metrics weren't widely documented, the album's consistent chart presence indicated substantial fan support. The pre-released singles "Voltage" and "Blah Blah Blah" had already performed well, both reaching number three on the Oricon Singles Chart, establishing anticipation among Japanese listeners before the full album release.

How 'Ringo' compares to previous ITZY releases

"Ringo" represented a different commercial trajectory compared to ITZY's Korean releases. While their Korean albums like "Checkmate" achieved million-seller status and their first Korean studio album "Crazy in Love" debuted at number 11 on the US Billboard 200, "Ringo" focused on establishing their presence specifically in Japan.

Although "Ringo" didn't match the massive global numbers of ITZY's Korean releases, it achieved something equally valuable - proving the group could create original Japanese content that resonated with the local audience. This accomplishment is particularly noteworthy considering ITZY only launched their Japanese activities in December 2021, already being named the highest-grossing rookie artist during the first half of 2022 by Oricon.