Why ILLIT's Almond Chocolate Became Japan's Sweetest Musical Success Story

ILLIT's "Almond Chocolate" in Japan has achieved an unprecedented milestone, securing the No. 6 position on Apple Music Japan's weekly song rankings—the highest chart position ever for a Japanese original song by a K-pop group. Released on February 14, 2025, this Valentine's Day debut marked ILLIT's first Japanese digital single.

The track serves as the theme song for the live-action film adaptation of the manga "It Takes More Than a Pretty Face to Fall in Love," which premiered nationwide on March 7. Furthermore, the song's chart performance shows a remarkable upward trajectory, initially entering Apple Music Japan at No. 56 before steadily climbing to its current position just outside the top 5. Additionally, "Almond Chocolate" ranked No. 10 on Oricon's Weekly Streaming Chart, becoming the highest-ranking K-pop girl group song released in Japan this year. Meanwhile, on Billboard Japan's charts, the track jumped dramatically from No. 60 to No. 10 and No. 13 respectively. The song has also gained significant traction on social media, with approximately 47,000 TikTok videos featuring the track as of April 9.

The Release That Started It All

The journey of "Almond Chocolate" began with a strategic announcement on January 10, 2025, when BeLift Lab revealed ILLIT's upcoming Japanese debut. The K-pop girl group was about to make their mark in Japan's music scene with a song that would soon capture hearts across the country.

Why February 14 was the perfect launch date

Valentine's Day served as the ideal moment to unveil "Almond Chocolate," creating a thematic connection between the song and the celebration of love. The February 14 release date wasn't merely coincidental but rather a calculated decision to align with the season of romance. This timing proved essential for establishing the track as a potential Valentine's anthem, allowing the sweet lyrics and melody to resonate with listeners during a period when romantic sentiments were already heightened.

Tied to the film 'It Takes More Than a Pretty Face to Fall in Love'

"Almond Chocolate" was crafted specifically as the theme song for the live-action adaptation of the manga "It Takes More Than a Pretty Face to Fall in Love". The film, scheduled to premiere nationwide on March 7, 2025, stars Ryubi Miyase and tells the story of a girl falling for her handsome senior. Consequently, the song's lyrics draw inspiration from the film's protagonist, Sainan (played by Kumada Rinka), expressing the excitement and devotion of young love.

First original Japanese single by ILLIT

Although ILLIT had already gained recognition in Japan—even receiving the New Artist Award at the 66th Japan Record Awards on December 30—"Almond Chocolate" marked their official Japanese original song debut. The track was a collaborative effort between Nakajin of SEKAI NO OWARI and renowned music producer Pdogg, known for his work with various K-pop artists. ILLIT expressed their excitement about the release, stating, "It's thrilling to think our voices will be heard in movie theaters. The lyrics resonate with anyone who has a 'bias' they love".

Climbing the Charts: A Sleeper Hit in Motion

Unlike most K-pop releases that peak early, "Almond Chocolate" demonstrated the rare characteristics of a genuine sleeper hit, steadily climbing Japanese charts through powerful word-of-mouth momentum. The song's ascent tells a compelling story of organic growth rarely seen in today's front-loaded music industry.

Initial chart entry and slow rise

Following its Valentine's Day release, "Almond Chocolate" didn't make an immediate splash but instead began a remarkable upward journey. The track first entered Apple Music Japan's weekly rankings at a modest No. 56 during the March 10-16 counting period. This unassuming debut gave little indication of what would follow. Over subsequent weeks, the song demonstrated consistent upward mobility, climbing to No. 23 (March 17-23) as listeners gradually discovered its charm. This pattern of steady growth, rather than overnight success, established it as a classic word-of-mouth phenomenon.

Apple Music Japan and Oricon milestones

By late March, "Almond Chocolate" had gained significant momentum, reaching No. 8 on Apple Music Japan (March 24-30). The track subsequently climbed to No. 6 for the March 31-April 6 period, jumping two positions from the previous week. This achievement marked the highest chart position ever achieved by a K-pop group's Japanese original song on Apple Music Japan.

Simultaneously, the song made impressive strides on Oricon's Weekly Streaming Chart. After first appearing at No. 27 (March 17-23), it rose to No. 12 (March 24-30) before breaking into the top 10 at No. 10 (March 31-April 6). Notably, this made it the highest-ranking K-pop girl group song released in Japan during 2025.

Billboard Japan and YouTube Music rankings

On Billboard Japan, "Almond Chocolate" exhibited perhaps its most dramatic surge. The track initially appeared at No. 60 on both the Weekly Streaming Songs and Hot 100 charts as of March 19. Nevertheless, in a remarkable leap forward, it catapulted to No. 10 and No. 13 respectively by April 9.

Despite lacking a traditional performance music video, the song still secured the No. 21 position on YouTube Music Japan's Weekly Top Songs chart (April 4), highlighting its popularity even without conventional promotional assets. Indeed, the track achieved these impressive numbers with only a special film tie-in rather than a standard music video.

The Sweet Sound of Emotion

At the heart of "Almond Chocolate" lies a poetic metaphor that has captivated listeners across Japan. The song's unique emotional appeal, coupled with ILLIT's distinctive vocal approach, has created a musical experience that resonates on a deeper level with audiences.

Lyrics that compare love to almond chocolate

The central metaphor of "Almond Chocolate" brilliantly compares complex romantic feelings to the duality of almond chocolate - "sweet outside, bitter inside". This clever comparison captures the bittersweet nature of love itself. The lyrics express the addictive quality of romance with lines like "There's no way out, I'm already addicted" and "My heart is gonna overflow", creating a relatable narrative about being consumed by affection. Primarily inspired by the emotions of the film's protagonist Sainan (played by Kumada Rinka), the lyrics portray the overwhelming excitement of having someone special. The song effectively communicates that even the bitter aspects of love become endearing as one grows more attached.

ILLIT's vocal delivery and emotional tone

ILLIT's delicate vocal delivery significantly amplifies the song's sentimental impact. The members intentionally showcased a sweet, almost "kawaii" tone throughout the recording, essentially embodying the youthful excitement of first love. According to the group, they "tried to express the fluttering excitement and overwhelming emotions" throughout the recording process. Their pure, fresh vocals blend harmoniously with the grand string ensemble and catchy chorus, creating a sound that feels authentic yet polished.

Why the song resonates with Japanese listeners

The melody evokes a poignant sentiment that, together with ILLIT's charming confident appeal, has struck a powerful chord with Japanese music fans. In effect, the song's charm doubled as the lyrics harmonized with the faint melody. Japanese audiences particularly connected with the universal theme of having a "bias" or someone special. Furthermore, the track's ability to express passionate feelings toward a favorite person created an emotional accessibility that transcends language barriers. The song's February 14th Valentine's Day release further cemented its position as a soundtrack for romantic sentiment in Japan.

Going Viral: TikTok and Global Buzz

Beyond traditional music platforms, ILLIT's "Almond Chocolate" found extraordinary success through social media, primarily on TikTok, where a modified version of the track sparked a cultural phenomenon across Japan and beyond.

Sped-up version's success on TikTok Japan

The "Almond Chocolate (Sped Up)" version became a sensation on TikTok Japan, where the accelerated tempo—known as "fast turn"—enhanced the song's inherent sweetness and appeal to Gen Z listeners. This remixed version maintained a top 10 position on TikTok Japan's weekly music charts for three consecutive weeks. Most impressively, it consistently ranked as the highest-performing song by an international artist on the platform. The group had strategically previewed the track through a TikTok video on January 20, showing members singing "Almond Chocolate" via video calls, their expressions matching the passionate lyrics about their "Favorite" person.

User-generated content and fan engagement

By April 9, the track had been featured in approximately 47,000 TikTok videos, demonstrating remarkable user adoption. The song inspired widespread participation from high-profile Japanese personalities, including:

• Popular influencers such as SAKURA, Kiku, and Noai Kato (Ieyasu Tokugawa)

• Celebrity groups including INI, FANTASTICS, and ME:I who created their own challenge videos

This diverse adoption helped propel the song from social media prominence into mainstream cultural awareness. In fact, ILLIT was already establishing a foothold in Japan's digital landscape, with their debut track "Magnetic" securing the No. 3 spot on Japan's TikTok 2024 Top Songs ranking.

LyricFind Global chart and international interest

Perhaps most telling of the song's international breakthrough was its appearance at No. 9 on Billboard's "LyricFind Global" chart on April 12. This chart tracks songs with the most searched lyrics worldwide, indicating genuine global curiosity about the track's meaning. Notably, "Almond Chocolate" stood as the only Japanese song to enter the LyricFind Global Top 10 during this period, demonstrating its unique cross-cultural appeal.