≠ME's "Ai Kudasai Mase" Tops the Billboard Japan Hot 100 — 12th Double A-Side Single Shows the Group's Momentum
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"Ai Kudasai Mase," the lead track of ≠ME's 12th double A-side single, reached No. 1 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 published July 1 (tracking June 22-28). The members commented that they want to keep delivering gratitude and plenty of love to their fans.
Released June 24, the song has drawn attention for choreography considered among the most demanding in the group's history. Beyond the main music video, the group has rolled out One-Take Dance, Dance Practice, and Position Shuffle versions, expanding the song across multiple performance formats.
Building on physical sales while stacking touchpoints through dance and short-form videos is now the mainstream chart strategy in the idol scene. Publishing multiple MV versions is a deliberate design that prioritizes total reach over concentrated view counts.
Because the Billboard Japan chart blends sales, streaming, and video plays, a No. 1 finish is watched across the industry as evidence that fandom intensity and general reach are working together.
Also Watch: "First Kiss Right Here"
The other A-side, "First Kiss Right Here," also has a music video out now. Running two contrasting songs side by side showcases the group's expressive range.
From the ZEN editorial desk: differentiating two A-sides while building a thick catalog of video assets is a proven way to multiply the total conversation per release — and the chart-aware video strategy holds lessons for independent creators as well.
Sources: Billboard JAPAN Daily News (reported July 2026)
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