aespa is officially entering its Japan era. SM Entertainment has confirmed the group will drop its first Japanese EP, Kiss N Tell, on July 24, 2026, packing six original Japanese tracks led by a title song of the same name.
The release hits just weeks after their second full-length album Lemonade, which has already sold more than 1 million copies, and comes with a three day meet and greet in Tokyo. For fans watching aespa’s post Lemonade schedule, Kiss N Tell looks like the clearest sign yet of how their next era will expand beyond Korea.
‘Kiss N Tell’: Aespa’s First Japanese EP Is Official
SM Entertainment announced that Kiss N Tell will be aespa’s first ever Japanese EP, and that every song on the six track project will be an original Japanese language release. Promotional posts are already using the stylized title “KISS N TELL,” signaling a distinct branding for this chapter.
Japan based fans will get a head start on celebrations. The quartet is holding a three day meet and greet for Japanese MYs from July 18 to 20 at Tokyo’s Keio Arena, lining up the fan event directly before the EP arrives.
- July 18–20, 2026: aespa meet and greet at Keio Arena, Tokyo
- July 24, 2026: release of first Japanese EP Kiss N Tell
Beyond the track count and language, details such as the full tracklist and album versions have not been revealed yet. Based on how previous aespa projects rolled out, global fans are expecting Kiss N Tell to land on major streaming platforms while SM shares more teasers through the group’s official channels.
Japan Build Up: From Anime Themes To Dome Status
This EP is not aespa’s first step across the sea, it is the payoff to a slow build. The group’s relationship with Japan dates back to their 2022 Yokohama showcase, aespa JAPAN PREMIUM SHOWCASE 2022 ~SYNK~, which introduced their high concept performance style to local audiences.
In 2023, aespa took their Synk: Hyper Line tour through Japan, selling out 10 shows across Osaka, Tokyo, Saitama, and Aichi to a reported 110,000 spectators. During their Tokyo concerts they announced a two day special show at Tokyo Dome, becoming the fastest K pop artist and the first fourth generation act to hold a solo concert there.
On the music side, they eased listeners into Japanese material with “Zoom Zoom,” released in October 2023 as the ending theme for the anime Beyblade X. That was followed by their official Japanese single “Hot Mess” on July 3, 2024, bundled with “Sun and Moon” and “Zoom Zoom.” Kiss N Tell now levels that strategy up from singles to a full scale Japanese project.
After ‘Lemonade’: Why This EP Shapes Aespa’s Next Era
Lemonade, released on May 29, 2026, is aespa’s second studio album and already a million seller, extending a streak that includes the EPs Girls and My World. Before that, their first full album Armageddon in 2024 was led by “Supernova,” which achieved a perfect all kill on Korean charts and became their first song to top the Circle Digital Chart.
Those numbers position aespa firmly in global headliner territory, with achievements like their second world tour Synk: Parallel Line and an upcoming Lollapalooza Chicago stage in August 2026. Dropping a dedicated Japanese EP in the middle of this schedule shows they are now running Korean albums, overseas tours, and localized releases in parallel. As SM starts unveiling concept photos, visuals, and the full Kiss N Tell tracklist, fans will be watching how these new Japanese songs feed into future Tokyo setlists and any potential return to venues on the scale of Tokyo Dome.