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For aespa, Japan has always been more than just another stop on the K-pop circuit. For Giselle, it’s home.
The 25-year-old member, whose real name is Aeri Uchinaga, is half-Japanese and half-Korean and grew up in Tokyo, where she attended Tokyo International School in Minato Ward. So when aespa (stylized in all lowercase) recorded “Kiss n Tell,” its new Japanese-language mini album, the project offered Giselle an opportunity to reconnect with a part of herself that took shape long before she became a pop star.
“Since I’ve spoken Japanese from a young age, certain emotions and expressions come out very naturally when I sing in it,” Giselle says during an online group interview with The Japan Times. “Growing up around different languages and cultures also made me more open to exploring new genres and ideas, and I think that has naturally shaped the way I listen to music and interpret songs.”
“Every language has its own rhythm and way of conveying emotion,” says Winter, 25, whose real name is Kim Min-jeong. “Japanese has a particularly smooth flow, so I paid close attention not only to the pronunciation but also to the phrasing, breathing and subtle nuances that make it sound natural. I find it really interesting how the same melody can feel different depending on the language.”
aespa’s latest release also tracks the group’s creative evolution while holding onto a sense of youthful earnestness. For Ningning, 23, whose real name is Ning Yizhuo, the album offered a chance to explore the group’s lighter side.
“We wanted to keep Aespa’s dreamy, futuristic side while showing something brighter and more approachable,” Ningning says. “Since the ‘Kiss n Tell’ music video was filmed at an amusement park, it has a fresh, youthful energy that captures the feeling of summer.”
Karina, 26, whose real name is Yu Ji-min, says the album’s central theme is connection: “‘Kiss n Tell’ is about getting closer by opening up and being honest with each other. We wanted to capture that warm, exciting feeling of really connecting with someone in a bright and playful way.”
As part of its Synk: Aexis Line tour last year, aespa returned to Japan for shows in Fukuoka, Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka, culminating in two nights at Tokyo Dome this April that drew a combined 94,000 fans. This matched the attendance at aespa’s first solo Tokyo Dome shows in 2023.
“I remember feeling so excited the night before our first Tokyo Dome show,” Giselle says. “I had been there before to see a concert, so getting to stand on that stage myself felt incredibly special. It was also surreal to think that we were about to fill such a huge venue with our own show.
“It didn’t really hit me until we stepped onstage and heard the fans cheering. … It felt like we had achieved one of our dreams — and it made me want to come back with an even better show next time.”
Having headlined arenas and met fans from around the globe, the members say Japanese audiences have a particular energy that they appreciate.
“They’re always so focused during our performances, but when it’s time to have fun together, they cheer so loudly and give us so much energy,” Ningning says. “We really appreciate how warmly they respond whenever we talk to them or show them something new and how they remember even the smallest details.”
The group’s recent work remains high-energy while delving into more personal themes, including caring for and staying true to yourself.
“I feel like when we first debuted, we were really focused on showing people who Aespa was and establishing our own identity,” Winter says. “Now, that identity feels much more natural to us, so even when we take on something new, we know how to make it feel like aespa.”