ILLIT's 'Almond Chocolate' Crosses 100 Million Streams in Japan, Earns Platinum Certification

ILLIT's first Japanese original track, Almond Chocolate, crossed 100 million cumulative streams in Japan as of May, earning a Platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ). The certification places it alongside Magnetic, the group's debut single, which reached Double Platinum in Japan in roughly ten months, as part of what is becoming a consistent pattern of streaming recognition for the Belift Lab act in one of the more demanding markets for foreign pop music.

The RIAJ issues monthly streaming certifications on a tiered scale: Platinum at 100 million plays, Double Platinum at 200 million, and Diamond at 500 million. Almond Chocolate was released in February 2025 and reached Gold (50 million streams) within about five months. Its continued climb through a second threshold more than a year after release reflects the kind of slow-burn longevity that tends to carry more commercial weight in Japan than an initial chart spike.

The track also picked up recognition at the 67th Japan Record Awards, where it was the only song by a foreign artist to receive the Outstanding Work Award, a distinction that sits below the Grand Prix but carries meaningful industry weight in a ceremony that dates back to 1959.

ILLIT now holds RIAJ streaming certifications on three tracks total. In addition to Almond Chocolate and Magnetic's Double Platinum, Lucky Girl Syndrome, a track from the group's first mini-album, earned a Gold certification. The breadth across different releases, rather than concentration on a single breakout moment, is what makes the Japanese numbers worth noting.

The group is moving into a heavier Japan schedule this summer. A five-city tour, ILLIT LIVE 'PRESS START♥︎' in JAPAN, runs through next month. On July 26, the group will release the full digital single for I Got Your Back, their second Japanese original single, with a physical edition to follow on July 29.