Explore 74 sourced records of KARA in 2010, including performances, releases and appearances with photographs and date context.
Music and releasesJapan
Top newcomer sales in their Japanese debut year
In the year of their Japanese debut, KARA ranked first in Oricon's newcomer sales category. They also topped RecoChoku's annual newcomer artist Chaku-Uta Full category, showing support for both CDs and mobile music downloads.
Release artwork Girl’s Talk artwork in Oricon’s 2010 top-newcomer sales reportAlbum artwork published by Oricon with its December 2010 report on this ranking, not an award-ceremony photograph.Image source oricon.co.jp
Explore the background, music and performances＋
In Oricon's 2010 annual rankings announced on December 20, KARA led the newcomer artist sales-value category. The company's official release also lists Girl's Talk first for newcomer album sales value. A single song's weekly placing and an annual category aggregating releases are different measures.
KARA also topped RecoChoku's annual newcomer artist category for Chaku-Uta Full. That tally covered December 1, 2009 through November 30, 2010; the same document names a different newcomer winner for Chaku-Uta ringtones. Naming the full-song mobile-download category makes the achievement precise.
Record highlights
Oricon: 2010 annual newcomer artist sales value No. 1
RecoChoku: newcomer artist No. 1 for Chaku-Uta Full
Strong Heart #13: Gyuri and Hara in the New Year special
TV appearanceSBS / Strong Heart
Gyuri and Hara appeared in the New Year special. Gyuri joined Bada in a conversation about their goddess personas, while Hara addressed rumours about herself.
Related photograph Strong Heart: image from this episodeA broadcaster thumbnail or contemporary report image corresponding to the episode broadcast or published on 2010-01-05, showing KARA’s appearance.Image source programs.sbs.co.kr
KARA released the title theme of SBS drama Stars Falling From the Sky as OST Part 1. The song accompanied the drama’s themes of hope and love; its January 12 digital release is distinct from the show’s January 4 premiere.
Release artwork Work or archive material: The theme song for Stars Falling From the SkyCover or product artwork for the related release, not an event-day photograph.Image source music.bugs.co.kr
KARA First Showcase in JAPAN 2010 brought the group to Akasaka BLITZ before the Japanese single debut. HMV’s on-site report documented “Honey,” “Wanna,” “Mister” and a “Pretty Girl” encore at the daytime performance.
Related photograph Related photograph: Pre-debut showcase at Akasaka BLITZEvent photograph published in the linked report.Image source hmv.co.jp
Songs performed
February 7, 2010 at 12:00: running order published in HMV’s on-site report
KARA released the Korean mini album Lupin, containing five tracks including “Lupin” and “Rollin’.” Alongside their bright pop sound, the release introduced a stronger musical sound and stage presence.
The third mini album has five tracks and runs about 16 minutes: “Tasty Love,” “Lupin,” “Umbrella,” “Rollin’,” and “Lonely.” Han Jae-ho and Kim Seung-soo composed and arranged the title track, with lyrics by Song Soo-yoon. The release notes describe dance-pop combining a hip-hop beat, brass, and synthesizers.
The album also includes the ballad “Lonely” and Han Sang-won's “Rollin’,” giving it variety beyond the title track. “Umbrella” became the B-side of their Japanese debut single later that year, providing a concrete link between music first released in Korea and its subsequent presentation in Japan.
Record highlights
5 tracks / running time 16:25
“Lupin” credits: Han Jae-ho, Kim Seung-soo, Song Soo-yoon
KARA performed Lupin on Mnet’s M COUNTDOWN for the mini album’s first comeback broadcast.
Related photograph M COUNTDOWN: image from this episodeA broadcaster thumbnail or contemporary report image corresponding to the episode broadcast or published on 2010-02-25, showing KARA’s appearance.Image source enews.imbc.com
KARA promoted Mistine BB Wonder Compact in Thailand. A local press interview records the five members discussing the product and songs including Lupin, extending their local presence through advertising.
Related photograph Related photograph: Mistine cosmetics promotion in ThailandEvent photograph published in the linked report.Image source pingbook.com
KARA performed at ShowKing M Bangkok, a joint concert organised by ADAMAS and Mnet, alongside 2PM, 2AM and Brown Eyed Girls. It added to their Southeast Asian appearances before their Japanese debut.
Related photograph Related photograph: ShowKing M in BangkokEvent photograph published in the linked report.Image source bntnews.co.kr
At the eighth Korean Music Festival in Los Angeles, KARA performed Lupin, Honey and Mister and shared a stage with Joo Hyun-mi. Nicole co-hosted and addressed the audience in English.
Release artwork Event or campaign material: Korean Music Festival at the Hollywood BowlPromotional artwork for this event, not a photograph of its performance.Image source aprendendocoreano.net
The group released a cheering song for Korea’s football team ahead of the South Africa World Cup. The bright Han Jae-ho/Kim Seung-soo production, issued with a remix, brought KARA’s music into the national sporting occasion.
Release artwork Digital-release cover of We’re With YouDigital-release cover of We’re With You displayed on its Bugs album page.Image source music.bugs.co.kr
Radio appearancesMBC / Shindong and Park Gyuri’s Shimshimtapa
KARA members appearing：Gyuri
Gyuri became a regular co-DJ with Shindong. MBC’s schedule first names her on the May 5 programme date; this is an after-midnight slot, so the date follows the station’s programme-day convention.
Release artwork Related 2010 release: Lupin coverCover of a KARA release from the same year; not a photograph of the radio appearance or studio.Image source music.apple.com
Return event in Akasaka and Japanese debut announcement
東京 · グランドプリンスホテル赤坂 五色の間
KARA held an event at the Grand Prince Hotel Akasaka’s Goshiki room, announced their summer Japanese debut, and met KAMILIA through handshakes and songs.
Related photograph Related photograph: Return event in Akasaka and Japanese debut announcementEvent photograph published in the linked report.Image source hmv.co.jp
Strong Heart #29: Seungyeon and Jiyoung talk about their group
TV appearanceSBS / Strong Heart
Seungyeon and Jiyoung joined the talk special. Jiyoung shared everyday stories about interacting with the older members as the youngest in the group.
Related photograph Strong Heart: image from this episodeA broadcaster thumbnail or contemporary report image corresponding to the episode broadcast or published on 2010-05-18, showing KARA’s appearance.Image source programs.sbs.co.kr
On the day of Korea’s match against Greece, KARA joined Samsung’s cheering event at Megabox COEX. They performed “We’re With You,” “Pretty Girl,” and “Mister,” bringing their World Cup song directly to spectators.
Release artwork Cover of KARA’s 2010 World Cup cheer song We’re With YouRelated artwork illustrating KARA’s 2010 World Cup cheering activities; not a photograph of the June 12 COEX/Samsung event.Image source music.apple.com
The three-disc Japanese release MBC DVD COLLECTION: KARA–SWEET MUSE GALLERY assembled the Tokyo showcase, MBC television footage, music videos and behind-the-scenes material for LUPIN.
Hara became a model for cosmetics brand A’PIEU. The announcement describes skincare, BB cream and smoky-makeup shoots for print and online promotion.
Related photograph Hara’s A’PIEU campaign visualBrand campaign photograph supplied by the advertiser.Image source newswire.co.kr
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ABLE C&C’s release describes looks ranging from fresh styling to more mature makeup. A’PIEU is a separate brand within the same company as MISSHA; this is not recorded as a MISSHA endorsement.
The advertiser announced the modelling appointment on July 21.
KARA made their Japanese debut on 11 August 2010 with a Japanese-language version of Mister. Around 3,000 people gathered for their surprise performance outside SHIBUYA109 that day. The release, street event and television appearances together marked a new stage in reaching audiences in Japan.
Release artwork Mister (standard edition)Cover artwork for this release or concert videoImage source UNIVERSAL MUSIC JAPAN
Explore the background, music and performances＋
The road to the release
The debut followed the 7 February showcase at Akasaka BLITZ and a May visit. It marked the move into sustained Japanese-language single releases. A mobile ringtone release of Mister began on 28 July, ahead of the CD.
Tower Records Shibuya announced a 10–16 August display on its first and fifth floors, including 11 signed Polaroids and life-size panels. The release week therefore also had a visible presence inside a major record store.
On release day KARA appeared on a temporary stage outside SHIBUYA109. ORICON’s same-day report described roughly 3,000 people and a crowd spilling onto the road. A planned 30-minute live-and-talk event was reduced to one song, Mister, lasting about three minutes.
Gyuri’s same-day comments described meeting people beyond their existing fans. In a subsequent Billboard JAPAN interview she said the unexpectedly strong response encouraged their Japanese activities. The shortened event and the members’ sense of encouragement belong together in this record.
The Japanese single contains Mister, Umbrella and an instrumental version of Mister. The songs draw on Revolution and Lupin respectively. Limited edition A included the music video, dance-shot version and behind-the-scenes footage; edition B included a photo book.
In the contemporary interview Jiyoung discussed the difficulty of pronouncing the Japanese sound tsu. Seungyeon described studying and preparing to speak between schedules. The debut involved communicating on morning and talk shows as well as rerecording songs.
Release-week television and the 14 August fan event
Listings show Sukkiri!! on 11 August, Happy Music late on 13 August (14 August by calendar date), and MUSIC JAPAN on 15 August. Contemporary coverage identifies the latter as KARA’s NHK debut with Mister. Sakigake! Ongaku Banzuke Eight and Shabekuri 007 followed later that month.
The 14 August event at Shinkiba STUDIO COAST was separate from Shibuya and intended for CD buyers. Two mini-live and handshake sessions drew a reported total of 4,800 people. ORICON also documented comedian Gekidan Hitori’s visit as a fan. Advance attendance plans should be distinguished from the reported outcome.
The chart announced on 17 August, dated 23 August, placed Mister at No. 5 with about 29,000 first-week sales. MANTANWEB reported the first overseas female-group debut single in the top ten since the Nolans, 29 years and eight months earlier, and the first by an Asian female group. The category matters when reading this milestone.
October’s first Music Station appearance, November’s Jumping and Girl’s Talk, and the year’s No. 1 newcomer sales ranking followed. Read together, the street response, chart debut and continuing TV appearances suggest why Mister served as an entry point to sustained activity in Japan.
The street response, music and talk-show contacts, and sales of the Japanese-language record document different aspects of the debut. Their concentration around the release helps explain this period’s significance. The members’ own accounts also show the experience of expanding their activities in a new language.
KARA and actor Joo Won modelled for ASK’s 2010 autumn/winter campaign, presenting denim-led fashion imagery distinct from the group’s performance costumes.
Related photograph ASK 2010 autumn/winter campaign photographIndividual KARA-member portrait from the contemporary campaign article.Image source pingbook.com
Read activity details and sources＋
The period article contains individual fashion photographs. The image here is an individual campaign portrait, rather than a five-member group photograph or TV still.
The article’s original date is August 17, 2010. The migrated URL/date of October 30, 2016 is not the campaign date.
KARA recorded the second theme for MMORPG We Online: Secret Expedition. Joo Young-hoon wrote “2Me,” released alongside music-video and instrumental versions, adding a Korean game soundtrack during their Japanese debut period.
Release artwork Digital-release cover of We Online Part 2 / 2MeDigital-release cover of We Online Part 2 / 2Me displayed on its Bugs album page.Image source music.bugs.co.kr
KARA appeared at the Visit Korea Year concert at Gyeongju Civic Stadium with four members while Seungyeon recovered from injury. SBS aired the recording on September 19; the concert itself was held on September 12.
Related photograph KARA at the Hallyu Dream Concert in Gyeongju, September 12, 2010Published by Josei Jishin as a photograph of this concert. Jiyoung, Gyuri, Hara and Nicole performed while Seungyeon recovered; the archive upload year differs from the concert year.Image source jisin.jp
Soon after the Japanese debut, a Japanese compilation assembled 12 Korean-language tracks, including “Mr.,” “LUPIN,” “Honey” and “Break It,” giving new listeners a route into KARA’s earlier catalog.
Release artwork Official cover artwork: ミスター / MisterOfficial cover of a release related to the music or concert featured in this programme; not a photograph or frame from this episode.Image source universal-music.co.jp
KARA appeared at Asia Song Festival at Jamsil Olympic Main Stadium. The international charity concert marked the Seoul G20 summit and brought artists from Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan, Thailand, and Malaysia onto a shared stage.
Related photograph Related photograph: Asia Song Festival brings six countries togetherPress montage of artists at the same Asia Song Festival, with KARA at the lower right.Image source edaily.co.kr
All five members modelled winter fashion for boot brand BEARPAW. October 26 coverage identifies the shoot as October 20 at an Apgujeong studio in Seoul.
Related photograph Five members in the BEARPAW campaign shootGroup campaign photograph accompanying contemporary shoot coverage.Image source view.asiae.co.kr
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Group photo from the advertising shoot, featuring boots and casual clothing.
The timeline uses the October 26 report date; filming was October 20. No TV start date is claimed.
KARA released the Korean-language mini album Jumping, including “Love Is,” “Jumping,” and “Burn.” A separate Korean release from the Japanese single, it added to their growing musical activities in both countries.
The fourth Korean mini album contains “Love Is,” “Jumping,” “Burn,” “Binks,” and “With,” plus the title track's instrumental, for six tracks. The release notes describe “Jumping” as a Sweetune song by Han Jae-ho and Kim Seung-soo, combining 1980s Europop with contemporary sounds.
The notes also identify Jiyoung's solo rap and Seungyeon's narration on “Love Is.” “With” was listed on a Japanese album bonus track as “Sweet Days (Original Korean Version).” These releases show why a song's differing titles across languages and products should be checked carefully.
KARA released their second Japanese single, “Jumping.” Following “Mister,” it further advanced their activities in Japan. The song also opens their Japanese-language full-length album Girl's Talk, released that same month.
Release artwork KARA / Jumpin' - SingleCover artwork for this release or concert videoImage source ℗ 2010 UNIVERSAL SIGMA, a division of UNIVERSAL MUSIC LLC
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The second Japanese single contains “Jumping” and “Burn” in Japanese. Official product information identifies them as new songs for the release and records the title track's use as the theme for Fuji TV's Mezamashi Doyoubi. It followed the adapted debut songs with newly introduced music.
First Edition A's DVD included the standard music video, dance-shot version, and filming extras. Two weeks later, First Edition A of Girl's Talk supplied a separate au Smart Sports music-video version and its making-of. Multiple visual treatments of the same song were part of this release period.
Release artwork Official cover artwork: ジャンピン / Jumpin’Official cover of a release related to the music or concert featured in this programme; not a photograph or frame from this episode.Image source music.apple.com
KARA released a Japanese-language full-length album featuring “Mister” and “Jumping.” Songs such as “SOS” and “Lupin” showed a range beyond their singles. First editions offered different extras, including video content and a photo book.
Release artwork KARA / Girl's TalkCover artwork for this release or concert videoImage source ℗ 2010 UNIVERSAL SIGMA, a division of UNIVERSAL MUSIC LLC
Explore the background, music and performances＋
The main album has ten tracks, opening with “Jumping,” continuing through “Mister,” “Baby I Need You,” “Sweet Days,” and “SOS,” and ending with “Lupin.” It brought singles and album tracks together as a Japanese-language repertoire, separate from the Korean-language best-of release.
First edition A includes the au Smart Sports version of the Jumping MV, making-of footage and artwork-shoot extras. B includes a photobook; C adds Korean bonus tracks.
Record highlights
Main album: 10 tracks
Editions: A with DVD, B with photos, C with bonus audio
Radio appearancesMBC / Yoon Do-hyun’s 2 O’Clock Date
KARA members appearing：Gyuri
Gyuri and Shindong filled in on 2 O’Clock Date for MBC FM4U Family Day, when presenters swapped programmes. This was a special hosting appearance, not a regular appointment.
Release artwork Related 2010 release: Lupin coverCover of a KARA release from the same year; not a photograph of the radio appearance or studio.Image source music.apple.com
KARA appeared with 2AM and Jun Hyun-moo, sharing stories about living together and their members’ sleeping habits.
Related photograph Happy Together 3: image from this episodeA broadcaster thumbnail or contemporary report image corresponding to the episode broadcast or published on 2010-12-02, showing KARA’s appearance.Image source enews.imbc.com
The second part of the KARA and 2AM special. A 10 December report explicitly identifies the 9 December broadcast, all five members and Gyuri’s discussion of high heels.
Related photograph Happy Together 3: image from this episodeA broadcaster thumbnail or contemporary report image corresponding to the episode broadcast or published on 2010-12-09, showing KARA’s appearance.Image source sports.khan.co.kr
On Japanese debut day KARA performed Mister outside SHIBUYA109. Same-day reporting described about 3,000 people and a crowd spilling onto the road; the planned 30-minute live-and-talk event ended after one song, about three minutes.
Read the background＋
Gyuri’s same-day comments described meeting people beyond their existing fans. In a subsequent Billboard JAPAN interview she said the unexpectedly strong response encouraged their Japanese activities. The shortened event and the members’ sense of encouragement belong together in this record.
Held: 11 August 2010 / temporary stage outside SHIBUYA109
About 3,000 people; planned 30 minutes reduced to one song, about three minutes (same-day report)
KARA held two mini-live and handshake sessions for CD buyers at Shinkiba STUDIO COAST, with 4,800 participants reported afterwards.
Read the background＋
ORICON’s same-day report describes a venue capacity of about 2,400, two sessions, and Gekidan Hitori visiting as a fan. This 14 August buyer event was separate from the 11 August street live in Shibuya. The reported total of 4,800 comes from later coverage by eiga.com/Bunka Tsushin, rather than the advance attendance plan.
KARA held a fan signing at Boramae in Seoul to mark the release of Lupin. After greetings from Seungyeon and Gyuri, all five members signed fans’ CDs. Y-STAR covered the event, and an attendee posted signed-CD photographs and a first-person account the following day.
Read the event records and sources＋
The attendee report was posted on March 1. It was cross-checked with Y-STAR’s account of a release signing on the 28th, including the greetings, clothing and CD signing. The July 12 YouTube upload date is not the event date.
The five members met Lupin buyers at Daejeon Jung-gu Cultural Center on White Day. The signing was separate from the same-day concert at Hanbat Stadium.
The guide named Ppuri Hall and a 21:00 start. One hundred participants were to be drawn from Lupin buyers at Synnara Daejeon between 11:00 on March 10 and 22:00 on March 13. Subsequent participant accounts describe ticket collection and conversations with the members.
Venue photographMarch 14, 2010 / The Daejeon Lupin signing venue, with the Synnara logo and album-release banner.Image sourcePhoto: 자연 (jayeon0111) / attendee blog, April 29, 2010Venue photographMarch 14, 2010 / The members greeting attendees behind the table at the Daejeon signing.Image sourcePhoto: 자연 (jayeon0111) / attendee blog, April 29, 2010Venue photographMarch 14, 2010 / Hara and the members standing at the signing table in Daejeon.Image sourcePhoto: 자연 (jayeon0111) / attendee blog, April 29, 2010
Appearance / KAMILIA event
Lupin signing in Busan
HOTTRACKS Busan, main entrance of the Kyobo Life building
Rescheduled from March 21 to March 27, the outdoor Busan signing celebrated Lupin. A same-day fan blog records receiving autographs from all five members and includes photographs of the signed album.
Contemporary photographMarch 27, 2010 / Jiyoung meeting a fan at the outdoor HOTTRACKS signing in Busan.Image sourcePhoto: 땡그리 (kiss034) / attendee blog, March 28, 2010
Read the event records and sources＋
The rescheduling notice named HOTTRACKS Busan at the Kyobo Life building’s main entrance. It announced a draw for 150 Lupin buyers from March 15–25, with results on March 26. Its 15:00–16:00 window was explicitly tentative, so no confirmed start time is stated here.
KARA performed Mister in the late-night 13 August broadcast, on the calendar date of 14 August. ORICON’s programme day, the individual listing and a 15 August viewing account agree.
TV programme recordフジテレビ / Sakigake! Ongaku Banzuke Eight
フジテレビ: an episode of Sakigake! Ongaku Banzuke Eight listed in ORICON’s KARA television credits. Listed as 2010-08-18 at 25:40; calendar date 2010-08-19.
TV programme recordフジテレビ / Sakigake! Ongaku Banzuke Eight
フジテレビ: an episode of Sakigake! Ongaku Banzuke Eight listed in ORICON’s KARA television credits. Listed as 2010-10-13 at 25:05; calendar date 2010-10-14.
TV programme recordフジテレビ / Sakigake! Ongaku Banzuke Eight
フジテレビ: an episode of Sakigake! Ongaku Banzuke Eight listed in ORICON’s KARA television credits. Listed as 2010-11-03 at 25:40:00; calendar date 2010-11-04.
TV programme recordフジテレビ / Sakigake! Ongaku Banzuke Eight
フジテレビ: an episode of Sakigake! Ongaku Banzuke Eight listed in ORICON’s KARA television credits. Listed as 2010-11-10 at 25:40:00; calendar date 2010-11-11.
TV programme recordフジテレビ / Sakigake! Ongaku Banzuke Eight
フジテレビ: an episode of Sakigake! Ongaku Banzuke Eight listed in ORICON’s KARA television credits. Listed as 2010-11-17 at 25:40:00; calendar date 2010-11-18.
TV programme recordフジテレビ / Sakigake! Ongaku Banzuke Eight
フジテレビ: an episode of Sakigake! Ongaku Banzuke Eight listed in ORICON’s KARA television credits. Listed as 2010-11-24 at 25:40:00; calendar date 2010-11-25.
TV programme recordフジテレビ / Sakigake! Ongaku Banzuke Eight
フジテレビ: an episode of Sakigake! Ongaku Banzuke Eight listed in ORICON’s KARA television credits. Listed as 2010-12-01 at 25:40:00; calendar date 2010-12-02.
TV programme recordフジテレビ / Sakigake! Ongaku Banzuke Eight
フジテレビ: an episode of Sakigake! Ongaku Banzuke Eight listed in ORICON’s KARA television credits. Listed as 2010-12-08 at 25:40:00; calendar date 2010-12-09.
TV programme recordフジテレビ / Sakigake! Ongaku Banzuke Eight
フジテレビ: an episode of Sakigake! Ongaku Banzuke Eight listed in ORICON’s KARA television credits. Listed as 2010-12-15 at 25:40:00; calendar date 2010-12-16.
