=LOVE's New Single Debuts at #1, Wins Two MTV VMAJ Awards

By Sam 9 September 2026

=LOVE's 21st single, "Koi, Hajimemashita." (I've Started to Love.), debuted at number one on the Oricon weekly singles chart. The group performed the new song live on NHK's "Uta-Con" on September 7.

=LOVE members in white dresses on grass with bubbles

The single sold 515,000 copies in its first week. It also reached the top 10 on Apple Music's Japan Top 100 chart.

On the same day, MTV Japan announced the winners of the MTV VMAJ 2026 awards. =LOVE won two categories. Their 2025 single "Tokubechu, Shite" won Best Idol Video. The music video for "Gekiyaku Chudoku" (Addicted to a Potent Drug) won Best Direction.

Two =LOVE members in white dresses with the song title

The music video for "Koi, Hajimemashita." was directed by Shingu Ryohei. It features the members in white gothic lolita outfits dancing in a field of white flowers.

The group will perform at the MTV VMAJ 2026 award ceremony on October 29 for a trophy presentation. They have two major concerts announced: a 9th-anniversary show at TOYOTA ARENA TOKYO in October 2026 and their first Tokyo Dome performance in January 2027.

Two members holding a basket surrounded by bubbles

The 21st single includes three tracks: the title song, "Natsu Nagori Summer Tune," and "Yume no Tsuzuki" (Continuation of a Dream).

Produced by former AKB48 member Sashihara Rino, =LOVE debuted in 2017. Their previous single "Gekiyaku Chudoku" also topped the Oricon and Billboard Japan charts.

Source: PR Times via 株式会社ソニー・ミュージックレーベルズ