Hallyu Stars Conquer The Japanese Charts

Several Hallyu actor/idols have conquered the charts in Japan in the last few weeks. Whether they first became popular in Japan because of their acting or singing, Japanese fans can't get enough of their music.

The first actor idol is Lee Min Ho, who became a household word in Japan after appearing in the drama, "Boys Over Flowers" in 2008. This week, his album, "My Everything," topped the Oricon daily chart in Japan on the first day it was released. And this happened without a big promotion or any TV appearances.

According to his production company, this proves that people were waiting for the album as his popularity there was already proven through DVD sales of his dramas. The album includes the songs "Always You," "Love Motion," and "You, Me and Us." Lee Min Ho has concerts planned in Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong, before he films his next drama, "The Heirs."

CNBlue was a band before any of its members ever acted in a drama, but their appearances on the small screen only helped boost their popularity. Band leader Jung Jong Hwa appeared in "You're Beautiful" and "Heartstrings," while Lee Jung Shin appeared in "My Daughter Seo Young" and is due to play a warrior in the upcoming drama, "Knife and Flower." Kang Minhyuk appeared in "It's Okay Daddy's Girl," "Heartstrings" and "My Husband Got A Family." Lee Jong Hyun appeared in "Gentleman's Dignity."

But they don't need to quit their day jobs just yet as their fifth single, "Blind Love," marked an all-kill on the Japanese ringtone site, Recochoku. That song plus "Greedy Man" and "With Your Eyes" held top spots on the charts during the last month. CNBlue members wrote all three songs.

Jang Geun Suk, who has been called the "Prince of Asia" recently topped the Japanese daily album charts, selling almost 50,000 copies of his second album "Nature Boy." Jang Geun Suk began his career as a model, then worked as an actor, appearing in several dramas, most notably "You're Beautiful," "Mary Stayed Out All Night" and "Love Rain."

In both "You're Beautiful" and "Mary Stayed Out All Night," he played a charismatic musician.  Perhaps because he played such a convincing musician, he decided to launch a musical career. His first single, "Let Me Cry," topped the Japanese charts. His first Japanese album, "Just Crazy" made history on the Oricon charts, debuting at No. 1. He was the first male international solo artist to reach the top of both the Oricon and weekly charts. As a member of a two-man group called Team H, he recently performed at Budokan.

Japan obviously loves its Hallyu artists.