Creepy Nuts on Taking Top 2 Spots on Year-End Japan Global Chart & More: Billboard Japan 2025 Year-End Chart-Topper Interview

Trending on Billboard Billboard Japan released its 2025 year-end charts earlier this month, and on the Global Japan Songs Excl. Japan list ranking songs from Japan being listened to in more than 200 countries and regions, Creepy Nuts ’ “Otonoke” finishes at No. 1 after hitting the same position on the mid-year roundup. The duo becomes the first act ever to top this chart for two consecutive years. “Otonoke” also leads six countries on the year-end Japan Songs tallies that list songs by each country and region: Germany, France, the U.K., South Africa, the U.S., and Brazil. In 2025, the pair notched nine wins at MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2025 and embarked on their first overseas tour with headlining shows in Asia, marking an even bigger year both at home and abroad. Catching rapper R-Shitei and DJ Matsunaga right after the end of their trek, this Billboard Japan interview explores how getting closer to fans overseas shifted their mindset in some ways and left other parts unchanged. “Otonoke” finished at No. 1 on the 2025 year-end Global Japan Songs Excl. Japan chart. It’s the first time any act has taken the top spot on this list twice in a row, and you also swept the top two slots [“Bling-Bang-Bang-Born” is at No. 2]. Congratulations! How do you feel? R-Shitei: Really happy. DJ Matsunaga: “Otonoke” came out last year, right? It was in October last year, 2024. DJ Matsunaga: I’m grateful. I honestly didn’t think we’d end up on this kind of chart again this year... so we actually took the top spot. Does it feel real to you? R-Shitei: Honestly, it still doesn’t really register for me that we’re No. 1, but friends who travel overseas tell me things. I have a rapper friend who’s always going abroad, and when he uses “I rap in Japan” as a way to start conversations, he’ll ask, “Do you know these guys?” and most people seem to know us. DJ Matsunaga: What?! R-Shitei: He’ll be in places like South Africa or Spain and say, “This is my friend’s song. Do you know it?” And people will be like, “Yeah, yeah, we do!” DJ Matsunaga: Seriously? Holy crap, that’s amazing. It feels like it’s happening to someone else. [ Laughs ] R-Shitei: [ Laughs ] By the way, you mentioned South Africa just now, and we actually have a list for that country on our Japan Songs country and territorial charts. You’re No. 1 in South Africa by a landslide. DJ Matsunaga: That’s amazing. [Looking at the data] Oh, you’re right. France, the U.K., South Africa, the U.S. ...and Brazil? R-Shitei: For real? DJ Matsunaga: Wow... seeing it broken down by country makes it feel a lot more tangible. This year, you held your first overseas headlining tour, the Creepy Nuts ASIA TOUR 2025, across five cities. With the tour behind you, how did it feel? And did performing outside of Japan make you aware of anything new? R-Shitei: Seeing how the songs that appear...

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