ILLIT's Japanese debut song ”Toki yo Tomarae” becomes theme song for Japanese model survival program

The Japanese debut title track of girl group ILLIT has been selected as the theme song for a Japanese television programme, their agency BELIFT LAB revealed on the 4th.

ILLIT's Japanese debut song ‘Toki yo Tomare’ has been adopted as the theme song for a Japanese model survival programme.

According to BELIFT LAB, ‘Toki Yo Tomare’, the title track of ILLIT's first Japanese single released last month, has become the main OST for the model survival programme ‘POPTEEN VS EGG MODELS CRUSH’.

‘Toki yo Tomare’ is a disco pop track themed around the fleeting moments of youth one wishes would never end. Popular Japanese musician Murasaki Ima penned the vibrant lyrics, while ILLIT maximised the song's appeal with their signature bright energy and refreshing vocals.

Upon release, the track topped the real-time rising chart on Japan's major music site AWA Music and reached number 4 on Billboard Japan's comprehensive song chart HOT100, earning acclaim from local fans.

Premiering on the OTT platform Abema TV on the 28th, "Popteen vs egg MODELS CRUSH" is a collaborative audition programme between magazines Popteen and egg. It depicts the growth of 20 models as they compete for the coveted position of gracing the magazines' covers.

Abema TV stated, "'Toki yo Tomare' is a captivating track with lyrics that perfectly capture the fleeting brilliance of youth and a light, upbeat melody," adding, "It perfectly aligns with the programme's theme of depicting the challenges faced by Generation Z models."

ILLIT conveyed, "We are extremely delighted that the title track of our Japan debut single has been selected as the theme song for 'Popteen vs egg MODELS CRUSH'. As it is a song that evokes beautiful memories, we hope you will enjoy it alongside the programme."

Meanwhile, ILLIT will appear on MBC's '2025 Chuseok Special Idol Star Championship', airing from the 6th to the 8th.