Jang Geun-suk set a new record of becoming the first foreign male solo singer to top Japan’s weekly Oricon Chart.

His first album, “Just Crazy,” released in Japan on May 30, sold 88,000 copies in its first week to reach the top of the chart.

The actor-singer is the second solo singer in eight years to debut at the top of the album chart ― Japanese singer Mori Yayama Naotaro’s first album went to No. 1 in May 2004. In May 2003 Korean singer BoA achieved a similar milestone with her first album in Japan, “Listen to my Heart.” 

Originally debuting as an actor in Korea, Jang made his Japanese debut in April 2011 with his single, “Let Me Cry,” which put him in first place on the weekly Oricon Chart.

With his latest record, Jang has become the first foreign singer to have both a single and an album reach the top of the Oricon Chart.

Of the 11 songs featured in “Just Crazy,” Jang composed and wrote the lyrics for “In My Dream,” the only Korean song in the album.

Known to many fans as the “Asian Prince,” Jang will begin his Asia Tour, “2012 Asia Tour ― THE CRI SHOW2,” in Seoul in July and travel throughout Asia including four cities in Japan, China and Southeast Asia.

By Lee Hyun-jae, Intern reporter
(lhj137@heraldcorp.com)