Imademo

Background and development

Kim Hyun-joong has had various achievements in Japan with his previous single releases in the country. In 2012, both his "Kiss Kiss / Lucky Guy" and "Heat" singles were among the Oricon's Top 100 Singles of the year. Since then, his singles had reached Gold for selling more than 100,000 records. In June 2014, his latest single release of "Hot Sun" marked the second time that Kim reached the top spot on the weekly charts and, subsequently, the first time for a foreign male artist to rank first twice.

After releasing and promoting his fourth Japanese single "Hot Sun" in Japan, Kim Hyun-joong went back to South Korea for the mini album release of Timing in July. He promoted his album in and out of the country, continuing his 2014 Kim Hyun Joong World Tour and attending to his other activities. In December 2014, it was announced that he will be releasing his second Japanese album, as well as his scheduled concert. Tickets were released starting on the last week of January 2015.

Most of the songs in the album, twelve in particular, include Japanese versions of his former recorded songs from his mini albums Timing and Round 3 in South Korea. His Japanese singles "Tonight" and "Hot Sun", released in 2013 and 2014 respectively, were also added in the album.

Release and promotion

Around two years since his last Japanese album release, Kim Hyun-joong released his second full-length Japanese studio album Imademo on February 11, 2015. The album entered the Oricon Daily Charts at 2 selling 23,047 records, and it remained in the spot for ten days. It then reached 3 at Oricon Albums Chart for the first week of its release.

He started his Japan tour named Kim Hyun Joong JAPAN TOUR 2015 - GEMINI at the Yokahoma National Convention Hall on January 27. His 12-day tour was held from January 27 to February 14 in ten major cities in Japan. The tour was extended for three more days later on, totaling to 15 performances in eleven cities. Announced on February 7, 2015 in commemoration of Imademo, Kim also held a panel exhibition at the Tower Records Shibuya from February 10 to 16 to promote his album.

Imademo was Kim Hyun-joong's last album release before his mandatory military service as a border guard between North and South Korea. He was to enlist on March 31 after receiving his draft notice, though he postponed it due to personal reasons. He moved his enlistment on May 12; he had undergone his five-week basic training at the Recruit Training Center of Army Division 30 in Goyang-si.