[Edaily Starin YUN GI BACK Reporter] The band Dragon Pony is accelerating its push into the Japanese market by launching an all-out promotional campaign—including concerts, radio appearances, and interviews with local media—to coincide with their Japanese debut. Their strategy goes beyond simply releasing an album; they aim to expand their connection with Japanese fans by highlighting their live performance skills.

According to their agency, Antenna, Dragon Pony officially kicked off their Japanese debut by releasing their first Japanese EP, “Run to Run,” on the 10th of last month, followed by a series of activities including a solo tour, radio appearances, and interviews with local magazines.
“Run to Run” is Dragon Pony’s first EP released in Japan. It features a total of five tracks, including the title track “Run to Run.” Critics note that the group has introduced its unique musical style to the local market for the first time, highlighted by a straightforward rock sound crafted entirely by the members themselves.
The concerts served as a platform to showcase Dragon Pony’s strengths to local fans. On the 17th of last month in Tokyo and the 21st in Osaka, Dragon Pony held their solo tour, “Dragon Pony 2026 Run To Run Japan Tour,” where they performed all the tracks from the EP for the first time. With their explosive band sound, solid live performance, and energetic stage presence, they electrified the venue and demonstrated their status as a “live-oriented band.”
They were also proactive in engaging with local fans. Dragon Pony made consecutive appearances on major radio programs such as J-WAVE, Tokyo FM, and FM Osaka, and, led by member Ahn Tae-kyu, they bridged the gap with local fans by conversing directly in Japanese.
Positive local reactions continue to pour in. Following interviews with major Japanese media outlets, Dragon Pony garnered attention when a dedicated promotional zone was set up for them at Tower Records Shibuya, Japan’s largest record store.
Through this Japanese tour, Dragon Pony has set out to expand its local fan base by organically linking concerts, broadcast appearances, and offline promotions. Attention is now focused on whether the group can expand its presence in the Japanese market by leveraging its live performance skills—a key strength of K-bands.