Hello, EXO-J.

On August 31, SM Entertainment announced that their male idol group EXO will begin formal Japanese promotions with a new single. EXO's first Japanese single will be released on Nov. 4.

EXO personally announced the news on Saturday at a Japanese music festival at Yanmar Stadium in Osaka.

The news of the release marks EXO's formal debut in a third country, following official releases and promotions in South Korea and China.

Japan is the home to the second largest music industry in the world, after the United States.

SM Entertainment has focused much of their attention on the Japanese market, with artists like BoA, TVXQ, and Super Junior achieving much fame in Japan. The news of EXO's debut comes after several members of TVXQ and Super Junior have enlisted in the Korean army to fulfill their military service.

EXO's upcoming foray in Japan comes months after SM Entertainment announced plans to switch its promotional focus from Japan to China, due to the rising popularity of K-pop in China.

An estimated 70 percent of SM Entertainment's overseas profits currently come from Japan.

EXO debuted in 2011 as two sub-groups, with EXO-K set to promote in Korea and EXO-M to focus promotions in China; the two groups were later joined together for all promotions. SM Entertainment has not announced a promotional group named EXO-J.

Along with releasing a Japanese single, EXO will hold two sets of concerts in Japan following their formal debut. EXO's "EXO Planet #2 - The EXO'luXion" concert will be held in Tokyo on Nov. 6-8 and then in Osaka on Nov. 13-15. 

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