November 1, 2026 | K-POP News | Japan · Music Industry
PSY’s P NATION is preparing a bigger presence in Japan, and its first announced project is a debut by the four-member girl group Baby DONT Cry. In a statement published on October 26, the Korean company introduced its plans for P NATION JAPAN and confirmed a partnership with Warner Music Japan for the group’s first Japanese mini-album.
The release, DAYBREAK / Replay -Japanese ver.-, is due on January 20, 2027. Ahead of it, Baby DONT Cry will release “Replay -Japanese ver.-” on November 4, 2026, while the original Korean-language version of “Replay” arrives in South Korea on the same date. The paired releases give the group two ways to introduce the same new song to audiences in different markets.
P NATION JAPAN’s first project—and what has actually been announced
There is an important distinction behind the announcement. P NATION JAPAN is still undergoing the process of corporate establishment. The company’s October 26 press release explicitly says the Japanese entity has not yet completed incorporation. The Baby DONT Cry debut is therefore its first announced initiative, rather than proof that every part of the new corporation is already operating independently.
The proposed Japan office will act as a local base for activities by P NATION artists. Its planned responsibilities include artist management, advertising and commercial tie-ups, casting, event planning and coordination of media appearances. P NATION says the team will work closely with its Seoul headquarters; a separate notice is expected after the Japanese company’s incorporation is complete.
For now, the clearest confirmed commercial relationship is the one attached to this release: Warner Music Japan is the local label partner. The announcement does not disclose the financial terms of the arrangement, sales targets or a broader schedule for P NATION’s other artists in Japan. Those details should not be assumed.
Why Baby DONT Cry leads the expansion
Baby DONT Cry debuted in Korea on June 23, 2025, with “F Girl,” becoming P NATION’s first girl group. The lineup brings together Korean members YIHYUN and BENI with Japanese members KUMI and MIA. The group’s name and early music emphasize a mix of playful presentation and defiant confidence.
The two Japanese members give the group an immediate connection to the market, although the label’s plans go beyond language alone. P NATION is setting up local staff and an industry partnership to support the practical work of promotion, media and future appearances. As a first project, Baby DONT Cry provides a way to test that structure around a concrete album release.
P NATION, founded by PSY in 2018, already represents artists with international audiences. Using its newest girl group to introduce the planned Japanese arm is notable because it puts a developing act—not an established solo star—at the center of the first public announcement. That is an observation about the launch strategy, not a claim about projected sales or commercial success.
Two versions of ‘Replay’ on November 4
The first date to watch is Wednesday, November 4, 2026. “Replay -Japanese ver.-” is scheduled for advance digital release in Japan, with the original version of “Replay” arriving in Korea on the same day. P NATION describes this as a coordinated Korean and Japanese rollout ahead of the January physical album.
As of this November 1 report, those releases are still upcoming. The announcement confirms the songs and dates, but it does not establish that a full official music video for either version has already premiered. For that reason, this article does not embed an unrelated older clip or a teaser in place of an actual “Replay” MV.
The six tracks on ‘DAYBREAK / Replay -Japanese ver.-‘
Warner Music Japan’s official product listing confirms that DAYBREAK / Replay -Japanese ver.- will contain six tracks. The album combines two new titles with Japanese versions of earlier songs, plus “After The Rain,” giving Japanese listeners both fresh material and an introduction to the group’s existing catalog.
| Track | Song |
|---|---|
| 01 | DAYBREAK |
| 02 | Replay -Japanese ver.- |
| 03 | F Girl -Japanese ver.- |
| 04 | I DONT CARE -Japanese ver.- |
| 05 | Shapeshifter -Japanese ver.- |
| 06 | After The Rain |
The exact track sequence matters here: not all six songs are newly recorded Japanese originals. “DAYBREAK” and “After The Rain” are listed without a Japanese-version label, while three previously released songs are presented in Japanese and “Replay” appears in its Japanese version. Warner’s listing does not give a full explanation of the recording process for each track.
Three physical editions and advance orders
Preorders opened alongside the October 26 announcement. Warner Music Japan lists three CD editions: a standard version priced at ¥2,200 including tax; a limited Photo Book version at ¥6,050; and a limited Special 8cm CD edition at ¥7,150. All three carry the same six tracks, but their booklets, trading cards and additional collectibles differ.
The Photo Book version includes a 54-page visual lyric booklet. The limited 8cm CD package has its own presentation and exclusive collectibles. The regular edition contains an eight-page lyric booklet, with additional first-press benefits described by the retailer. Prices and bonuses apply to the Japanese listings and may vary by store and export destination.
What the label expansion could mean for Japanese promotions
For a Korean entertainment company entering Japan, a local entity can help organize more than music distribution. Advertising contracts, local media bookings, event logistics and coordination with retail partners all require work in the Japanese market. P NATION’s description of its planned office specifically includes those functions, suggesting that it wants closer control over the group’s day-to-day activities there.
The Warner partnership adds an established domestic label to that setup. Warner is confirmed as the release partner, but the public announcement does not specify which party will handle every promotional or commercial task. It would also be premature to describe P NATION JAPAN as a fully incorporated company until the promised registration announcement appears.
The group has Japanese members and an official Japan fan club, so it is not arriving without local connections. What changes with this announcement is the scale of the planned business infrastructure behind those activities.
Baby DONT Cry Japan debut: release timeline
Three confirmed dates give fans a clear guide to the rollout:
- October 26, 2026: P NATION announced its planned Japanese expansion and Baby DONT Cry’s debut project.
- November 4, 2026: The Korean and Japanese versions of “Replay” are scheduled for release.
- January 20, 2027: The six-track Japanese mini-album DAYBREAK / Replay -Japanese ver.- is scheduled for release.
Advance orders are open through Japanese retailers, but P NATION has not announced a confirmed Japan concert schedule or public sales target as part of this project.
Baby DONT Cry’s Japanese debut is therefore both a music release and an early test of how P NATION intends to work in Japan. The album gives the company a date on the calendar; the planned local entity and Warner partnership explain why the story extends beyond a translated track list.
Official sources
P NATION JAPAN — official announcement, October 26, 2026; Warner Music Japan — official six-track album listing and release details.
Explore more label profiles in KWaveScope K-POP Agencies. Images show the group during earlier promotional activities and are labeled as archival photographs; none is presented as a photo from the October 26 press release. No unreleased “Replay” video has been represented as a published MV.