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YENA remakes Ai Otsuka's 2003 J-pop classic 'Sakuranbo' — part of the 'J-POP REMAKE' project, out November 17

Published 2026.10.21

By Cely Editor

YENA remakes Ai Otsuka's 2003 J-pop classic 'Sakuranbo' — part of the 'J-POP REMAKE' project, out November 17

Singer YENA (Choi Ye-na) will remake the iconic Japanese hit 'Sakuranbo.' The work is part of the 'J-POP REMAKE' project, in which Korean artists reinterpret classic Japanese songs that defined their eras. 'Sakuranbo' was released in 2003 by Japanese singer Ai Otsuka and is loved for its upbeat, addictive melody. YENA will present the song anew 23 years later, preserving the original's charm while adding a Korean sensibility. Teaser images were released via social media ahead of the release. The first shows a glass filled with cherries, and the next features a magical-girl-style mobile phone reminiscent of Japanese animation along with the words 'SAKURANBO.' YENA recently released the digital single '보기 드문 여자' (Feat. NOWIMYOUNG) and is also active as a campaign model for game, liquor, wireless earphone and skincare brands and as the muse of a color contact lens brand. The remake of 'Sakuranbo' will be released on online music sites at 6 p.m. on November 17.