Maps of Music

Hero (2013)

Where the lyrics of Hero take you, and where it was really made.

This is Super Junior's first Japanese album and its seventh overall, and it debuted at number one on the Oricon Daily Album Chart on its first day of sales.

Key places

Recording location in Seoul (2013)

Recording site Big Hit Studios, Seoul — The source lists this place as a recording location. The point uses city-center coordinates, so the exact building is not pinned. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: Private company studio, not open to visitors.

Recording location in Tokyo (2013)

Recording site Supa Love — The source lists Supa Love in Tokyo as a recording location. The point uses building-level coordinates for the venue. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Hero: debut Japanese studio album of South Korean boy band Super Junior, seventh album overall
• Released 24 July 2013 under Avex Trax in Japan
• Placed first in the Oricon Daily Chart on its first day of sales
• Disc 1: 13 tracks, one of them a bonus track
• Disc 2: Japanese versions of the subgroup singles and b-sides
• DVD: music videos, behind-the-scenes footage of video making, live performances from the Japan concerts

Background

• Released after a series of singles: "Bonamana", "Mr. Simple", "Opera", "Sexy, Free & Single"
• Management label SM Entertainment did not treat the singles as official Japanese promotion
• Singles mostly placed in the top two of the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart
• Three singles certified Gold by the RIAJ for selling over a hundred thousand copies in Japan
• Most Japanese releases were timed to coincide with a concert in Japan that same week
• The album came out the same week as Super Show 5 in Tokyo
• Release events were held in Tokyo and Osaka during August

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Disc 1

Disc 2

Disc 3

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Formed by SM Entertainment founder Lee Soo-man in 2005 as a 12-member group with rotational members.
• The rotational concept was abandoned after Kyuhyun joined in 2006, and the group became known as Super Junior.
• Debuted on November 6, 2005 with the single "Twins (Knock Out)" on Inkigayo.
• Media dubbed them the "Kings of Hallyu Wave" for their contribution to the Korean Wave.

Members

• Current active members: Leeteuk, Heechul, Yesung, Shindong, Eunhyuk, Siwon, Donghae, Ryeowook, Kyuhyun.
• Han Geng left in 2011, Kibum in 2015, Kangin in 2019.

Career

• "Sorry, Sorry" (2009) brought international recognition and was the group's best-selling single in South Korea.
• Formed multiple subgroups, including Super Junior-M, Super Junior-T and Super Junior-K.R.Y.
• Won Teen Choice Awards' International Artist and Best Fandom in 2015.
• Released the 11th studio album The Road in 2023 and the 12th studio album Super Junior25 in 2025 for the 20th anniversary.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Debuted at number one on the Oricon Daily Album Chart on 24 July 2013, selling 52,232 copies on the first day
• First week: second place on the Oricon Weekly Albums chart with 102,224 copies, just behind Ikimonogakari's "I" by almost 10,000 copies
• A month before release, the title track ranked #3 on the Tower Records pre-order charts
• By 1 July, the CD-only version had sold out at the E.L.F Japan store

Records

• Oricon Daily Album Chart: number one on the first day of sales
• Oricon Weekly Albums chart: second place in the first week of sales
• First week sales: 102,224 copies
• Tower Records pre-order chart: #3 for the title track a month before release
• E.L.F Japan store: CD-only version sold out by 1 July 2013

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The twelfth track "Hero" features Yesung on vocals; the bonus performance version replaces all of his vocals with Ryeowook's, and that version is the one used in the music video.
• "Our Love" is a Japanese remake of the re-arranged SS4 version from the Don't Don album.
• Super Show 5 at Tokyo Dome on 27 and 28 July promoted the album.
• The group met E.L.F Japan official fan club members at Saitama Super Arena in September to promote the album.
• A day before release, Shinjuku station and Shibuya Tsutaya were covered with Super Junior promotional advertisements.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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