Maps of Music

The Secret Code (2009)

Where the lyrics of The Secret Code take you, and where it was really made.

Released in Japan, this album topped Taiwan's J-Pop chart even though its Oricon weekly debut was number two.

Key places

Recorded at Avex, Tokyo (2009)

Recording site Tiny Voice Production — The album's recording credits list Avex in Tokyo. The pin sits at city-centre level, so it does not mark the studio building itself. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at SM Booming System, Seoul (2009)

Recording site Big Hit Studios, Seoul — Recording credits also list SM Booming System in Seoul. The pin is at city-centre level, not at the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

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

Album story

Overview

• The Secret Code: fourth Japanese studio album by South Korean group Tohoshinki (TVXQ), eighth overall
• Released 25 March 2009 by Rhythm Zone
• Issued in three formats: CD, 2CD, and 2CD+DVD
• Discogs credits list Katsutoshi Yasuhara as director of the recording
• Last original studio album featuring Jejung, Yuchun, and Junsu

Background

• Released one year and two months after the previous album T
• Pre-release mini album of 8 tracks from this album rented at TSUTAYA from 28 February 2009
• Promotional appearances in March 2009 in Fukuoka, Nagoya, Osaka, Sapporo, and Hiroshima
• Released before the group's activity hiatus in March 2010

Recording

• Recording credits list Avex in Tokyo
• Recording credits also list SM Booming System in Seoul
• Several assistant engineers are credited
• Mastering credit goes to Yuka Koizumi

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · ja.wikipedia.org · ko.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com

Tracklist

Disc 1

Disc 2

Disc 3

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Formed in 2003 by SM Entertainment as a five-member boy band; debuted December 26, 2003 with the single "Hug" (2004).
• Yunho was appointed the band's leader; the name Dong Bang Shin Ki was finalized after several alternatives.
• Tohoshinki (東方神起) was the Japanese-market name adopted after signing with Avex Group in late 2004.

Members

• Current members: U-Know Yunho (leader) and Max Changmin.
• Former members Hero Jaejoong, Micky Yoochun and Xiah Junsu left in 2010 and formed JYJ.

Career

• Early Korean albums Tri-Angle (2004), Rising Sun (2005), "O"-Jung.Ban.Hap. (2006) and Mirotic (2008) topped domestic charts; "O"-Jung.Ban.Hap. won Album of the Year at the 21st Golden Disk Awards.
• In Japan, the band became mainstream stars after The Secret Code (2009); their Best Selection 2010 was the first album to top the Oricon Albums Chart.
• After a 2010 split, Yunho and Changmin returned as a duo with Keep Your Head Down (2011); later albums include Tone (2011), Time (2013), Tense (2014), Tree (2014), New Chapter #1 (2018) and XV (2019).
• The duo held a three-day performance at Tokyo Dome on April 27, 2025 for their 20th anniversary.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Debuted at number two on the Oricon daily album chart, selling nearly 83,000 copies on its first day
• Debuted at number two on the Oricon weekly album chart with over 157,900 copies sold, behind Ayumi Hamasaki's Next Level
• Reached number one on Taiwan's J-Pop chart, with 51.1% of sales on that chart
• Reached number one on Taiwan's Combo chart, with 12.09% of sales on that chart
• Placed third on the Oricon April 2009 monthly album ranking
• Placed tenth on the Oricon first-half 2009 album ranking

Records

• Cumulative sales reached 330,000 copies as of September 2011
• Certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan in April 2009
• Taiwan chart results were stronger than the Japanese weekly result, per the source's description

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · ja.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Eight tracks from this album were released as a pre-release mini album rented at TSUTAYA from 28 February 2009, ahead of the full release
• The album was the last original studio album to feature Jejung, Yuchun, and Junsu
• The album came in three editions: CD, 2CD, and 2CD+DVD
• The album was released just before the group's activity hiatus in March 2010

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · ja.wikipedia.org

Maps of Ages ↗ (mapsofages.com)

Privacy · Contact