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ATEEZ are not slowing down. Just over a month after their official Japan debut with TREASURE EP. EXTRA: Shift the Map, the eight-member group returned with their first Japanese mini album, TREASURE EP. Map to Answer, on February 12, 2020. The six-track release pairs a Japanese version of their latest Korean comeback Answer with a brand-new song Better and a trio of polished remixes that highlight ATEEZ's signature blend of EDM, hip hop, and theatrical storytelling.
From Korean Comeback to Japanese Mini Album
ATEEZ first hinted at the new mini album on January 15, taking ATINY by surprise. The roll-out followed their Korean release TREASURE EPILOGUE: Action to Answer, which dropped on January 6 with Answer as the title track. KQ Entertainment confirmed three physical versions: Type-A (CD plus DVD), Type-Z, and an ATINY board edition for fan club members. With the Korean MV for Answer arriving two weeks before the Japanese mini album, ATINY already had a strong sense of the world ATEEZ were stepping into.
Inside the Tracklist: Declaration, Answer, and Better
The mini album opens with Declaration, a roughly minute-and-twenty-second instrumental intro. A piano motif sets the mood before the track shifts into a wall of percussive beats, easing listeners into the EDM-leaning palette ahead. The second track, Answer (Japanese Ver.), brings ATEEZ's cinematic January single into Japanese, keeping the soaring hook and tightly woven harmonies intact while adapting the lyrics for a new audience.
Then comes Better, the album's only fully original Japanese song. A chill EDM cut built on colorful vocals and synthetic beats, Better gives the members space to flex softer textures than the explosive Answer, an early preview of how ATEEZ would balance their Japanese discography in the years to come.
Three Remixes That Reframe ATEEZ Favorites
The back half of the album is a remix showcase. SEAN OH's Skrt Remix of WONDERLAND leans hard into the song's dark techno backbone, sharpening the brass-and-drum hit that turned the original into one of ATEEZ's most viewed music videos. SPACECOWBOY's atmospheric mix of Sunrise turns the ballad into a glassy electronic cool-down, a perfect closer for a long night. Finally, BUDDY's melodic mix of Star 1117 floats a delicate piano line over the original to lean even further into the song's sentimental side, a clear contrast to the heavier remixes that share the tracklist.
Who Are ATEEZ?
ATEEZ are an eight-member group under KQ Entertainment composed of Hongjoong, Seonghwa, Yunho, Yeosang, San, Mingi, Wooyoung, and Jongho. The group debuted on October 24, 2018, with the tracks Treasure and Pirate King, and immediately turned heads with their cinematic worldbuilding and powerful, performance-first concepts. Even before debut their pre-debut performance videos racked up millions of views, pulling in curious new fans who became the foundation of the global fandom ATINY.
Release Details and What Comes Next
TREASURE EP. Map to Answer is now streaming on Spotify, and the physical CDs landed in Japanese retail stores on release day in Type-A and Type-Z editions. ATEEZ are also set to hold a fansign and launch event in Tokyo to celebrate the mini album, a chance for ATINY in Japan to meet the group in person as they expand their footprint in the country. With the Korean Treasure series wrapped and the Japanese chapter formally opened, this short, sharp release marks an important pivot point for ATEEZ as global stars.
Have you listened to TREASURE EP. Map to Answer yet? Which track is on repeat for you, the Japanese version of Answer, Better, or one of the remixes? Tell us in the comments.
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