ONEW, member of SHINee and solo artist under Griffin Entertainment, has announced the September 16 release of his fourth Japanese single “KAKERA -運命のピース-”.

A trailer for the song sees ONEW picking up a puzzle piece in a blank room, before the date and title of the new release is revealed. It acts as a visual representation of the song’s title: “Kakera” means a fragment or broken piece in Japanese, and the remainder of the title translates to “a piece of fate.” This cohesion suggests that both fate and fragmentation will become a significant part of the lyrics and narrative, as further teasers roll out according to a scheduler.

“KAKERA” will be ONEW’s second solo release of the year, following his fifth Korean mini album TOUGH LOVE in March. Across five songs, the album builds up a romantic theme that looks beyond clichéd love stories to highlight complex emotions. Initial associations of “KAKERA” with fate, a word often used to refer to fated love, suggest that a similar focus on love and intertwining lives may be seen here.

Following the release of TOUGH LOVE, attention shifted towards his group projects as a member of SHINee. SHINee released Atmos on June 1, their first album release in three years, which topped the Oricon Weekly Digital Album Chart in Japan and reached number one on iTunes in a further 28 regions worldwide.

The success of SHINee’s Atmos in Japan explains why ONEW is already releasing his fourth Japanese single – on top of two albums – since his solo debut in the country with Life Goes On in 2022. His second mini album, SAKU, also reached number one on the Oricon Weekly Digital Album Chart, matching SHINee and emphasising his popularity as a solo artist alongside the group.

The release of “KAKERA” also comes in advance of two concerts scheduled in Tokyo as part of the ‘2026 ONEW CONCERT [ONEW THE LIVE : Q]’ series on September 22 and 23, 2026, suggesting an increased focus on activities in Japan in the coming months.