J-Pop Project News

IDOL MOMENT: A young fan held aloft by her mommy to see "Hey! Mommy!"

Although over 3,000 people applied for the audition to become new members of Saishu Mirai Shoujo, a three-member female idol group known as "AI idols" with AI-like looks (note: they are real people), none were selected at this time, so the group will continue as a trio. topics.smt.docomo.ne...

2/2 - The 22-year-old, who had joined the idol group as a candidate member less than two months ago, alleged that certain things were not as she had being told, and that when she had the flu she felt forced to perform.

1/2 - Sumire Miyaoka, of "FLAPSTAR", announced that she had cancelled her contract with R.D. MUSIC (through her lawyer), only for the agency to hit back 30 minutes later saying that they had cancelled her contract for breach of contract. news.yahoo.co.jp/art...

"@Seventeen", an idol group formed from maids at the "At Home" maid cafes in Akihabara and Osaka, will disband after a solo performance at WWW X Shibuya on January 13, 2026. The group was originally formed in August 2016 to participate in the Tokyo Idol Festival of that year. idol-report.com/2025...

2/2 - The group, produced by Nana Yamada (ex-NMB48), will now be on hiatus for a week, allowing the members to prioritise their physical and mental well-being.

1/2 - Members of idol group "Subete no Shunkan wa Kimi Datta." were involved in a traffic accident and taken to hospital on October 28. All have now returned home, with management confirming there were no life-threatening injuries. mdpr.jp/news/detail/...

Former PASSPO☆ captain Ai Negishi posted a photo of herself in a wedding dress, and later wearing a grey one, at her wedding ceremony. The 33-year-old is married to KEYTALK's drummer Takemasa Ono (37). www.instagram.com/p/...

Imaginate, who run the HEROINES idol groups, and TWIN PLANET ENTERTAINMENT have got together to hold auditions for a new idol group. The three members already identified are all with TWIN PLANET, including former Last Idol and LIIiEN members Nanami Abe and Haruka Suzuki. prtimes.jp/main/html...

ASOBIEXPO HAWAII 2026 | Japanese Pop Culture Experience First-Ever “ASOBIEXPO” in Hawaii / 2026年3月16日（月）ハワイ・ホノルルで初開催！きゃりーぱみゅぱみゅ、FRUITS ZIPPER の出演が決定しました。日本のポップカルチャーを象徴するアーティストたちがハワイに集い、音楽を通じて日本と世界がつながる特別な夜を創り出します。

ASOBISYSTEM have announced "ASOBIEXPO HAWAII 2026", with Kyary Pamyu Pamyu and FRUITS ZIPPER performing, on March 16, 2026. asobiexpo.com/hawaii2026/

2/2 - Another former Morning Musume member who became a TV Tokyo announcer was 5th generation member Asami Konno, though her departure from the group was to study at university prior to becoming a TV announcer.
TV Tokyo have neither confirmed nor denied the rumours.

1/2 - Rumours are circulating in Japanese media that Rio Kitagawa will become a TV Tokyo announcer when she graduates from Morning Musume '25 at the end of the year. The 21-year-old has been on hiatus since April, after violating Hello! Project rules. news.nifty.com/artic...

Miyu Matsuo has announced that she will graduate from Nogizaka46, and leave the world of entertainment, on December 31. The 21-year-old joined as a 4th Generation member in 2018, and will be graduating on the same day as Mio Yakubo, who announced her graduation two days ago. www.nogizaka46.com/s...

Mio Yakubo has announced her graduation from Nogizaka46. The 23-year-old's final activity will be on December 31. www.nogizaka46.com/s...

2/2 - Luna Nakagawa said that, after their Tokyo Dome performance next February, they would like to appear at COACHELLA and other major festivals, following in the footsteps of Kyary Pamyu Pamyu and Atarashii Gakko! Maybe 2026 will be the year they fulfil their motto of "from Harajuku to the world".

1/2 - FRUITS ZIPPER gave hints that they will soon be looking towards overseas expansion, while commenting on "NEW KAWAII" having reached 100 million streams in record time. www.oricon.co.jp/new...

3/3 - Tower Vinyl on the 6th floor is adding a craft beer bar, and will host special events where you can enjoy vinyl records at high volume with a beer.

2/3 - The first floor is closed November 4 - December 18 for a complete redesign, including a new welcome gate. Floors 3 - 6 also get makeovers, with the 4th floor, where Japanese idols, anime, and games is based, providing a more immersive experience, including a "dance studio-style photo spot".

1/3 - Tower Records Shibuya will undergo a major refurbishment to create a "new experience music store" where music, culture, and fans can intersect, based on a theme of "beyond trends, to what you love". The work, between November 4 and February 28, affects five floors. See tower.jp/article/new...

Also, according to internet sleuths, it appears that member Shion Ishida (who is the subject of an agency-run competition to make her look cute) may already have been an idol with Zero Project under the name of Sumire Tachibana.

New idol group "Iris at Dawn (yoake no iris)", who were launched only four days ago, are having problems, with their fifth member not being revealed today... or maybe ever! They have quickly launched an urgent audition for a replacement member! x.com/yoakenoiris/st...

Following on from her 2025 World Tour, Ado fans can test their "Ado Level" with the "Ado Global Triumphant Mock Exam", running until October 26, as part of her 5 Year anniversary celebrations. The test has three levels, and can be completed in both Japanese and English. sp.universal-music.c...

2/2 - Preparations are underway for her individual events related to the release of the December single, and her graduation event. The announcement stated that the decision was reached after discussions considering both Morning Musume and Rio Kitagawa's future.

1/2 - It has been announced that Rio Kitagawa will be graduating from Morning Musume '25 and Hello! Project at the end of the year. The 21-year-old has been on hiatus since April, following an incident that violated Hello! Project rules. www.helloproject.com...

2/2 - Their fifth (and final) member will be revealed soon, so maybe then there will be more details ahead of the group's November debut.

1/2 - New idol group "Iris at Dawn" has launched with an unconventional strategy that's generating a buzz on social media. Their agency remains unnamed, most member photos downplay cuteness, and they've even launched a competition to make one of them, Shion Ishida, look cute. x.com/yoakenoiris

Five years after Ado made her debut with "Usseewa", and the day before her 23rd birthday, the singer will stream "Ado 5th Anniversary and 23rd Birthday Celebration LIVE" on YouTube worldwide, on October 23. The singer held a world tour to sell-out tours earlier this year. natalie.mu/music/new...

2/2 - Police are continuing their investigations into accomplices for the violence that took place when about 20 people stormed the CD sales tent at the event in Koshigaya City, Saitama. The event was subsequently cancelled for safety reasons.

1/2 - Police have arrested two men on suspicion of assault and intimidation at a ≠ME single release event in April. The two are accused of restraining and stomping on the stomach of a male security staff member, causing injuries which took two weeks to heal. www.47news.jp/133048...

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2/2 - The table she was seated at was filled with her fans, some of whom she hadn't seen for four or five years, and she signed autographs and took photos with several of the wedding guests. The vid she posted of the event has received 600,000 views.