J-Pop Project

01/08/2024

"PLATINUM Princess," a project by Platinum Pixel, which has produced groups such as "26-Ji no Masquerade" and "Peel the Apple", are the latest to hold auditions this year. They also announced the formation of a new idol group of 5 existing members, "SUPER VENUS", who will appear at the Tokyo Idol Festival. https://pixel-audition.com/supervinus/

01/08/2024

FRUITS ZIPPER will be targeting inbound tourists as part of their new role as "Meiji Sweets Ambassadors". Videos and posters are being displayed in areas frequented by foreign tourists, spreading the message that Japanese sweets are "delicious, fun and cute!". https://x.com/FRUITS_ZIPPER/status/1818814102724395083

01/08/2024

Aichi-based idol group OS☆U, has celebrated its 14th Anniversary on August 1 by forming its own girls' production company, "O-STAR", focussed on entertainment more than ever before, not just with idol groups, but with individual talent activities.

愛知・名古屋の大須商店街をホームに活動するOS☆Uが本日8月1日に結成14周年を迎え、新たにOS☆Uおよび関連グループに所属するアイドルやタレントの総称となるガールズプロダクション「O-STAR」を立ち上げた。

01/08/2024

"my fav", the new name of the rebooted Last Idol group, have announced that two former STU48 members have joined them. Anna Kawamata and Miho Tanaka will make their debut with the group at the Tokyo Idol Festival on August 4.

アイドルグループ・my favに川又あん奈と田中美帆が新メンバーとして加入した。

31/07/2024

Ayaka Wada announced that she parted from YU-M Entertainment on July 31. The former ANGERME and Hello! Project leader will work independently from now on.

和田彩花が本日7月31日をもってYU-M エンターテインメントを退所する。

31/07/2024

Former AKB48 member Mariya Nagao has revealed the eight member idol group, "CapChuul", she will produce with music company "formage" - they will make their debut on September 19. Unfortunately their X account "" is showing as suspended!

元ＡＫＢ４８・永尾まりや（３０）がするプロデュースするアイドルグループが３１日、グループ名「か...

31/07/2024

Junnosuke Watanabe has revealed that he stepped down from all positions in WACK at the end of July, in an article in "natalie".
He has done this to study an MA in "Creative & Cultural Entrepreneurship" at Goldsmiths College, London. The 39-year-old founded WACK in 2014, after previously managing BiS. When he moved to the UK in November 2023 he had initially planned to start a new company, but realised he knew little about the UK market. He hopes that as a student he can exchange opinions with younger people than he mixes with in business.

WACK設立から10年 - 音楽事務所WACKの代表を務める渡辺淳之介が、X（Twitter）に何やら含みのあるポストをした。「多分近々個人的に直接みんなに話したいことがあるんだけどまったく面白くない話だし俺のことだからどうしよ...

30/07/2024

FAKY have announced their disbandment, effective July 30. The group, formed in 2013, had been on hiatus since mid-January. The three current members thanked all the fans and everyone involved who have loved and supported FAKY. https://www.instagram.com/p/C-C10VqSOEr/

29/07/2024

Voice actress and former AKB48 member Haruka Ishida (30) has announced that she recently married a non-celebrity. https://x.com/can2525can/status/1817774565650739386

27/07/2024

Momoka Tojo (20), who only joined idol group "KATACOTO * BANK" last month, accidentally posted a photo with her boyfriend on her birthday. As a result management have issued the following disciplinary measures:
1 - She will keep a certain distance from her boyfriend.
2 - As a "punishment" she will be required to publish a solo "good night" photo every day for a year, with management adding "The most important thing for an idol is to 'sleep close to each and every fan'."
Fans expressed a variety of amused and concerned comments after the post. https://mdpr.jp/news/detail/4337309
NOTE: pic below is the first of her "good night" photos she posted today - hopefully she cheers up soon.

26/07/2024

Singer-songwriter Sayuri has announced that she is taking a break from singing after a problem with speaking/singing has been diagnosed as functional dysphonia. The 28-year-old, who has been active since 2010, will now concentrate on her rehabilitation.
https://x.com/taltalasuka/status/1816392623604785585

26/07/2024

A new group project, "JACK", has been launched by former NMB48 member Akari Ishizuka, and former JILLASTED member and producer Corone Toda. The group's theme is "NOT IDOL, PLAYNG REALITY" - they are looking for members of all ages to sing and dance on stage with them.

元NMB48の石塚朱莉と元JILLASTEDの戸田ころねが所属する新グループプロジェクト“JACK”が始動する。

26/07/2024

Riko Sakaguchi (30), former member of HKT48 (2012 - 2022), has announced her marriage to a man she has been dating for a long time - she will continue with her entertainment activities.
https://www.instagram.com/p/C93Jq_qzj-C/

24/07/2024

Rio Okamura (15) has won the 6th AKB48 Group Singing Contest - she will receive a solo song produced by Yasushi Akimoto. The STU48 2.5th Generation member finished ahead of Yuiri Murayama (AKB48) in 2nd, and Hino Mimura (NGT48) in 3rd. Lulu Salsabila (JKT48) received the highest placing of the overseas members, in 8th. https://x.com/AKB48G_singer/status/1815765076160496057

23/07/2024

AKB48's 64th single "Koi Tsun Jatta" has broken records, with the group now having the most consecutive number one singles (51) in the Oricon weekly charts - previously they tied with B'z on 50 singles. They started this tremendous run with "RIVER" in 2009.

ニュース｜　AKB48の最新シングル「恋　詰んじゃった」が、初週29.6万枚を売り上げ、7月23日発表の最新「オリコン週間シングルランキング」（7月29日付）で初登場1位を獲得した。　これで2009年11月2日付での「RIVER」から51作...

23/07/2024

Sora Kurumi (27) will resume her singing career in the Autumn, with a mix of rap and idol songs. Since graduating from Kamen Joshi's Armor Girls in 2020 she has become known for rap and MC battles, and her outspoken views on late night variety shows.

破天荒キャラ、炎上アイドルと呼ばれる仮面女子元メンバーの胡桃そら（２７）が今秋、アイドル卒業以...

22/07/2024

Two members of Shinsekai Hero, Soa Morino and Erika, have both been dismissed for personal interaction with fans, a breach of their contracts. The Osaka-based group is part of Alice Project, known for Kamen Joshi, with all 6 members (now 4), formerly part of their "WEST" groups. https://www.nikkansports.com/entertainment/news/202407230000001.html

22/07/2024

Renka Niiyama has become the third member to be dismissed from OS☆U for contract violations in just over two months, following on from Hana Suzume (May 20) and Minato Aoi (June 19). Several fans are are unhappy, including one who said it seems like a member will disappear around the 20th of each month. All three were formerly members of sister group OS☆K, like over half of the current OS☆U. https://x.com/osuofficial/status/1815325916262011227

22/07/2024

On July 21, Minami Minase of idol group "Pialans" posted messages sent by a manager, including one saying he wanted to make her happy as her boyfriend, stating "this is clearly harassment."
On the same day, the group's management announced that the sender of the message was an outsourced manager, and that his contract had now been terminated, but also seemed upset that she had tweeted about it. Others claimed this was not an outsourced manager, but part of the direct management team, and supported her assertion it had been going on for several months (Pialans formed in May 2023).
Minami was absent from the live concert yesterday, with management saying that she had overslept, but she refuted the claim, saying, "It wasn't that I overslept, I just couldn't stand the management anymore." Today she seemed to be trying to put it behind her, saying "from now on I'll make everyone smile".

アイドルグループ「Pialans（ピアランズ）」の水瀬みなみさんが2024年7月21日、グループの運営側から送られたLINEメッセ―ジをXで公開し、「ハラスメントでしょ普通に」と訴えた。グループ公式Xは同日、メッセージの送信者....

21/07/2024

Akari Akase has been performing at Hyper Japan in London over the last 3 days, as their main j-pop guest. Both this festival and Japan Expo, in Paris a week earlier, struggled to attract J-pop guests this year, probably as a result of the economic situation in Japan.

18/07/2024

An idol group have decided to make a parody out of the Trump shooting. https://x.com/koikagi_info/status/1813861356413861898

18/07/2024

A report from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) on the music industry provided these pointers with regards to J-Pop:
- J-Pop has seen a substantial rise in global popularity, with artists collaborating internationally and performing at overseas events.
- Digital Transformation: The shift to digital platforms has been particularly beneficial for J-Pop, allowing artists to reach a wider audience through streaming services and social media.
- Innovation and Creativity: J-Pop continues to innovate with unique music styles and visually appealing performances, maintaining its appeal both domestically and internationally.
- Challenges: Despite its success, the J-Pop industry faces challenges such as competition from other Asian music markets and the need to adapt to rapidly changing digital landscapes.
- The report emphasizes the importance of supporting the J-Pop industry through policies that encourage innovation, protect intellectual property, and promote international collaboration.
https://meti.go.jp/policy/mono_info_service/contents/musicindustry_houkokusyo_2407meti.pdf

18/07/2024

An unemployed man (25) has been arrested in Osaka for threatening to kill AKB48 member Yuiri Murayama, he has reportedly admitted the charges. It is alleged that he posted three threatening messages online between the 5th and 7th, including "I will kill you at Shin-Osaka Station."

インターネットの掲示板にアイドルグループ・ＡＫＢ４８の村山彩希（ゆいり）さんへの殺害予告を書き込んだとして大阪府警は１８日、脅迫の疑いで、大阪市住吉区の無職の…

17/07/2024

Former ℃-ute member Maimi Yajima announced on July 17 that she had given birth to her first child, saying "the emotion I felt when I safely met my child was far beyond what I imagined". The 32-year-old married actor Ryosuke Mikata in November 2022.

先日、第一子を無事に出産いたしました。妊娠発表をしてから、たくさんの祝福の声や、応援、本当に力になりました。事務所や家族の協力にも心から感謝しています。無事に…

16/07/2024

Former Momoiro Clover member and actress Akari Hayami (29) made a surprise appearance at Momoiro Clover Z 's "Kanako Momota 30th Birthday Live" on July 15 - her first time singing a unit song on stage since her graduation 13 years ago.

ニュース｜　元ももいろクローバーで俳優の早見あかり（29）が、15日に東京・TOKYO GARDEN THEATERで開催されたももいろクローバーZ『百田夏菜子30th BIRTHDAY LIVE』にサプライズ登場した。早見がライブのステージに登場するのは.....

15/07/2024

Singer and actress Reina Tanaka (34) has announced that she is getting married and is pregnant. The former Morning Musume member intends continuing with her entertainment activities. https://ameblo.jp/tanakareina-blog/entry-12860022123.html

13/07/2024

Hello! Project have announced the "Hello! Project New Member Audition 2024" on the first day of their summer tour. It will have two categories, "Hello! Project", and a specific "BEYOOOOONDS Potential" audition. While the former is looking for singing and dancing skills, the latter has a wider scope, including special skills or hobbies - it also has an upper age limit of 20, four years older than the main category. http://www.helloproject.com/news/17652/

12/07/2024

Airi Suzuki updated her IG on day 1 of her solo trip to England. She enjoyed visiting an English pub, that she felt was more like a cafe, and drank beer and ordered fish and chips. She felt the food was improved by sprinkling a mysterious liquid (vinegar) and dipping in white and red sauces (sour cream and tomato ketchup), after chatting with the locals. https://www.instagram.com/p/C9SJ-_eSLbH