J-Pop Project News

Kisuzu Yodo (28), member and producer of Shikoku-based local idol group MEiSM, is also the youngest city councillor in Higashikagawa City, Kagawa Prefecture. Recruited to run in the April 2023 election at the age of 25, despite never having voted, the local leader of the DPFP told her "Politicians are like idols; they are built on human connections. Local areas need a young perspective, so I want you to run". Kisuzu came third out of 19 candidates, and became the only councillor under 40. While critics have dismissed her dual career as a "publicity stunt", she hopes to help people feel closer to politics. During her first term, she successfully pushed for diaper disposal boxes in men's restrooms and photo-illustrated school lunch menus online. Ahead of her re-election bid next April, Kisuzu plans to continue performing with MEiSM, showing you don't have to give something up to be a part of improving the community. 47news.jp/15223269.html

The "XG WORLD TOUR: THE CORE" show in Newark on November 14 will be livestreamed on YouTube. This is XG's final overseas performance of this tour. The show starts at 20:00 ET (which is 10:00 JST on Nov. 15); there will be no archived replay. youtube.com/live/xTfU9gCE_n4

=LOVE and CUTIE STREET will make their first appearance at this year's NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen, Japan's prestigious New Year's Eve music show. Among notable returners are Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, who last appeared in 2014, along with Ado and YOASOBI, who were each absent the last two years. AiNA THE END, Aimyon, and CANDY TUNE are among those who appeared last year but have missed out in 2026. nhk.or.jp/kouhaku/artist77/

The demise of FILME+ after 5 days has prompted a person on X to post a list of female idol groups that have lasted around a year or less - and there are a lot!

Rock idol group LUCY have announced that they will disband on January 10, following their final solo performance, exactly two years after the group made their debut. The decision to disband was reached after discussions between the members and management regarding future activities. The group is led and produced by AYA EiGHTPRiNCE, a solo singer, and a former member of BiS, GANG PARADE, and SAiNT SEX. lucygirlish.com/news/O5aI_S1…

Coachella, the major American Music and Arts Festival, have revealed their line-up for 2027, which sees ATARASHII GAKKO! appearing as the only entirely Japanese group. This will be their second appearance at Coachella, after performing there in 2024. They will take to the stage on April 9 & 16 2027.

AKB48's online fan services are having big problems - a blog post by AKB48 highlighted the current position. The AKB48 Official Fan Club has been under emergency system maintenance to address the PHP vulnerability since October 21. The AKB48 Mail app version has been blocked due to the detection of unauthorized access since October 28. AKB48 Mail distribution is also currently suspended because of a separate leak of email addresses. One of the moves most upsetting fans is that because of this, the end of the AKB48 Mail app has been brought forward from November 30 to November 10 - many app users had been gradually downloading their valuable memories and are distraught over this. ameblo.jp/akihabara48/entry-… On a more positive note, access to the online AKB48 Shop was restored on November 11 after an outage of 21 days to address the PHP vulnerability, though the email newsletter is temporarily suspended because an unauthorised access was detected. shop.akb48.co.jp/news/detail…

An idol group have ended their activities just 5 days after they made their debut. FILME+ made their official debut at Ebisu CreAto in Tokyo on November 5, with management announcing on November 10 that all five members would leave the agency. Members have revealed there had been some turmoil before the debut - Asahi Kagura posted that she knew before their debut stage that it would be their last major stage (they also performed at an idol festival on November 7). She had been preparing to debut with FILME+ for 6 months and, despite the painful circumstances, she thanked fans for making her performance a happy memory, and vowed to continue idol activities some time in the future. One of the members, Arisu Shiori, will hold a "meet & greet" to say goodbye to the fans, at her request. In their statement, management stated that it would have been difficult to continue activities under the current system. xitter.gq/info_filmeplus/status/…

Wasuta want to perform as often as possible before they disband on February 14, however at one point it seemed they would be performing at two venues at the same time! Management have apologised for double-booking the idol group to appear at both LOFT9 SHIBUYA and Spotify O-WEST (both in Shibuya) on December 2, and are reviewing what to do about the situation. wa-suta.world/en/news/detail…

Almost eight years after they went on hiatus, 9nine will reunite to perform at the "Okinawa Animation Festival" in Naha. The four members who were in the final line-up of the idol group in April 2019, will take to the stage once again, for one-night only on January 30. 9nine have a strong relationship with anime, having performed several opening and ending themes, with Uki Satake currently working as a voice actress. oricon.co.jp/news/2491632/fu…

Perfume's Nocchi has announced her marriage to actor Kento Shibuya - both are 38 year olds. In the announcement on Amuse's website Nocchi added "I would like once again to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has consistently watched over and supported me. I will continue to challenge myself and grow so that I can create joyful moments with all of you. I look forward to the day when we can meet again with smiles on our faces". amuse.co.jp/info/20261108/

There have been developments since the theft from idol group members at Shinjuku ReMY. Following the incident, management of idol group "Ao no Tochu Shiki" have called out those on social media who claim it was one of their members who was responsible. MASA☆P, producer of the two Nanaoto Smile groups at the event, says he has repaid the members the amount taken and his offer to meet with the culprit and pay them 10 times the amount stolen has only one day left to run. Finally, a frame from a Momoiro Revolution vid may have captured the possible culprit as described by others (see pic - credit @harukunmk2). xitter.gq/JPopProjectNews/status…

Former AKB48 member Haruna Kojima announced the birth of her first child and her marriage on social media on November 7. The 38-year-old first generation member was with AKB48 for 12 years, and went on to produce the "Her lip to" beauty brand. xitter.gq/kojiharunyan/status/21…

Seven members of idol groups had possessions stolen from a dressing room at Shinjuku ReNY during an idol event on November 5. "Akumade Tenshi" and "Kimi ni Hane" were among the groups affected, incurring losses exceeding 100,000¥ (US$630), with a report being filed with the police. MASA☆P, producer and lyricist for the two groups mentioned, posted that a woman had been seen by both eyewitnesses and security cameras, warning that she was bound to get caught some time, instead offering her a million yen and the dropping of the police report if she met up with him. xitter.gq/710s_MASA/status/21183…

KiSS KiSS will hold their final live performance, "KiSS YOU GOODBYE", on November 30 and disband. They are the last of WACK's idol groups to disband, though Mameshiba no Taigun will continue their activities under separate management. xitter.gq/KiSSKiSS_idol/status/2…

An overseas showcase of Japanese popular music is going to be held in London, UK, in December. "matsuri '26: Japanese Music Experience LONDON" will be held on December 14, with Hitsujibungaku, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, and Otoboke Beaver performing. The event is being organised as a collaborative project between the Culture and Entertainment Industry Promotion Association (CEIPA), the "MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN" organisers, and the TOYOTA GROUP, with another one to be held in Thailand next February. natalie.mu/music/news/696443

KAWAII LAB. have announced that, starting immediately, all members of their groups will no longer be posting on X, with information instead being distributed through each group's official account. Management say this was not triggered by any specific incident, rather it was due to the shifting and increasingly harsh environment on social media, with both management and members agreeing to this change. Members will continue posting on other social media platforms e.g. Instagram and TikTok. xitter.gq/KAWAII__LAB/status/211…