Idol project KAWAII LAB. kicked off its new program, KAWAII LAB’s Road to Being Super KAWAII, on TV Asahi’s official YouTube channel ‘Douga, Hajimetemimashita.’

KAWAII LAB. groups FRUITS ZIPPER, CANDY TUNE, SWEET STEADY, and CUTIE STREET will participate in the program, featuring projects that transcend group boundaries. In addition, a special third anniversary performance, KAWAII LAB. 3rd Anniversary Special LIVE ‘Watashitachino Ichiban Kawaiitokoro,’ will take place on February 22, 2025 at K Arena Yokoyama. All KAWAII LAB. groups will perform, including a mixed unit performance exclusively for the event. Tickets are now available for pre-order.

A collaboration cafe will be held at the EX Garden Cafe in the atrium on the first floor of TV Asahi’s headquarters from November 14 until December 26 to celebrate the start of the new program and the KAWAII LAB. special live performance at K Arena Yokohama. Visitors can enjoy food and drinks inspired by each group in the decorated restaurant, and original goods will also be available.

[Member Comments]
FRUITS ZIPPER: Yui Sakurai
“I’m so happy to start a new program with all of KAWAII LAB. We’ll keep updating ourselves to become super KAWAII!
We hope to make this a weekly program that everyone who watches will enjoy.”

CANDY TUNE: Nanako Ogawa
“When I heard about this project for the first time, I was happy & surprised! Every member of KAWAII LAB is so charming, and I hope that we can convey that through this program. I want to do my best so that everyone who watches this program will love it!”

SWEET STEADY: Nagisa Shoji
“I’m very happy and looking forward to the start of this new program! I haven’t been able to talk a lot with members from other groups yet, so I’ll be happy to take part in a lot of girl’s talk on this show. I’ll do my best to make sure everyone enjoys the show!”

CUTIE STREET: Emiru Kawamoto
“I’m nervous about starting this new program, but I want to make it something that will cheer up the people watching! We had a lot of fun and laughed so much during the first recording, so we’ll be sure to bring smiles to everyone’s faces.”

Model, DJ, and photographer Hikari Shibata will hold her first photo exhibition in five years, THROUGH THE WINDOW, at the FLOAT Gallery in Tokyo for four days starting September 8, 2023.

The exhibition’s title was inspired by Shibata’s shyness, which has always led her to photograph landscapes rather than people. Many photos were taken through windows, and both the view and reflections are meaningful and personal to Shibata herself.

This year’s exhibition features photos of daily life taken in Copenhagen, Denmark’s largest city, where Shibata stayed for a total of three weeks in March 2023. It will also feature photographs snapped in Berlin, Los Angeles, and New York City.

Shibata will visit the gallery in person to present her creations. In addition to the sale of exhibited photographs, guests will also be able to purchase T-shirts, hats, and Shibata’s first photobook, the latter of which is available in limited quantities. The self-published 112-page hardcover book was entirely designed by Shibata herself. T-shirts will be available in two colors and feature the title of the exhibition, while hats will come in three colors with an embroidered graphic image of the sun reflected in a window.

Sebastian Masuda to open SUSHIDELIC, a new sushi restaurant in Soho, New York City. The location will open on June 28, 2023.

“King of Kawaii” Sebastian Masuda, creator of Harajuku’s “KAWAII MONSTER CAFE,” loved by celebrities around the world, has created a new restaurant concept  in New York City

Enjoy an Immersive Kawaii Experience

Featuring a Menu Developed by Japanese Chefs and Supported by AUTEC, Inc.

Opening in SoHo, the Trendiest Neighborhood in New York City

SUSHIDELIC is scheduled to open at 177 Lafayette St. in the heart of the SoHo area, where the latest fashions and trends are born and where many fashion brands have opened their flagship stores.

We will keep you updated with the latest information as it becomes available. Please look forward to the chemistry between “Sushi” and “Kawaii,” two of Japan’s proudest exports.

Sebastian Masuda

On May 31, the idol group IDOLATER released its 11th single, Aimai Silhouette.

Unlike the group’s more mature love songs released in the past, this new track is packed with cuteness and a fresh sound.

On May 4, the 7-member idol group FRUITS ZIPPER held the first Tokyo performance of their first-anniversary concert tour at Toyosu PIT.

Tickets for both the Tokyo and Osaka shows sold out immediately after they went on sale. To celebrate the first anniversary of the group’s debut, the lucky fans who were able to snag tickets came together at Toyosu PIT.

In the year since their debut, FRUITS ZIPPER has skyrocketed in popularity, performing live at several idol festivals and some of Japan’s largest fashion events, and successfully touring Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka. Their show at LINE CUBE SHIBUYA garnered incredible attention.

For the first anniversary concert, the stage was transformed by a special set and the member appeared in new never-before-seen costumes. They performed a total of 17 songs, and each member expressed their gratitude to their fans during the MC segments.

During the performance, it was announced that the group would perform at the Sayonara Nakano Sunplaza Music Festival on June 26. The venue, which has seen countless performances over its long history, will be demolished and replaced to commemorate its 50th anniversary. Fans are excited to see their favorite artists perform on this legendary stage, and many are curious to see how it will be transformed in the future.

FRUITS ZIPPER has also released the song Cho Medetai Song ~Konnani Shiawasede Iinokana? ~ (The Super Joyful Song ~Is It Okay to Be This Happy?~) on all major streaming services. The track was co-written by Sho Yamamoto, who wrote the group’s hit song Watashino Ichiban Kawaiitokoro, currently with over 700 million views on TikTok, and Gento Miyano, who has written songs for numerous popular artists. The super-happy pop tune has a sound reminiscent of idol tracks from the 2000s and has been a smash hit at live shows, stirring the fans into a frenzy.

IDOLATER, the idol group from KAWAII LAB., released their new single, Before the endroll.

This song is a powerful declaration of their determination to continue advancing towards the future, expressing the various emotions they have accumulated so far as their driving force, including the loneliness and frustration that they have shouldered while running as idols, as well as their gratitude towards those who have supported them.

The NFT project City Pop TOKYO is inspired, fittingly, by City Pop, a music genre from Japan that is immensely popular worldwide, particularly among Gen Z. Now, the project is collaborating with the incredibly popular idol group FRUITS ZIPPER!

Starting at the end of April, Legendary NFTs inspired by the members of FRUITS ZIPPER will be released sequentially as part of the City Pop TOKYO NFT collection. These collaborative NFTs feature rare designs that are unique among the other characters in the City Pop TOKYO NFT collection and were drawn by Natsumi Sato, the illustrator who oversaw character design for the collection.

This collaboration will commemorate the release of City Pop TOKYO’s main collection, which will be available starting at the end of April. City Pop TOKYO will allow both NFT holders and non-holders to participate in new character development through a series of Twitter posts after the main NFT collection is sold. Characters will level up by earning training points when they post on Twitter, which will also be reflected in their NFT properties. The final ranking will be based on level, and a subsequent audition will be held, with winners being invited to join ASOBISYSTEM as new talents.

For this collaboration, the wildly popular FRUITS ZIPPER is sure to bring some new excitement to this incredible project.

Idol group FRUITS ZIPPER will embark on its first nationwide tour, FRUITS ZIPPER JAPAN TOUR 2023 -AUTUMN-, this September.

FRUITS ZIPPER has been climbing to the top of the idol scene at a breakneck pace. Their first overseas solo performance in Taiwan was recently a huge success, and tickets for their first anniversary live shows at Toyosu PIT in Tokyo and Namba Hatch in Osaka in May sold out immediately after going on sale.

The tour will begin with a concert in Osaka on September 3, followed by performances in Aichi, Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Hokkaido, and Kanagawa. Tickets for the presale lottery are now on sale for members of the KAWAII LAB fan club.

FRUITS ZIPPER’s single Watashino Ichiban Kawaiitokoro, released last year, has inspired over 700 million related videos on TikTok, while the music video has been viewed over 10 million times. Keep an eye on their activities in the near future!

ZEROTOKYO, an entertainment mecca known for heating up Tokyo nights, is teaming up with ASOBISYSTEM to create an exciting new party! ASOBIZA, named after the origin of Kabukicho, will be held on April 28.

The lineup includes music artists as well as charismatic figures at the top of their fields in fashion, beauty, and art. Transcending musical genres and generations, this night will embody ZEROTOKYO’s concept of being a true “Entertainment Junction.”

Additional performers may be announced in the future.

On March 14, ASOBISYSTEM’s idol project KAWAII LAB. held a live event at Spotify O-EAST. The event, titled KAWAII LAB. SESSION ~CANDY TUNE~, saw the first-ever performance from CANDY TUNE, the newest idol group from KAWAII LAB, also known for creating the popular groups FRUITS ZIPPER and IDOLATER.

KAWAII LAB. is a new project by ASOBISYSTEM created to introduce Japan’s growing idol culture to the world.

FRUITS ZIPPER is one of the most talked-about idol groups in recent memory, with their solo concert shows selling out instantly and their song Watashi no Ichiban Kawaiitokoro pulling in over 690 million views on TikTok. KAWAII LAB also produces IDOLATER, a group known for exploring the boundary of music, fashion, and other unique aspects of culture through an idol perspective.

In March, the seven-member idol group CANDY TUNE was announced. Its members include Rino Fukuyama, Mizuki Kirihara, Natsu Minami, Nanako Ogawa, Bibian Murakawa, Shizuka Miyano, and Kotomi Tachibana.

Tickets for this show were completely sold out in advance. The packed venue was filled with excitement, with fans looking forward to the live performance far before the show started.

To start, Misa Kimura, a model and talent who serves as the general producer of KAWAII LAB., appeared with FRUITS ZIPPER members Suzuka Chinzei and Runa Nakagawa. Despite the project only being active for one year, she seemed to be filled with incredible emotion at the addition of CANDY TUNE to the lineup, bringing the total number of idols signed to KAWAII LAB to 19.

IDOLATER was the first to take the stage, called out by Misa Kimura herself. Dressed in fashionable light blue outfits, the girls immediately grabbed the fan’s hearts with their cool performance of Kesenai…before moving into Endless Summer, Vapor City, Kimi ni MuCHU♡XX, and Mahou no Kagi wo Te ni Iretara in quick succession. The girl’s potential was on full display as they played hit after hit.

IDOLATER’s stylish and clean live performance ended with DIAMOND and Endroll wo Mukaeru Mae ni.

When Misa reappeared on stage, she announced that IDOLATER would be holding its anniversary solo concert on April 22 at Spotify O-WEST. Member Fuka Oishi was delighted to be performing at the largest venue in IDOLATER’s history. “I’m so thrilled,” she said.

FRUITS ZIPPER took to the stage next, and the venue was immediately illuminated with colorful penlights. The members were greeted with loud applause as the starting track began to play.

The group performed RADIO GALAXY first, and the audience’s enthusiasm was palpable as the songs jumped between various genres like a roller coaster ride, from EDM and hip-hop to idol pop and mellow tunes. Continuing into Sekai wa Kimikara Hajimaru, the sweet love song made the audience swoon as they heard the girl’s incredible vocals.

Suzuka Chinzei also congratulated CANDY TUNE on its debut during the MC portion of the performance. FRUITS ZIPPER also promised to keep the stage lively until it was their turn to perform at their own debut show.

The group then performed Happy Chocolate, a popular song currently trending on TikTok. Their comical and cute choreography spread into the audience where fans mimicked their moves, making it a truly sweet and memorable moment.

As the girls began performing the fast-paced song Kanpeki Shugide☆, the mood in the venue took a turn, and things became much more lively. As expected, the group performed the massively-popular track Watashino Ichiban Kawaiitokoro as the finale, and just as Suzuka promised, the audience was all warmed up for CANDY TUNE to finally take the stage!

Just as was the case with IDOLATER, another major announcement was made during the MC portion. The first KAWAII LAB Official Fan Club event for FRUITS ZIPPER was announced to take place on April 10 at Shirokane Takanawa SELENE b2. The group’s first live show was originally scheduled to take place at this venue on April 10 last year, but it was postponed due to the pandemic.

Finally, it was time for the new group CANDY TUNE to appear. Misa Kimura took to the stage first “I’m so nervous,” she said to the audience. “Can we get some cheers?”

The fans erupted with loud applause, and soon after, the seven members of the group–Rino Fukuyama, Mizuki Kirihara, Natsu Minami, Nanako Ogawa, Bibian Murakawa, Shizuka Miyano, and Kotomi Tachibana–took their first steps onto the stage, ready to share the wonders of Harajuku with the world.

Dressed in colorful outfits, they first performed hanamaru, a song written to cheer up anyone who listens to it. The girls were clearly a little nervous, but they danced as hard as they could, obviously doing their very best. As the song blended into Kiss Me Patissier, the audience erupted–it was hard to believe that this was the first time that the song had ever been performed live. The song is one of the most popular tracks from the group’s first album, and its flirty lyrics immediately melted fans’ hearts.

During the MC, Murakawa, a former HKT48 member and veteran idol, spoke to the fans. “Isn’t this venue too full,” she said with a laugh. Each girl introduced herself, offering some insight into why they had become idols and what they hoped to achieve going forward. It seemed that their time chatting had cut through the tension, and they performed Nanairo Prologue in high spirits. As if in sync with the members, the fans’ voltage also rose to a fever pitch, and following the performance of Mikan na Seishun, the audience exploded with thunderous applause.
After all four songs from the group’s first album had been performed, it was revealed that, like the senior groups in KAWAII LAB, CANDY TUNE also had a surprise to reveal. On the big screen, it was announced that CANDY TUNE’s first solo live performance would be held at Spotify O-WEST on June 27. The members immediately shouted with joy.

“Aren’t you full yet,” Murakawa asked the audience, before announcing one more song.

CANDY TUNE performed hanamaru again, but unlike the first time, a music video produced in secret for the occasion played on the screen. Sounds of surprise and excitement immediately erupted from those in the audience.

The audience’s voltage was at its highest during this performance, which was synchronized with the music video featuring the members in cute cheerleader outfits and a picnic scene that their friendship with one other. Although it was their first time on stage together, the seven members showed as much poise and dignity as their seniors.

At the end, each member shared a message with their fans. “I have a bad habit of second-guessing my own happiness. There have been so many times in my life when I wonder if I should be as happy as I am–but right now, I’m so incredibly overjoyed,” said Fukuyama.

“I was so nervous before we got here,” said Kirihara. “But when I saw all of your faces, I knew from the bottom of my heart that I had made the right choice to become an idol!”

“Even if I’m reborn, I hope to stand on this same stage again,” said Minami while crying.

“I didn’t really feel like an idol until today, and I was so afraid to stand up here in front of a packed audience,” said Ogawa. “I never thought I’d be an idol,” echoed Tachibana. Both showed intense appreciation for the countless fans that had gathered at the venue.

“I will always cherish this moment,” said Miyano. “I hope to make many more memories in the future!”

“I never thought I could care for people so quickly after meeting them,” said Murakawa, shedding a few tears. “I have so much love and affection for everyone, and I want the seven of us to keep working hard to share Harajuku with the world. Standing here now, I know that we can become an idol group loved around the globe!”

After each group had finished their performances, all 19 idols from all three KAWAII LAB groups stood on the same stage together.

As a final surprise, Misa Kimura announced that KAWAII LAB. SESSION would be held on June 12 at Zepp Shinjuku, a venue scheduled to open in April. “I’m so excited that we get to perform at Zepp,” said FRUITS ZIPPER member Yui Sakurai.

With excitement in the venue still building, the final performance and the long-awaited collaboration began. All 19 members formed a circle and began to perform FRUITS ZIPPER’s breakout hit Watashino Ichiban Kawaiitokoro. Fans in the audience were permitted to record during this part of the concert, and after the show concluded, countless videos were posted to social media sites.

A project to shoot a TikTok video of Happy Chocolate with the audience also took place at the end of the event. FRUITS ZIPPER member Mana Manaka gave a brief explanation of the choreography before taking a video of the fans gathered at the venue. The night ended as the idols and fans danced together.

KAWAII LAB is continuing to produce cutting-edge idols ready to be shared with the world. With the addition of CANDY TUNE, the future is looking bright, and fans will want to watch out for what’s coming next.

Text: Masatoshi Mayuzumi
Photo: Shinsuke Hayashi / Miki Higashi

■Setlist

[IDOLATER]
Kesenai…(short ver.)
Endless Summer
Vapor City
Kimi ni MuCHU♡XX
Mahouno Kagiwo Teniiretara
DIAMOND
Endrollwo Mukaeru Maeni

[FRUITS ZIPPER]
RADIO GALAXY
Sekaiwa Kimikara Hajimaru
Happy Chocolate
Kanpeki Shugide☆
Watashino Ichiban Kawaiitokoro

[CANDY TUNE]
hanamaru
Kiss Me Patissier
Nanairo Prologue
Mikanna Seishun
hanamaru (MV.ver)

[KAWAII LAB.]
Watashi no Ichiban Kawaiitokoro

CANDY TUNE, the newest group from KAWAII LAB, released their first album on March 7. KAWAII LAB is continuing to introduce Japanese idol culture to fans around the world.

The seven-member group is comprised of members Rino Fukuyama, Mizuki Kirihara, Natsu Minami, Nanako Ogawa, Bibian Murakawa, Shizuka Miyano, and Kotomi Tachibana. Just like candy, which comes in tons of different flavors and shapes, the members will bring their own unique personalities and quirks to their pop tunes as they carry on KAWAII LAB’s mission of sharing Harajuku style with the world.

Two songs on the group’s first album CANDY TUNE were produced by Naoki Kubo and Suu, former members of SILENT SIREN–the sweet and playful Kiss Me Patissier and the inspiring song hanamaru. Hirotaka Hayakawa, who has produced hit songs for countless artists, also contributed. Nanairo Prologue tells the story of the seven members moving forward across a rainbow-colored bridge, andMikan na Seishun (Unfinished Youth) has a fast-paced sound sure to be a hit with new fans. The group’s artist photo and the jacket art for the album were provided by Yuko Takayama (yenter).

CANDY TUNE will hold its debut concert titled KAWAII LAB. SESSION ~CANDY TUNE~ on March 14 at Spotify O-EAST. To commemorate the special occasion, IDOLATER and FRUITS ZIPPER will also perform. The three groups will perform the FRUITS ZIPPER hit track Watashi no Ichiban Kawaiitokoro together during the event, and tickets are now on sale.

Additionally, new interviews with the members and behind-the-scenes footage have been uploaded to CANDY TUNE’s official YouTube channel.