iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

J-Pop Project News @jpopprojectnews.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

FRUITS ZIPPER fans are concerned for the health of Luna Nakagawa after management said she would not appear at performances on the 6th or 7th due to poor health. The 29-year-old member has already missed the previous three performances of the group's Autumn Tour. x.com/FRUITS_ZIPPER/...

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J-Pop Project News @jpopprojectnews.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

The "XG WORLD TOUR: THE CORE" performances in Dallas and Mexico City in November have been cancelled "due to unforeseen circumstances". Some fans speculated that this might be due to poor ticket sales for the Mexico City concert, but that didn't seem to apply to Dallas. xgalx.com/en/xg/news...

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J-Pop Project News @jpopprojectnews.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

1/4 - A former idol has talked about the competitive nature and weight restrictions of being an idol, before later becoming an AV actress. Hana Honjo, became the leader of "Maria" (2013-17), and remembers many good times from being an idol.

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J-Pop Project News @jpopprojectnews.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

WACK have announced that all four final members of ExWHYZ left the agency at the end of September. The group had officially disbanded on August 31, but at that time it was unclear what the future would hold. www.exwhyz.jp/news/d...

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J-Pop Project News @jpopprojectnews.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

CANDY TUNE have announced that Bibian Murakawa may wear sunglasses to reduce eye strain during live events and other appearances in future. The 26-year-old revealed that she has always been sensitive to light, but this has increased since having laser eye surgery 2 years ago. x.com/bibian_ct1203/...

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J-Pop Project News @jpopprojectnews.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Idol group "kyuuuns" have announced that they will disband. Their final joint concert will be on October 8, with the group holding a farewell concert sometime later in the month. The group were formed in 2022, and currently has five members. x.com/kyuuuns_info/s...

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J-Pop Project News @jpopprojectnews.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

It's not unusual for an idol to fall on the stage, but Wakana Tsumugi of idol group UtaGe! probably had the most nonchalant recovery.

x.com

紬希わかな@UtaGe! (@UtaGe_wakana) on X

お立ち台でドカすべりアイドル

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J-Pop Project News @jpopprojectnews.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

1/2 - A former member of idol group "Philosophy no Dance" aims to establish a nursing/care facility for elderly otaku. Mariri Okutsu has established a company, SAKURAYA ENC, to help realize her dream of "one day creating a nursing home for idol fans".

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J-Pop Project News @jpopprojectnews.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Aobazaka46, which is currently auditioning its members, has announced that their final concert will be held at the Nippon Budokan on December 19, 2027 - at this concert the members will be assigned to either Nogizaka46, Sakurazaka46, or Hinatazaka46.

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J-Pop Project News @jpopprojectnews.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

1/2 - Tomoka Igari has announced that she will graduate from idol group Kamen Joshi next spring. The 34-year-old started her career as an idol in 2014, but her life changed after a sign fell and squashed her during a storm in April 2018, resulting in her becoming a wheelchair user.

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J-Pop Project News @jpopprojectnews.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Two high school idol groups from Nagano Prefecture held a joint performance with a difference - their audience was 250 kindergarten children. Apparently the older children often pretend to be idols, and asked to see real idols so they could improve. tinyurl.com/sznjju5t

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J-Pop Project News @jpopprojectnews.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

1/2 - An interesting and fun show on ABEMA TV highlighted the professions of 5 underground idols. These were a medical doctor, disaster prevention specialist & survivalist YouTuber, rhythmic gymnast, local goverment worker & tourism ambassador, and hairdresser. Watch at abema.tv/video/episo...

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J-Pop Project News @jpopprojectnews.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Idol group Buttobi! Pandemic have announced that they will disband after their performance at Shinjuku ReNY on December 30. Management said that since January some members had expressed their desire to leave the group. The group made their debut in January 2022. x.com/buppan_offi/st...

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J-Pop Project News @jpopprojectnews.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

AKB48 member Sae Arai has announced that she will take a break from the group for about 6 months to study overseas, with the aim of acquiring more language skills and developing as a person. The 20-year-old, who joined in April 2023, said her break will start next February. ameblo.jp/akihabara4...

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J-Pop Project News @jpopprojectnews.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Mai Kuraki has broken her own Guinness World Record for the "Most theme songs sung by the same artist for an animation series" with her latest theme song for the Detective Conan anime series - she is now up to 30! x.com/mai_k_staff/st... All 30 songs are on the special site: bzone.co.jp/ex/sp/Ma...

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J-Pop Project News @jpopprojectnews.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

1/3 - Nagoya-based DIANA PROJECT have posted that 8-year-old trainee idol, Runa Hirata, passed away on September 25 from myocarditis caused by influenza. Although the progress of her illness was not made public, she posted on September 20 that she had enjoyed participating in a performance that day.

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J-Pop Project News @jpopprojectnews.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

The very real singer-songwriter AI is releasing "It's AI", a track which portrays two distinct AIs - "AI's signature style versus the AI that floods the world" - no confusion there then. The song is sung in English and is released on October 2. AI (44) made her debut in 2000. aimusic.tv/2026/09/2...

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J-Pop Project News @jpopprojectnews.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

1/2 - An event featuring 20 idol groups has been cancelled on the night before it was due to be held. The KAWAII PARTY event, being held in Ōta, Tokyo on September 27, was cancelled because of "scheduling conflicts at the venue", with the organiser unable to find an alternative.

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J-Pop Project News @jpopprojectnews.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

1/2 - Rei Haga has left NMB48. The 20-year-old, who joined the group in 2022, had been on hiatus for health reasons since July 3, and while management were discussing her return, it was discovered that she had engaged in conduct that violated her agency's rules.

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J-Pop Project News @jpopprojectnews.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

1/2 - A former AKB48 member has made a return to the group after 5 years, as one of the four members of the 22nd Generation. Momoka Hasegawa(top right) originally joined AKB48 as a Team 8 member in 2019, and left in 2021 because of unspecified rule violations, which she later said had been resolved.

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J-Pop Project News @jpopprojectnews.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

1/2 - Two major music festivals were affected by the recent passage of Typhoon No. 25 (Dujuan). "ROCK IN JAPAN FESTIVAL" cancelled its final day (September 21), but "SPARK 2026 in YAMANAKAKO" decided to go ahead.

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J-Pop Project News @jpopprojectnews.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

ZOCX have announced that they will continue as a five member unit, because Kanano Senritsu remains unreachable. x.com/___ZOCX___/sta...

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J-Pop Project News @jpopprojectnews.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Japan decided not to participate in the inaugural Eurovision Asia contest despite other countries, like regional rivals South Korea, being involved. The Grand Final is set to take place in Bangkok on November 14. eurovisionasia.com/n...

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J-Pop Project News @jpopprojectnews.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

1/3 - Former Maneki Kecak idol Reona Matsushita, now active as a solo singer, has withdrawn from three performances she booked online in unusual circumstances. The event booking company mailed communications to Reona but were returned to the company, causing them to label her as "suspicious".

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J-Pop Project News @jpopprojectnews.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

1/2 - A trading card game featuring idols and musical artists, "Stage Collection", has been launched. The first installment features the five "KAWAII LAB." groups - hardly surprising as ASOBISYSTEM is one of four companies working on the venture - TWIN PLANET are also involved.

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J-Pop Project News @jpopprojectnews.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

1/2 - The agency of Yuri Nakamura, an actress who started out as an idol, has announced that she died of rectal cancer on September 1. The 44-year-old started out in 1998 as one half of idol duo "YURIMARI", releasing 6 singles and an album in just over a year before disbanding.

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J-Pop Project News @jpopprojectnews.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Tower Records have launched "TOWER MUSIC THEATER SHIBUYA", a new event space. The venue, which opens on October 31, can host music concerts, fan events, press conferences, and online broadcasts. Although it is also in Shibuya, it is some way from Tower Records' iconic store. tower.jp/towermusict...

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J-Pop Project News @jpopprojectnews.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Hono Tamura has announced that she will graduate from Sakurazaka46 after activities associated with the group's 16th single, "Ai MUST BE", released on October 14. The 27-year-old joined as a second generation member of Keyakizaka46 in 2018. sakurazaka46.com/s/s...

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J-Pop Project News @jpopprojectnews.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

1/2 - An idol is on hiatus after becoming a victim of sexual harassment. Au Amai, of Nagoya-based group AQA, was traveling by train to a live music venue on September 12, when she became the victim of a groping incident (chikan).

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J-Pop Project News @jpopprojectnews.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

1/2 - There are some well known idols among the 32 candidates aiming to become a new member of ≠ME. These include former STU48 first generation member, Chiho Ishida (24), former SKE48 member, Mirei Hayashi (17), and former NMB48 and NARLOW member, Nanaho Kawano (24).

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J-Pop Project News @jpopprojectnews.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

1/2 - XGALX, the label behind XG, have had a rebrand with a new tagline of "Genuine Art Lives. Lives Create Culture". They say "every part of the operation, music, management, marketing, is now expanding with a more explicitly global focus". xgalx.com/en/news/de...

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J-Pop Project News @jpopprojectnews.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Rin Hashisako (20) has announced that she will graduate from ANGERME and Hello! Project at the end of the group's spring concert tour next year. After being active as an idol for over 10 years since joining as a trainee, she has decided to end her entertainment activities. helloproject.com/new...

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J-Pop Project News @jpopprojectnews.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

1/2 - A collaboration event between AKB48 and four Chinese idols has been cancelled after the Chinese idols decided not to attend for "personal reasons". The "Osaka Handshake Event", planned for September 12, was organised by the Japan-China Friendship Center, which handles exchange programs.

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J-Pop Project News @jpopprojectnews.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Rina Matsuda, the captain of Sakurazaka46, has announced that she will graduate from the group at the end of the year, with her graduation ceremony being held on November 15. The 26-year-old joined Keyakizaka46, the predecessor group to Sakurazaka46, in 2018. sakurazaka46.com/s/s...

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J-Pop Project News @jpopprojectnews.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

1/3 - Actress and former Morning Musume member Makoto Ogawa (38) revealed that she has been married, divorced, and has a 10-year-old child. In an article she revealed she had married Takuma Makita of rock band "wyse" in 2015 and later gave birth to their first child.

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J-Pop Project News @jpopprojectnews.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Singer Aimer has announced that she has given birth to her first child. In the same post the 36-year-old also revealed that she had left her agency, agehasprings, to form a new management company with her husband, composer Masahiro Tobinai. x.com/Aimer_and_staf...

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J-Pop Project News @jpopprojectnews.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

f5ve will perform in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia in October. x.com/f5ve_official/...

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J-Pop Project News @jpopprojectnews.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

1/2 - Hinatazaka46 have cancelled "Hinata Fes 2026", held in Miyazaki prefecture on September 5-6, because of the approach of a typhoon. The event was expected to attract around 50,000 fans and provide an influx of 5 billion Yen into the Kyushu economy, with JR Kyushu laying onextra trains.

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J-Pop Project News @jpopprojectnews.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

1/3 - Confusion appears to reign at idol group "Isekai Idol☆Parallel Parade" where member Aisu Hieta's position has come under pressure, not because of dating a fan, but because she apparently switched the venue for a performance the following day without telling other members or management!

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J-Pop Project News @jpopprojectnews.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

1/2 - Streaming company AWA have released an interesting list of idols included in playlists in the past week, for both the Heisei and Reiwa eras. news.awa.fm/jpn/2026...

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J-Pop Project News @jpopprojectnews.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

iLiFE! have announced their second sister group, iMiN! - the group's members will be revealed soon. They will make their debut on September 20, performing alongside iLiFE! and iON!. x.com/iMiN_official/...

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J-Pop Project News @jpopprojectnews.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Can't forget how amazing TOWER RECORDS in Shibuya is? From October 22 you can buy a portable light echoing the iconic structure at the front of the building. It comes with a magazine detailing Tower Records' rich history, trivia, and the renovated Shibuya store's floor plan. tower.jp/article/fea...

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J-Pop Project News @jpopprojectnews.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

1/2 - ExWHYZ, who held their final performance "ExWHYZ LAST LIVE 'Hikari'" on August 31, have disbanded after about nine years together, with the first four or five years of that being as part of EMPiRE.

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J-Pop Project News @jpopprojectnews.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

The latest former idol to try her hand at producing is Rui Takanashi of #BABABABAMBI, who will be in charge of "SUNNY PARADE" for the 01familia agency. The seven members are all new to being idols, with the exception of Zion Kameno, who was a member of NMB48 for 4½ years. x.com/328sunny_parad...

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J-Pop Project News @jpopprojectnews.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

BABYMETAL will enter the Marvel Universe by appearing on the cover of a limited edition of Marvel Comics' "Marvel Zombies: War Zone (2026) #1" in the USA. Last year, BABYMETAL's track "from me to u feat. Poppy" was used in the trailer for the animated series "Marvel Zombies". x.com/BABYMETAL_JAPA...

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J-Pop Project News @jpopprojectnews.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

After the success of her recent performance in Kenya, Mirai Skirt+ has announced that she is returning to the African continent later this month to perform and meet local fans at "Comic Con Africa 2026" in Johannesburg - the first J-pop idol to visit South Africa. x.com/miraiskirt_MK/...

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J-Pop Project News @jpopprojectnews.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

TOKYO MX have opened auditions for a new female idol group - their concept is to bring a kawaii cat-themed group to the world (like Wa-Suta). The TV station have recruited former Dempagumi.inc member Eimi Naruse to participate as their "Tokimeki! Cat-Loving Advisor☆". deview.co.jp/Auditio...

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J-Pop Project News @jpopprojectnews.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

1/2 - KAWAII LAB. have issued a request and warning to fans, restating the rules for participation at events, and warning that breaking them may lead to bans, or police and legal action. They particularly stressed that forging tickets, or using borrowed or forged id documents, was prohibited.

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J-Pop Project News @jpopprojectnews.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

8 years after ATARASHII GAKKO! and AiNA THE END first met, a collaboration single, "Sweet Memories feat. Aina The End", will be released by ATARASHII GAKKO! on September 4. In the song they express their desire to "spread their wings and soar even further across the world". x.com/japanleaders/s...

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