Tokyo International News Agency

The idol group ≒JOY (Nearly Equal Joy), produced by Rino Sashihara, has released the music video for their 5th single, "Summer Twintails," sparking a massive wave of excitement across social media. This track is a quintessential idol song that perfectly captures the spirit of summer. As the title suggests, the video features a stunning visual concept where all members, including those who rarely wear the hairstyle, are seen sporting "twintails." The performance shines a spotlight on the unique charm of each member, led by center Ayumi Ichihara. Fans have been flooding the internet with praise, calling the video "an overwhelming explosion of cuteness" and declaring it a "guaranteed masterpiece" even before hearing it. Producer Rino Sashihara herself shared her enthusiasm on social media, teasing her attention to detail regarding the song's memorable spoken lines by posting, "A woman who possesses various patterns of lines..." The cho...

Virtual Liver group 'Nijisanji' has announced a brand-new Pokémon tournament titled 'Pokémon Champions: Battle of the Origin - Nijisanji Cup' (hereafter referred to as the Poke-Chan Nijisanji Cup). Following the announcement broadcast on July 8, 2026, social media has already been buzzing with immense excitement. Tournament Schedule According to the announced schedule, tournament-related streams will be held on the following dates: Tournament Bracket Draw: Thursday, July 23, from 7:00 PM Main Tournament: Saturday, July 25, from 1:00 PM Anticipation for Unique Rules Balancing Skill and Luck A standout feature of this tournament is the diverse range of participants, from complete newcomers to highly skilled veteran players. Each Liver is required to conduct 'scout streams' leading up to the event, and the strategy of building a team with limited resources will be the key to victory. Fans have expressed great enthusiasm for the game system, with comments such as,...

The latest episode of "Gekijoban Jyutaro" (Jyutaro: The Movie), a popular YouTube series by Jyutaro Yamanaka, a member of the five-piece vocal and dance group M!LK, was released on July 8. Titled "Kuruma 2" (Car 2), the sixth installment immediately took social media by storm, ranking high on real-time trending charts as fans fell for its uniquely relaxed and hilarious vibe. The Ultimate Power of a Textless Thumbnail One of the biggest talking points of the series is its thumbnails. Eschewing the typical eye-catching text and flashy decorations found on most YouTube videos, Yamanaka’s thumbnails are ultra-simple: just a high-definition, stunning shot of his face from the video. Fans have showered this choice with praise, commenting, "Relying purely on the strength of his face is incredibly bold," and "There is no better thumbnail. His face alone has all the persuasion and pulling power you need." A "Beautiful Person Acting Strange": The...

Japanese actor Jiro Sato recently gave an exclusive interview to a weekly magazine, revealing the behind-the-scenes details of his ongoing dispute with Fuji Television. The revelation has sparked an intense debate across social media. Particularly drawing attention is an incident where a compliance lawyer representing the network allegedly told him, "If she (actress Ai Hashimoto) breaks down, it will damage your career as a talent too." Sato recalled these words as sounding "like a threat that terrified me to the core." Following his confession, social media has been flooded with voices questioning the response of both the television station and the lawyer. Many users expressed sympathy for Sato while criticizing Fuji TV's corporate culture, with comments such as, "Isn't it completely backward for a compliance lawyer to hold a talent's career hostage?" and "This is clear harassment, bordering on intimidation." There is also a growing ...

Nintendo has announced that it will terminate the service for its smartphone application, Mario Kart Tour , on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at 3:00 PM JST. Marking the end of an era approximately seven years after its initial launch in 2019, the departure of this popular title—cherished as a uniquely mobile entry in the Mario Kart series—has triggered a wave of surprise and sadness across social media. As the first-ever Mario Kart game designed for smartphones, the title offered players intuitive controls for easy, on-the-go racing. Fitting seamlessly into diverse lifestyles, it became a beloved daily pastime and a source of comfort during hospital stays. Following the announcement, online spaces were flooded with nostalgic messages from long-time players, with comments such as "Is it finally coming to an end?", "This was my number one app for killing time," and "Thank you for all the wonderful memories." A major concern among fans is the fate of the gam...

With the arrival of the intense summer heat, "Hiyashi Sekkisei" (Chilled Sekkisei)—a skincare routine recommended by Kose's skincare brand Sekkisei—has been generating a major buzz, particularly on social media. A new web commercial titled "Hiyashi Sekkisei" Q&A , featuring the popular group Number_i and released on July 8, 2026, has received an overwhelming response immediately following its release. In the video, members Sho Hirano, Yuta Jinguji, and Yuta Kishi introduce the appeal of "Chilled Sekkisei" in a rapid-fire Q&A format. The content is packed with their signature playful chemistry, featuring moments such as Hirano cutely singing and stepping, and Kishi's answers prompting the group to learn more about the product's ingredients. Fans have flooded social media with delighted comments like, "It's so cute I keep watching it on repeat," and "It gives me the energy to get through this hot summer." Inspired ...

It has been revealed that voice actor Tasuku Hatanaka has been cast as Lafta Vox, a new character in what appears to be an upcoming social game. The announcement has captured massive attention across social media, with fans expressing their absolute delight and high expectations for the combination of Hatanaka's voice and the character's striking design. Fans Fall at First Sight for the "Hardworking Genius" with Hair Over One Eye and Jagged Teeth The newly announced character, Lafta Vox, features an appealing design: a hoodie, hair covering one eye, and sharp, jagged teeth. On top of that, his character description lists him as a "genius of effort." Following the announcement that Hatanaka would voice this character, the internet exploded with enthusiastic comments like "Tasuku Hatanaka is the perfect choice for this design," "I fell in love at first sight," and "I can't resist his voice, I'm definitely playing this." Ha...