Snow Man's Hikaru Iwamoto Kicks Off First Solo Radio Show, Trending No. 1 on Social Media

On October 3, popular idol group Snow Man's leader Hikaru Iwamoto launched his very first regular solo radio program, titled Seibu Railway presents Hikaru Iwamoto no Loyly shitemo ii desu ka? (FM NACK5, airing Saturdays from 7:30 to 8:00 AM). Right from its premiere broadcast, related terms shot to the number one trending spot on social media, sparking an immediate and enthusiastic buzz.

Hosted by Iwamoto—well known as a passionate sauna enthusiast—the 30-minute talk show offers behind-the-scenes stories about Snow Man's activities, as well as local highlights and the charm of Saitama Prefecture, his home region. True to its title, which references "loyly" (the practice of pouring water onto heated sauna stones to create aromatic steam), the program features soothing, relaxed conversations designed to gently warm both the body and mind of listeners.

In the memorable inaugural episode, Iwamoto shared his excitement for the show alongside an endearing self-introduction. Music selections that showcased his refined taste—including the track "Sugar," nodding to his famous sweet tooth, as well as a song by his idol Michael Jackson—quickly captured the audience's attention. Listeners took to social media to praise his polite, gentle manner of speaking and delightfully charming reactions, posting comments like "My ears are in heaven so early in the morning" and "His calm voice is so soothing."

Despite its early Saturday morning time slot, many fans tuned in live to fuel their energy before work or while doing household chores, while many others replayed the broadcast using the catch-up service radiko. Reactions such as "Listening to this makes me desperately want to hit the sauna!" have also spread, drawing attention to the show as a fresh crossover between sauna culture and radio entertainment. Having embarked on this new solo platform, high expectations surround Iwamoto as he brings a comforting weekend sanctuary to his listeners.

The Context

Hikaru Iwamoto is the leader of Snow Man, one of Japan's top male pop idol groups under the management of STARTO ENTERTAINMENT (formerly Johnny & Associates). Known for his chiselled physique, choreography talents, and serious work ethic, Iwamoto also possesses endearing contrasting traits, such as a major passion for sweets and regular visits to saunas. FM NACK5 is an influential regional radio station based in Saitama Prefecture, neighboring Tokyo to the north, which is both Iwamoto's birthplace and a primary service area of sponsor Seibu Railway. The title plays on the Finnish sauna ritual "loyly" (löyly), a term that has become widely embraced in Japan amid the recent nationwide "sauna boom."

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