Tokyo International News Agency

On July 18, the popular group Snow Man appeared on the TBS network’s major music special, 'Ongaku no Hi.' Their spectacular three-song medley featuring 'EMPIRE,' 'Karissumax,' and 'Kimi wa Boku no Mono' has become a major topic of conversation. Throughout the broadcast, the official recommended hashtag '#エンパとカリスマとキミボク' dominated social media trends, flooded with messages from enthusiastic fans. The medley kicked off with 'EMPIRE,' where the group delivered sharp, perfectly synchronized choreography within a dark, sophisticated aesthetic. Member Raul stole the spotlight by tossing away his sunglasses and unleashing a raw, emotional performance, drawing praise from fans who called it 'chilling' and proof that they are 'the world's number one idols.' Meanwhile, Hikaru Iwamoto and Tatsuya Fukasawa commanded the stage from the front, exuding the presence of an absolute empire. The tone shifted completely for 'Karissumax...

The trending SNS term "full size" gained significant traction on X (formerly Twitter) around March 30th. It has become clear that this phrase transcends its literal meaning of "complete size" or "entirety," capturing users' interest in diverse contexts, from music program performances to the latest gadgets and even humble everyday items. The "Full Size" Frenzy on the Music Program "CDTV Live! Live!" Particularly notable was the enthusiastic reaction to artists' "full size" performances on the popular music program "CDTV Live! Live!". Many viewers expressed joy and gratitude when their favorite songs were performed in "full size" (the entire song) rather than "one-half" (half the song). For instance, the performance by popular group "aoen" was met with a flood of glowing comments such as, "It was seriously the best! The camerawork was excellent, they nailed the hits, and the ...

Popular boy group 'Genin wa Jibun ni Aru.' (meaning 'The Cause Is Within Myself.') recently appeared on the music program 'CDTV Live! Live!,' where their performance and the fan-generated hashtag '#kyomukyomukyomukyo' (meaning 'void void void void') sparked significant buzz. Despite member Kousaku Koizumi's absence, resulting in a six-member performance, viewers showered the group with praise for their highly polished stage, which made Koizumi's absence almost unnoticeable. The song performed was 'Nihilism Prism.' Even with the sudden change to a six-member lineup, the members delivered a near-perfect performance. Fans were particularly moved by Ryota Nagano's brilliant cover of Koizumi's parts, with comments such as, "Ryota dancing in place of Kousaku was so cool" and "Thanks to Kousaku's voice being included, I could feel Kousaku there." Other members also received endless accolades for their visu...

Popular group Number_i has released the performance video of their song "3XL" from "CDTV Live! Live!" (broadcast on TBS on February 2nd) on their official YouTube channel for a limited time, leading to an outpouring of joy from fans on social media. This performance video will be available until March 19, 2026, at 9:59 PM (JST). Immediately upon its release, X (formerly Twitter) was flooded with delighted comments such as "This is exactly what I wanted!" and "We've been waiting for this!" Many fans also expressed that it's "unusual" and "greatly appreciated" for a broadcasted TV performance to be made available on an official channel, making it a much-anticipated surprise for them. The post was filled with words of praise like "I can't stop watching it," "So cool," "Amazing," and "A perfect performance." In particular, member Sho Hirano's dance move, dubbed the "ches...

On the music program 'CDTV Live! Live!' broadcast on the evening of the 2nd, popular group Snow Man made a surprise performance of their famous song 'Kimi wa Boku no Mono,' generating a massive buzz on social media. The program's request segment, titled 'Tonight's Music Power,' aired Snow Man's 'Kimi wa Boku no Mono' in response to viewer demand. Just when many fans thought it would be a repeat performance, the group's unexpected appearance led to an outpouring of surprise and joy, with comments like 'I can't believe I got to see 'Kimi wa Boku no Mono' at the end, I'm too happy!' and 'My tear ducts burst unexpectedly!' What particularly moved fans was the performance by all nine members. Amidst recent activities where some members have been absent, all nine appeared on screen for this song. Enthusiastic messages flooded in from fans, including 'All nine!😭', 'Their appearance as nine was so ende...

The highly anticipated Hello! Project fan event, "Solo Fes!", has announced its return as "Solo Fes! 2026" on CS Asahi Channel, scheduled for Saturday, February 28, 2026, starting at 6:00 PM JST. The announcement sparked a wave of excitement on social media, with fans exclaiming "It's Solo Fes!!!!" and "Yessssssss!ヽ(´▽`)/!", leading to the event trending online. "Solo Fes!" is a serious competition where members from all Hello! Project groups perform their best solo acts, vying for their own dedicated TV program. This time, a new rule has been introduced where viewer votes from CS Asahi Channel will be reflected in the "MVP" selection for the first time, further boosting fan anticipation. With this being the first event in five years, out of the current 65 Hello! Project members, only about 40%, or 27 members, have previous Solo Fes experience. This means it will be the debut Solo Fes for members of newer groups like OCHA ...

At the 76th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen, broadcast on December 31, 2025, idol group M!LK created a huge buzz. They not only performed their hit song “Iijan” but also participated as dancers in “Yozakura Oshichi,” a masterpiece by the queen of enka, Fuyumi Sakamoto. This unexpected collaboration generated an enthusiastic response among viewers, especially their fans, “Mirukizu.” M!LK members beautifully expressed the world of “Yozakura Oshichi” in traditional Japanese attire. Their elegant dance and alluring performance captivated many fans, who described it with phrases like “driven mad,” “the lingering impression is incredible,” and “it felt like a hallucination.” In particular, member Jinato Yoshida was highly praised as “mellow,” “beautiful,” and “incredibly sensual,” with many exclaiming “words fail me” at his expressive power, which blended his Western-style features with the Japanese aesthetic. Hayato Sano’s (Taichi-kun) dance also received high acclaim, with fans saying “I love it!” T...

Singer Ado received the Special International Music Award at the "67th Japan Record Awards" and delivered a breathtaking performance. Her stage featured not only her hit song "Show" but also "Aishite Aishite Aishite" (Love Me, Love Me, Love Me), a signature song by Vocaloid producer Kikuo. This song choice and Ado's unique interpretation have generated significant buzz, particularly on social media. Ado's rendition of "Aishite Aishite Aishite" garnered widespread praise, with comments such as "a cry from the soul," "overwhelming power," "unbelievable expressiveness," and "perfectly embodies the song's world." Many viewers were particularly struck by the "Ahh" scream she let out towards the end of the song, her swirling costume, and the choreography that brought the song's world to life. Comments poured in, noting that it was "truly a person driven mad and broken by love,"...

Popular rock band Mrs. GREEN APPLE has announced they will perform the classic song "Yume de Aimashō" (Let's Meet in a Dream) as part of the "NHK 100 Years of Broadcasting Kohaku Special Medley," which will open the 76th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen (Red and White Song Battle) on New Year's Eve. This news has generated significant buzz, particularly on social media. According to an announcement from Mrs. GREEN APPLE's official account, they will sing "Yume de Aimashō" during the opening segment of the Kohaku Uta Gassen, which airs from 7:20 PM on Wednesday, December 31st. Fans reacted with excitement, with comments such as "So cool!," "This feels legendary already," and "Having Mrs. GREEN APPLE open is too luxurious!" "Yume de Aimashō" is the theme song of a legendary variety show that aired on NHK from 1961 to 1966. Penned by Rokusuke Ei (lyrics) and Hachidai Nakamura (music) – a duo known as the "Roku-Hac...

Popular group NEWS is set to appear on NTV's music program "with MUSIC" on Saturday, December 6th, at 10:00 PM (JST). The announcement that they will perform two classic hits, "Kibou ~Yell~" and "Koi wo Shiranai Kimi e," has generated significant excitement among fans, particularly on social media. The news that "Koi wo Shiranai Kimi e" will be performed on television after a long absence has been met with widespread joy from fans. On X (formerly Twitter), posts such as "They're singing 'Koi wo Shiranai Kimi e'!! So happy because I love it ♡♡," "This is the song that made me fall in love with NEWS 🥹💛 So happy they're performing it ✨," and "'Koi wo Shiranai Kimi e' is the best 😭 NEWS really gets it, lol" have flooded in, showcasing the deep emotional attachment fans have to the song. Furthermore, many comments highlighted the emotional power of the song, with fans saying things like, ...

On July 19, 2025, popular idol group Sakurazaka46 appeared on the TBS music special "Ongaku no Hi 2025" and performed their 11th single, "UDAGAWA GENERATION," a track from their 2nd album 'Addiction.' Their performance generated a huge buzz on social media, attracting significant attention, with "UDAGAWA GENERATION" even trending on Yahoo! Japan. Fans showered the group with praise for the bright and pop-oriented song, which deviates from the group's traditional image. Comments included "sparkly cute song," "cheerful and good," and "a bright, fun, and upbeat song that's not like Sakurazaka46 in a good way." Many enthusiastic reactions like "the best" and "divine" were also posted, indicating that the song's positive energy resonated with viewers. The performance itself offered many highlights. Each member's charm was showcased to the fullest, including Hikaru Morita's overwhelmin...

It was announced that popular group Kis-My-Ft2 would appear on the large-scale music program "Ongaku no Hi 2025," broadcast on Saturday, July 19th, performing "Thank you Jan!" and "AAO" in the 5 PM hour. This announcement immediately sent "Thank you Jan!" trending on social media. Fans responded to this song choice with a variety of reactions. Given that the song is frequently performed on TBS music programs, including "Ongaku no Hi," comments like "Here it comes again!", "The usual 'Thank you Jan!'", and "Happy for the perfect attendance award!" poured in. Notably, many positive reactions transformed their exasperation into laughter, such as "It's so consistently chosen, it's hilarious! 😂" and "Their favorite 'Thank you Jan!' 😆." Some fans even expressed a sense of "relief," saying things like, "It's come full circle, I love 'Thank you Ja...

Snow Man appeared on the popular music program "CDTV Live! Live!" to perform their new song "SERIOUS." The trending hashtag "#シリアスノ恐カワ" (Kyōkawa), which encapsulates the song's unique aesthetic, garnered immense reaction on social media, with fans praising it as "the best performance" and "monstrously stylish." From the moment the show aired, hashtags such as "#シリアスノ恐カワ," "#怪物的オシャレ" (Monstrously Stylish), and "#SnowMan_SERIOUS" dominated the trends on X (formerly Twitter). True to the "terrifying yet cute" concept, the members' unique personalities were highlighted while maintaining cohesive costumes, and their sharp, crisp dancing captivated a vast audience. Drawing particular attention was member Sakuma Daisuke's "#SnowColorNail." His vividly colored nails featured each Snow Man member's respective color, with the ring finger of his left hand notably left uncolored. Thi...

Popular dance and vocal group Bullet Train appeared on the major music special "THE MUSIC DAY 2025," broadcast on July 5th, where their captivating performance garnered significant attention. The group performed their new song "AwAAwA" on the show. Donning vibrant costumes inspired by the Awa Odori dance from Tokushima, member Yuki's hometown, they delivered a dynamic stage performance. On social media, there was a flood of praise for the members' visuals, with comments like "too cool" and "great visuals," especially highlighting Takuya's refined appearance and Haru's handsome looks. Vocalist Takashi also received numerous compliments for his "amazing singing!" while Kai's engaging talk about his deep affection for V6's "TAKE ME HIGHER" was also well-received. Fans expressed joy over their joint performance with M!LK, with many exclaiming, "Life with Bullet Train is too much fun!" Backstage ph...