214 Idol Groups Unite for Record-Breaking 15th Anniversary Festival

Fuji TV’s “TOKYO IDOL PROJECT”, the organizer of the world’s largest idol festival TOKYO IDOL FESTIVAL (TIF), held “TOKYO IDOL FESTIVAL 2025 supported by Nishitan Clinic” over three days—August 1st (Fri), 2nd (Sat), and 3rd (Sun)—in the Odaiba/Aomi area.

Marking its 15th anniversary, this year’s TIF featured exciting special events such as the one-day revival live of “Idoling!!!” and gathered 214 groups, totaling 1,561 idols. The festival welcomed approximately 85,000 fans over three days.

A new stage, TOROCCO PARK, debuted this year, where idols performed using moving carts (trolleys), enhancing fan interaction and excitement. Day 3 tickets sold out for the second consecutive year.

Held on the SMILE GARDEN outdoor stage, the opening ceremony featured Hibino Meina (rough×laugh), winner of the “TIF2025 PR Ambassador Contest”, alongside Kumazawa Fuuka (Task have Fun) and Haruse Momo (Eisei to Karatea), the runner-ups. After morning radio calisthenics—a TIF tradition—the three, joined by their group members, declared the festival officially open.

Among the many special projects celebrating TIF’s 15th anniversary, the first to take the spotlight was the long-awaited one-day-only reunion of Idoling!!!, marking both TIF's milestone and 10 years since the group’s disbandment.

Answering the call of Asahi Nao, a total of 13 former members, including leader Endo Mai and Kikuchi Ami, gathered on the SMILE GARDEN stage.

They kicked off their performance to cheers from longtime fans decked out in classic Idoling!!! T-shirts and towels, starting with the powerful "Hyakka Ryouran Idoling!!!".

The energy didn’t let up as they followed with "Megami no Pulse", "Shine On", "Summer Lion", and finally their iconic debut single "Ganbare Otome（笑）", delivering five songs in total with a presence that made their decade-long hiatus feel nonexistent.

Kikuchi's self-deprecating humor, paired with the spirited back-and-forth between members from across generations, brought warm laughter and a wave of nostalgia to the crowd, making it a highlight of the festival’s first day.

The next event in the 15th anniversary lineup was a revival of a beloved TIF tradition: “IDOL SUMMER JAMBOREE”, where collaboration partners are selected by lottery. On Day 1, four groups paired up for one-day-only special units: Peel the Apple × rough×laugh and Jams Collection × Namidairo no Keshigomu.

Each unit performed a song from both groups, but it was Peel the Apple × rough×laugh's stage that especially stood out. During rough×laugh’s "Kangaeru Jikan wo Kudasai", Sato Suzuka of Peel the Apple surprised the crowd with a live impromptu comedy skit, bringing unexpected fun and laughter to the audience with a performance unlike their usual style.

In addition to the JAMBOREE, another 15th anniversary project titled “Time Machine TIF Classic” was held, featuring groups who performed at the very first TIF in 2010.

Acts like Idoling!!! (reuniting for one day only), Junjou no Afilia, SUPER☆GiRLS, Negicco (Nao☆, Megu), Fudanjuku, and LinQ returned in nostalgic costumes to perform their signature songs.

To close the segment, all eight participating groups, including Idol College, gathered on stage for Tokyo Girls Style’s "Onnaji Kimochi", wrapping up the event with smiles all around.

Headlining the main stage on Day 1, Chou Tokimeki♡Sendenbu returned to TIF for the first time in three years.

They opened with their signature song “Saijoukyuu ni Kawaii no!”, instantly sending the crowd’s excitement into overdrive. This was followed by “Tomorrow Saikyou Setsu!!” and their brand-new track “Heart na Mune no Uchi♡”, written by Kiyoshi Ryujin.

They went on to perform fan favorites like “Sekai de Ichiban Idol”, “Suki!”, and “Hatsukoi Cycling”, and ended their set with the explosively popular “Chou Saikyou”, which has surpassed 1.5 billion views on TikTok and become a massive anthem among idol fans, bringing the first day of TIF to a euphoric close.

Making her solo debut at TIF in her 19th year since debut, Kashiwagi Yuki took the stage for the first time as a solo act.

With a spirited call of “TIF2025, let’s hear your voices!”, the intro to AKB48’s “Iiwake Maybe” kicked off her set, sparking a huge wave of cheers and calls from the audience. She followed with several beloved songs from AKB48’s Team B, including “Yobisute Fantasy”, “Temodemo no Namida”, and “Sobakasu no Kiss”.

During the MC, she bashfully delivered her signature phrase: “Whether you’re asleep or awake, you’re in Yukirin World now! Get ready to be enchanted!”

Her set continued with “Kuchiutsushi no Chocolate”, and her solo anthem often dubbed the national anthem of Yukirin World, “Jealousy Punch”. She wrapped up her powerful solo debut with the AKB48 fan-favorite “Enkyori Poster”, leaving the audience with lasting excitement.

The “Goto Maki 25th Anniversary ♡ Legend Collaboration Stage” brought together Maki Goto herself with a lineup of idols who admire her, including Kishi Miyu (#BABABABAMBI) and Ishizuka Shioka (Idol College).

Together, they performed legendary Morning Musume hits such as “Souda! We're ALIVE” and “LOVE Machine”, marking Goto’s first time performing them in nearly 20 years, and with a stage presence that rivaled her prime years.

During her solo segment, Goto performed her debut track “Ai no Bakayarou” right in front of her fellow idol fans. Kazamiya Yume (Anthurium), who watched from this "special seat" on stage, was visibly moved and said: “She was absolutely stunning. Getting to witness her sing live from a perspective fans usually never see, it was a dream come true.”

This year’s Main Stage Battle LIVE, including the preliminary rounds, featured eight competing idol groups. The grand winner was AOAO, an 8-member idol group whose concept is “reclaiming youth.”

Fulfilling their long-held dream, AOAO took to the coveted main stage and kicked off with back-to-back performances of “STAR PARADE” and “Aozolab”.

During the MC, the members shared their determination with heartfelt sincerity: “The entire AOAO team fought together to earn this main stage spot, and we’re going to give it everything we’ve got. We’ll grow even more and be back here again next year—stronger than ever.”

They followed with “Endless Blue” and “Kaleido Blue”, delivering a total of four vibrant, refreshing songs that left a lasting impression even on the grand stage.

As the festival neared its grand finale, the three idol groups produced by Rino Sashihara, =LOVE, ≠ME, and ≒JOY, collectively known as “IKONOIJOY”, gathered on the main stage for a powerful joint showcase.

≒JOY kicked things off, opening with the summery “Blue Hawaii Lemon”. They then performed seven songs in a row, including their debut single “Taiikukan Disco”, and ended their set with the emotional love song “Hatsukoi Cinderella”, proudly taking the lead as the youngest of the sister groups.

Next up was ≠ME, who appeared in refreshing blue outfits. They began with “Himitsu Incident”, followed by fan favorites like “Kimi wa Kono Natsu, Koi wo Suru” and “Kurukuru Kakigori”.

When the intro to “Last Chance, Last Dance” began, the crowd erupted with cheers, captivated by the group’s bright vocals.

They closed with their namesake song “≠ME”, bringing the crowd’s energy to its peak before finishing their set on a high.

Bringing the memorable 15th anniversary edition of TIF to a close was =LOVE, taking the prestigious headlining slot for the first time.

From the moment their intro video played, the audience exploded with deafening cheers.

They opened with “Sagase Diamond Lily”, then launched into an electrifying sequence of songs including “Start!”, “Nakanaori Chou Cream”, “Bukatsu-chuu ni Me ga Au na tte Omottetanda” and “Oh! Darling”.

Keeping the momentum alive, they rolled into summer staples like “Natsumatsuri Koi Shichau” and “Natsumatope”, followed by their latest single “Tokubechu Shite”, which is currently trending on TikTok.

During the MC, they reflected emotionally. To close out both their set and the entire festival, the group delivered a joyful performance of their debut single “=LOVE”, singing with bright smiles and heartfelt gratitude—putting the perfect finishing touch on TIF2025.

At the “TIF2025 Monomane FES” held on Day 3, Ishizuka Shioka (Idol College) took the spotlight as the crowned Impersonation Queen of the Idol World, following her win on the terrestrial TV broadcast of “TIF2025 presents: Idol-packed Monomane Championship” aired on July 26 (Sat).

Ishizuka performed a heartfelt rendition of Minamino Yoko’s classic “Haikara-san ga Tooru”.
To everyone’s astonishment, Minamino herself—celebrating the 40th anniversary of her singing debut—appeared as a surprise guest.

Moved to tears by the unexpected appearance, Ishizuka wept with joy as Minamino smiled warmly and joined in singing on the TIF stage, creating a magical and unforgettable moment.

The Grand Finale at the UP-T HOT STAGE began with MCs Hamaguchi Masaru (from comedy duo Yoiko) and Harada Aoi, announcer from Fuji TV, taking the stage.

Immediately following them, the three “IKONOIJOY” groups (=LOVE, ≠ME, and ≒JOY) who had just finished performing, returned for a joint special stage. Together, they delivered a lively performance of their signature IKONOIJOY song “Triple Date”, igniting the crowd with enthusiastic cheers.

Next came the “15th Anniversary TIF Best Song Medley”, a special segment featuring songs selected through a survey of current idols. In addition to original group performances, idols who voted for the songs participated in collaborative stages. Highlights included “Kawaii Dake ja Dame desu ka?” by CUTIE STREET and “Oogoe Diamond” by AKB48.

This was followed by collaborative performances with former TIF regulars:

• Hashiyasume Atsuko (ex-BiSH) performed “BiSH – Hoshi ga Matataku Yoru ni”
• Ejima Aeri (ex-26ji no Masquerade) performed “Heart Sunglasses”

Returning to TIF after three years, Ejima shared: “Back then (during the COVID-19 era), we couldn’t hear audience voices. Today, I almost forgot the lyrics because hearing the cheers again overwhelmed me.”

Hashiyasume, also back after two years, said: “The heat brought back so many memories. I really felt like I'm home.”

The top song of the medley was voted as “Zettai Idol Yamenaide” by =LOVE. As the members took the stage and began performing, the crowd’s energy reached its peak.

Afterward, they commented:

“As fellow idols, being told by others in the same field that they love this song means the world to us. And above all, we’re deeply grateful to Sashihara Rino, who created such a wonderful track for us.”

Sashihara, =LOVE’s producer, is also a former TIF chairperson.

Event name: TOKYO IDOL FESTIVAL 2025 supported by Nishitan Clinic
Event dates: August 1st (Fri), 2nd (Sat) and 3rd (Sun) 2025
Location: Odaiba/Aomi area
Promoter: TOKYO IDOL PROJECT