When Groups Are Bound By Rivality
Introducing Anthurium and Kingsari
Rivalries between groups are rot uncommon in the industry.
They serve as a way to add powerful storytelling through the creation of another group.
Fans, for their part, naturally play along by trying to promote their favorite as much as possible and avoid losing face. It's a well-oiled mechanism that works, even though most of the time it looks more like a cleverly disguised collaboration than a real, brutal rivalry.
One of the most well-known examples in recent years are Boku ga Mitakatta Aozora versus Nogizaka46 that started in 2023 and AKB48 versus Nogizaka46 (again) a little far back, in 2011. Let's keep those stories for another time.
We caught a glimpse of Anthurium last month at Tokyo Idol Festival 2025 and were impressed by their performance. Mr. Croissant suggested we take the chance to introduce them alongside Kingsari, their supposed rival group… We can never turn bossman down, so let’s dive right in.
So, what’s the real story?
Anthurium : Eclectic, Self-Made & Colorful
Anthurium has slipped into the Japanese idol scene since March 17th, 2019, and is currently under the agency POLIM and the label Rockfield.
The group originally debuted with four members:
- Tenjin - Daitenshi - Enma (天神・大天使・閻魔)
- Chigira (ちぎら)
- Hisui Tsukino (月埜ヒスイ)
- Iro Kuroki (黒木いろ)
Since its beginnings, the group has stood out for its musical diversity and “self-made” approach, with members involved in lyric writing and choreography creation.
Their albums also feature “birthday songs” that highlight each member’s personality. For example, on the album Super Shine!!!!!!, the track Ranbu LOんVE Ranbu is dedicated to Koyu Monaka (もなかこゆ), with her also taking charge of the choreography.
A rather amusing anecdote surrounds the birthday song Blue Rock, dedicated to founding member Hisui Tsukino (月埜ヒスイ): it almost ended up with a completely different name.
[...] The song was already finished when we said, “The title has to be BLUE ROCK.” We honestly hesitated until the very last minute, wondering if we might get hit with copyright issues because of the manga. But everyone kept saying, “It’ll be fine!” so we went ahead and kept the title. We did tweak the English spelling a little to make it different from the manga’s title. (laughs)
[...] 曲が全部できた後に「どう考えても曲名は“BLUEROCK”やろ」みたいになっちゃって、「同名の漫画から著作権で訴えられないか？」って、発表する直前までめっちゃ悩んだんですよ。でもみんなが「大丈夫、大丈夫！」って言うから、それにしました。一応お気持ち程度に、漫画タイトルとは違う英語表 にしています。(笑)
As of now, the group counts seven members:
- Chigira (ちぎら) - representing red, founding member
- Koyu Monaka (もなかこゆ) - representing pink
- Shino Itou (伊藤詩乃) - representing black
- Mami Asahina (朝日奈まみ) - representing blue
- Niina Shion (紫音にーな) - representing white
- Yume Kazamiya (風宮ゆめ) - representing green
- Kaguya Yosame (夜雨かぐや) - representing purple
The year 2022 marked the beginning of a series of upheavals for Anthurium.
After three years of activity, the group faced its first major turning point: between April and March, Tenjin-Daitenshi-Enma (天神・大天使・閻) was transferred to another group under the same agency - more on this later - while Iro Kuroki (黒木いろ) left the group for good.
This double departure closed the group’s first era.
Fortunately for us, Anthurium did not disband.
The following years were just as eventful.
Between 2022 and late 2023, the lineup changed several times:
- New arrivals: Yuzu Hiiro (日色ゆづ), Koyu Monaka (もなかこゆ), Jounaishi Naru (ジョウナイシ鳴) and Hoshina Mio (星奈美緒).
- Departures: Yuzu Hiiro (日色ゆづ), Hoshina Mio (星奈美緒).
On January 1st, 2024, the group welcomed a major reinforcement: Itou Shino (伊藤詩乃), former member of Malcolm Mask McLaren.
I had decided to stop idol activities after my previous group, but while looking at social media, I started wanting to come back. I was offered Anthurium, and since I already admired the group, I was very happy. [...] Each member shows so much of their personality, and I had admired them ever since our joint concerts with my former group.
私は「もうアイドルにはならない」と固く決意して前のグループを卒業したんですけど、SNSを眺めているうちに「もう一度アイドル活動をしたい」と思ってしまって。そのタイミングでアンスリューム加入のお話をいただきました。またアイドルをやるならアンスリュームがいいと思っていたので、すごくうれしかったですね [...] アンスリュームはメンバー1人ひとりの個性が前面に出ているグループで、前に所属していたグループで対バンしたときからすごく憧れていました。
Three months later, on March 31, 2024, two new recruits joined the group: Mami Asahina (朝日奈まみ) and Niina Shion (紫音にーな), bringing the lineup to seven.
But the balance remained fragile: on November 22, 2024, Hisui Tsukino (月埜ヒスイ) and Jounaishi Naru (ジョウナイシ鳴) announced their departure, closing the group’s second era.
From the start, Anthurium had set a clear goal: to perform on all the major summer festival stages. That dream came true in 2024.
And the following year, a new chapter began.
On March 2, 2025, at the concert 第3章がはじまるよっ!!!!! (The Third Chapter Begins!!!!!) held at Spotify O-WEST, the group unveiled its new lineup with the addition of Yume Kazamiya (風宮ゆめ) and Kaguya Yosame (夜雨かぐや), ushering in Anthurium’s third era.
After all these twists and turns, the group’s future now seems more stable, and recent announcements suggest a calmer period ahead:
On July 8th, 2025, during their solo concert at Spotify O-EAST, they announced the release of a new album on September 16th, 2025, as well as their very first Asian tour, with the final concert scheduled at Zepp Shinjuku.
Kingsari : The Five Ways Of Living
Earlier, we mentioned that in March 2022, Tenjin-Daitenshi-Enma (天神・大天使・閻), a founding member of Anthurium, was transferred to another group under the same agency.
As you might have guessed, it was to join Kingsari - under the “Noisy IDOL” label - presented as Anthurium’s rival group.
On April 30, 2022, they made their debut with six members.
At first, I was in a group called Anthurium. At that time, there were several options: switching to another group, becoming a producer, etc. In our producer’s mind, a cycle lasts three years, and since Anthurium was reaching that milestone, the plan was for two of us (editors' note: her and Iro Kuroki) to leave while two would stay. It was decided that two would move on and two would remain. So, I chose to join Anthurium’s rival group, and that’s how Kingsari was born.
まず最初に私がアンスリュームっていうグループに所属していて、その時に移籍するとかプロデューサーになるとか、いろんな案があって。うちのプロデューサーの考え的に、3年が一区切りというふうになっていて、アンスリュームも3年で一区切りだったから、その時点で私ともう一人のメンバーが出ていくっていう話になって、二人出ていって二人残るっていうことが決まっていたから、じゃあ私がアンスリュームのライバルグループに移籍しようってなって、このキングサリができたんです。いろいろな事務所とかオーディションで女たちを集めてきて、キングサリができたっていう流れです。
Kingsari is built around a unique concept that explores five different ways of “living.”
It begins with 生きる (ikiru), the simple act of existing and 活きる (ikiru), living to the fullest and thriving. It also embraces イキる (ikiru), the idea of asserting oneself with confidence. Pushing further, the group introduces 熱きる (atsukiru), to live with burning passion, and 射切る (ishikiru), to cut through obstacles with determination.
The last two expressions being stylistic inventions created specifically for the group’s identity.
These nuances are expressed and transformed on stage through energetic performances and distinctive songs, supported by various composers such as Iwabuchi and Ichinose from MOSHIMO, Noriyuki Okada (Kuusou Iinkai / Ba), and Tenma Matsunaga (Urbangarde / Vo).
Like Anthurium, Kingsari also embodies a strong “self-made” spirit, but with an added freedom and a more pronounced strength of character.
[...] “We are not locked into a single concept; we are truly free. Our songs are not very ‘idol-like.’ Normally, you’d expect cute words like ‘I love you’ or ‘I hate you,’ but our lyrics include things an idol wouldn’t normally say, like ‘You’re gonna die, ok?’ or ‘I KILL YOU.’ That kind of straightforwardness, that’s the strength of Kingsari.
On top of that, each member has her own talents. Rei is in Fine Arts and can draw, I also studied design, and together with Ayasa, the three of us create the merchandise. Chii is in charge of the choreography. The fact that we create so much ourselves is one of our defining traits.”
(Editor’s note: Rei, Ayasa, and Chii mentioned here are now former members)
ひとつのコンセプトに縛られていない"って言っていた通り、本当に自由というか。曲もアイドルっぽくなくて、普通だったら"好き"とか"嫌い"とか、かわいい言葉を使ったりすると思うんですけど、"やっちゃうぞ？"とか"I KILL YOU"とか、アイドルが言わないような歌詞もあるし、結構強めに当たっちゃうところがキングサリの良さかなと思います。
あと、メンバーもそれぞれ強みを持っていて。れいは美大に通っていて絵も描けるし、私もデザインをやっていたりして、グッズのデザインをあやさとれいと私の3人でやっていたり、ちいは振付を考えてくれていたり。そうやって自分たちで作り上げているところは特徴なのかなと思います。
The group experienced several departures and arrivals, ultimately launching a new five-member formation on May 27th, 2024.
Since then, the group has consisted of:
- Emiru Kurihara (栗原えみる) (founding member)
- Riko Himeshiro (日女白りこ) (joined April 30th, 2024)
- Amu Sakura (佐倉あむ) (joined May 27th, 2025)
- Myon Tanutano (狸々みょん) (joined May 27th, 2025)
- Inori Kuon (玖遠いのり) (joined May 27th, 2025)
A Fight For Popularity
Their rivalry, you ask?
It certainly existed, and the two groups are still officially considered rivals.
In 2022, and each subsequent quarter, “duels” called 4半期開催、公式バトル アンスリューム VS キングサリ (Quarterly Official Battle: Anthurium vs Kingsari) were held. Both groups performed on stage, and the audience voted for their favorite at the end of the night. The rewards were significant, directly boosting the winners’ popularity and having a smaller effect on the losers, for example, funding for a music video.
Thanks to their victory on August 11th, 2022, Anthurium was able to produce the music video for Kawayusu Guilty (かわゆすギルティ) with a budget of ¥1,000,000.
Kingsari, on the other hand, received a smaller budget of ¥30,000 to produce the MV for イキトシイケル (Ikitoshiikeru). As a fun detail, you can even see the distribution of the money to the members at the very beginning.
However, these fun events lasted only until the end of 2022, with just two editions of these duels held in total.
