AsIs is a seven-member idol group that made their debut on March 29, 2024, with their very first live performance at Ebisu CreAto, which sold out following an extensive promotional campaign on social media. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, let’s go back to the origins of the group’s creation, which, as you will see, play a vital role in both their identity and their rapid rise to success on the Japanese idol scene.
Let’s begin with a touch of poetry. The name Kasumisou to Stella (かすみ草とステラ) brings together two carefully chosen images. Kasumisou, or baby’s breath, is a small white flower that symbolizes purity and tenderness. Stella, which means "star" in Italian and Latin, suggests dreams, brilliance, and the desire to rise higher. A quiet little flower and a shining star. The contrast seems to perfectly capture the essence of a Japanese idol, someone humble and grounded who aspires to something greater. Their official nickname is Kasutera (かすテラ). Yes, just like the Castella sponge cake, a sweet Japanese dessert originally brought over from Portugal. But let's go back to our idols; the sweets can wait. Kasutera made its official debut on June 6, 2021, as an underground idol group built around a clear concept: “The story of six ordinary girls who, through their idol journey, create a narrative meant to bring you happiness.” At the time of writing, the group is made up of 12 members: 1st Generation Arioka Chihiro (有岡ちひろ) @Kastella_chihi Higa Haru (比賀ハル) @Kastella_haru 2nd Generation Ishima Misaki (石間実咲) @Kastella_misaki Kawana Hikaru (川菜光) @Kastella_hikaru Takami Kona (高実心花) @Kastella_cona Fukui Hiyori (福井ひより) @Kastella_hiyori Honda Kasumi (本田香澄) @Kastella_kasumi 3rd Generation Ichikawa Kokoro (市川こころ) @Kastella_kokoro Sato Koharu (佐藤心遥) @Kastella_koharu Tachibana An (立花杏) @Kastella_ann Tsukibashi Yuragi (月橋ゆらぎ) @Kastella_yuragi Hanaoka Sumire (花丘すみれ) @Kastella_sumire
Pixel Ribbon is a brand-new idol group that debuted in February 2025, based in Tokyo. A single click on one of their documentary videos was enough to uncover the beginning of a fascinating story. Let’s dive together into a deep dive of how the group came to light.
Takane no Nadeshiko (高嶺のなでしこ) has consisted of ten members since its formation. Seven of them were selected through the JDOL audition, a competition supported by the Tokyo Idol Festival (TIF) and organized in partnership with the SHOWROOM platform, which broadcast the performances live and and enabled public voting. The group is managed by Twin Planet, an agency known for launching or supporting major idol projects such as Akishibu Project and the now-disbanded Last Idol. Matsumoto Momona, Momiyama Himeri and Hashimoto Momoko are former members of Last Idol. Quickly nicknamed “Takane-ko” (たかねこ) by fans, the group made its official debut on August 7, 2022, during TIF2022. The group’s name reflects a refined contrast: Takane (高嶺) means “high peak,” while Nadeshiko refers both to a flower (Dianthus superbus, also known as the fringed pink) and to the traditional ideal of Japanese femininity, the Yamato Nadeshiko, embodying qualities like gentleness, grace, modesty, inner strength, and purity. In short, a rare and beautiful flower, perched high above, admired, yet out of reach.
Born in Nagoya in 2020, the group HATE and TEARS has made a name for itself in the Japanese pop scene. On the eve of their first appearance in Europe at Japan Expo 2025, here’s a portrait of a trio determined to shake up the conventions of the modern idol world.
The Japanese group Jiemei has been announced for exclusive performances at Japan Expo this year. Why not get to know them with us and make the most of their show? We’ll tell you everything you need to know.
As part of their 2025 European Tour ‘SCREAMING INFERNO’, Broken By The Scream is back in France for a double dose of chaos, hitting Japan Expo Paris on July 4 and La Marquise in Lyon on July 6! Before screaming and cheering for them on stage, let’s take a moment trying to know more about this colorful and shouty quartet. Formed in 2016 in Tokyo, Broken By The Scream (or BBTS) is born from Katsuya Kumamoto’s imagination, alias Electro Sonar, guitarist, producer and composer. The ambition? To fuse the aesthetics and “kawaii” voices of Japanese idols with the brutality of extreme metal. A bold gamble… but a successful one.
On January 26, 2025, we had the chance to meet the idol group Fragrant Drive during their 30-minute performance at the Uchisaiwaicho Hall in Shimbashi! Fragrant Drive (フラグラント ドライブ) is an idol group that debuted in 2018 as a result of the merger between two groups, seeDream and Clef Leaf.
As Bonjour Idol’s producer ‘Nato’ is back in Japan this January, we made the most of this month to find new idol groups to introduce to you. And here is one of them: we are pleased to introduce the adorable idol group Kimi to Serendipity! After a debut in October 2022 at Sanrio Puroland, and they are also known as ‘KimiSere’. Their name means 『この出会いが、幸せな未来になりますように。』, which translates to "May this encounter lead to a happy future."
On September 7th, 2020 was held the first edition of the collaborative concert MAD SHAKE exclusively broadcast online, in Shibuya Quattro in Tokyo. This hour and a half brought together 4 artists including the electro group NIKO NIKO TAN TAN, the idols rock group SOMOSOMO, the pop/rock group MINAMIS as well as the widely known solo idol Terashima Yufu. For this occasion, Bonjour Idol wishes to highlight the rock idol group of the evening, SOMOSOMO!