News On Japan

MMA Fighter Mikuru Asakura to Form Idol Group

TOKYO - Mixed martial artist and judge on "Breaking Down", Mikuru Asakura, has initiated a unique entertainment project titled "Dark Idol," auditioning women in Kabukicho after the last train has departed.

The project, in collaboration with the streaming platform ABEMA and entertainment company ASOBISYSTEM, aims to redefine the concept of idols for the Reiwa era, drawing inspiration from the successful idol group FRUITS ZIPPER, who were the recipients of the Best New Artist award at the prestigious Japan Record Awards.

The "Dark Idol" project stands out by conducting auditions in the lively district of Kabukicho after the last trains have departed, creating a buzz among the public. These auditions are not for your typical idol hopefuls; instead, they are open to women with challenging pasts, including experiences with domestic violence, bullying, and other intense personal histories, who aspire to become idols.

The entertainment industry is closely watching this bold move, which is fully supported by the singer AI and ASOBISYSTEM, the talent agency known for nurturing successful artists. This initiative is expected to provide a platform for those who have faced adversity to transform their lives through the power of music and performance.

As the "Dark Idol" project progresses, it is expected to challenge and possibly change the traditional image of Japanese idols, offering a fresh perspective on what it means to be an idol in today's society.

Source: Oricon

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Typhoon No. 15 (Chan-hom) began causing significant disruption to Japan's Obon holiday travel on August 11, with ANA canceling 58 flights serving Haneda and Narita airports, JAL canceling four flights, and JR East suspending some services on the Joban Line as the storm approached eastern Japan.

Typhoon No. 15 (Chan-hom) is expected to make landfall near Ibaraki Prefecture between around 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. on August 11, bringing rapidly strengthening winds, high waves and heavy rain to parts of Kanto and southern Tohoku, with unsettled weather potentially continuing even after the storm moves inland.

Japan's H3 Rocket No. 9 successfully placed the Michibiki No. 7 navigation satellite into its planned orbit after lifting off from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture at 4:23 a.m. on August 11, marking the country's second consecutive successful H3 launch.

The Tokaido Shinkansen operated its first overnight service ahead of the Obon holiday period, offering travelers a 15,000 yen trip from the Tokyo area to Kyoto and Shin-Osaka while allowing them to save on hotel costs and arrive earlier than the first regular morning trains.

Typhoon No. 15 is expected to approach and likely make landfall somewhere in the Kanto region on August 11, bringing strong winds and heavy rain that could disrupt conventional rail services, expressways and flights while also affecting a wider area extending into Tohoku.

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