OSAKA - At just 15, Rino, a third-year junior high school student from Kansai, has spent the past two years chasing her dream of becoming a K-pop idol. Inspired by her brother Keita, a member of the Korean boy group EVNNE, she has been training intensively in dance and language in hopes of debuting in South Korea rather than Japan.
Rino’s daily routine revolves around relentless practice. She spends an hour and a half in dance lessons, perfecting rhythm and form until she is drenched in sweat. At home, she studies Korean, often struggling but determined to improve. Her father helps her maintain discipline, even building a mirrored room for practice. She also carefully manages her meals, eating smaller portions to maintain her figure, a common demand in the idol world.
Her motivation is deeply personal. “I saw my brother standing on stage, being admired by everyone. I want to be like that too,” she said. But the path is grueling. When she danced before a South Korean agency representative, she was told to lose 3 to 4 kilograms — a stark reminder of the industry’s strict beauty standards. From that day, she began a strict diet and daily two-hour walks. “I love food, so it’s tough,” she admitted, “but I want to do my best.”
Her family supports her wholeheartedly, even as they worry. “It’s painful to see her holding back on food,” said her father. “But as long as this is what she truly wants, we’ll support her.”
As her audition approached, Rino practiced tirelessly, even reconsidering her performance song the night before based on advice from her older sister, a professional dancer. She switched from a powerful track to a more playful, charming one, hoping to show a new side of herself. “I’ll show them a cute, fresh version of me,” she said with a smile.
On the day of the audition, around 30 participants took the stage one after another. When Rino performed, one of the judges began recording her on a smartphone—a small but meaningful gesture of interest. After her dance, she received feedback directly from the judges, who encouraged her to perform more naturally. “I’ll try to be more relaxed next time, more like an idol,” she reflected.
Weeks later, Rino received her results: she had passed the first round. Now, she continues training in dance and singing while waiting for the second-stage results. “I want to become famous enough to invite my parents to my shows and make them proud,” she said. “I want to be an artist who performs on stages around the world—just like my brother.”
Rino’s pursuit of the K-pop dream has only just begun, but her resolve and discipline hint at a future that, like her brother’s, might one day shine on the global stage.
Source: KTV NEWS
