1/2 - Weather in Tokyo is currently hot and humid, and idols are also suffering from the heat. On the morning of July 16, Yua Kudo of Mabudachu! was rushed to hospital with dehydration. Fortunately, she has now recovered and will resume activities on July 19. www.nikkansports.com...

Ado and YOASOBI will both perform at the Lollapalooza festival in Chicago this summer, and their performances, and those of 170 other artists, will be streamed live globally on Disney+. It will be YOASOBI's second appearance at the major festival and Ado's first. x.com/DisneyPlusJP/s...

1/2 - AKB48 have become the latest to warn against harassing and defamatory behaviour on social media. Management had seen posts that damage the members' reputation and character, spread false information, and contain threats - they will take strict action, including legal measures where necessary.

1/2 - AKB48's new theatre show, "Dream Pop Star", with a theme of "vocal ability" will start on August 7, with a setlist of appropriate songs from AKB48's 20-year history. natalie.mu/music/new...

1/2 - "ConChu!" is the name of a Hello! Project unit formed as ambassadors for the "Great Insect Exhibition". helloproject.com/new...

1/2 - Former NMB48 member Azusa Uemura has announced her return to the idol world as a member of recently formed group "Kakekko!" saying this will be her last time. Since graduating from NMB48 the 27-year-old became producer/member of idol group "mignon" who disbanded in April.

Oricon's Weekly Streaming Trending chart sees a 2026 version of NiziU's pre-debut track "Make you happy" (from 2020) at number one, with a new version of iLiFE!'s 2023 track "Ai ni KiTE!" in second place as old tracks make a resurgence. www.oricon.co.jp/ran...

AKB48 have revived "Aitakatta" after 20 years, with a 2026 version of their major debut single being included in the regular and "Official Shop" editions of their 68th single "Suki-ish", which will be released on August 19. www.akb48.co.jp/news...

JCB has launched "Oshikatsu Cancellation Insurance" for fans in Japan. It compensates for fees incurred due to sudden cancellations or postponements of performances but, as noted in the ad, it cannot insure against the emotional disappointment of missing your favorite idol. www.mysurance.co.jp/...

1/2 - Dance-vocal group Dream reunited for the first time in around 9 years at Dream Ami's "Milkyway" performance in Tokyo on July 7. Dream Ami also announced that Shizuka, Aya, and Erie will join her as special guests on a concert tour that starts in October. www.oricon.co.jp/new...

1/4 - A first generation idol with Bakusute Sotokanda Icchome, then known as Mio Katsuragi, has been describing several sad incidents leading to her becoming an adult video (AV) actress. She was badly bullied at school because of her voice, with curry being poured over her head in one incident.

1/2 - Miyabi Natsuyaki has announced an audition for a rock idol group. The former Hello! Project idol will be the overall producer, working with a top composer/arranger and choreographer. miyabinatsuyaki-audi...

1/2 - With so many "STAR PLANET" idol groups having disbanded or announced their disbandment in the last 8 months it's reassuring that "the show goes on" for Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku as they head towards the group's 15th anniversary in 2027. natalie.mu/music/new...

1/3 - Cho Tokimeki♡Sendenbu have been explaining their decision to disband, which they announced on July 1. toki-sen.com/content...

1/2 - Idols and pro wrestling will meet at TOKYO IDOL FESTIVAL (TIF) 2026, though you won't see idols grappling with each other. www.tjpw.jp/lp/6a449...

1/2 - A former idol runs a bookshop in Tokyo that particularly caters to families with young children. Yumemi Bookstore is run by former Dempagumi.inc idol Nemu Yumemi - it was set up in 2019 after she graduated. (pic is bookstore and Nemu Yumemi in her idol days)

1/2 - "Atashi no Toriko", a group of former idols with an average age of 28, made their debut on June 29. Leader Anju Takeuchi (31) said "We are a group of five who have come together to pursue our dreams of becoming idols without giving up". www.tokyo-sports.co....

Former AKB48 member Asuka Kuramochi chose a wrestling ring, where she is a ring announcer, to announce her marriage to a non-celebrity man. The 36-year-old released a photo of herself with former wrestling great Kenta Kobashi, who was a witness at her marriage registration. x.com/asuka_k911/sta...

1/2 - Talent and former SKE48 member Mizuki Kuwabara (34) has married wrestler Seiya Sanada, whose ring name is SANADA - the 38-year old is signed to "New Japan Pro-Wrestling", where he is a member of "House of Torture". (they are pictured with their two dogs) x.com/little_mamy_19...

1/2 - ≠ME have announced an audition for new members, the first audition for any of the three Rino Sashihara-produced groups. In a vid she said she didn't want to meet candidates who wanted to become famous, or even idols - she wanted girls who wanted to become ≠ME. not-equal-me.jp/feat...

1/2 - Management of idol group "Kumamoto Flavor" have urged restraint after a 14-year-old member was asked to pose in an inappropriate way at a photo session, and when it was refused by management she was requested again and subjected to language inappropriate for a child to hear.

Eight member idol group "LOVE CHANT" have been launched by Box Corporation, who manage MAGiCAL PUNCHLiNE. The costumes have been designed by Wa-Suta's Ruka Mishina (a first for her). They make their stage debut on July 22. lovechant.fanpla.jp/

SPEED have opened a TikTok account as part of their 30th anniversary celebrations. The group will mainly use the account to post extracts from the group's classic MV's or live performances. www.tiktok.com/@spee...

1/2 - It's difficult to know how award shows like MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN affect the popularity of artists involved. However, it certainly affected Hitsujibungaku's "Koe", which was performed live, and won the "Best Alternative Song", with streaming up 245% compared to an average of the previous 28 days.

Former Morning Musume member, Rio Kitagawa, has announced that she will make her debut as an announcer for TV Tokyo on the station's "TV Tokyo Music Festival 2026 Summer" show on June 28. The 22-year-old also opened a new Instagram account at www.instagram.com/ri..., posting her official photo.

1/2 - The "Cool Japan Fund", set up to promote Japanese culture overseas, seems likely to be closed down with debts of ¥54 billion (US$ 335 million). The fund, which partnered with private companies to promote food, music, anime and other Japanese products, made several poor investment decisions.

1/3 - Mei Hanada, who had her contract with AKB48 terminated on June23, returned to X again, this time to apologise for her own behaviour as the root cause (presumably a reference to her connection with a fan), admitting that it was grounds for contract termination. x.com/mei_hanada/sta...

Ado has signed with WME Group, a US-based worldwide talent agency, looking ahead to Ado's expansion of activities overseas. This follows on from her massively successful "Hibana World Tour" in 2025, which has been credited as the largest global tour by a Japanese artist. www.universal-music....

1/3 - Mei Hanada, whose contract was terminated by AKB48 earlier today following various incidents (see x.com/JPopProjectNew...), has published a vid giving her point of view. x.com/mei_hanada/sta...

1/4 - On June 23, Mei Hanada became the first member of AKB48 to have her contract terminated, after discussions about a number of incidents became deadlocked. The 21-year-old had been suffering from poor health since December, leading to a temporary hiatus in May. www.akb48.co.jp/news/detailp...