Having celebrated her 10th year in showbiz in 2023, Yui Sakurai, a member of the popular idol group FRUITS ZIPPER, will release her first photobook on February 20, 2024.

 

The photos were shot in Phuket, Thailand, and the Phi Phi Islands, which Sakurai had dreamed of visiting. On the world-class island of Phuket, the artist experienced riding an elephant along the beach and enjoyed a romantic floating breakfast in a warm pool. When visiting the Phi Phi Islands, Sakurai visited Maya Bay, which served as the location for the film The Beach and is known by many as ‘Phantom Beach.’ Along with some swimsuit shots, Sakurai also makes her first appearance in lingerie.

 

A special edition of the photobook including an acrylic stand, a special book, and an exclusive box will be sold exclusively at HMV&BOOKS online, HMV&BOOKS, HMV (participating stores), and Tower Records (the Shibuya store and online). The special book features an exclusive dialogue between Sakurai and the other members of FRUITS ZIPPER, snapshots of their many outfits, and other rare personal details. Those who purchase the special edition will also be invited to attend an exclusive event.

 

<Comment from Yui Sakurai>

“I am so excited to announce the release of my first photobook! Shooting this book overseas during the 10th anniversary of my idol career was a dream come true. The release date is February 20, which is the last day I’ll be 23 years old. I’m so lucky to be able to experience so many wonderful things!

 

Thank you so much to the fans and all of the people whose support has made this dream come true! In the book, you’ll see plenty of photos that show not only my on-stage self, but also my more relaxed self and a more personal side of me! I hope this release will give more people an opportunity to get to know me…I hope you’ll enjoy it…”

On October 28, the idol group FRUITS ZIPPER held their first arena concert at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium and announced that they would perform a solo show at Nippon Budokan on May 18, 2024 to celebrate the group’s second anniversary.   During the concert, the group also performed the new song Kimikoi (Dear you) for the first time. The track is filled with gratitude for the legions of fans who have supported the group since their debut and is available to stream now.   This September, FRUITS ZIPPER’s first nationwide tour ‘FRUITS ZIPPER JAPAN TOUR 2023 -AUTUMN-’ took the girls to Osaka, Aichi, Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Hokkaido, and Kanagawa. The tour culminated in a sold-out show at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, the first arena performance for the group. Presale tickets also sold out, and around 8,000 people attended the event. Even before the show started, there was plenty of excitement both inside and outside the venue.

When the show’s opening video began to play, the crowd’s fervor exploded. Penlights incorporating wireless lighting were introduced for this concert, and once the entire venue was flooded with beautiful, unified light, the members appeared. The concert began with Pure in the World, which has been popular throughout the tour. Continuing with Kanpeki Shugide☆ and Kimino Akaruimiraiwo Oikakete, the girls were ready to show off their skills in their first-ever arena show.

Once the girls had a chance to breathe, the audience’s cheers echoed throughout the venue. Each member asked the crowd if they were excited, and the fans quickly responded as loudly as they could.   During Fre-Fru Summer!, the girls rode in a giant float that traveled around the arena, bringing the members and fans even closer. Despite the show taking place at the end of October, the vibes inside the arena were entirely mid-summer. As the excitement of the fans grew, RADIO GALAXY began, featuring lasers and other flashy effects, turning the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium into a dance hall. Not letting up, the group transformed the atmosphere into something more emotional, performing Roller Coaster Heart, We are Frontier–remixed for the tour–and Zutto, Zutto, Zutto! The final song of the first half was CO-Kosei, which was performed for the first time at the Kanagawa concert in September and shows off FRUITS ZIPPER’s individuality.

During the halfway point titled WORLD KAWAII CLASSIC, the seven members were divided into three groups and performed a unit song for the first time. First on stage were the friendly Amaren Sisters (Amane Tsukiashi, Karen Matsumoto) to perform their song Pinky Red. The song's comical lyrics and catchy melody transformed the venue into a sea of cuteness, playing into the pair’s standard interactions. The audience was also excited to see the world’s most adorable JoJo Pose during the performance. The next unit was comprised of Suzuka Chinzei, Yui Sakurai, and Mana Manaka, who performed their song Tenshinranmanwhile showing off both their cute idol-like appearance and their uniqueness. Finally, Luna Nakagawa and Noel Hayase performed Bye-Bye, showing off a next-level melody and rap segment not heard in any FRUITS ZIPPER songs in the past. Fans couldn’t take their eyes off the girls’ performance, which was completely unexpected for an idol concert. During the MC, the members shared the story behind each song and praised one another.

The second half of the show continued with the same incredible momentum as the first. Each member appeared in new costumes covered in ribbons before performing Sekaiwa Kimikara Hajimaru, Welcome to the ♡ Furuppa, and the incredibly popular Happy Chocolate. Yui Sakurai’s line ‘Naani, naani,’ which trended on TikTok earlier this year as ‘Naaze, naaze,’ immediately struck a chord with fans.   During the second half of the show, the girls gave an energetic and cool performance of Re→TRY & FLY as flames illuminated the stage. The voltage in the venue continued to ramp up as the group performed skyfeelan and Going!, making it the perfect environment for FRUITS ZIPPER to perform their new songKimikoi (Dear you) as a surprise. The track is packed with gratitude for the group’s fans who have supported them from the start and urged them to aim higher, through their first CD release, nationwide tour, and solo concert at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. Kimikoi (Dear you) was produced with the hope of “continuing to make dreams come true together with the fans.” The lyric-like posts that have been posted on FRUITS ZIPPER’s Twitter over the past few days caused a stir among fans, and all foreshadowing led to this new song. The girls thanked everyone from the bottom of their hearts as they sang the moving lyrics with all of their might.   The concert came to a close with FRUITS ZIPPER’s signature track Watashino Ichiban Kawaiitokoro. As the members danced along to their signature track, many people in the audience did as well. 8,000 people dancing in unison truly embodied the heart of "NEW KAWAII.” But the concert wasn’t over yet. The members returned to the stage after hearing the audience loudly begging for an encore, thanking the fans for their support. “We’re not done yet, so I’d like to show everyone an even more incredible performance,” said Yui Sakurai. The group filmed a TikTok with the 8,000 audience members as they performed Watashino Ichiban Kawaiitokoro, so visit FRUITS ZIPPER’s social media to check it out!   For the encore, the girls performed Kimikoi (Dear you) again, this time allowing the audience to record video. “Let’s get this trending,” said Matsumoto as the performance began. Suddenly, a video began playing on the large screen on stage, announcing that FRUITS ZIPPER would be celebrating its second anniversary with a performance at Nippon Budokan on May 18, 2024. The members were also speechless, as they hadn’t been made aware of this exciting news. As some of the girls were moved to tears, the fans congratulated them with loud voices and warm applause. Fittingly, the group then sang Chou Medetai Song ～Konnani Shiawasede Iinokana?～, and the entire venue celebrated the overwhelmingly exciting news. The shouts of "Congratulations" rang out louder than ever before at the massive Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. Luna Nakagawa commented on the final performance of the tour with tears in her eyes, expressing her joy at being able to stand on the stage she had always dreamed of. Yui Sakurai, who celebrated her 10th idol anniversary on October 20, also reflected on the day she passed her first idol audition and the day she quit her part-time job to pursue showbiz. “I’m so happy to be able to stand before you all today as an idol, and I’m so glad I came back. Today, I was able to fulfill my dream of making so many people happy, and I hope I was able to repay everyone for their incredible kindness.” Suzuka Chinzei continued with her final remarks. “I want everyone here tonight to be happy,” she yelled with a huge smile on her face before the group launched into their debut song Kimino Akaruimiraiwo Oikakete. The girls showed their determination to strive towards the next stage of their careers, and after the song, Luna Nakagawa asked that the lights in the venue be turned off so that the girls could only see the penlights in the crowd. The seven-colored lights illuminating the venue may as well have been beacons leading FRUITS ZIPPER towards their bright future.   FRUITS ZIPPER has had a total attendance of over 16,000 people since its nationwide tour began in September, and is scheduled to perform at Nippon Budokan in May. Fans look forward to seeing what kind of happy performances await them in the future as the girls continue to evolve. <Member Comments> Comment from Suzuka Chinzei “It’s a miracle that we’ll be able to perform at Nippon Budokan on our second anniversary, and it’s all thanks to the fans and people who have always supported us that this dream is coming true. We’ll give the best possible performance as a girls' idol group worthy of standing on stage at such a legendary venue, so I hope that everyone in the world and the universe comes!”   Comment from Yui Sakurai “I can’t believe that we’ll soon be standing on stage at Budokan. It’s the goal of every idol, and we’re doing it just two years after our debut. I hope that the fans will look forward to that special day–we’ll work hard and do our best to truly become idols worthy of Nippon Budokan!”   ■Set List OP OVERTURE M01 Pure in the World M02 Kanpeki Shugide☆ M03 Kimino Akaruimiraiwo Oikakete M04 Fre-Fru Summer! M05 RADIO GALAXY M06 Roller Coaster Heart M07 We are Frontier -Tour Remix ver- M08 Zutto, Zutto, Zutto! M09 CO-Kosei M10 Pinky Red (Amane Tsukiashi, Karen Matsumoto) M11 Tenshinranman (Suzuka Chinsei, Yui Sakurai, Mana Manaka) M12 Bye-Bye (Luna Nakagawa, Noel Hayase) M13 Sekaiwa Kimikara Hajimaru M14 Welcome to the ♡ Furuppa! M15 Happy Chocolate M16 Re→TRY & FLY M17 skyfeelan M18 Going! M19 Kimikoi (Dear you) M20 Watashino Ichiban Kawaiitokoro Encore M21 Kimikoi (Dear you) M22 Chou Medetai Song ～Konnani Shiawasede Iinokana?～ M23 Kimino Akaruimiraiwo Oikakete   Kimikoi (Dear you) - FRUITS ZIPPER (New Digital Single)

The idol group FRUITS ZIPPER has been picking up steam since its debut in February 2022. On September 13, 2023, the group’s first single CD Watashino Ichiban Kawaiitokoro was released, ranking 3rd on the Billboard Japan Top Single Sales chart and 4th on the Oricon Weekly Single Ranking chart. Yui Sakurai, one of the group’s members, celebrated her 10th year as an idol on October 20, 2023. For the next year, the Yui Sakurai 10th Anniversary -IDOL OF IDOLS- project will be held.   Yui Sakurai has amassed incredible support over the past year. Her line “Nani Nani” from the song Happy Chocolate inspired “Naze Naze,” which hit the top spot in the SNS Trending Word Ranking for 2023. Sakurai was also voted #1 in the “Idols Who are Simply Cute” ranking seen on Fuji TV’s program Neru, Shuzai Ittekimasu ~Tokyo Idol Times~. FRUITS ZIPPER was formed in April 2022, but Yui Sakurai’s roots as an idol began before the group came together. Over the next year, a number of projects and events will take place to celebrate her incredible idol milestone.   The project’s official website was unveiled today and features commemorative goods for sale, as well as comments from the members of FRUITS ZIPPER. A request page has also been opened, allowing fans to send requests to Yui Sakurai detailing what they’d like to see her do for her 10th anniversary.   A live event is also scheduled for December 24, 2023. For the latest information, check FRUIT ZIPPER’s social media.

<Comment from Yui Sakurai>

“I, Yui Sakurai, have been an idol for ten years. Thank you so much for your continued support! I treasure sooooo many of the memories I’ve made with all of you, both during the tough times and the happy times. Those treasures have supported me in the past, and they continue to support me now. This year, to show my gratitude to all of you, I’m beginning my “10th Anniversary Year!” I just want to give something back to all of you, and I hope that you’re excited to see much more of me in the future. I’m working with everyone on staff to come up with a lot of ideas, so please look forward to it!” ♡♡♡   Yui Sakurai 10th Anniversary -IDOL OF IDOLS- Official Site URL: https://yuisakurai-10th-anniversary.com/  

The Harajuku-based brand KAWAII MONSTER CAFE has announced a traveling store, KAWAII MONSTER SHOP. As the project’s first event, a Halloween pop-up shop named ‘KAWAII MONSTER SHOP - Colorful Halloween’ will open for 10 days starting October 19 in the birthplace of the brand, Harajuku.   KAWAII MONSTER CAFE is an entertainment restaurant that embodies the vibe of Harajuku in Tokyo, a town that swallows fashion and culture from places around the world and reimagines them into unrestrained originality. Originally opened in 2015 and produced by artist Sebastian Masuda, the colorful and crazy space offered photogenic food and drinks, and guests were served by the iconic Monster Girls clad in future Harajuku fashion. It became a ‘new Tokyo landmark,’ attracting over 700,000 visitors from both Japan and abroad. Even after the restaurant closed in January 2021, its one-of-a-kind concept has lived on in pop-up shops, events, and collaborations with various brands and creators.   The pop-up shop, open in Harajuku for a limited time starting October 19, offers food and drinks, merchandise, special experiences, and photo spots themed around the spooky Halloween season. Additionally, a collaboration with the popular Harajuku accessory store 6%DOKIDOKI will be held from October 19-22. Colorful hair accessories will be on sale, and shop girls with Monster Girls makeup experience will be giving seasonal makeovers to visitors.  

■FOOD & DRINK

During the first half of the event, the pop-up shop will be serving food made in collaboration with the hot dog specialty restaurant HOTDOG CAFE STAND STATION TOKYO. The limited-edition menu includes the crazy Monster Dog, consisting of a monster holding a sausage in its mouth, and the monstrous Philly Cheesesteak, made with juicy tenderloin and tons of cheese.   The second half of the event will feature the Colorful Pop Burger Blue Monster (Teriyaki Chicken) from KAWAII MONSTER CAFE’s popular menu, along with French Fries with Monster Dip served with five different colorful sauces. Visitors are welcome to get into the Halloween spirit by enjoying the Monster Float during the pop-up event. <10/19~10/22 Exclusive Menu> Monster Dog: ¥880 (Tax Included) *In collaboration with HOTDOG CAFE STAND STATION TOKYO Philly Cheesesteak: ¥1,350 (Tax Included) *In collaboration with HOTDOG CAFE STAND STATION TOKYO   <10/26~10/31 Exclusive Menu> Colorful Pop Burger Blue Monster (Teriyaki Chicken): ¥1,200 (Tax Included) French Fries with Monster Dip: ¥700 (Tax Included) Monster Float: ¥800 [Rose/Passionfruit/Kyoho Grape]  

■GOODS

New KAWAII MONSTER CAFE goods will make their first appearance at this pop-up shop! Guests can visit the Sweets Factory to create their own candy assortment by filling their favorite containers with chocolates, gummies, and other goodies. Harajuku Icing Cookies will also be available in collaboration with SHONPY, a popular cake shop. Be sure to grab some incredible souvenirs!   In addition, popular KAWAII MONSTER CAFE collaboration items from years past will be available, along with adorable plushies from the globally beloved brand Ty. Visitors can also snag some unique zipit pouches and flexible PLUS PLUS blocks starting October 26.  

■EXPERIENCE

During the event, KAWAII MONSTER CAFE’s iconic Monster Girls and the character Choppy will greet guests and take photos, as well as shoot cute Halloween-inspired videos together. Visitors wishing to be transformed into Monster Girls themselves can speak to the store girls, clad in Decora fashion and rocking accessories from 6%DOKIDOKI. These ladies will provide POP Harajuku Monster makeovers featuring original tattoo stickers and unique hair accessories to get you ready for Halloween.

■PHOTO SPOT

At the event, guests will find the 3-meter tall Sweets Cake Balloon inspired by the Sweets-Go-Round Cake, the symbol of KAWAII MONSTER CAFE. Surrounded by colorful decorations and captivating monsters, visitors are sure to leave with plenty of special memories. Guests of all ages are invited to spend the Halloween season surrounded by the unique wonders of Harajuku!

BG, an apparel brand directed by Toua, has officially launched. The online store began accepting orders on September 7, 2023.

 

The name ‘BG’ stands for ‘Borderless Gradation,’ implying that the brand’s creations represent freedom without boundaries. Buyers can expect unisex items with a playful and modern touch.

 

<CONCEPT>

No matter your age or your gender,

empower yourself just the way you are.

As sure as your heart beats, always keep your curiosity.

Make today the best day of your life.

 

On September 13, 2023, popular idol group FRUITS ZIPPER released its first single CD Watashino Ichiban Kawaiitokoro. Immediately upon release, the album reached the #3 spot on the Billboard JAPAN Top Singles Sales chart and #4 on the Oricon Weekly Single Ranking chart. The titular track was released digitally in April 2022 and has received over 900 million views on TikTok and 13 million music video views on YouTube.

 

FRUITS ZIPPER is currently holding its first nationwide tour, FRUITS ZIPPER 1st JAPAN TOUR 2023 -AUTUMN- The parlor of FRUITS ZIPPER. The long-awaited tour began on September 3, and on September 16, the group held a semi-final show at KT Zepp Yokohama in Kanagawa.

 

The title of the tour, ‘The Parlor of FRUITS ZIPPER,’ hopes to inspire the audience to discover the individuality of each member, akin to a parfait with different layers. Tickets for the Osaka, Aichi, Fukuoka, Hiroshima, and Hokkaido shows have completely sold out. Tickets for the Kanagawa performance were also sold out, and the show was held in front of a completely packed house, even when accounting for the second-floor seats.

 

Multicolored lasers inspired by the member’s colors swept across the venue, cueing the group to start the show with the hit song Pure in the World, which was released digitally in August. The peppy track instantly captured the hearts of fans in the audience, and that excitement carried into the following songs: Kanpeki Shugide☆ and Fre-Fru Summer!

During the MC, the members took the time to explain the theme of the tour and their new costumes prepared exclusively for the long-awaited event. Each member has a representative fruit, and their flashy costumes feature adorable aprons and other details reminiscent of parlor clerks. “Welcome,” the members yelled, inviting fans into their unique world for a few hours to have a happy and sweet time.

 

The concert resumed immediately following the MC with Happy Chocolate, and inspired by the TikTok trend, many fans danced along during the chorus. Transforming the energy into something gentler, Sekaiwa Kimikara Hajimaru began soon after, captivating fans with its addictive sweetness. The girls showed their sexy dance moves during We are Frontier and their cooler side during the upbeat Going! With incredible momentum, FRUITS ZIPPER powered through six songs in a row, including the hyper RADIO GALAXY and Roller Coaster Heart. The audience was lucky enough to experience all sides of this multifaceted idol group, subverting expectations and wowing everyone lucky enough to attend.

After the impressive performance, Mana Manaka and Luna Nakagawa shared memories of the national tour, including a moment in Hokkaido when the two felt their lives were in danger from an enzyme bath, drawing laughter from the audience. Suzuka Chinzei also excitedly announced that she would play the starring role in the upcoming CBC drama Link!, and that the theme song for the drama would be the group’s popular track Sekaiwa Kimikara Hajimaru. Mana Manaka touchingly reflected on the group’s past performances, which visited each member’s hometown. “It felt like our triumphant return home. It was such a great experience, to show everyone how much we’ve grown.”

 

After the members and audience calmed down after the MC, Nakagawa eagerly began the second half of the show. “Are you excited, Yokohama,” she called out. The group ignited fans’ hearts with Welcome to the ♡ Furuppa! and Re→TRY & FLY, leading into one of the happiest songs in recent memory, Chou Medetai Song ~Konnani Shiawasede Iinokana?~ The audience called out the members’ names in loud voices and clapped in unison, creating a deep sense of unity between FRUITS ZIPPER and their fans. As many would expect, the final song performed was Watashino Ichiban Kawaiitokoro, the group’s most popular song which was just released as a physical single. TikTok photography was allowed for this song, and legions of fans kept their phones pointed at the stage. Check TikTok to see the colorful and adorable performance!

In typical FRUITS ZIPPER fashion, the show didn’t end there! After fans begged for an encore, the members returned to the stage to perform the new song CO-Kosei. Composed by Sho Yamamoto, the composer of Watashi no Ichiban Kawaiitokoro, the track fit the tour’s theme perfectly. The lyrics are filled with overwhelming individuality from each member, and the catchy choreography instantly grabbed the audience’s attention, with easily mimicked moves sure to be the next trend. Following the performance, the members showed their eagerness to make the ‘CO-pose’ more popular.

 

Following the TikTok shoot with fans throughout the venue–a popular trend during FRUITS ZIPPER concerts–the group performed a few more tracks, including Zutto, Zutto, Zutto! Sending love to the fans, Yui Sakurai announced the last song, asking fans to “make memories together with them.” The performance finally came to an end with a heartfelt rendition of Kimino Akaruimiraiwo Oikakete. The audience couldn’t help but dance along, making it the most earnest moment of the performance.

After the show ended, Yui Sakurai and Luna Nakagawa were so moved that they immediately hugged each other. “The song Kimi no Akaruimiraiwo Oikakete was where everything started for us, and every time I sing it, I just have so many flashbacks of the past year and a half,” Suzuka said with tears in her eyes. “The tour isn’t over, and I can’t wait to meet the fans at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium! Let’s keep making memories together, all of you and FRUITS ZIPPER.” The sweet and incredibly action-packed performance came to an end amidst a sea of loving applause.

 

During this tour, FRUITS ZIPPER has grown to new heights. Their next appearance on the national tour will take place on October 28 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, the group’s first arena performance and their largest venue to date. There’s no telling what to expect!

Text: Masatoshi Mayuzumi

Photo: Yuuna Yoshimori

     

Limited First Edition

Standard Edition

Seven-member edition