Hello, I am Nishimero, a music media reporter in Japan.

Let me briefly introduce myself. I originally loved indie rock music as a listener, but in 2010, I discovered the group BiS and became completely fascinated by the “underground idol” culture.

In the scene at that time, idol culture was being crossed with rock, punk, noise, and other musical genres one after another, producing a series of exciting works that overturned the traditional image of idols. It was like an experimental ground, an exciting place for any music lover.

More than 10 years have passed since then. As a reporter, I still have opportunities to cover idols and write reports on live shows, but I have come to realize that there are many aspects of idol culture that I have not experienced in real life, such as attending benefit events and taking cheki.

Now, in 2025, I feel the urge to learn more about the “underground idol” culture myself and share its appeal with the world. Japan’s underground idol scene is a unique culture, not only in terms of music and performance, but also in terms of the unique interaction with fans and the form of community. I would like to experience it directly and show everyone how interesting it is.

In this series of articles, I will dive into the idol scene with an almost beginner’s approach. I hope to share what I felt, saw, and learned in the field with people overseas. I hope that this article will help you feel a little closer to Japanese idol culture. So, let’s dive into the world of underground idols together!

Vol.1 Taking Cheki with Idols

In Japan, especially in Tokyo, live concerts featuring underground idols are held every day.

It was 23 January, when I just didn’t have any plans. Looking at the schedule of live music venues, I decided to check out an idol group called KOURiN, which was having its first one-man show in Shibuya. I had almost zero prior information. What kind of landscape would I see at the live performance of KOURiN, an idol group I was seeing for the first time? I entered the venue with a sense of excitement.

When it was time for the show to begin, the seven members appeared on stage. Dressed in cute yet stylish white costumes, they opened the live performance with their impressive behavior. The audience’s excitement was at its peak as they performed a series of powerful rock-oriented songs. It was my first time to see them perform live, but the energy and freshness of their performance had my body naturally beating to the rhythm of the music.

The audience filled the venue, cheering in their own way with light sticks in their hands. The members performed with smiles on their faces. It was impressive to see the audience cheering for their favorite members and coloring the stage, creating a unique sense of unity.

Among them, Ms. Risa Sakamoto especially caught my attention. Her captivating smile, combined with her clear yet powerful singing voice, truly stood out. My attentions naturally turned to her, and I found myself being attracted to her charms.

After the live concert, I went to the merchandise corner to purchase a ticket for a cheki. Two types of tickets were available: 1,000 yen without autograph and 2,000 yen with autograph. After a little hesitation, I chose the autographed one because I had to. I was relieved to see they accepted both cash and cashless payments. They also made a point card for me. There were also other goods available, such as a lottery, T-shirts, and acrylic stands, but I decided to focus on my first cheki today.

After the live show, the audience nervously waits in line at the same venue for a cheki photo with their favorite member. One of the rules of Cheki is that the person at the very back of the line waits with a paper saying “Last in line for a photo”.

Finally, the members appeared on the floor, ready for the session. In front of Risa Sakamoto’s line, the person herself appeared. Her smile is sparkling!　I handed my cheki ticket to the staff, stood next to Ms. Sakamoto, flashed a peace sign, and took a cheki photo. As I watched the photo develop, I asked her to sign it, and then had a conversation with Sakamoto-san. How was the concert?” Why did you come today?” I couldn’t help being nervous when she said these things to me.

I was so excited to hear her voice, even though I felt rushed! I told her how much I liked her singing voice, and the time passed quickly.I received an autographed cheki from Ms. Sakamoto and left the line with the words, “Please come again.

I am writing this article after returning home, looking at my cheki photos, and reflecting on the show. My first underground idol event was filled with a different kind of enthusiasm and charm compared to my previous music experiences. I usually just watch the live show and leave, but looking at the cheki photos from the benefit event brought back vividly the live show’s afterglow and made me want to go back to the site again.

It was KOURiN’s 1st ONEMAN LIVE that I went to on a whim, but it was a great day because I felt like I got a glimpse of the depth of the underground idol world that I didn’t know yet through the live performance. I hope to use this experience as a stepping stone to further explore the appeal of underground idols!

KOURiN Official HP：https://kourin.ryzm.jp/

Official X：https://x.com/kourin0726?s=21&t=CBhpixyA0raU59_kuYNwYw

Official Instagram：https://www.instagram.com/kourin0726?igsh=NDlnM2JiZHo3b3Zh