Japanese music production company WACK is heading overseas for the sixth time with their international event, WACK in the UK vol.6, taking place at The Underworld in London on June 5th (Thu) and 6th (Fri), 2025. The two-day event features ASP, ExWHYZ, and MAMESHiBA NO TAiGUN on Day 1, with MAPA, PIGGS, and ZOCX + Karen Aizome taking the stage on Day 2.

In this article, we sat down with PIGGS, one of the featured acts on Day 2. Formed in April 2020 during the global outbreak of COVID-19, PIGGS is an idol group whose name stands for “Produce IDOL Go to world is Good Society.” Their fans are affectionately known as “Boo-chans.” The group currently consists of six members: Pour Lui, SHELLME, BAN-BAN, KINCHAN, BIBI, and SU-RING.

Pour Lui, the group’s founder, is also a trailblazer in the Japanese idol scene as the original founder of the legendary group BiS. She now serves as PIGGS’ CEO, producer, and active member. Known for their bold and intense activities—such as living together as a group, walking on foot between Tokyo and Osaka during a tour, and filming a music video by performing the same song over 100 times—PIGGS balances such extreme projects with heartfelt performances and a strong sense of joy. What philosophy drives this one-of-a-kind idol group? We spoke with all six members to find out.

—To start things off, could each of you please introduce yourselves?

Pour Lui: Hi, I’m Pour Lui. I used to be a member of a group called BiS. One of my favorite hobbies is making cute little characters out of felt. I’ve been an idol for 15 years now. Nice to meet you!

SHELLME: I’m SHELLME, the self-proclaimed party girl of PIGGS! I love fashion, and more than anything—I love alcohol! I pride myself on being able to get along with anyone, anywhere, anytime. My go-to drink is oolong-hai (a tea-based cocktail), but honestly, I’ll drink pretty much anything!

BAN-BAN: I’m BAN-BAN, your resident firecracker! I’m obsessed with weight training lately—I really want to get super buff, haha. I also just graduated from the University of Tokyo, which is considered the top university in Japan, and now I’m focusing fully on being an idol. I also love baking and eating bread, and I’m looking forward to checking out all the great bakeries in London!

KINCHAN: I’m KINCHAN, the “mochi” of PIGGS—soft and squishy! My hobby is going to cafés… or more accurately, I enjoy going to izakayas (Japanese pubs) alone, haha. I moved from the countryside to Tokyo to join PIGGS, and I’m working hard to become a proper city girl. Nice to meet you!

SU-RING: I’m SU-RING, and I love birds! I’m the super energetic type—like, I have way too much energy all the time. I currently have five birds at home, mostly budgies, and I adore them. They’re all so cute, I shower them with love every day.

BIBI: Hi, I’m BIBI, and I’m in charge of the “feels-like-the-wind” vibe in PIGGS. I graduated this March with a degree in philosophy. I love collecting cute things, especially stuffed animals, and recently I’ve gotten into cute fashion too—I’m even trying out Lolita style! I also enjoy drinking tea. Nice to meet you!

—What kind of group is PIGGS?

Pour Lui: PIGGS was formed in April 2020. I launched the group as its CEO, producer, and member. We started right in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, so it was a tough time to get together and do things as a group. For about the first four years, we all lived together under one roof while working on our activities.

We’ve done some pretty unconventional things—like walking all the way from Tokyo to Osaka and back again on tour, performing the same song 109 times in a row for a music video, running a 100-kilometer marathon, or taking on 100 challenges before being allowed to release a song. Stuff like that.

—What made you want to take on such intense, demanding challenges?

Pour Lui: When I was in my previous group, BiS, we also did a lot of wild and unusual stuff. I guess I have a bit of a masochistic streak, haha. But more than that, I really love how people’s true selves—their personalities and emotions—reveal themselves under tough circumstances. I wanted fans to fall in love not just with our music, but with each member’s character. That’s why we deliberately took on such extreme projects.

—For the rest of the members, was it this kind of “raw humanity revealed through hardship” that attracted you to PIGGS?

Pour Lui: Hmm… I think SHELLME didn’t really know anything when she joined, haha. BAN-BAN already knew about BiS and WACK, so she probably had some idea that Pour Lui was a bit of a “weird idol,” so to speak. But SHELLME—she really knew nothing about idols at all.

SHELLME: Seriously, I had absolutely no clue, haha.

—Then how did you end up finding your way to PIGGS?

SHELLME: I had just left my previous agency, and I was basically in a situation where if I didn’t start something new soon, I’d be dragged back to my parents’ house. So I just started applying to anything and everything—probably around 100 different places. At the time, someone I worked with at my part-time job was a big idol fan, and they said, “There’s this idol named Pour Lui, and she’s holding auditions.” I didn’t even really remember what I applied for—PIGGS was just one of many I sent out to.

—Once you actually joined PIGGS and started your activities, how did it feel?

SHELLME: Honestly, in a bad way—I wasn’t thinking about anything at all, haha. I was just like, “Yay! Now I don’t have to go back to my parents’ house!” When the pandemic hit and Japan went into a state of emergency, they asked me, “Can you start living together with the group starting tomorrow?” and I immediately said yes.

Pour Lui: I think SHELLME had a surprisingly strong tolerance for idol life. What really matters is how seriously you can commit to what you’re told. In the idol world—especially in the groups I’ve been part of—you don’t necessarily create things by yourself. It’s a team effort. You’re supported by so many people: the ones who make your costumes, write your songs, plan your events and tours. That’s why I think it’s important to be grateful and to give it your all.

In that sense, both SHELLME and BAN-BAN are incredibly open and responsive. When I said things like “Let’s run 100 kilometers” or “Let’s live together,” they’d just go “Okay!” and dive into it with a smile. I really think that kind of attitude makes them perfect for idol life.

—BAN-BAN, you were accepted into the University of Tokyo. What made you want to become an idol instead?

BAN-BAN: Back in high school, I discovered the idol group that Pour Lui was part of, and I became a fan. I actually failed the University of Tokyo entrance exam the first time I tried. Around that same time, Pour Lui was holding her graduation concert in Tokyo, and my mom took me to see it. The fans had organized a surprise glowstick event, and after the show, I saw them going around collecting the sticks while crying and bowing to everyone, saying “Thank you so much…”

It was such a powerful display of emotion. I thought, “Wow, idols can move people like this.” That moment changed my admiration into aspiration—I didn’t just want to watch, I wanted to be one.

So I told my mom, “I want to quit studying and go to Tokyo to become an idol.” She told me, “If you say you’re going to do something, see it through. Once you get into university, you can do what you want.” So I made a plan: if I got into the University of Tokyo, I could move to Tokyo and become an idol. I studied hard, passed the entrance exam, and made it happen.

—Next up is KINCHAN. What led you to join PIGGS?

KINCHAN: I’ve been a big fan of WACK idols for a long time. Around 2017, I came across their livestreamed bootcamp-style auditions and thought, “What is this!?” It totally blew my mind, and I’ve been following them ever since. Every year I would casually send in audition applications just for fun. But over time, I started to seriously want to become an idol.

When I was thinking about job hunting, I really asked myself, “What do I want to do with my life?” The answer that came to me was, “I want to make people smile.” And for me, that meant becoming an idol. Around that time, I saw that PIGGS was holding an additional audition. I applied, passed, and moved to Tokyo to join the group.

—SU-RING, what made you want to join PIGGS?

SU-RING: Like KINCHAN, I’ve been a huge fan of WACK idols for a long time. Ever since I was a kid, I really wanted to become an idol—but not the kind of idol who’s just cute and sparkly. I wanted to be a cool idol. I had auditioned for different groups before, but things never quite worked out. I was at the point where I was thinking, “Maybe I should just give up…” And then I saw PIGGS was holding auditions on Twitter. I thought, “This might be my last chance,” and decided to go for it.

—Did you already think of PIGGS as a ‘cool’ idol group?

SU-RING: Yeah, definitely. My idea of idols used to be something like: sparkly, perfect, only showing the pretty side—like they don’t even sweat. But when I saw PIGGS for the first time, it felt like they were showing everything. Nothing was hidden. They didn’t just show the polished parts—and that’s exactly what made them so compelling to me. I was drawn to that openness and honesty.

—And BIBI, what made you want to join PIGGS?

BIBI: The first time I thought about becoming an idol was actually when I auditioned for a WACK group. At that time, I wasn’t really thinking “I want to be an idol”—it was more like, “I want to try auditioning for one.” I’m the type of person who wants to do a lot of different things in life, and becoming an idol was one of those things on my list.

By some stroke of luck, I made it to the bootcamp stage of the audition, but I didn’t pass in the end. I went home, and later I saw the people who did pass becoming real idols and doing well. That was the first time I felt real frustration. It hit me: “Oh… I actually do want this. I really want to be an idol.”

As for why I chose PIGGS—it was because I saw their live footage on YouTube and thought, “This group is genuine.” I had always believed idols were just about showing their sparkly side. But with PIGGS, it felt like they were showing their raw, authentic selves. It felt like they were singing with me, not to me. That made me realize PIGGS had the power to truly connect with people. I thought, “If I can be part of that—if I can gain that kind of power—I might be able to share something meaningful with the world.” That’s why I auditioned for PIGGS.

—Hearing all of your stories, it really feels like each of you were drawn to Pour Lui’s deep sense of “humanity.”

Pour Lui: Yeah, I think a lot of the girls who joined probably resonated with that aspect of things. Oh, and I forgot to mention this earlier—but another reason we’ve done so many intense projects is because we place a huge emphasis on “team spirit” in PIGGS.

From the beginning, we’ve done a lot of livestreams, and our fans—who we call “Boo-chans”—often say it feels like they’re part of the group too. When we do those extreme projects, our creative team—people like Ryan.B, METTY, and Kamiya Saki—as well as our on-site staff all get emotionally invested. It becomes a shared journey. Everyone starts to feel like they’re part of the team. That’s why we did so many of those projects early on.

—You’re quite a unique figure yourself, Pour Lui. There aren’t many idols in Japan who are also CEOs, stand on stage, and run their own company. What made you decide to take that kind of path?

Pour Lui: To be honest, it wasn’t like I had some grand vision from the start. After I graduated from BiS, I tried doing a band, and then I went through BiS (second generation) and BILLIE IDLE. Eventually, for the first time in my career, I found myself in a place where I had nothing lined up next.

That was the first time I seriously asked myself, “What do I really want to do from here?” Around that time, I had dinner with Junnosuke Watanabe, the head of WACK. He asked me, “So what’s next for you?” I knew I still wanted to be in a group, and that I hadn’t given up on my dream of making it in music. But I wasn’t sure if that meant being in an idol group or a band.

Then he said, “I’ll fund it—why don’t you try doing whatever it is you really want to do?” And that’s how PIGGS was born.

—So from the beginning, you knew you wanted to do it as a group.

Pour Lui: Definitely. I’ve never really had any interest in being a solo artist. I’ve always cared about doing things as a team—moving together as a group. I’ve spent so many years as an idol saying things like “I want to perform at Budokan,” or “I want to stand on the stage at Yokohama Arena again.” But I’ve never actually achieved those goals.

Now that I’m older, I don’t have many chances left to try. So when I started PIGGS, it was with a real sense of determination—like, “This time, I’m really going to see it through.”

—Why did you decide to name the group “PIGGS”?

Pour Lui: After BILLIE IDLE ended and I started thinking about what to do next, I really spent a lot of time asking myself, “What makes me push myself? What drives me?” Ever since the first run of BiS ended in 2014, I’d always felt a bit burned out. No matter what project I tried afterward, a part of me kept thinking, “BiS was the best.” I couldn’t shake that feeling. So when it came time to create a new group, I knew I had to overcome that mindset first.

I kept thinking, “Why was BiS so much fun? Why couldn’t I give it my all in other groups?” I’m a bit of a masochist by nature, and honestly, I’m kind of lazy. I don’t really tap into my full potential unless I’m under pressure. I also get bored easily unless I’m constantly doing something new—otherwise, things start to feel repetitive.

And since I’m known as a former BiS member, I figured if I started a new idol project, around 200–300 people would probably show up right from the beginning. That kind of “privileged start” didn’t sit well with me. What fired me up about early BiS was that no one knew who I was. We had zero fans in the beginning, and we built everything from scratch. That raw, from-the-ground-up energy—I wanted that again. I wanted to start completely from zero.

That’s why I actually first thought about starting a group in China. The name “PIGGS” is short for “Produce IDOL Go to world is Good Society.” It’s kind of a forced acronym, haha. But at the time, I was serious about starting something internationally. Looking back, though, maybe part of it was that I just wanted to run away from everything.

Now I realize that was kind of a naïve idea. Then PIGGS began, and right after that, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. We couldn’t go overseas—we couldn’t even leave the country, or go outside. But I decided to keep the name anyway, and that’s how PIGGS came to be what it is today.

So for us to be going overseas now, it honestly means a lot. It finally feels like we’re standing at the starting line of that dream: “going to the world.”

—For people discovering PIGGS for the first time, what’s one song you’d recommend they start with?

BAN-BAN: I’d recommend the song “Toraeru”. It’s a track that’s been super important to us ever since the early days of PIGGS. All of us in the group love it, and our fans do too. Whenever we perform it live, we put everything we have into it. It really captures the essence of who we are.

Pour Lui: That was actually the very first song written for PIGGS by our sound producer, Ryan.B. The lyrics are basically about PIGGS itself. If you want to know what this group is all about, “Toraeru” is the perfect place to start.

BAN-BAN: The choreography is easy to learn, and it’s a song that everyone can dance to together. If you watch the live performance on YouTube, I think you’ll enjoy it even more!

BIBI: My pick is “Fleeting”. It was the first music video we shot after SU-RING and I joined the group, and it was also our very first recording as new members. SU-RING kicks off the live version with a shout, and it’s so cool. Compared to “Toraeru,” this one has a more fiery, burning intensity to it.

SHELLME: I really love “NAKED BORN NAKED DIE.” It’s a fan favorite too, and the energy it brings at our shows is just insane! Like “Toraeru,” it really heats up the connection between us on stage and the crowd. You know how we’re all born naked and we die naked? It’s a feeling that transcends borders, I think.

Pour Lui: Well, I mean… not everyone dies naked, haha.

SHELLME: Okay yeah, maybe that was a bit dumb of me, haha. But it’s a fun and passionate song, and it was the first one KINCHAN ever performed with us. Back then, she was still covering her face during performances, and we still have video footage from those early shows. You can see her nervous expression and that raw tension—it really feels like “real Japanese idols.” I hope people check it out.

KINCHAN: My recommendation is “DEJABOO.” It’s super catchy, with a melody that really sticks in your head. There’s a rap-style section right before the chorus, and during the chorus we all shout “Boo Boo!” together—it’s got this fun, pop vibe. But the lyrics are actually quite passionate, and it really gets the crowd going live. It’s one of my favorites!

SU-RING: I’d recommend “LINK EMOTION.” Before I joined, I always thought “Toraeru” was the definitive PIGGS song, but I think “LINK EMOTION” stands right beside it as one of our most important tracks. In the original music video, we’re dancing in a steamy room that looks like a sauna, completely drenched in sweat—it really left an impression on me. Later, we re-recorded it and shot a new MV with all six of us, also in a sauna! It’s a huge hit at our shows, so please check it out.

Pour Lui: I’d like to highlight “Piggs – Mona Lisa.” When we created this song, it was the first time I thought, “Maybe PIGGS really can make it.” The first MV was filmed back when there were five of us, and some of those members are no longer in the group—but that’s just part of our reality. The final line of the song is just one word: “Soredemo” (meaning “Even so” or “Still”). I feel like everything about PIGGS is packed into that one word.

None of us have had a perfectly smooth, easy life. We’ve all lived with the mindset of “still, we go on.” That’s why this song resonates so deeply. And the big shout of “Wooo!” in the chorus—that’s something anyone, anywhere can yell together. I really hope we can throw our fists in the air and shout it with everyone in London!

—Idol performances can vary a lot—some groups are all about glowsticks and fan chants, while others have intense, aggressive shows. What are PIGGS’ live shows like?

Pour Lui: Actually, we’re more of a glowstick group. Since PIGGS started during the pandemic, we debuted in an era when cheering was banned at concerts. So for a long time, the only way fans could show their support was by waving glowsticks. Even now, a lot of fans still bring their member-colored glowsticks to shows.

That said, we don’t force anything—everyone is welcome to enjoy the show however they want. What I really aim for is a happy live atmosphere. In the past, the groups I’ve been in tended to have this sort of heavy, tragic vibe. But with PIGGS, I want our shows to be fun and even laugh-out-loud silly—but also to leave you feeling a little emotional at the end. That’s the kind of live experience we try to create.

—Finally, could each of you share a message or your thoughts going into PIGGS’ first overseas performance?

BIBI: I’m honestly so happy that we get to go to London as PIGGS. We sing in Japanese and the audience in London speaks English, so the words might be different—but I believe that feeling of “Whoa, I love this!” comes from the heart, before language even matters. I’d be thrilled if we could share that kind of raw emotion through our live performance. I’ll give it everything I’ve got. I can’t wait!

SU-RING: It’s my first time going abroad, so I’m really nervous. But I’ve watched videos of WACK idols performing in London, and I always thought, “Wow, that’s so cool!” The fans looked like they were having such a genuinely good time, and I hope we can put on a show like that too. I’m really grateful we get to perform in London, and I’ll do my best to make people think, “PIGGS is awesome!” or “I want to see them again!”

KINCHAN: This will be the first time for me to go overseas—both as a member of PIGGS and personally. So I’m definitely nervous. But I believe music is a universal language. I just want to deliver PIGGS’ sound and spirit with everything I’ve got. To everyone coming to the show: please feel free to enjoy it however you like! I’ll do my best!

BAN-BAN: This is our first live show outside of Japan, and it’s such a rare and valuable opportunity. The fact that people from a completely different country and culture will be sharing the same space with us—that alone makes it incredibly special. I’m going to give it my all to make sure we create an unforgettable time together! I hope you’re looking forward to it—and please, come join us!

SHELLME: I want someone in London to love PIGGS so much that they say, “I’m gonna move to Japan for them!” That’s the kind of live I want to give. I hope people leave saying, “Bring PIGGS back again!” I can’t speak a word of English, but I’m excited to see how far these Japanese gal vibes can take me. I’m coming in ready to make everyone a PIGGS fan!

Pour Lui: Even though I’ve been an idol for 15 years, this is actually my first time performing overseas. There’s a lot of unknowns, but one thing I do know is that I’m bringing my full heart with me. I may not speak English, but I’m confident I can communicate how I feel.

Sometimes I see overseas fans covering our songs on social media—and it makes me so happy. Whether you’re a London gal or a London dude (haha), I’d love it if you became a fan of PIGGS. And if you ended up singing or dancing to our songs someday, that would be amazing.

We don’t get many chances to go abroad, so I’m fired up to give my best performance—and also just really looking forward to enjoying the moment. I want it to be a show we all can have fun with together. And one thing I absolutely want to get across is: This version of PIGGS, right now, is the best we’ve ever been.

INTERVIEW：Hiroo Nishizawa
Photo：Teppei Daido

■ LIVE Info

WACK in the U.K. Vol. 6 DAY1&DAY2
DATE: DAY1-Thursday June 5 / DAY2- Friday June 6 2025
OPEN: 7PM (DAY1&DAY2)
VENUE: The Underworld (London)
APPEARANCE :
DAY1 – Thursday June 5 : MAMESHIBA NO TAIGUN, ASP, ExWHYZ
DAY2 – Friday June 6 : MAPA, PIGGS, ZOCX
*Kanano Senritsu will not perform at this show; ZOCX + Karen Aizome will perform in a special formation.
General Tickets: £30 (Entry from 7pm)
VIP Upgrade Ticket: £120 – strictly limited. It includes:
· Light lunch with the members
· Cheki photo with group of choice
· Cheki photo with member of choice (plus autograph)
· Exclusive T-shirt (Japanese XL size)
· Early entry to the show.
· VIP ticket holders do not need to purchase a general entry ticket.
To upgrade via DICE please purchase a general ticket, then log into your DICE account and choose the upgrade option.
Day one: The tickets will go on sale at noon (12:00 PM) London time on March 29.
Day two:The tickets will go on sale at noon (12:00 PM) London time on March 29.

Day one: https://link.dice.fm/4OqyaX4f4Rb?sharer_id=6560e9e76f7c080001787c1e

Day two: https://link.dice.fm/sfNHad8f4Rb?sharer_id=6560e9e76f7c080001787c1e

————-
Timetable:
DAY1 – Thursday June 5
12:30 – VIP light lunch and cheki event
14:00 – Cheki ticket sale begins for general ticket holders.
14:30 – General cheki event
18:30 – VIP early entry
19:00 – General entry
19:30 – MAMESHIBA NO TAIGUN
20:20 – ASP
21:10 – ExWHYZ
22:00 – End

DAY2 – Friday June 6
12:30 – VIP light lunch and cheki event
14:00 – Cheki ticket sale begins for general ticket holders.
14:30 – General cheki event
18:30 – VIP early entry
19:00 – General entry
19:30 – MAPA
20:20 – PIGGS
21:10 – ZOCX
22:00 – End

About Cheki event:
Cheki are a type of polaroid style photo that is popular in Japan. The VIP ticket already includes 2 cheki opportunities. Further opportunities, as well as opportunities for general ticket holders, will be available by purchasing cheki tickets from the mech stand. Each cheki ticket purchased will allow for one cheki to be taken with a member of the ticket holder’