Toycon is upon us! And just as I did before the global pandemic, I’m here to put a spotlight on three of their idol guests who will grace the annual event. The Philippines is no longer a stranger to idols, whether Jpop, Kpop, or even the rising Ppop. Toycon’s guests this year, however, are what we would call “Underground Idols”, idols who do not appear in major media such as TV broadcasts or magazines but are active mainly in live performances.
Sometimes called “live” or “indie” idols, these are artists whose bread and butter are their performances, and despite not as widely heralded as their mainstream counterparts, they can still put on quite a show. It was a pleasant surprise that Toycon would have them here, as well as other local indie idol groups. And while people probably would never have heard of them (getting info about them was hard enough), I am certain that they will put up a great show.
Himegoto Zettaichi
Debuted on May 7, 2017 with the same members still performing, Himegoto Zettaichi goes with the concept of “Kimi no Live Idol” or “Your Live Performance Idol”. Their songs are mostly of the rock genre.
Below are examples of their performances:
Chicken Blow The Idol
Yes, that’s their name, and I know it sounds weird, but listen, they have some really good bangers. The group goes with the theme of shy and timid girls becoming idols on stage, using music as their weapon of choice. The music in question, is youthful rock-sounding music.
This four-member group composed of Ruko, Mikan, Mayoi, and Assa, usually performs in Meguro RockMayKan and Ikebukuro Edge, and has also performed recently in Thailand. They plan to hold their first big solo live concert at Zepp Shinjuku on September 26, 2023, with a goal of attracting 1,500 people.
Here are some of their performances:
ToBeRadical
Let’s face it, when was the last time a Jpop boy band visited our shores? ToBeRadical or “Tobira” is a 6 member male dance and vocal unit from Japan. They aspire to be the pioneer Japanese men’s group to join their fellow Asian counterparts in expanding throughout the world and “open the door” to a new entertainment industry.
Led by Half Filipino-Half Japanese Eto, they debuted in 2021 and has performed in KT Zepp, 1000club, and in the ALTA Key Studio since. They have also recently performed in Thailand in 2022.
Atushi Shimada and MiNE, producers of Tohoshinki, Arashi, etc., worked on the group’s music production. The group’s dance choreographers include talented instructors such as SUEN.
You can watch their performances here:
