Latest news with #Rei
Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Ive drops prerelease from Japan album
Ive has unveiled the focus single from its upcoming album in Japan with a music video, agency Starship Entertainment said Friday. The group of six uploaded the video for 'Be Alright,' which fronts its third EP of the same title. Opening with Rei asleep at her desk, the other members appear one by one to pick out clothes for, and support her at an interview before dancing together at her house, savoring freedom. The single encourages listeners to keep on going instead of being afraid of changes telling them they are not alone. The new Japan mini album will be released on July 30, almost a year after Ive's second EP 'Alive,' which debuted atop Oricon's Daily Album Ranking. In April, the group dropped another track from the third EP, 'Dare Me,' as the opening theme song for a Japanese TV show.
Scoop
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Kōkōuri - New Waiata Māori Project Unveils First Of Three EP 'Hoata'
New kaupapa Māori waiata project, Kōkōuri, launches today with the release of its inaugural EP, 'Hoata'. Driven by ringarehe Hana Mereraiha, Kōkōuri is a powerful celebration of Māori storytelling through waiata, bringing together established and emerging Māori artists producers and mātanga reo Māori. Kōkōuri was born out of wānanga and deep collaboration - a space where composers come together to share their stories and musical skills. Blending personal experience, ancestral knowledge, and contemporary production, Kōkōuri explores its many layers as a cosmic presence, one deeply connected to mātauranga tuku iho, tikanga Māori, and the unique cultural identity of Aotearoa. 'Building on the legacy of Reo Māori Songhubs, this kaupapa brings together artists, producers, and storytellers across generations, from our tautōhito to emerging voices to compose original waiata that breathe life into our Reo, our stories, and our sound' says Mereraiha. The wānanga was held at Roundhead Studios and exceeded expectations, producing 15 waiata across the three days. The Kōkōuri project is unique in its intention to produce waiata through intense wānanga, releasing them as a unified body of work over three distinct EPs. Setting it apart is also its deliberate alignment with the Maramataka Māori, reflecting the project's connection to the lunar calendar and Mātauranga Tātai Arorangi (Māori astronomy). Each EP cover will feature taiao inspired artwork by ringatoi Shannon Te Rangihaeata Clamp, with the 'Hoata' cover art reflecting the specific phase of the moon at the time of the EP release. HOATA - EP One Released 27.06.25 1. Hinekauorohia – Whirimako Black | Produced by Seth Haapu & Rei 2. Pandemonium – Jordyn with a Why | Produced by Kings 3. Breathe – Naia | Produced by Kings 4. Kia ora rā – Chey Milne | Produced by Kings 5. Ko Tāua – Kiwa | Produced by Rei Kōkōuri was established to foster Indigenous talent and share Māori narratives through waiata. Upcoming releases will be supported with lyric videos, animated by Māori artists, and behind the scenes content capturing the creative process. As Kōkōuri continues to evolve, future albums will delve deeper into mātauranga ā iwi (tribal knowledge) and champion grassroots artists and writers, with plans for a mini-series profiling select artists and exploring the creation of their waiata. About Kōkōuri Kōkōuri is a kaupapa created in honour of Kōkōtea; a waiata composing wānanga for wāhine Māori initiated in 2023 by respected luminary, Dame Hinewehi Mohi. Kōkōuri was born in 2025 in association with Tauripua Creations, offering a tuakana-teina space for both emerging and established artists of diverse identities and backgrounds to collaborate within a kaupapa Māori framework. Named after the melodious Tūī, Kōkōuri draws creative and spiritual inspiration from te ao Māori, with the artwork reflecting its cosmic symbolism and connection to the natural world.
The Mainichi
14-06-2025
- General
- The Mainichi
Baby dolphin successfully bred at Aqua World in east Japan for 2nd year in row
MITO -- The Aqua World Ibaraki Prefecture Oarai Aquarium announced June 12 that a baby bottlenose dolphin was born in April, marking the second year in a row the species has been successfully bred at the facility. The aquarium in the Ibaraki Prefecture town of Oarai keeps 10 bottlenose dolphins, and the female calf was born April 29 to Rei and Nick, the only male of the 10. She has now grown to a length of about 130 centimeters. The mother kept the calf close right after she gave birth, but the baby has been swimming alone more -- a sign of healthy growth. Last year, the aquarium saw its first birth of a bottlenose dolphin since the facility's update in 2002. To continue successful delivery and nursing, they placed Rei with the mother and baby dolphins in the same tank. The staff said dolphins learn how to care for a baby by being near the mother dolphin. She appears to be raising her newborn well, helping it swim and nursing since she gave birth. The aquarium will continue monitoring the mother and baby dolphins to decide when to debut the baby and announce its name to the public. (Japanese original by Kazuki Ite, Mito Bureau)
Metropolis Japan
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Metropolis Japan
Tokyo's 'Magical Girl' Fashion Trend
Every year, a new microtrend floods our feeds— blokette , angelcore , balletcore and whatever '-core' . Blink, and it's gone. Meanwhile, in Japan, globally recognized fashion subcultures like gyaru , lolita and jirai-kei are more long-standing community-based microgenres. Somewhat of a crossover between these fashion paradigms—at least, that's how I see it—Magical Girl is 2025's latest aesthetic buzzword, but it might be more than just that. Inspired by the kitschy but whimsical manga and anime genre, with pastels, plastic charms and metallic sparkle, the look is everywhere, from K-pop stages to runway campaigns. While the world calls it a trend, in Japan, it was never just a phase. After all, Sailor Moon didn't fade—she transformed. Magazines like Nylon have been quick to report on the rise of 'magical girl' aesthetics in fashion, but what exactly is it? Magical Girl (direct translation of mahou shoujo ), is a genre of Japanese anime and manga where ordinary girls transform—often dramatically—into powerful, magical versions of themselves. The genre first took off in the 1960s with shows like Himitsu no Akko-chan and Sally the Witch, but reached international fame in the '90s with Sailor Moon, Cardcaptor Sakura and PreCure (No one asked, but Sailor Moon was my favorite haha). The Magical Girl genre is closer to tokusatsu than European fairy tales. Unlike classic fantasy with witches or princesses, the stories were more quotidian, cutesy and comedic. Later, shows like The Powerpuff Girls and Winx Club followed the blueprint, turning it into a global phenomenon. Want to know how the genre evolved—and why it matters so much for gender expression? Beyond the young girls who unironically wore anime-themed outfits, microgenres like yume kawaii , fairy-kei , decora , majo-kei (witch girl), jirai-kei and lolita substyles like sailor lolita or cyber lolita have long incorporated magic girl elements. But in the early to mid-2000s, mahou shoujo-kei (sometimes called mahou-kei ) emerged as a style that took direct inspiration from the anime genre itself. Recently, international brands have started leaning into that same transformation fantasy. Jimmy Choo released a Sailor Moon collection in 2023. Designers like Simone Rocha and Sandy Liang have been channeling coquette anime-girl energy into everyday looks. A major turning point came when Gentle Monster launched a collection featuring bejeweled magical girl eyewear with Y2K vibes. Member Rei especially captured attention, sparking calls from fans for the return of unironically cutesy concepts in K-pop. Courtesy of @LOKTINBEAR via X (April 6, 2025) Yunjin, Gaeul and Rei from IVE performing 'Magic Girl', Courtesy of @YEPinyourheart via X (April 13, 2025) But no one channels the magical girl vibe quite like K-pop. Recently, IVE went viral after covering Orange Caramel's anime-inspired track Magic Girl ( Mabeop Sonyeo / Mahou Shoujo ) with cutesy lolita-inspired outfits with a wand. IVE's Rei in concept photo for 'Switch' Courtesy of Starship Entertainment, @IVEstarship via X IVE's Leeseo in concept photo for 'Switch' Courtesy of Starship Entertainment, @IVEstarship via X IVE's Rei in concept photo for 'Switch' Courtesy of Starship Entertainment, @IVEstarship via X IVE's Leeseo in concept photo for 'Switch' Courtesy of Starship Entertainment, @IVEstarship via X Before the cover, their second Korean-language EP Switch already had magical girl elements. The concept photos featured fantastical, metallic looks—Magical Girl meets fashion editorial, much like Gentle Monster's campaign. The title track 'Accendio' tells a story of the members battling over a magical wand, with dark, mysterious magical girl aesthetics. And with the long-standing popularity of K-pop and Korean youth culture in Japan, it's no surprise that these influences are now inspiring the streets of Tokyo. Tokyo's deeply rooted subculture fashion scene, combined with the reimported international magical girl microtrend, has made 2025 feel like a full-blown renaissance of magical girl fashion. We've seen all the pieces come together to build 2025's big magical girl renaissance—but how can you actually take part in it? What brands should you look out for and who's leading this aesthetic today? Thankfully, Tokyo is the capital of this look—and if you're in Japan, you're in good hands. At the forefront is MIKIOSAKABE. Quintessentially Harajuku: a surreal, yume-kawaii take on femininity that feels both romantic and modern, avant-garde but pastel dreamy streetwear. Jenny Fax, MIKIOSAKABE's sister brand, led by Shueh Jen-Fang, takes that energy even girlier. grounds grounds Sakabe also runs grounds, a legendary shoe label known for its futuristic bubble-soled sneakers. They're chunky, sculptural, and look like something a magical girl would wear to fly. Another pioneer—and a personal favorite of mine—tanakadaisuke leans theatrical and romantic. Less toycore, more European classicism, the brand draws from Baroque and Rococo aesthetics filtered through the lens of Tokyo street fashion. Expect ornate embroidery, sculptural silhouettes and oversized bows. The mood can shift from princess to militaristic, fairytale to mysterious—but it's always dramatic, fantastical and utterly committed to its vision. On the more experimental side is Pays des Fées, a long-standing Tokyo indie label known for constantly reinventing itself. Each season feels like a new crossover episode—magical girl meets Japanese horror, Belle Époque cirque, conceptual mode and so on. Foundry Mews, born in London but now based in Japan, takes a more artsy and minimal Japandi approach. Their shoes feel like essential, everyday footwear for a magical girl. S.F Sukoshi Fushigi 2025 Spring/Summer Collection Photo courtesy of the brand. S.F Sukoshi Fushigi 2025 Autumn/Winter Collection Photo courtesy of the brand. S.F Sukoshi Fushigi 2025 Spring/Summer Collection Photo courtesy of the brand. S.F Sukoshi Fushigi 2025 Autumn/Winter Collection Photo courtesy of the brand. A newer brand, S.F Sukoshi Fushigi, takes a more experimental approach—think gyaru meets magical girl, embracing asymmetry, deconstruction and punk elements. Founded by Fantasista Sakurada, the pieces are sexy yet innocent, mysterious yet pastel—still within the realm of kawaii. You'll also find pieces that align with the magical girl revival at curated boutiques like SHEEP—or just wander around Laforet Harajuku, a compact mall specialized in subculture-driven fashion. For a more affordable entry point, axes femme is a familiar name in shopping malls across Japan. Romantic and maximalist yet wearable, its collections feature lace blouses, corseted dresses and long skirts. Loved by students and subculture fashion fans alike, it's often the casual or everyday way into the vintage magical girl aesthetic. (L) Yuhei's costume design for musical artist YUKKYUN (C) Yuhei's costume design for musical artist YUKKYUN (R) Yuhei's costume design for musical artist YUKKYUN Costume design by Yuhei Provided by Yuhei (@sgmsgmsgm) Yuhei's work for underwear brand GX3 Provided by Yuhei (@sgmsgmsgm) If you're looking for inspiration, look no further than YUHEI—a costume designer active in Tokyo's queer scene. His designs and styling are the epitome of magical girl aesthetics: campy and editorial. The magical girl aesthetic isn't just about fashion—it extends into beauty, nostalgia and online culture. Credit: JILL STUART Beauty Credit: JILL STUART Beauty Jill Stuart Beauty, a J-beauty brand inspired by the coquette American label of the same name, has long been a favorite for packaging that looks like a jeweled tiara. Their products wouldn't look out of place in a transformation scene. Anna Sui Cosmetics, another American fashion brand with a Japanese-owned makeup line, leans darker and more mysterious—think Black Moon Clan from Sailor Moon (IYKYK). Its rose compact mirror was a staple in many Japanese girls' bags through the 2000s. Now discontinued, Ladurée's short-lived makeup line—yes, from the French macaron shop—offered a fairytale version of the magical girl vibe. If Jill Stuart was crystal and silver, Ladurée was gold and rococo. It was especially beloved by the lolita subgenres for its soft, vintage fantasy. Courtesy of Flower Knows Courtesy of Flower Knows While Ladurée Les Merveilleuses is gone, C-beauty brands have stepped in to fill the void. Flower Knows, in particular, ticks every magical girl box with incredible detail. But it's not just for show; the brand is regularly praised in Japan's beauty scene for its innovative formulas and quality that go beyond aesthetics. Not just fashion and beauty—the magical girl renaissance has even reached the aisles of Japanese supermarkets. Let me explain. One reason magical girl style has recently resurfaced beyond its usual subculture circles is the rise of Heisei Joji—literally, 'girls of the Heisei era (1989–2019).' It's an internet buzzword loosely tied to the broader Y2K revival, but Heisei Joji leans more into the toy-like aesthetic of the late '90s and early 2000s—especially the pastel plastic goods once made for elementary school girls. Sebon Star by Kabaya Foods Corporation Magical stick toys at SPINNS , nostalgic wands sold for young adults At the center of it all? Sebon Star—a long-selling chocolate that comes with a toy accessory, kind of like a Japanese Kinder Surprise. But the prize was always plastic jewelry: geometric gems, celestial motifs, princessy pendants. For kids watching Sailor Moon, Cardcaptor Sakura or PreCure, opening a Sebon Star felt like a mini transformation moment. Now, with the aesthetic back in the spotlight, a wave of grown-ups are buying them again—nostalgia is a powerful thing. What makes magical girl fashion so special is how it blurs lines—between irony and sincerity, costume and everyday wear, softness and strength. It lets people indulge in the fantasy of anime femininity both ironically and unironically. Where the coquette trend drew backlash for reviving outdated gender roles, magical girl style doesn't erase feminine signifiers in pursuit of neutrality. It reframes them as powerful—especially within queer fashion spaces, where dressing 'like a girl' can mean something entirely new. Gender studies scholars like Jennifer Prough, Mary Grigsby and Samantha Close have highlighted the uniqueness of the Japanese magical girl genre as a model where characters gain agency without abandoning hyper-feminine kawaii signifiers associated with shojo manga and anime. Unlike iconic Wonder Woman, which as an effort of inclusion, positioned female heroes within traditionally masculine aesthetic and ideological frameworks of power. Magical girl narratives carved out an alternative space, where transformation and glittering accessories became sources of strength. And magical girl fashion today isn't just for girls. Like crop tops or low-rise jeans reclaimed under the Y2K umbrella, the aesthetic has become a shared language across genders—something that was far less common in the actual early 2000s. As Kawaii Monster Girls (the brightly dressed staff of Harajuku's now-closed Kawaii Monster Cafe) once said, 'being a girl is a state of mind.' In 2025, that feels especially true. Curious to dive deeper into Tokyo's cutest subcultures? Discover more kawaii stories here: 'Ruby-chan! Hai! Nani ga suki?' Trend Explained: What It Means and Where It's From Celebrate Hello Kitty's 50th Birthday Based in Japan: RinRin Doll
Pink Villa
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
'Horribly rude': aespa's NingNing and Giselle's behavior towards IVE questioned amid Karina post controversy
The controversy surrounding aespa continues to escalate. Fresh allegations now target members Ningning and Giselle for allegedly mocking IVE's Liz and Rei during previous public appearances. This follows the recent political backlash tied to Karina 's Instagram post. Since then, the group has been under intense scrutiny. Despite swift clarifications from both Karina and SM Entertainment, online criticism has not subsided. Now, aespa finds itself embroiled in a new wave of controversy, this time over alleged behavior toward fellow girl group IVE. Past moments resurface Netizens have recently resurfaced clips from major year-end music shows. They claimed that aespa members behaved insensitively toward IVE members during vulnerable moments. The first incident reportedly occurred at the 2023 Melon Music Awards, when IVE's Liz and Rei became emotional during an acceptance speech. A month later, during the 2023 Gayo Daejejeon, Ningning and Giselle were seen covering their faces in a gesture that some interpreted as mockery of IVE's previous tearful moment. Another focal point of criticism came from footage showing aespa members smiling during Rei's heartfelt speech at the MMAs. However, some fans argue it was misunderstood. Fans push back Supporters of aespa have quickly pushed back against the backlash, offering alternative perspectives. Many have pointed out that the gesture made by Ningning and Giselle occurred while singer Lee Juck's emotionally resonant song Don't Worry played. It is a track known to move audiences to tears. In this context, fans argue that the members were simply reacting to the sentimental performance and not mocking anyone. Regarding the incident involving Rei's speech, fans believe the smiles from aespa were not rooted in malice. It rather reflected warmth or empathy in response to Rie's sudden tone shift. Karina's post controversy Earlier, aespa's Karina faced backlash when she uploaded a series of photos on Instagram on May 26. The post stirred political debate. In it, Karina was seen wearing a bright red jacket with the number '2' prominently displayed. She captioned the image with a single rose emoji. While the post appeared harmless at first glance, some online users interpreted the imagery as a subtle nod to a conservative political party in South Korea. The party is said to be associated with the color red and the number 2. This led to accusations that Karina was expressing political support, triggering backlash from those who believed idols should avoid politically suggestive content. Ongoing scrutiny Despite the explanations, aespa remains under the microscope, with the recent controversies putting their public image at risk. Online discussions continue to dissect the group's behavior at past events, fueling ongoing debates across social media platforms.
