Idols, Me, and Mameshiba no Taigun

I had never had any interest in idols throughout my life. I lived like that until my mid-40s, but recently, I became a fan of the Japanese girl idol group Mameshiba no Taigun. It all started about five years ago, in December 2019, on the TBS variety program Wednesday's Downtown.

At that time, Kuro-chan, who was known as an unpopular celebrity, was producing a project to select members for a new idol group from WACK. Initially, I thought it was just a comedy and watched it lightly, but as I saw Mameshiba no Taigun struggling to prepare for their first concert, I felt a bit moved. In particular, their debut song 'りスタート (Restart)' was quite impressive and addictive, making me listen to it several times, but eventually, it faded from my memory over time.

Mameshiba Returns

Recently, I saw Mameshiba no Taigun again through Wednesday's Downtown. Their appearance during a hidden camera segment that plagued Kuro-chan was rather shocking.

Over the past five years, the members have changed, their performance venues have shifted from concert halls to the streets or small offices, and the members even went out to sell unfinished tickets on the street themselves. With WACK's president Watanabe studying abroad and without a producer, they have kept the team going alone.

However, it was remarkable to see them grow together with their fans, doing their best for their dreams. Unlike Korean idols, who are expected to be perfect, Japanese idols build their skills alongside their fans, creating a story of desperation and growth. There is emotion in that, and Mameshiba was at its core.

Growth Amidst Crisis and Change

At the end of 2023, with the departure of Miyuki and Hanae, as well as the merger with Tonai Bousho (都内某所), the team name was changed to 豆柴の大群都内某所 a.k.a. MONSTERIDOL. There must have been many difficulties during this process. Ultimately, after the merger, Miku, who was from Tonai Bousho (都内某所), left due to illness, and the team found itself in an even tougher situation.

However, they did not give up. Even in a challenging environment, they kept the team alive and have steadily grown. Finally, on January 8, 2025, Kuro-chan returned as the producer, Hanae rejoined, and the team name was reverted back to Mameshiba no Taigun.

Seeing the members welcome Hanae with tears made me genuinely want to support this team.

Supporting a New Beginning

In the future, as a member of the Mamezubu (豆粒), I want to support their journey from Korea. I would like to celebrate their new beginning with the new song 'りロード' from the reborn Mameshiba no Taigun.