Work Text:
QT Debut: the Next Big Thing?
June 23 20XX 10:34 AM
SEOR’s newest and long-awaited idol group is here! Their name is QT, and here’s a quick run-down of the members.
Airi Momoi (center, dancer, vocalist)
Noriko Yui (visuals, dancer)
Yume Chihiro (vocalist)
Suzu Mitsuko (dancer, vocalist)
Asami Megumi (visuals, vocalist)
It’s a well-rounded group, with Noriko Yui in particular known for being a child model in her early days, and Suzu Mitsuko already being a famous dancer before debuting.
The actual nature of the debut was the standard idol debut. SEOR built up the hype for their girl group with promotional teasers on their YouTube channel (SEOR_official) and dropping subtle hints on their Instagram (@SEOR), which included a hazy pic of the 5 group members, with a pink filter on top blocking out their faces.
Concept-wise, QT isn’t anything new. As the CEO of SEOR, Tsukiko Yu, stated in an exclusive interview: “QT is a playful pun on the word ‘cutie’, which represents our new girl group very well. They’re a cute and charming group of girls who are sure to inspire hope in your hearts!” While this is a charming sentiment, it doesn’t offer anything new to the idol scene.
QT’s first song released on their official YouTube channel (QT_official) is “Butterflies”, an adorably romantic song about first love and first kisses. The bright and pop-reminiscent feel of the background music brings the song to life, which makes up for the vocals. With four vocalists in a group of five, one might think that the quality of vocals might be better due to an abnormal amount of vocalists, but at certain times when the whole group sings together, the tonal quality clashes and is offset by the bright background music. It is, however, unrealistic to expect such a level of perfection from a freshly debuted group.
Even though the group debuted barely a week ago, they have already released 5 more songs, all with the same bright pop and cheery concept as “Butterflies”. One song that really stands out is “icedrop”, which features a focus on Momoi Airi and has charming lyrics about falling in love, accompanied by choreography that includes cute mini skits and adorable poses.
The choreography is created by Ryōta, the same choreographer who choreographed snow☆’s iconic song “crystalove”, which shares many similarities to “Butterflies”, namely the romantic content and bright background music. QT’s choreography involves plenty of winking, cheek-poking, seemingly ad-libbed peace signs, and kiss-blowing, which fits their concept perfectly.
Fan reactions have been very positive, with the fandom name set to be revealed next week. The hashtag “#QT” has already accumulated 21.3k tweets on Twitter in under 24 hours, and #QT shows up as trending on TikTok, with 664.3 million views. The most popular bias seems to be none other than Airi Momoi, the center, with many fans saying that they like her hard-working personality, motivational words, and of course, her cute vampire teeth.
Only time will tell if the J-idol scene’s newest arrival, QT, will turn out to be a game-changer or fade quietly into the background.
From: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Subject: Debut Reactions
Sent: June 23 20XX 6:15 PM
Hi all,
Congratulations on your debut. So far, reactions seem to be positive. Here are some links to articles that discuss your debut: www.aidoru.com/qt-debut-the-next-big-thing, www.jpop.com/qt-wows-the-crowd, www.everythingidol.com/newest-cutest-group-out-there.
Many reviews mention a lack of harmony between your voices, so you will attend 3 extra vocal lessons a week, on top of the regular vocal lessons and practices.
Looking forward to meeting with you again tomorrow.
Yuuka Kanako
QT Idol Group Manager for SEOR
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Debut Reactions
Hi Ms. Yuuka,
Thanks! I’m looking forward to attending the vocal practices. Would I be able to attend any extra vocal lessons, even individually?
Thanks again,
Momoi Airi
QT Idol Group Member
QT on Spotify (as of June 30 20XX)
Popular releases
“Butterflies” — 60,524,899 — 3:14
“icedrop” — 56,097,387 — 2:57
“Blow Me a K*ss” — 55,348,093 — 2:30
“Kyuti Kyuti” — 47,394,277 — 3:05
“Candy Balloon” — 40,348,299 — 3:01
“pink” — 30,587,479 — 2:49
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Promotional Opportunity
Sent: June 29 20XX 9:48 AM
Hello Ms. Momoi,
I recently received an offer for you to appear on the EPI variety show, which, as you know, is quite famous across Japan. It came from a higher-up TV producer who was in the audience at your last show. This would be an amazing opportunity for you to go promote QT and have almost all of Japan witness it.
The date of the show is July 13. As more details arrive I will relay them to you.
Yuuka Kanako
QT Idol Group Manager for SEOR
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Promotional Opportunity
Hi Ms. Yuuka,
That’s amazing! I’m so excited to be able to promote QT in whatever way possible. One question: will Noriko, Suzu, Asami, and Yume be joining me? The goal is to promote QT as a group, so I don’t understand how the promotion would work if it were only me on the show.
Have a wonderful day,
Momoi Airi
QT Idol Group Member
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Re: Promotional Opportunity
Hello,
Some clarification is necessary. Because QT is still rather new to the idol scene, and EPI Variety Show is a very famous show with many distinguished guests appearing each week, I was unable to negotiate room for the rest of the QT members to attend as well.
I’ve assigned you some individual lessons with your instructor on MC-ing. I expect that you will perform to the best of your ability.
Yuuka Kanako
QT Idol Group Manager for SEOR
Transcript from EPI Variety Show
June 13 20XX
MC: Let’s begin our Frankly Frank Talk…! Our guest today is some girl we found outside, Airi Momoi!
Airi Momoi: Hi! I’m Airi Momoi… Wait, what do you mean, some girl?!
[Laughter]
MC: …
AM: I really am an idol! I perform in a group called QT.
MC: You are? But my script says that you’re a plain-old nobody…
AM: Who wrote this script?! Stand up, I dare you! Explain exactly how I’m a nobody!
[Laughter]
…
Trending
QT
23k Tweets
Momoi Airi
19k Tweets
stan qt 🦋 @xx.butterflies.xx - 23 hours ago
is it just me or is airi actually like… rlly good at variety shows
shizuku release on monday !! @g.loveu - 23 hours ago
after seeing airi on epi shes my bias now
cookie 🍪 @crumblrio - 23 hours ago
hot take: qt isn’t even that good
at ur moms house 🥱 @caliexpo - 23 hours ago
Ratio + L
pri lychee 🪷 comms open! @indiangirldraws - 23 hours ago
ranking QT songs and no i will not be elaborating
1 icedrop
2 Butterflies
3 Kyuti Kyuti
4 Candy Balloon
5 pink
6 Blow Me a K*ss
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Variety Show Offers
Sent: June 14 20XX 11:56 AM
Hello Ms. Momoi,
Congratulations on receiving positive reviews on your performance on the variety show. I’m pleased to inform you that you’ve received two more offers to appear on variety shows. One is the Morning Kids Station, and the other is The Wide World of Laughs. The Morning Kids is scheduled to be on June 25 and The Wide World of Laughs will be on June 30.
QT will be counting on you to up their name recognition.
Yuuka Kanako
QT Idol Group Manager for SEOR
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Variety Show Offers
Hi!
I am always willing to help QT gain more recognition, but those dates are the same day as the release event of our next album. Shouldn’t I be at the event instead of on a variety show?
Have a wonderful day!
Momoi Airi
QT Idol Group Member
Airi Momoi: a real idol, or a variety show star?
Published August 21 20XX 3:21 PM
Everyone involved in the J-pop idol scene knows about QT, the bright and cutesy new group that’s been the talk of the town recently. And at the center is the dazzling star, Airi Momoi.
But recently, she’s been gaining attention for something other than idol work. Many people know her more for her recent appearances on famous variety shows like The Wide World of Laughs, where she became the iconic Masked Variety Idol, Happy Everyday, or the Morning Kids Station, where she can be found making witty comebacks and being teased relentlessly.
Many fans remember Airi Momoi as “that girl on variety shows” as opposed to the center of QT. It’s been obvious that Airi’s been taking time off of her idol duties, such as attending the release event of QT’s 1st complete album. Instead, she was on The Wide World of Laughs, busy becoming Happy Everyday while her group members were signing albums and posing for selfies.
It doesn’t hurt that Airi is amazing at variety show performances. When she became Happy Everyday, ratings for The Wide World of Laughs shot up, causing the producers to call her back for another round of her charm and adorable smile. Recently, she’s been asked to do things such as wrestle professional wrestlers, cross obstacle courses, and compete in sports competitions, all of which never fail to bring a smile to the viewers’ faces.
In contrast to her idol work, Airi’s variety shows stand out much more. Even though she’s the center of QT, many fans don’t know her personality that well due to her disappearance from QT promotional events and media. Her dancing and vocals, while good, don’t stand out from the rest of the group as anything special. It even causes one to wonder if Airi would be better suited to becoming a variety show personality rather than a mediocre-at-best idol.
If this pattern continues, a QT disbanding can be predicted as Airi Momoi is drawn away from the idol industry into the bright world of variety shows.
Trending
QT
46k Tweets
Happy Everyday
89k Tweets
amethyst @ammiecakes - 2 hours ago
Yume’s vocals in kyuti kyuti have me on the floor… when will i be able to go to a QT fansign event #QT
tag me in memes @onyxandr - 4 hours ago
Qt’s best song from the new album has got to be illusion did you fucking see suzu’s little wink in the mv…
❄️🫧🫐 @bubbleberry - 4 hours ago
im literally in love w happy everyday airis weirdly good at all the things twwol puts her through #twwol
noriko > ur favs @empycycles - 6 hours ago
noriko is by far the best dancer out of qt shes so graceful and elegant
Miku is god 🥒 @tell.your.world - 7 hours ago
Masked idol punch! is the stupidest thing ever but happy everyday/airi pulls it off so well
Transcript from The Wide World of Laughs
August 23 20XX
MC: Today, we’ve brought back a long-time favorite! Everybody give it up for… HAPPY EVERYDAY!
Airi Momoi: Hey, my name’s Airi Momoi, not this Hoppy Everyway!
[Laughter]
MC: Yeah, yeah, whatever you say.
AM: I’m telling the truth, you know! I’m Airi Momoi, center of QT.
MC: What’s QT? I’ve never heard of that.
AM: H-hey, my idol group is pretty famous. Our next album is in the works right now, for all you QT fans out there.
MC: Haha, get a load of this girl. Everyone knows you as the Masked Variety Idol, Happy Everyday, not Airi Momoi.
[Laughter]
AM: …
MC: But moving on to today’s event…!
…
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Idol Work
Sent: September 16 20XX 8:49 PM
Hi Ms. Yuuka,
I’d like to preface this email by saying that I absolutely love appearing on variety shows. Appearing on those shows, however, is meant to be a means for me to promote QT as an idol group, and I feel that the focus has shifted away from promoting QT to just being another variety show personality.
Is there any way for you to give me more work involved with QT? I want to refocus my public image on being an idol rather than Happy Everyday.
Thanks,
Momoi Airi
Reoccurring Guest Member on The Wide World of Laughs
QT Idol Group Member
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Idol Work
Hello,
I was actually going to talk to you about this today. I was discussing things with your publicity manager, and we both feel that it would be best if we shifted you away from idol work and more towards becoming a variety show personality.
I’m going to be honest with you: you are a run-of-the-mill idol, and easily replaceable. When it comes to variety show personality however, SEOR has been looking for someone like you to fill that role and become the pioneer in SEOR’s variety show branch.
Please take the time to consider this offer and email me back when you have decided.
Yuuka Kanako
QT Idol Group Manager for SEOR
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Re: Idol Work
Letter_of_resignation.docx
Thanks,
Momoi Airi
Airi Momoi Leaves Idol Group QT and Drops Contact with Company SEOR
J-pop Idol Group QT in Shambles as Airi Momoi Quits
Airi Momoi’s 4-Month Run as an Idol: Speculations and Theories
QT Searching for a New Center - Audition Today at SEOR.com!
Airi Momoi Spotted Attending Classes At Miyamasuzaka Academy
Published November 23 20XX 5:16 PM
The ex-idol Airi Momoi caused an uproar back in September when she quit after only 4 months with the relatively popular idol group QT. She was originally slated to be well on the way to becoming a variety show personality, with many appearances on the iconic show The Wide World of Laughs.
When Airi quit, nobody could predict where she would go next. The ex-idol quickly faded out of the spotlight, with her hashtag fading into obscurity, and media coverage becoming practically non-existent. Everybody wondered: where has she gone? And what is she doing now?
We can answer those questions now: it seems like Airi Momoi is attempting to lead a regular high school life. Eyewitnesses spotted her in class at Miyamasuzaka Academy in Shibuya, wearing a school uniform and keeping her head down. It seems like the girl is trying to stay out of the spotlight for good this time.
Shizuku Hinomori Quits Cheerful*Days, Leaves Idol Industry Citing “pressure to appear perfect”
Published February 28 20XX 6:45 PM
Everybody knows Shizuku Hinomori. With grace, beauty, elegance, an amazingly adaptable voice, and loads of idol power, she shines out in the middle of an oversaturated idol industry as one of the best idols of the century. This is why it came as a surprise when she announced her resignation just a few hours earlier.
Our reporters reached out to ExxoStar for comment, but they declined to respond, saying only: “Shizuku Hinomori has made her choice.”
We also reached out to the rest of Cheerful*Days, but they declined to respond. Shizuku Hinomori has also declined to respond.
Trending
Idol Quitting
37k Tweets
Shizuku Hinomori
76k Tweets
my fav cephalopod @octikost - 20 hours ago
bro… so many idols quit in this past year this is insane #j-pop
Starzy 💫 @marikamaefy - 20 hours ago
haruka airi and now shizuku? this is insane there’s way too many idols quitting
rip cheerful*days 💀 @agami.oshi - 21 hours ago
tbh kinda glad shizuku left cheerful*days bc she was treated so bad by them and exxostar in general
🌺🍒cherry 🐙☎️ next update mar 10 ! @cherrybombpop - 21 hours ago
just saw some pick me say they were glad shizuku quit literally stfu u dont even know what ur talking about
Security Tape of Miyamasuzaka Girls Academy Rooftop March 2 20XX 4:30 PM
Three girls are chatting on the rooftop. One girl, the brunette has her laptop open. The two other pink-haired and light blue-haired girls are surrounding her and looking over her shoulder. The brunette clicks on something. Everyone reacts negatively. The brunette buries her face in her hands.
The door to the rooftop opens. A blue-haired girl enters, and everyone looks at her. She greets the group with a wave. The brunette tells her something, and the blue-haired girl reacts with disappointment. She appears to be thinking about something.
The blue-haired girl speaks up. The pink-haired and light blue-haired girl react with surprise but then start nodding their heads. The brunette looks excited for them, but the excitement is more subdued.
The blue-haired girl laughs and says something to the brunette. She looks surprised and embarrassed. The pink-haired and light blue-haired girls say something to the brunette, who looks between all three of them.
They all laugh. The group of four discusses something. The pink-haired girl looks at the light-blue haired girl in disbelief. The brunette says something, and the rest nod and agree. They form a circle and put their hands in the middle. They raise their hands toward the sky. All of them are smiling.
Transcript of MORE MORE JUMP! Livestream #1
March 29 20XX 10:30 AM
Haruka Kiritani: Hello everyone, Haruka Kiritani here.
Airi Momoi: And I’m Airi Momoi! Thank you for joining us today!
Minori Hanasato: Whoa! So many comments already…!
Shizuku Hinomori: This is amazing…
…
HK: We’re here to give everyone an important message. We apologize for resigning as idols so suddenly before… Our disappearance may have caused some of you to worry about us. That is why we’d like to start with an explanation.
SH: We each had our own reason for resigning when we did… But the one thing we all had in common was the fact that we’d lost confidence in ourselves as idols… However, thanks to one of our members, we all managed to regain our passion and decided to become idols again.
AM: We’re very sorry, but we won’t be returning to our old groups… We’ll be starting a new group of our own with the four members you see here.
…
HK: We hope MORE MORE JUMP! can count on your support!
A New Freelancing Idol Group Arises in Japan, But They’re Not as Much of a Rookie as You Might Think
Published March 29 5:39 PM
This past year has been full of complications for the J-pop idol industry. Haruka Kiritani, the most popular member of ASRUN, quit amid controversy about an injured fellow group member. Airi Momoi, the center of the short-lived group QT, quit for unknown reasons, although there are plenty of speculations that it was because she didn’t want to become a variety show personality. And finally, Shizuku Hinomori, perhaps one of the most well-known faces in Japan and the center of Cheerful*Days, quit most recently with no further explanation.
For a while, these three girls have faded out of the public spotlight, but they may be returning to the idol industry sooner than you think.
Some fans who follow the ex-idols’ social media accounts noticed that they posted something about a livestream with important information and explanations to give. Fans who were interested enough to watch the livestream were presented with ground-breaking new information: the fan-favorite ex-idols would be returning to the idol industry as one group together, and they would be accompanied by a rookie.
It seems that in their time away from the spotlight, Haruka, Airi, and Shizuku had taken the time to grow closer as friends. But there was one new addition to their group: Minori Hanasato. The girl was an idol wannabe who happened to infiltrate the idols’ friend group, and they would be starting an idol group all together.
MORE MORE JUMP! (the official group name) has decided to become a free-lancing idol group, and they certainly have the support to do so. Many of their fans have already taken to social media, spreading the information about their return and posting many different takes on the unexpected situation.
Hopefully the new group will be able to push through the struggles of free-lancing and having a rookie on-board, and return to their former glory as idols.
more more jump!
April 1st 2:36 PM
minorinrin: guys !!! look at all these articles about us > . < → www.aidoru.com/more-more-jump-three-idol-veterans-and-one-rookie, www.jpop.com/a-new-freelancing-group-arises, www.nsmk.com/more-more-jump-the-next-5th-gen-leader
haru-chan: That’s great! Many of these are positive reviews which is so exciting
airi ♡: seeing all these positive reviews better not mean that you slack off during practice minori…
minorinrin: of course not !! i’ll make sure to work twice as hard >o<
haru-chan: That reminds me… where’s shizuku?
shizufufu: wergb809
airi ♡: she’s with me… she says to tell u guys that she’s excited for practice too…
shizufufu: 1010jhgieurgjhi
minorinrin: okay ! (^_–)☆
Trending
MORE MORE JUMP!
90k Tweets
#Re-debut
23k Tweets
mmj superfan @mmjsolosurmom - 3 hours ago
MORE MORE JUMP! SOLOS UR FAVES REAL
🍑🐧🐱🦢@idol.obsezzed - 3 hours ago
can this legally be considered airi shizuku and haruka’s #re-debut
haruka-chan 🐧 @btspfha - 3 hours ago
more more jump stans are gonna be insane and i am so here for it
betfae sport @betfae.mari - 4 hours ago
ok more more jump is great but can we talk about how cute minori is… she’s just like (>.<)
SHIZUKU 4 LIFE 🦢 @SHIZUUKUUU - 4 hours
SHIZUKU RE DEBUT IS FINALLY HERE #Re-debut
Transcript from EPI Variety Show
April 30 20XX 10:30 AM
MC: Today I have with me… everyone please make way for MORE MORE JUMP!
[Cheering]
Minori Hanasato: Hello, everyone!
Haruka Kiritani: We’re so excited to be here!
Airi Momoi: Hi, all you MMJ fans!
Shizuku Hinomori: We hope to connect with you more today!
MC: Haha, alright, that’s enough from the audience. Now, MORE MORE JUMP!, can you tell us a little bit about yourselves?
MH: Well, we’re a free-lancing idol group dedicated to spreading hope across the world. I’m Minori Hanasato.
HK: And many of you know me, I’m Haruka Kiritani.
AM: Some may remember me, Airi Momoi.
SH: Hello, I’m Shizuku Hinomori, pleased to be here.
MC: It’s lovely to finally meet you all! And some of you, I’m meeting for the 2nd or 3rd time already. Can you all elaborate on how you met?
MH: Of course! It was earlier this year on the rooftop…
…
Admit 1
MORE MORE JUMP! presents MORE and MORE!
Jun 11 20XX 7:30 PM
The first fan-funded concert of its kind!
1-Year MORE MORE JUMP! Fan-funded Anniversary Concert
Published June 12 20XX 10:13 AM
By now, everyone involved in the J-pop idol scene has heard the name “MORE MORE JUMP!”. They’re a free-lancing idol group consisting of 3 veteran idols, Haruka Kiritani, Shizuku Hinomori, Airi Momoi, and 1 newcomer to the idol scene, Minori Hanasato, who has been leading the group for over a year now.
When the news was announced for the idol group, everyone was surprised. The veteran idols had all just come out of a split with their agencies and idol groups, and had been absent from the public spotlight for months. The news that the three girls would be forming a group with a newcomer idol, and that this idol would be leading the group, came as even more of a shock.
But the idol group has done surprisingly well for a free-lancing group, although a big part of their success certainly stems from the fact that the group has 3 out of 4 names that are easily recognizable. In fact, MORE MORE JUMP! has been so successful at creating a name for themselves that they have been able to raise enough funds for a fan-funded concert in honor of their 1-year anniversary, which was hosted just yesterday.
Outside of the venue right before the concert started, the atmosphere was excited and hopeful. Vendors were selling merchandise with the MORE MORE JUMP! logo printed on everything. Because the group doesn’t have official merchandise, there were no penlights or glowsticks to be found, but plenty of signs and fan-made merchandise.
The concert featured some of MORE MORE JUMP!’s most popular songs, including Ai No Material, Idol Shinetai, icedrop, and Tenshi No Clover. Fans knew the words to each song by heart, and readily sang along with the idol group as they performed.
Many fans have already expressed interest in helping to fund another concert or even a tour for MORE MORE JUMP!, but the group has been on the edge about doing another concert so soon.
Miyu Fashion House New Collaboration Announced With MORE MORE JUMP!
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MORE MORE JUMP! Voted #1 Most Popular Idol Group in Recent Poll
Mysterious Sponsor Takes Interest in MORE MORE JUMP! And Funds Another Concert and Physical Albums
First MORE MORE JUMP! Fansign Event Causes Massive Pile-Up
MORE MORE JUMP! Has Just Graduated High School: Here’s Where We Think They’ll Go Next
MORE MORE JUMP! Breaks Records and Becomes Best-Selling J-Pop Group of All Time
InspiraShow: Everything You Need To Know About MORE MORE JUMP!’s First Tour
Transcript of MORE MORE JUMP! Livestream # 178
June 17 20XX 3:30 PM
Airi Momoi: Hello MORE MORE JUMP! fans!
Shizuku Hinomori: Today we’ve got a special surprise planned for you today.
AM: We’re going to be revealing what we do while on our tour, InspiraShow! Where’s Haruka and Minori…? Oh, they’re busy practicing their duet. They’ll be back in next week’s livestream, pinky promise!
SH: Oh, Airi, the surprise…
AM: Why don’t you reveal it? You were the one who came up with the amazing idea, anyway.
SH: Oh… yes, of course. Um. Apologies, I became distracted. Where was I?
AM: The… surprise for our livestream?
SH: Yes! We’ve decided to give you guys, our most loyal fans, a sneak peek at what we do to get ready for performing on tour!
AM: We’ll start with our warm-up…
…
Trending
Shizuai
107k Tweets
despamary @tenshi.no.clover - 20 hours ago
did y’all see the the way shizuku looked at airi during icedrop on tour… that’s so gay #Shizuai
wo ai ni 💝 @889tuyo - 20 hours ago
there is literally no evidence for shizuai not being real everyone needs to stfu
pls stomp on me beidou @lesbianshavemorefun - 21 hours ago
airi literally blushed when shizuku held her hand during livestream #178 the shizuai headlines r gonna come out any day now
Airi Momoi and Shizuku Hinomori Reveal Relationship
Published June 23 20XX 3:18 PM
MORE MORE JUMP! has been dominating the J-Pop idol industry for 4 years now, ever since their debut in March of 20XX. So far, they’ve been controversy-resistant, mainly relying on their extraordinary ability to free-lance and interact with their fans in a composed manner.
Their enduring popularity may not last for long, however. Airi Momoi and Shizuku Hinomori have recently revealed on their social media handles that they are in a romantic relationship with each other. The fan reactions were immediate and constituted a wide range of reactions, from “I knew it all along” to “I’m not going to support MMJ any longer”.
The MORE MORE JUMP! official account has been silent on social media and declined to respond to any comment so far, but witnesses saw Airi and Shizuku on a date at a local ice cream parlor yesterday, appearing to not care about their public image.
Later, Airi and Shizuku both posted a tweet on their personal accounts saying “Love is love 💕💙”. The two idols are the first to be openly out with a homosexual relationship. Who knows if MORE MORE JUMP! will be able to withstand the controversy, or crumble under the pressure?
Transcript from XXXX Variety Show
November 17 20XX 5:30 PM
MC: So, MORE MORE JUMP!, when can we expect the release of your 5th album?
AM: It’s projected to be December 1st!
HK: We’re really looking forward to releasing this album, as it contains some covers of old songs very dear to us.
MC: I can’t wait! Can you tell us any more hints about it, at least?
MH: Well, listening to it gives you this soft nostalgic feel—
AM: …Minori!
MC: … Ahaha, that sounds lovely. What about the choreography? If I remember correctly, you four create all the choreography yourself, right?
SH: Oh, yes! We’ve been working on the choreography for a while. It includes plenty of our old choreography from way back when we were just starting out as MMJ—
HK: It was mostly based upon the song Color of Drops, since Shizuku likes to create most of the choreography all by herself.
SH: …
MC: Well… I’m looking forward to seeing this choreography soon. Will you be releasing any promotional teasers soon?
AM: We actually haven’t quite figured that out yet, but you can expect to see something from us in the coming days!
MH: I believe we agreed on releasing a sneak peek of the album cover on our social media soon, so you can watch out for that.
AM: … Everything promotional is a bit iffy right now, we haven’t completely agreed on the details, haha.
MC: Okay…! Haruka, what about the new focus song on you rumored to be dropping soon? You haven’t sung a focused song in a while, hm?
HK: Actually, I…
…
Transcript of MORE MORE JUMP! Livestream #211
August 27 20XX 10:30 AM
Minori Hanasato: Hello, everyone…!
Haruka Kiritani: Hello!
Airi Momoi: Hi there, MMJ fans!
Shizuku Hinomori: Hello everybody…!
MH: We held this livestream out of our normal schedule to speak about something very important. It’s… We are…
AM: I’ll get it over with. MORE MORE JUMP! will be taking an indefinite hiatus as an idol group so its individual members can focus more on themselves.
SH: …
HK: …
MH: That’s right… We’ve been experiencing some… creative differences lately and think that it would be better if we spent some time apart to focus on ourselves.
HK: We understand that you will all miss us very much, but we hope you can accept the news.
SH: … 6 years is a long time to be in an idol group, and we all have come to the agreement that it’s best to take a break.
AM: When will we return from our hiatus…? I’m sorry, I don’t think any of us know at this point. I’m really sorry.
MH: I hope that we will all be able to meet again one day… but for now…
ALL: More more jump!
[Livestream end]
Record-breaking Idol Group MORE MORE JUMP! Takes Hiatus, Unsure When To Return
Fans Are Shocked at News of MORE MORE JUMP! Hiatus: See the 45 Best Tweets About It
MORE MORE JUMP!’s Airi Momoi Says She Might Return to Variety Shows
Haruka Kiritani of MORE MORE JUMP! Announces Retirement From Public Eye During Her Group’s Hiatus
MORE MORE JUMP!: Where Are They Now?
March 1 20XX 5:56 PM
Everyone was shocked when the uber-famous best-seller idol group MORE MORE JUMP! went on hiatus 2 years ago. Many fans still vividly remember watching their very first livestream as a group, funding MORE and MORE, the group’s first concert, and then buying tickets to InspiraShow, the group’s first tour. No one knows when they will return from hiatus, but longtime MMJ fans are still holding out hope.
In honor of the upcoming 8-year anniversary of the founding of MORE MORE JUMP!, we’ve compiled a ‘Where are they now?’ on your very favorite idols.
Minori Hanasato
The bright and bubbly idol, who was once a complete rookie among seasoned idols, has now become a senior idol of her own. Minori Hanasato now works as a solo idol, producing songs with her friends Kohane Azusawa and Ichika Hoshino, who are also relatively famous musicians.
Minori has achieved considerable fame on her own, becoming one of the best-selling solo idols, but at many of her concerts and shows, she is often bombarded by the question: when will you return to MORE MORE JUMP!? The 25-year old says that she is often overwhelmed by the amount of MMJ fans who attend her concerts and comment under her social media posts about returning to MORE MORE JUMP!.
“The best answer I can give everyone is that we will have to wait and see,” Minori said in an exclusive interview with us. “Personally, I really hope that we can all return together and perform as a group, even if it’s just one more time. But that’s not a decision I can make on my own.”
Haruka Kiritani
After going on hiatus during her run in MORE MORE JUMP!, Haruka Kiritani has practically disappeared. Some older fans may remember when she was still a part of ASRUN all those years ago, and then quit, seemingly disappearing for nearly a year.
There are some people who say they spot her walking around Shibuya occasionally, but that it doesn’t seem that she lives there anymore. Fans speculate that Haruka likes to reminisce about her time in MORE MORE JUMP! while she walks around Shibuya.
Right now, Haruka seems to be attempting to lead an ordinary life. If fans happen to spot her on the streets, some will ask her when she plans on returning to idol work, but none have ever managed to elicit a clear response from her. Haruka declined to respond to a request for an interview.
Airi Momoi
Everyone remembers Airi Momoi’s appearances on variety shows such as The Wide World of Laughs, or The Morning Kids Station. She was quite famous for her role as the Masked Variety Idol, Happy Everyday, but the main theory is that she didn’t want to become a variety personality and wanted to remain an idol, so she quit working with QT, her old idol group.
Even though it could be assumed that Airi dislikes variety show work based on her history with them, she has actually returned to be an MC at The Wide World of Laughs. Airi now is the one to interview up and coming idols, other celebrities and musicians, and miscellaneous guests.
Airi has been asked about returning to MORE MORE JUMP! multiple times, but has refused to respond each time. The only time she agreed to answer the question, she said: “MORE MORE JUMP! was amazing while it lasted, but I’d like to think that we, the group members, have all moved onto better places. MORE MORE JUMP! started out as a springboard for us to pave our path through the world, but as the years went on, I feel that it started to hold us back, leading to the… creative differences between each member.”
Airi declined our request for an interview.
Shizuku Hinomori
Last but not least, Shizuku Hinomori. When she worked as an idol, she commanded the attention of every room she was in with her beauty and grace, and she continues to do so now. The girl now works as a model, and has modeled for prestigious designers such as Miyu Fashion House, Anne Zedong, and Voxe.
“I think being a model is a better fit for me anyway,” Shizuku said in a recent interview. “I don’t want to sound arrogant, but when I was an idol, my looks would often cause trouble for me. It caused a problem within Cheerful*Days, if anyone out there still remembers that group, and it even caused one of MORE MORE JUMP!’s group members to become quite jealous of me, which caused me a great deal of pain.”
“In the modeling industry,” she continues, “no one cares… about you that much. It’s hard to explain, but the norm is to be very beautiful, so it’s easy to just blend into the background. Not that none of the idols that I worked with weren’t beautiful, they were, but the idol industry and culture makes it extremely competitive. There were some days when I felt like I was choking.”
When asked about the possibility of returning to MORE MORE JUMP!, Shizuku blanches. “I… don’t know if that would be the best thing for me. With MMJ, I finally felt like I found where I was meant to be, but as time went on, we all started to grate on each other. Taking a hiatus was the best thing to do, I think. Returning… I might like to perform together one last time, for memory’s sake, but after that, I think it would better to just… let it go.”
Notes:
Airi Momoi and Shizuku Hinomori are still in a relationship to this day.
None of the group members have responded to the question: do you all still keep in contact with each other?
more more jump!
March 4 20XX 11:19 PM
minori: hi
haruka: Hello Minori
airi: do you need something minori?
minori: i just wanted to talk
shizuku: we’re listening
minori: actually… can we call? are you guys available rn? i feel way too awkward texting about this, haha
airi: …ok
minori started a call at 11:21 PM
March 5 20XX 5:38 AM
minori ended the call at 5:38 AM
haruka: thank you for contacting us again, minori
minori: haha, not a problem. i’ll talk to my manager about getting ahold of a venue - and we can keep in contact about coordinating social media posts!
shizuku: sounds good! Im very excited to see you all again soon :)
airi: sleep well, all of you
☑️ MORE MORE JUMP! @MOREMOREJUMP - 1 hour ago
Please join us for a livestream on March 6, 20XX at 2:30 JST. We hope to see you all there!
☑️ MORE MORE JUMP! @MOREMOREJUMP - 8/27/20XX
Thank you to all our fans for understanding our reasons for taking a hiatus. We hope to see you all again sometime soon!
Transcript of MORE MORE JUMP! Livestream #212
Minori Hanasato: Hello, everyone! It’s Minori Hanasato, speaking.
Haruka Kiritani: I’m Haruka Kiritani.
Airi Momoi: Airi Momoi, at your service!
Shizuku Hinomori: I’m Shizuku Hinomori, 25, pleased to be here.
MH: We have some important news to share with you all.
HK: First, we are so glad to be back here to share this news with you.
AM: Okay, do you guys want the good news or the bad news first? Bad news? Okay, okay. Bad news: MORE MORE JUMP! will be disbanding permanently after this livestream.
SH: Wow, that’s a lot of comments…!
AM: The good news is, however, that we will have some special events to commemorate MORE MORE JUMP!. This won’t be our last livestream. Our final live stream will occur on March 25. Stay tuned for more details!
MH: In our last livestream, we’ll do everything that we’ve done before in our previous livestreams. Yup, this includes teaching choreography, trying new restaurants, walking my dog, and preparing for a performance. And you will have the chance to decide what else we do in this live stream, by filling out a form with an idea for us. One winner will be selected at random and MORE MORE JUMP! will add the proposal to our live stream. The link can be found on our Twitter!
HK: … I noticed some of you are asking: what performance? Well, one last live stream isn’t all we have to offer. We will also be hosting one last concert in Shibuya, our hometown, for one night only! At this concert, we’ll perform fan favorites, new songs we’ve produced while on hiatus, and a lot of songs from our repertoire, accompanied by new choreography.
SH: At the concert, there will be limited edition merchandise on sale of MORE MORE JUMP!, and also an exclusive VIP meet-and-greet for extra-dedicated fans. If you’d ever like to rewatch our live streams, we’ve taken down everything that used to be on our website and replaced it with a video archive of our live streams that can be viewed any time you please.
AM: After all these special events are over, though…
HK: It will be time to say goodbye.
AM: I’ve truly loved working with you guys. You were some of my closest friends, did you know that?
MH: Mine too! And to think, the girls I met on that fateful day on the rooftop would turn out to be my best friends for life.
SH: I still can’t believe it myself. It feels like just yesterday that we came up with the name MORE MORE JUMP!.
HK: You all have done so much for me over the years… This includes our fans, as well!
MH: We can’t thank you enough!
AM: We’ll see you next time! In the meantime, make sure to follow our Twitter for details on these special events!
ALL: More more jump!
[Live stream end]
Trending
#MMJ
111k Tweets
Off hiatus
31k Tweets
mmj… @jghzastehs - 2 hours ago
i can’t believe that mmj is finally off hiatus… but it’s totally not the way we expected
tyvie 💜 @tyv.ie39 - 2 hours ago
when tickets for the mmj final concert go up for sale it’s gonna be a fucking bloodbath #MMJ
❤️🧡💛💚💙💜 @snowstarbiased - 3 hours ago
i love #MMJ so much im so excited for the concert but it’s their first concert off hiatus and their last concert ever
Transcript of MORE MORE JUMP! Livestream #213
March 25 20XX 2:30 PM
Minori Hanasato: Hello everyone!
Haruka Kiritani: Hi…!
Airi Momoi: Welcome to MORE MORE JUMP!’s final live stream!
Shizuku Hinomori: We’re so pleased that you’re here today.
HK: Even though it’s our last live stream together as an idol group, we still want all our fans to enjoy themselves, so without further ado…!
MH: Our events today…!
…
AM: Stop! Stop– Minori, you’re making me laugh so hard I can barely breathe!
HK: That was pretty funny, when you think about it.
SH: Do it again, Minori!
MH: Unfortunately, that’s all the time we have today. Sorry, you guys!
SH: You’ll have to come see us at our concert, Nostalgic: MORE MORE JUMP!, which is in Shibuya, March 28!
AM: Shizuku, maybe you forgot that the tickets sold out days ago…
SH: Oh, right!
HK: Before we say goodbye on live stream for the last time, there’s one last thing that we want to announce.
MH: There is?
HK: Minori… we talked about this, remember?
MH: Oh, right! There is one last thing! Airi, take it away!
AM: Shizuku and I… are engaged!
SH: We didn’t wear our rings on purpose today so we could surprise you guys, but now that it’s out, we can put them back on.
AM: …
SH: …
HK: Aren’t they beautiful?
MH: Oh, they’re so beautiful, Haruka.
HK: …What?
MH: Yes! The rings are so gorgeous!
HK: Haha… and with that as our last announcement, we’re going to sign off now, for the very last time.
MH: It’s been some of the best years of my life working with you guys, so I’m glad we get to perform together one last time before we go our separate ways. Keep in contact, please?
HK: Anything for you, Minori. You rescued me… For the fans asking where I’ll go next… who knows? I know for sure that I won’t be returning as an idol, however. I’ll just try and live a normal life, figure some things out about myself… but I’ll continue posting on social media, promise.
AM: I loved being an idol with you guys. I think you all know some of my most embarrassing secrets and know almost everything about me. As for my future, I think I’ll keep going in the variety show business. When people said that I was good at variety shows all those years ago, I sort of didn’t want to believe them, but now… Let’s not get all sappy, shall we?
SH: That’s so like you, Airi… I certainly remember loving being an idol because of you, Airi. You were the one who inspired me to push forward and as a result, I had the best 6 years of my entire life with you. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to repay you.
AM: H-hey, this is about your future plans… remember?
SH: I know, I know. I’ll keep going in the modeling industry, see how far I get. I enjoy modeling quite a bit. Maybe you’ll see me on the cover of the next magazine you pick up. Just a possibility…
MH: Thanks, you guys. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to meet with you all as MORE MORE JUMP! one last time. And for our very last live stream…
ALL: More more jump!
[Livestream end]
Admit 1
MORE MORE JUMP! presents: Nostalgic: MORE MORE JUMP!
March 28 20XX 5:30 PM
Come see MORE MORE JUMP! in concert for the very last time!
MORE MORE JUMP!: From Beginning to End, Their Legacy
March 29 20XX 11:19 AM
We can say for sure now that MORE MORE JUMP! has left perhaps the greatest impact on Japan that has ever been witnessed, and perhaps even on the world. Even though they have disbanded, their effect on music and the hearts of their fans will continue to be felt all across the world.
So as a commemoration of the smashing success of MORE MORE JUMP! and as a tribute to their legacy, we’ve compiled a complete and detailed collection of MORE MORE JUMP!, from beginning to ending.
A Timeline of Their Success
When Haruka Kiritani, Airi Momoi, and Shizuku Hinomori first announced that they would be teaming up with a rookie named Minori Hanasato, the reactions mostly comprised of shock, especially since the three veteran idols (veteran at the time) had just resurfaced after quitting their groups, it was shocking to hear that they would be creating a group, and free-lancing at that. Many fans were eager to see them perform again, but uncertain of how well the group would do, or if it would even achieve success at all.
MORE MORE JUMP! shook off those doubts and rose quickly through the ranks. Their first song, “Idol Shinetai”, reached #1 on billboards in just a couple of weeks, already a major success. The release of their next few songs, “icedrop”, “Ai no Material”, and “Color of Drops” reached similar success and led MORE MORE JUMP! to be talked about all over the world.
The biggest leap in popularity came when MORE MORE JUMP! had their first fan-funded concert, MORE and MORE. Tickets sold out almost instantaneously, and the concert was an instant hit, with videos posted everywhere on social media, and MORE and MORE becoming a hashtag.
Afterwards, MORE MORE JUMP! received many offers for collaborations, which they took part in. No one will ever forget the day that a mysterious sponsor donated a huge sum of money to the group, allowing them to print physical albums, and fund any concerts they would have for years to come.
The most important milestone came soon in the idols’ life: they graduated high school. This allowed them to dedicate all their time to idol work, and soon after, MORE MORE JUMP! went on their first tour: InspiraShow. It was another hit, with tickets selling out seconds after they went on sale.
Soon, MORE MORE JUMP! broke records and became the best-selling J-Pop idol group of all time. This was a large measure of success for the barely out-of-high-schoolers, and no one will ever be able to forget the party they hosted on livestream (#111) later that night, complete with a pink-frosted cake and rose champagne. Many viewers cherish this as a special memory, because MMJ invited their fans to celebrate with them, saying: “We never could have done this without our fans. This is as much your success as it is ours.” Thousands of fans remember watching the live stream and eating cake of their own, smiling like crazy.
Fans are quick to pick up on things, and one of the things they noticed first was the instant chemistry between Shizuku and Airi. The hashtag “#ShizuAi” trended on Twitter shortly after a livestream (#178) where Shizuku and Airi were alone, leading to many romantic moments between the two. Not long afterwards, headlines were all about the announcement of their relationship, the first of its kind in the idol industry.
The next period in time is not one that fans like to remember, but it must be addressed anyway. MORE MORE JUMP! began experiencing what the group members called “creative differences” causing tension between them during live streams and interviews on variety shows.
Fans were quick to point this out, predicting that MORE MORE JUMP! would disband any day now. And they were right, at least, halfway. The group announced their hiatus shortly afterwards on livestream (#211), which was met with many disappointed and even outraged reactions on social media.
During their 2-year hiatus, the group members took time to work on themselves, outlined in the article linked. Minori went on to become a popular solo idol, but still expressed interest in performing with MORE MORE JUMP! again. Haruka disappeared from public image. Airi became a variety show personality, and said that she eventually started to think that MORE MORE JUMP! was holding the group members back. Shizuku found a career in modeling, but also expressed interest in seeing her old group members one more time.
We don’t know what kickstarted their eventual reunion, but rumors are that it was Minori herself who managed to contact them all again and bring them all back together one last time.
When fans saw the Tweet from the official MORE MORE JUMP! account, they were shocked after not having heard anything for 2 years. The next livestream had more attendance than ever before, as the group dropped the bomb that they would be disbanding for good.
Fans were, of course, disappointed, but were also excited by the fact that the group would be hosting some special events as a commemoration of the time they had spent together. Many fans reported crying during their last live stream as they said goodbye for the very last time.
The Nostalgic: MORE MORE JUMP! concert broke several records on its own, on top of the records that MORE MORE JUMP! has already broken. It became the quickest concert to sell out, the biggest concert of the year according to multiple sources, the longest a group had ever been on hiatus and then come back to a sold-out concert, the most widely attended concert in Japan, so on and so on.
The concert was perhaps MORE MORE JUMP!’s greatest success of all time. They performed many of their fan-favorite songs, some focus songs, and a wide range of songs pulled from their repertoire, causing fans to go wild. The choreography was cleaner than ever and the band that night was a group of Haruka and Minori’s old high school friends, Leo/need, who are also quite famous within Japan.
Tension was riding higher than ever that night. Many fans jostled and pushed to get inside, and the majority arrived at the concert venue hours earlier than needed, buying the limited-edition merchandise and preparing to watch the concert. When MORE MORE JUMP! finally came out onstage, the cheers were deafening, causing a few people to even feel dizzy. As they performed their songs, the cheering never stopped, calling for encores and the like.
At the end, when MORE MORE JUMP! said their final goodbyes to their fans and to each other as a group, many fans in the audience were brought to tears at the heartfelt message that was being given to them.
“You’ve given us so, so much over the years, this is the least we could do to repay you.” Minori said as she wiped away a few tears. The other group members echoed the sentiment, wiping away tears of their own as they looked out over the crowd of their most loyal supporters.
One of the most memorable moments was when each group member came forward and gave a message from their hearts to their fans. Each glowstick turned different colors for each member: peach for Minori, deep blue for Haruka, bright pink for Airi, and baby blue for Shizuku. For many of the members, this would be the last time they would see a view like this ever again, before they moved on with their careers and lives.
When MORE MORE JUMP! exited the stage for the final time, many fans broke out into tears at the thought of never seeing their favorite idols perform together ever again. But many have also come to accept that this is the decision the members made for themselves, and are coming to terms with it.
Breaking Barriers
In the beginning, perhaps one of the reasons MORE MORE JUMP! was so popular was because it carried 3 easily recognizable names that were also fan-favorites. But as time went on, it became clear that MORE MORE JUMP! was an idol group that set itself apart from others in more ways than just one.
MORE MORE JUMP! broke several barriers and limitations that were considered required for an idol group to be successful, going out of their way to say they disapproved of certain standards and criticize idol culture and the industry.
Free-lancing is extremely difficult for an idol group, so for a group of high schoolers to succeed at such a difficult task that sometimes idols 10 years older than them could not succeed at was amazing already. Fans especially liked the fact that this meant the idols were flexible and could work with the fans whenever they pleased.
In a similar train of thought, no idol group had ever made live-streaming their main source of content. Of course, there had been other groups with live-streams before, but none had ever come close to achieving the level of success that MORE MORE JUMP! did with their live-streams. Part of the reason these live-streams are so popular is because it allows the fans to see a new side of their favorite idols and a glimpse into their everyday life, while also having immense fun. In fact, MORE MORE JUMP!’s live-streams have been so successful that many idol groups are now attempting to copy them.
MORE MORE JUMP! is also widely considered to be one of the best self-producing groups out there. A good portion of their songs are covers of other songs, but many of their songs are also self-produced. These self-produced songs tend to be more popular, because fans like the way the idols can write the lyrics themselves about their true feelings and emotions, and look further into an idol’s personality beneath just being an idol.
The idols were also not afraid to be themselves. In an idol industry oversaturated with idols that have company-manufactured personalities, MORE MORE JUMP! is a breath of fresh air. They have openly criticized the standard that an idol must be extremely thin and pale, embracing eating on live-stream with their habit of trying new restaurants together for their fans. MORE MORE JUMP!’s personalities also shine through in their everyday interactions, with each idol having something special and genuine of their own.
Two of the idols in particular, Shizuku and Airi, demonstrated an unwavering courage to continue to be themselves. When they both came out as part of the LGBTQIA+ community 3 years ago, the idol industry was scandalized. Never before had there been an openly homosexual relationship between two idols before. But the two girls pushed through the controversy, advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights and deleting homophobic comments.
These are just a few examples of all the ways MORE MORE JUMP! has irrevocably changed the idol industry and culture, and for the better. Their contributions to the paradigm shift in idol culture are recognized all over East Asia, especially in South Korea. Many fans love MORE MORE JUMP! for this reason as well: they are not afraid to take action.
Looking Towards the Future
Now that MORE MORE JUMP! has disbanded, the idols are free to go wherever they please. The 3 ex-idols and solo idol have all talked about their plans for the future together, promising to keep in touch.
As the idol industry struggles to fill the gap left by the most successful idol group of the decade, Minori, Haruka, Airi, and Shizuku are all looking towards the future and finding their own, separate paths to follow. Even though they will never perform together again, fans can find solace in the fact that MORE MORE JUMP! will always be bonded together by the impact they’ve had on the world.
MORE MORE JUMP! has successfully inspired hope in the hearts of millions, and their legacy will never never be forgotten.