The Girl Group That Is Changing Japan’s Idol Culture - Meet The Japan Leaders: Atarashii Gakko!
Digging through the net for new beats is not so needed anymore with the recent exportation of Asian music to the West.
With J-pop idol group Atarashii Gakko!, also known as Atarashii Gakkou no Leaders, joining internationally renowned record label 88 Rising at the beginning of 2021, they’re certainly on the musical radar on a global scale today, thanks to their groundbreaking hit “NAINAINAI”.
All dressed in sailor uniforms, Atarashii Gakko! is a refreshing take on Japanese idol groups. Instead of coming off as a carefully worked out girl group to fit the demands of the existing industry, they carry a sense of authenticity, of chaos, and of rebellion, packed with youthfulness.
This girl group is constituted of four members: Mizyu, known as the “Sleeping Kitten”, who’s sporting fluffy pigtails; Kanon, sleek and stylish, nicknamed as the “Graceful One”; Rin who is the “Nice and Funky One” with spectacular rap skills; and last but not least, the “Wildcard” Suzuka, wearing round glasses, as the main vocalist.
But that’s not the most exciting part: they’re incredibly multi-faceted. On the side, they upload self-choreographed humorous and energetic skits on YouTube about Japanese culture [check out Seishun Academy on 88 Rising’s channel], as well as amassing over 3.5M followers on TikTok, thanks to their charm and funky content.
Releasing bizarre and energetic music videos as well, their most-watched are “Pineapple Kryptonite”, a pop single, and “Freaks” featuring Warren Hue. Their music ranges from jazzy math rock to techno-pop, sprinkled with a catchy rap verse on the occasion.
Bright, versatile, unconventional but hip, Atarashii Gakko! might just be your newest obsession.
About the Author:
Mizuki Khoury
Born in Montreal, based in Tokyo. Sabukaru’s senior writer and works as an artist under Exit Number Five.
