TokyoScope NEWS: Juvenile Hall Idol - The Wild World of Kanano Senritsu
A round up of recent Japanese pop culture headlines edited by Patrick Macias
Juvenile Hall Idol: The Wild World of Kanano Senritsu
Idol Kanano Senritsu (a member of groups Devil’s Kiss and ZOCX) held a pop-up shop for her apparel brand fab sick this weekend at Laforet in Harajuku. A few hours later, my friend ticomeba.ito gave me a brief bio of Senritsu, including her journey from juvenile hall to half a million followers on social media. I dug around and cobbed together a bio which is now submitted for your approval…
Kanano Senritsu was born in Osaka in , but after her parents divorced, she moved to Tokyo when she started elementary school. She lived with her mother and younger sister in an apartment just a 30-second walk from Hamamatsuchō Station. From a young age, life at home was difficult. Kanano suffered physical abuse from her mother, who often fought with her father over money. She began to believe that money was the root of all their problems — that if they just had enough, her mother would stop being violent. In desperation, she even started secretly slipping illegally-earned money into her mother’s wallet, hoping it would make things better. Later on, Kanano reflected that her mother, having also grown up in an abusive household, didn’t even recognize her actions as abuse — to her, it was a warped form of love.
At the time, Kanano didn’t see herself as a victim. She thought the abuse was her fault, so the idea of asking for help never even crossed her mind. In middle school, she attempted suicide. She was attending a school near Tokyo Tower, where many students came from wealthy families and had so-called “monster parents” who were obsessed with appearances. Because she had never been taught basic hygiene like brushing her teeth or bathing regularly, she was bullied for being unclean. The bullying became violent — at one point, a classmate stabbed her in the knee with a carving knife, and she jumped out of a third-story art classroom window trying to escape, breaking bones in the process. Kanano dropped out of high school in her first year. With abuse at home and bullying at school, she started spending time in places like Kabukicho and Akihabara, where she found a sense of belonging among others who had nowhere else to go.
Eventually, Kanano became involved in illegal activities — helping run a business that sold used underwear to men through dating sites, and even aiding in theft — which led to her being sent to a juvenile detention center for almost two years. At the time, she didn’t even fully understand what was legal or illegal — she was simply trying to survive. The facility was strict: no talking was allowed, and some of the girls didn’t even know how to read, write, or tie their shoes. But that place became a turning point. The staff listened to her, really listened, and with all the free time she had, Kanano read around 5,000 books. One that had a major impact on her was Psychology to Realize Yourself by Taizō Katō. Through reading, her perspective shifted — she began to understand just how abnormal her life had been. After earning her high school diploma, she briefly worked at a pharmacy before launching her career as a live idol. She and her sister eventually moved out to distance themselves from their emotionally unstable mother, though Kanano still keeps limited contact, visiting a few times a year. In 2017, she joined the idol group No Plan., and during the Miss iD 2018 competition, her story from juvenile detention caught the judges’ attention — earning her the "Survivor Award."
In January 2024, Kanano Senritsu announced an indefinite hiatus from live performances due to health reasons. However, she continued to stay active through non-live activities, such as collaborating with the band “Young Skinny.” Then, on September 8th — her birthday — she made a comeback with a special event at Shinjuku ReNY. The event featured the debut of new songs and important announcements about her future activities, marking the beginning of a new chapter in her career.
6%DOKIDOKI Celebrates 30th Anniversary with “KAWAIITOPIA” Exhibition in Harajuku
This year marks the 30th anniversary of legendary Harajuku store 6%DOKIDOKI—an exciting milestone! To celebrate, Six Percent Inc. will be hosting a small exhibition in Harajuku from Tuesday, March 25 to Friday, March 28. Kitamura will be at the venue during the event, so friends, colleagues, and industry folks who’d like to visit are encouraged to reach out to them directly.
The collection is themed “KAWAIITOPIA,” inspired by the latest work of Sebastian Masuda. The exhibition will feature new items from 6%DOKIDOKI (apparel), Sebastian Masuda Art (art goods), and the collaborative brand with Felissimo, KAWAII COMPANY (traditional crafts and souvenirs). Many of the pieces will also be available for purchase on-site!
Listen, Don’t Scroll: Shibuya Restaurants Launch ‘Oto-Meshi’ Dining Experience
Starting March 13, 17 restaurants in Tokyo’s Shibuya area are taking part in the "Oto-Meshi Project," which encourages people to listen to audio content while eating instead of looking at their phones. Ajinomoto launched the project after research showed that using smartphones during meals can dull your sense of taste. A survey found that nearly 80% of people in their teens and 20s eat while looking at their phones, and about half of them feel like they’re not really tasting their food. On the flip side, those who’ve tried “Oto-Meshi” (eating while listening) said it helped them focus and enjoy their meals more.
To support this idea, several Tokyo radio stations created exclusive shows and podcast episodes you can only hear at these participating restaurants. For example, TBS Radio features a comedy duo chatting about memorable meals, while J-WAVE has a show where a comedian-turned-waiter talks about pasta and tomato sauce. Some of the places involved include JINNNAN CAFE, a curry and biryani shop called “Curry Shop Hatsukoi,” a rice burger place, and a Seattle-based burger joint. Diners can scan a QR code at each spot to listen in—just don’t forget your headphones! The event runs through March 31, and each restaurant plays a different show.
MEGA Don Quijote Shibuya Enters Fortnite
On March 21, MEGA Don Quijote Shibuya opened a virtual store in Fortnite. Players can explore a detailed replica of the actual store, complete with its signature "compressed displays" showcasing original brands like "Passion Price" and "Hen'ai Meshi." The gameplay involves a hide-and-seek mode where participants can transform into store items to hide or play as hunters seeking them out. This initiative aims to connect with younger audiences and international visitors, enhancing brand recognition and encouraging physical store visits (do they really need to encourage people?) through in-game campaigns offering coupons and perks.
TokyoScope Retro - Project A-Ko Movie Preimere, 1986
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