Idol Industry Shaken. New Group's Encore is a "Proper Chair Sitting Posture Lecture"

The new-era idol group “Office Comfort” taught audiences “correct PC work posture” at their debut concert. Fans waved acupressure sticks instead of glow sticks, and the venue was filled not with frenzy but with heightened health awareness. The special bonus was a discount coupon for premium office chairs supervised by the members.

On the 2nd, a live house in Tokyo was dominated by an unusual silence and tension. After the five-member idol group “Office Comfort” finished singing their debut song, what appeared in response to the unceasing applause was not the customary additional encore performance. The spotlight illuminated not the members, but a state-of-the-art office chair sitting majestically at center stage.

Leader Kotsumi Shiina (24, former chiropractor) grabbed the microphone and asked, “Everyone! Are you pumped up!? …But isn’t that way of getting pumped putting a strain on your lower back?” After a moment of bewilderment, the venue was enveloped in a rumbling groan of agreement. What began from there was the unprecedented encore project “Use It Tomorrow! QOL-Boosting Working Posture Lecture.”

The members recreated actual PC work on stage while meticulously explaining the ideal pelvic angle, the distance between monitor and eyes, and keyboard typing methods that don’t hurt the wrists, accompanied by X-ray photos projected on screen. Instead of sending enthusiastic calls, fans corrected their own sitting posture and used official acupressure sticks purchased at the merchandise booth to relieve stiffness in their neck muscles instead of glow sticks, creating an extremely conscious scene.

According to Wellness Dream Co., the health equipment manufacturer that produced the group, the group was formed with the concept of “committing not only to the hearts of fans, but also to their physical health.” The members are said to be composed of people with unique backgrounds who can relate to modern people’s concerns, such as former IT engineers and physical therapy assistants. A company representative passionately stated, “Sleep deprivation and financial burden from fan activities are self-responsibility, but we want to at least correct their posture during work.”

Experts are also paying attention to this new form of entertainment. Professor Mabone of the Department of Social Behavioral Sciences at Tohto Advanced University analyzes, “This is a redefinition of the role of idols. Whereas idols once provided dreams and the extraordinary, they provide health—an extremely everyday and practical value. It can be said to be an inevitable paradigm shift created by the exhaustion of modern society.”

After the live performance, fans left the venue with uniformly bright expressions, yet looking as if their blood circulation had improved. One male fan (38) said with deep emotion, “My eardrums were healed by my favorite’s singing voice, and my intervertebral discs were saved by my favorite’s guidance. This is the most fulfilling live performance I’ve ever experienced.”

Now that CD bonuses have evolved from handshake tickets to 30% discount coupons for premium office chairs supervised by the members, what will the idol industry “care for” next? The light of entertainment is now reaching the area around our stiffened shoulder blades.

Stakeholder Comments

• Kotsumi Shiina (Leader): “It was the best debut to see everyone’s smiles and straightened backs. Next, I’ll master scapular release!”
• Enthusiastic Fan (42, SE): “I wanted a life where my favorite would point out ‘Your elbow angle is weak!’ rather than make eye contact with me. My dream came true.”
• Professor Mabone (Social Behavioral Sciences): “A historic moment when what fans seek from idols shifted from empathy to co-‘health.’ I can write a paper on this.”
• Rival Idol Group Producer: “We’re selling ’love.’ We can’t compete with ’employee benefits’…”
• Office Chair-san: “Finally, an era has come when my true value is recognized. I’m deeply moved to stand at the center of the stage.”
• Lower Back Pain (Concept): “My raison d’être is being threatened. Idols are formidable.”
• Merchandise Staff: “The acupressure sticks sold out in 5 minutes. We have piles of glow stick inventory.”
• Venue Sound Staff: “I recorded more sighs of relief like ‘Ah, right there’ than cheers of ‘Kyaa!’”
• Agency President: “The ultimate goal is to extend the average lifespan of the nation. We plan to conduct comprehensive health checkups at the Budokan live encore.”
• Glow Stick: “I didn’t get my turn. Just… lonely.”

International Expressions

Haiku

• Favorite teaches / Watching back straighten / Beyond dreams
• Glow stick / Discarded, now gripping / Acupressure stick
• Silence falls / The call is one: "Iliopsoas!"
• Winter night / Listening to ballads / With straightened spine
• Sitting in chair / Idol discusses / Health theory
• Encore / Waiting with / Pelvis upright
• More than song / The teaching soaks in / Elbow angle
• Handshake ticket / Now a thing of past / Discount coupon
• At the end of / Fan activities / My body aligns
• Health / The era of paying for / Approaching feeling

Kanji / Chinese Characters

新時代偶像集団 公演後 正座法講座 観客健康意識高揚 扇子代指圧棒振 会場熱狂無 健康意識高

Emoji

🎤👩‍🎤👨‍🎤➡️👨‍🏫🪑💻📐➡️👥🧘‍♂️🧘‍♀️🙌➡️👍❤️‍🩹💯

Onomatopoeia

Silence… Ahem. Click-click. Grrr. Swoosh… Tap-tap. “Ahh, that hits the spot…” Sparkle… Clap-clap-clap… Crack. Relief.

SNS

• #OfficeComfortBest
• #FanActivitiesGoodForLowerBackPain
• Our sciatic nerves are protected by the members
• #EncoreIsHealthGuidance
• Finally acupressure sticks are official merchandise
• #QOLBoostingLive
• Next live is eye strain relief yoga apparently
• Working tomorrow to buy the same chair as my favorite
• Want physiotherapy rather than handshake
• #HealthIsBestFanService