Did you know there is a female idol group made up entirely of members from Okayama that has been active for more than 10 years?
That group is feelNEO.
The five-member idol group began its activities in 2016, and has continued with the same members, with no graduations or new additions.
In today’s idol scene, members’ graduations and new additions have become events in their own right and hold significant commercial value. What kind of group is feelNEO, which operates at a distance from this trend?
We spoke with the members, who celebrated their 10th anniversary on March 26, 2026, about their past and future as idols.
The information presented is as of the article’s publication in May 2026. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What is feelNEO?
feelNEO is a female idol group made up of five members from Okayama Prefecture.
The group began in 2013 as exclusive models for “HUG HUG,” a free magazine for parents and children in Okayama, and released three singles during that period. Then, in 2016, the current members began their full-fledged idol activities, and celebrated their 10th anniversary on March 26, 2026.
Even among groups that last 10 years—a rare feat—feelNEO has continued for all 10 years with the same five members, without any graduations or new additions.
Members
The members are as follows:
- Aya-pon (leader)
- Sakura
- Ayuri
- Hinami
- Kirara
The group consists entirely of members from Okayama Prefecture, including members from Kurashiki City.
To protect the members’ privacy, their cities, wards, towns, and villages of origin are not disclosed.
In today’s idol scene, as represented by Morning Musume and AKB48, the mainstream approach is to run groups while members graduate and new members join in turn. It is rare for a group to continue for 10 years with its founding (original) members. Among regional idols, especially those categorized as “local idols,” feelNEO could be considered unique.
“When you have five girls, there are bound to be all kinds of things, especially during adolescence. We made it through those years in middle school, high school, and university,” says leader Aya-pon with a laugh, looking back.
Main Activities
feelNEO’s main activity is performing live on stage.
As well as performing in Okayama Prefecture, the group is active across the Tokyo metropolitan area and Kansai, including regular shows in Tokyo.
The group also appeared twice at “TOKYO IDOL FESTIVAL (TIF),” Japan’s premier idol festival, after winning the Chugoku-Shikoku block of the nationwide selection live event, and performed in 2017 and 2019.
“All the members love Okayama so much that we still commute from there. I feel like we spend more on transportation than almost any other regional idol group,” the members say, though their popularity in the Tokyo metropolitan area is also growing.
At their solo live show in 2022, when they began focusing more on activities in Tokyo, only 13 people attended. Now, they draw crowds of several hundred.
They are currently preparing for the “feelNEO 10th Anniversary tour2026【NEXT】,” which begins on May 16, 2026.
In addition, an 11th-anniversary live show at Okayama Budokan has been confirmed for March 22, 2027.
Recommended Songs, According to the Members
As of May 2026, feelNEO has released nine singles and three albums.
Their eighth single, “Our Story Beneath the Stars,” once reached No. 4 on the Oricon Weekly chart.
We asked the members to recommend songs in the following categories:
- Signature song
- Crowd-pumping song
- Ballad
Signature Song “book”
This 2022 song was the first one written and composed by member Kirara.
Kirara, who says, “I used to be a chuunibyou,” has always liked writing things down on paper, and apparently sorted out her feelings by writing down her worries and other thoughts.
Crowd-Pumping Song “Idol da mon!”
This 2023 song is about the resolve required of idols who take the stage and their message to fans.
Ballad “monologue”
This was their latest song as of May 2025, written by all five members to mark their 10th anniversary.
Ten years since the group formed on March 26, 2016.
We spoke with the members of feelNEO, who have continued without any changes to the lineup through graduations or new additions, about looking back on the past 10 years and what lies ahead.
feelNEO Facts
| Name | feelNEO |
|---|---|
| Address | Not disclosed |
| Contact | For performance requests and other inquiries, please use the contact form on the official website. |
| Website | feelNEO Official Website |
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