feelNEO - Celebrating 10 Years in 2026: The Okayama Idol Group That Has Continued with the Same Five Members Since Its Formation - Page 2 of 2

Interview with the members of feelNEO

We spoke with the members of feelNEO: Ayapon, Sakura, Ayuri, Hinami, and Kirara.

Celebrating the 10th anniversary

Looking at the current idol scene, I think it's rare to find groups that are still active with the so-called "original members." How do you feel about reaching the 10th anniversary?

Hinami

Ten years felt long.
At first, I was wondering what being an idol was, but over the course of ten years, I was able to experience the wonderfulness of being active as an idol.

It all started when I was scouted at Aeon Mall Kurashiki, and at first, it felt like a hobby where I was just dancing, so I never thought it would last this long.

Ayuri

The ten years went by in a flash.
What I think about reaching the 10th anniversary is that even after ten years, it is really difficult to become famous and be discovered by more people.

Sakura

I originally wanted to become an idol and auditioned, so I am really happy to have continued doing what I love for ten years.

During my student days, there were various paths I could take, but I want to live doing what I love and I want everyone to see what I love. Celebrating ten years with these five, I feel like I want to perform live in more places and that I have many new goals.

Kirara

After ten years, I have really received a lot of compliments from many people.

However, the fact that I have managed to continue this far is thanks to our manager, my parents, and all the fans who have supported us. Ten years ago, I was still in middle school, so I really couldn't have continued without my parents.

I feel a sense of discomfort being praised for something like this, and I really hope to repay everyone through our live performances from now on.

Ayapon

During the 10th anniversary live, I really felt how many people have supported us and I was reminded of how grateful I am for the environment that has allowed us to continue for ten years.

For us, having all five of us together without anyone missing is something that is quite rare in idol culture, and I think it is truly amazing. I believe it has been a very meaningful ten years for us.

Do other idols say things like "Ten years is amazing" to you?

Ayapon

With five girls, there are definitely various things that happen. Especially during puberty, each of us has had our ups and downs.

Having overcome that age, we often get asked, "How did five teenage girls manage to stay so close together?"

I think there was a story about someone wanting to quit during the 10th anniversary live. There were indeed various challenges, right?

Ayapon

As members graduated from middle school, high school, and university, there were many times when the option to quit crossed everyone's mind. However, during those times, it wasn't so much about discussing it among the members, but rather that person would talk it out with the agency or their parents to resolve it.

However, last year (2025), when that topic came up, for the first time, all five members talked about it together. For the first time in ten years, we discussed whether or not to disband as a group.

We all persuaded each other, and ultimately, we reached a point where we said, "Sorry for that time," and here we are now... To be honest, these kinds of crises don't happen just once a year; it feels like they happen multiple times a year (laughs).

How do you personally reconcile with all the various challenges?

Hinami

During my student days, I felt that I was doing something special, so I thought I should try not to be a burden and that people wouldn't understand. However, my teachers would check in on me, asking, "Are you doing okay? Are you busy?" and my friends would be considerate and kind.

Thanks to that, I was able to continue my activities.

Kirara

When I talk about wanting to quit, it gets back to my parents, and they persuade me. Since I have been active since middle school, I owe it to my parents that I am able to continue, so their words really resonate with me...

Ayapon

I feel that I have been blessed with a good environment, and I think many people have made me realize that.

What I am doing now is not something everyone can do. Standing on stage, continuing with five people. Even if I felt sad about not being able to hang out with friends during my student days, those friends were cheering for me a lot.

I am in an environment that is not taken for granted, and there were many people around me who made me realize that. So, I was able to think that I am doing something that only I can do, which motivated me to keep going.

I believe that the awareness of "because we have continued" is strong among these five.

Thoughts on activities in Okayama

I think there is a difficulty in continuing activities in the countryside while advancing into the metropolitan area, but how do you currently view your activities in your hometown of Okayama?

Ayapon

Initially, the goal I set during my middle and high school days was to hold a solo live concert at Kurashiki Muscat Stadium. At that time, it was just a vague statement, and since it is a venue that can hold about 10,000 people, I am starting to realize now that I was saying something outrageous, but because I said it, I want to achieve it.

So, my current ultimate goal is Kurashiki Muscat Stadium.

In order to be known by many people in Okayama, we need to raise our profile and improve our skills. I want to become a group that can be proud of Okayama by competing in Osaka and Tokyo.

With that, I have a desire to perform live at Kurashiki Muscat Stadium and succeed.

Kirara

I have a feeling that live performances and release events in Okayama are important for making people in Okayama aware of us in order to realize the live at Kurashiki Muscat Stadium.

However, at the same time, when we perform live at our home live house, it feels like a "healing medicine," in a way, that soothes our tired hearts from traveling.

Of course, I have the motivation to go to Tokyo to work hard to be known by more people, but I cherish our live performances in Okayama so much that if we don't have a live there at least once a month, it becomes tough for me.

Sakura

Now, we are able to go to many places outside the prefecture, but I think we are able to go to various places because we have always had fans in Okayama.

Not just Fukuoka, Tokyo, and Osaka, but the fans in Okayama come along with us. I think the presence of fans who come to see feelNEO no matter where we perform is very significant.

We have a live scheduled at Okayama Budokan in March 2027, so I want to increase our live performances in Okayama even more.

Ayuri

We perform live in various prefectures, but Okayama is still our home, so we receive comments from fans like, "The home live looks really fun" and "It's different from other places."

We value our hometown of Okayama, so I hope to increase our live performances there and make the people of Okayama fall in love with feelNEO.

Hinami

Since we have been active for a long time, many people who have known us for a long time come to our live performances in Okayama.

When I meet those people, I feel the atmosphere of Okayama... The dialect and everything make it a place where I feel safe and secure.

Also, there are times when we can perform live in places where various people can see us in Okayama, so I am happy to be able to be seen by those who are seeing us for the first time. I want to cherish those opportunities as well.

Ayapon

Although our activities in Tokyo and Osaka have increased, we love Okayama so much that we still commute from Okayama.

I can't wait to go back.

Kirara

When we arrive at Okayama Station, everyone is like, "We're back~~" (laughs)

Message to readers and fans

Finally, please give a message to the readers and fans.

Hinami

I think there are still many people in Okayama who are not familiar with idols or might feel a bit scared because we are idols who are close to them, or who are interested but have never actually come to see us.

We will do our best to deliver live performances that will eliminate those feelings, so please come and see us.

Ayuri

I think there are still many people who do not know about feelNEO even after ten years.
We are working hard to deliver live performances that everyone, regardless of age, can enjoy, so I would be happy if you could come and see a feelNEO live performance at least once.

Sakura

It has been 10 years since we started our activities, and we have been active in Okayama all this time. We really love Okayama, so we want to be better known by everyone in Okayama.

We also hold free live performances, so I hope those who are seeing idols for the first time will come and check us out. We want to become a group that people will love and think, "I'm glad I supported them."

Kirara

FeelNEO has lyrics that are easy to understand, and our visuals are good too. Our manager, who takes great care of us, always says this.

If you come to see FeelNEO, which has been loved and nurtured to this extent, I am confident you will come to like us, so please come to our live performances.

Ayapon

Since it's our 10th year, I think it's a good milestone.
So, I really want people to get to know the group FeelNEO, and we stand on stage with pride after 10 years of activity.

For those in Okayama who say, "I don't know about idols," I would be happy if FeelNEO could be the reason they come to like idols, and I want to create a culture where "supporting FeelNEO is cool," so I would be delighted if you could come and meet us.

Conclusion

Continuing to be active as an idol in Okayama is difficult.

Since around 2000, I have strongly felt this while watching idol stages. Especially in the southern part of Okayama Prefecture, due to good access to the metropolitan area and Kansai, many young people tend to flow there, whether to stand on stage or to watch.

Given such geographical conditions, I have nothing but respect for those who have continued their activities for 10 years, increased their activities in the metropolitan area and Kansai, and are still commuting from Okayama to continue their work.

As we continue into our 11th and 12th anniversaries, I hope to see the realization of our big dream of a solo live performance at Kurashiki Muscat Stadium.

Interview Cooperation