While there are many famous idol groups, more often than not, groups will struggle to find success. This is partially due to the industry’s saturation, making it hard for idols without the support of a major label to attract attention from the moment they debut.
The Harsh Reality Of “Nugu” Groups Trigger Intense Reactions
The most obvious way this is seen is in the number of fans that show up at events.
Recently, this exact situation was observed in the case of one girl group.
| @qunqun/X
Japanese girl group QunQun☆RiniU initially debuted as QunQun in 2011, before disbanding around 2020. The latest version of the group re-debuted in 2024, adding a new member and a new name.
Like other J-Pop groups, QunQun☆RiniU have been active in various ways outside of concerts, holding “handshake” events. However, the handshake event that took place in early April appears to have had an unexpected outcome.
In a post on their X with the caption “Special event… zero people showed up…” the group are shown standing behind a table with sad expressions.
| @qunqun/X
Whether or not this was serious is not entirely clear — still, it got a massive reaction online, with over 1.3 million views.
特典会、、、0人、、、#QunQun#きゅんきゅん pic.twitter.com/tkgfrZ7HiF
— QunQun 【Official】 (@qunqun) April 11, 2026
The group’s next event appears to have yielded better results, with some applause heard after their introduction.
本日の、、、特典会は、、、#QunQun #きゅんきゅん pic.twitter.com/P2DXi8kgyf
— QunQun 【Official】 (@qunqun) April 12, 2026