AFTERS, a five-member J-Pop girl group featuring Uca, Asuka, Mint, Ema, and Pina, performed in Paris at Japan Expo, France’s largest event dedicated to Japanese culture. Every year, the festival hosts a wide range of Japanese music acts, offering live performances across all four days of the event.
AFTERS delivered a vibrant and energetic performance at Japan Expo, captivating the audience with their infectious stage presence.
Their music blends catchy J-Pop melodies with rock-inspired instrumentals, creating a dynamic and refreshing sound. Dressed in colorful and adorable outfits, the five members perfectly embodied the playful aesthetic of J-Pop fashion.
Their synchronized choreography and bright smiles kept the crowd engaged from start to finish. It was a lively showcase that highlighted both the group’s charm and versatility.
Between two performances, they answered our questions during an interview.
Hello everyone, could each of you introduce yourselves individually and describe your group in one word?
Uca: I’m Uca, nice to meet you.
Asuka: I’m Asuka.
Mint: I’m Mint, nice to meet you!
Ema: I’m Ema.
Hina: I’m Hina.
Asuka: We are a five-member idol group, and we made our debut in 2023. We have now been active for four years. Mainly, we perform in Tokyo, so this is our very first time performing overseas. We hope this will be the beginning of a new international adventure!
Your group has gone through several changes over the past few years. In your opinion, what has remained unchanged about AFTERS’ spirit?
Uca: What has not changed is the love we have for our songs. The most important thing for us is making people happy through our music.
Speaking of your songs, which one would you choose to represent AFTERS?
Everyone: This is a difficult question. [Laughs]
Ema: I would choose So Bad Hot, because the lyrics reflect Japanese culture. I think it’s a great song to introduce our culture at Japan Expo. Please give it a listen!
What was your first reaction when you found out you would be performing at Japan Expo?
Hina: Oh my God!
Everyone: We were so happy! [Laughs]
Does this mean you’ll be expanding your activities internationally?
Asuka: That’s still a secret for now!
You all have very distinct personalities. What makes AFTERS unique when you perform together on stage?
Asuka: We all have completely different personalities. But when we come together, those differences are exactly what make the group unique. That’s what makes AFTERS who we are!
You bring so much energy and humor to the stage. Are there any other messages you would like to share with your fans?
Asuka: The most important thing is to have fun and not let difficult things weigh you down. It is about living in the moment.
How do you prepare before going on stage?
Hina: We usually warm up our voices first. And when we’re about to perform on a big stage, we imagine how we are going to present ourselves to the audience.
Do you get the opportunity to contribute to the creation of your performances and concepts?
Asuka: We mainly make what is created for us our own, for example, the choreography. For instance, when we learn a choreography, we “AFTERS-ify” it!
Your outfits are amazing! Do you take part in designing your costumes?
Hina: No, that’s mostly our stylist’s job!
It feels like you’re also trying to move beyond traditional “idol” conventions. Are you interested in exploring other artistic directions?
Asuka: It is not so much that we want to explore other genres, but rather that we want to showcase different sides of what being an idol can be.
What kind of memory do you hope fans will take away from your performance here? Do you have a message for them?
Asuka: When our appearance here was announced, our fans sent us so many congratulatory messages. If there’s one thing we’d like during these four days, it’s to enjoy every moment together with our fans. We would also love to come back again in the future!
KAvenyou would like to thank Japan Expo and AFTERS for giving us the opportunity of interviewing AFTERS.
This interview is a collaboration between KAvenyou, CKJPOPNEWS and NAUTILJON.
