A Japanese underground idol girl group has come under fire after performing in swimsuits on an outdoor stage amid sub-zero temperatures and heavy snowfall.
According to local media outlets, including TV Asahi, on February 13, 2026 (local time) the Hiroshima-based underground idol group PLANCK STARS took the stage at the Sapporo Snow Festival’s outdoor venue on February 8.
At the time, the area was experiencing fierce snowfall and the biting cold of minus 10 degrees Celsius. During the performance, one member sang while holding an ice cream cone and wearing a blue school-style swimsuit. Other members also performed in short-sleeved tops paired with traditional Japanese gym bloomers.
Photos from the performance surpassed 13 million views on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), drawing massive attention. However, online users sharply criticized the act, commenting, “This is inappropriate for an event with many families in attendance—keep this underground,” “They’re going to get frostbite,” “Why stage something like this in the middle of winter?” and “The agency is abusing the members for marketing.”
As the controversy grew, the agency released an official statement on February 9, saying, “The member wore the school-style swimsuit as a surprise without prior notice,” and added, “We apologize for causing concern and discomfort due to the outfit and stage direction.”
We have always emphasized safety management, social norms, and compliance with laws and regulations, but we deeply regret failing to prevent this unexpected situation in advance. We will do our utmost to prevent a recurrence, including ensuring members wear proper warm clothing at cold venues.
— PLANCK STARS’ Management
However, even after posting the apology, the agency continued uploading promotional photos from the swimsuit performance, prompting netizens to question the sincerity of the apology.
This is not the first time that PLANCK STARS has drawn backlash. In 2022, the group faced intense criticism after selling photo ticket packages and announcing that the lowest-selling member would “debut as an adult film actress.” In 2023, they were again embroiled in controversy after staging an act in which a male fan was made to drink kitchen detergent during an event.
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