TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

Japan's 'Virtual Currency Girls' debut to fan frenzy

Miwa Suzuki (Agence France-Presse)
Tokyo
Fri, January 12, 2018

Share This Article

Change Size

Japan's 'Virtual Currency Girls' debut to fan frenzy Members of idol group Kasotsuka Shojo (Virtual Currency Girls) attend an interview following their live stage performance in Tokyo on January 12, 2018. Japan's new 'idol' band -- the Virtual Currency Girls -- kicked off their stage performance January 12 to educate the public about cryptocurrencies, as frenzied fans waved arms and chanted together. (AFP/Kazuhiro Nogi)

J

apan's latest "idol" band, the Virtual Currency Girls, took to the stage for their debut concert Friday to educate the public about cryptocurrencies -- playing to frenzied fans waving their arms and chanting together.

"Our brains are fried as we are studying every day" about virtual currencies, said the group's leader Rara Naruse, 18, as they began their live concert in Tokyo.

The band hopes to promote the idea "through entertainment" that virtual currencies are not just a tool for speculation but are a wonderful technology, she said.

Each of the eight girls in the band, known in Japanese as "Kasotsuka Shojo", plays a character representing a virtual currency such as bitcoin, ethereum or ripple.

Wearing character masks, frilly mini-skirts and "maid" aprons complete with knee-high socks, they performed in a small hall packed with dozens of hand-picked fans and media people.

Their tunes included their debut song, "The Moon and Virtual Currencies and Me", which warns against fraudulent operators and urges people to make sure of their online security.

In keeping with the theme, fans were required to pay 0.001 bitcoin (around $15) -- to take a picture with one of his favourite performer. The price includes a hand-shake and some small-talk.

The girls are paid in bitcoin and payment for admission to future performances and merchandise will only be accepted in virtual currencies.

Read also: Japan's new crypto-currency crooners sing the bitcoin beats

Their message appeared to be getting through. 

One fan, 43-year-old Hiroshi Kasahara, who runs an ad agency, said: "I have been trading stocks and forex but not bitcoin or other virtual currencies as I was a bit scared of them."

"But I feel like opening an account" if the group accepts payment only in virtual currencies, he told AFP.

Makoto Sato, 42, said the idol group had given him "a good introduction" to the world of cryptocurrencies.

"I may well give it a try as it can be a catalyst to make life more convenient and fun," said the 42-year-old office worker.

At the end of the performance, fans cheered and clapped, with one screaming out: "Can't stop loving you!"

The group is tapping into a rich seam in Japan, where bitcoin is recognised as legal tender.

Nearly one-third of global bitcoin transactions in December were denominated in yen, according to specialised website jpbitcoin.com.

The group's launch comes on the heels of a recent market frenzy which boosted bitcoin up to nearly $20,000.

{

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.