Misa Kimura, producer of the idol project KAWAII LAB, received the Judges’ Special Award at the ‘Marketer of the Year 2025’ event by Nikkei xTrend, a specialized media outlet for marketing and innovation.

The ‘Marketer of the Year’ award is an annual prize presented by the Nikkei xTrend editorial team to honor individuals who have created new markets or built groundbreaking business models.

<Reason for Win>
Kimura is the producer of the KAWAII LAB project, which handles popular idol groups like FRUITS ZIPPER and CANDY TUNE. It has produced one hit song after another, each racking up billions of views on TikTok. By redefining the meaning of “kawaii” as it diversifies worldwide, Kimura has created a new idol image that has become beloved by a wide demographic of people.

[Interview] Learning from the Producer of FRUITS ZIPPER: The Art of Redefining “Kawaii”
https://xtrend.nikkei.com/atcl/contents/18/01242/00009/

‘Marketer of the Year 2025’ Official Site‘Marketer of the Year 2025’ Official Site
https://xtrend.nikkei.com/atcl/contents/18/01242/