[Summer 2026 Special Issue] All 15 Items! Top 10 Latest Trends!

ING Co., Ltd., which has been providing marketing and promotion support specializing in teens for 30 years, conducted a survey of high school students sensitive to trends. Shibuya Trend Research announces the latest high school student trends, which are more real and fresher than anywhere else, based on the collected data and reflecting the authentic voices of INGteens high school members active in Shibuya.

The theme of this survey is "Latest Trends for Summer 2026."

❚ What words are trending now?

1st Merói (15.2%)

2nd Wahō (13.8%)

3rd Metsu (11.5%)

4th Frenemy (4.1%)

4th Honma Yade (4.1%)

6th 67 (2.8%)

6th Shabai (2.8%)

6th Bakuretsu (1.8%)

9th 21-year-old Cabaret Girl (1.4%)

9th Dopagaki (1.4%)

*Multiple answers allowed

[Versatile Killer Words Dominate Top Ranks, Evolving from "Oshi-katsu" to Compliments in Daily Life] "Merói" took first place. Originally derived from "meromero ni naru" (to be head over heels), it was internet slang to praise the visuals of one's "oshi" (favorite person/character) as "cool or cute enough to make you head over heels." It has now become established as a word to praise not only visuals but also actions, atmosphere, and a person's overall wonderful inner qualities. It is now used in a wider range of situations. "Wahō" ranked second. The original source is a word uttered by YouTuber SEIKIN in a video released in 2014. At the time, it was a reaction expressing surprise or joy at intense shock or cold, but it has come full circle and is now a revived hit among current high school students as a daily exclamation meaning "I'm so excited!" or "I'm happy!" With comments like "I use it in many situations" (2nd year high school, male), its ease of use has led to explosive popularity. "Metsu" was chosen for third place. It is a phrase derived from the song "Suki Sugite Metsu!" by the five-member dance vocal group M!LK, which also topped the music charts this spring. As comments like "When something happens, I often say '~sugite metsu'" (3rd year high school, female) and "Everyone adds it to the end of their sentences" (1st year high school, female) suggest, it continues to be a trend as a sentence-ending phrase when emotions run high.

❚ What things are trending now?

1st Sticker Exchange (14.5%)

2nd setlog (6.8%)

3rd Kyō Suki (4.5%)

4th Sticker Album (4.1%)

4th Mejirushi Accessory (4.1%)

4th Yoru no Odoriko (4.1%)

7th PRODUCE 101 JAPAN Shinsekai (3.6%)

8th 67 Dance (2.7%)

8th Bonbon Drop Seal (2.7%)

10th Mellojoy (2.3%)

*Multiple answers allowed

[The Unprecedented "Sticker Exchange" Maintains First Place! The 2-Second Video SNS "setlog" Soars] Following the previous survey, "Sticker Exchange" once again took the top spot. Enthusiastic episodes such as "My friend's desk is covered in stickers, that's how much I put them up" (2nd year high school, female) and "I make sticker albums that fill up my school locker and exchange them" (1st year high school, female) were shared. The massive boom among high school students seems to be accelerating. In second place is the rapidly rising new SNS app "setlog." Its appeal lies in its ease of use, allowing users to easily create a daily vlog by simply shooting and posting 2-second videos. The casual nature, without traditional follow/follower mechanisms, is also a key point. Comments like "It's easy to shoot and serves as a memory record" (3rd year high school, female) and "It's popular to record our daily lives like hourly blogs" (2nd year high school, female) show it's becoming a new staple SNS. In third place is ABEMA's dating reality show "Kyō, Suki ni Narimashita." (commonly known as "Kyō Suki"). With many comments such as "I discuss it with my friends every season" (3rd year high school, female), it has established its position as an "unmissable staple content" for high school students.

❚ What foods are trending now?

1st Mochyurin (18.9%)

2nd Mala Tang (15.6%)

3rd Dubai Choco Mochi (11.8%)

4th Yoajung (8.0%)

5th Thirty-One Greedy Festival (6.1%)

6th Butter Mochi (2.4%)

6th Pringles Chocolate (2.4%)

8th Acai (1.9%)

8th Dubai Chocolate (1.9%)

8th Mozzarella Cheese Fry (1.9%)

*Multiple answers allowed

[The Recently Re-released "Mochyurin" Takes First Place! High School Students Flock to Mister Donut's Buzzworthy Item] First place went to Mister Donut's "Mochyurin," which began its long-awaited re-release on June 3rd and has already become a major topic. Many high school students who couldn't try it last year expressed their enthusiasm, with comments like "I went to eat it with my friends on the very day it was re-released" (2nd year high school, male). It has quickly surged to the forefront of trends again this year. Second place is the consistently popular "Mala Tang." Many comments were received, such as "I never get tired of trying it at different restaurants" (3rd year high school, female) and "We go every week with everyone" (1st year high school, female). The increasing number of stores, the ease of enjoying it, the fun of choosing your own ingredients, and its healthiness have all contributed to its enduring popularity. Third place is "Dubai Choco Mochi," an evolved version of "Dubai Chocolate," which was number one in the previous survey. While there are rave reviews like "The combination of Dubai chocolate and mochi is great" (1st year high school, female), there are also comments like "It's too popular, I haven't been able to try it yet" (2nd year high school, female), indicating its high level of attention remains strong.

❚ What poses are trending now?

1st Yoru no Odoriko (13.1%)

2nd Metsu Pose (12.0%)

3rd Smartphone Face Cover (11.1%)

4th Wahō Pose (9.6%)

5th Gyaru Peace (3.8%)

6th Peace (2.4%)

7th 67 (1.9%)

7th Under-Chin Peace (1.9%)

7th Face Cover (1.9%)

7th Hand Face Cover (1.9%)

*Multiple answers allowed

[A Huge Hit Across Time! Sakanaction's "Yoru no Odoriko" Pose Takes First Place] First place went to "Yoru no Odoriko," which also ranked fourth in "Trending Things." The dance and poses from the song "Yoru no Odoriko," released in August 2012 by the five-member rock band Sakanaction, have become a huge hit, especially on TikTok. The boom was sparked by a video of an 11-year-old Indonesian boy dancing on the bow of a boat race with the song used. Comments like "I dance whenever I have free time" (1st year high school, female) and "It keeps appearing on social media, and the unique tempo is addictive" (3rd year high school, male) show it's spreading as a global meme. "Metsu Pose," which won first place in the previous survey, ranked second. With comments like "Everyone knows this pose, and it's still popular" (2nd year high school, male) and "It's easy to tell what pose it is" (1st year high school, female), it has become a staple trend. In third place is the "Smartphone Face Cover," which has become a standard style of the Reiwa era. It continues to be popular for its versatility in any situation, with comments like "It's good when you don't want to be in a photo or when you're not looking your best" (2nd year high school, female).

❚ Who is your favorite idol/artist right now?

1st iLiFE! (8.0%)

2nd M!LK (6.0%)

3rd Mrs. GREEN APPLE (3.0%)

3rd Naniwa Danshi (3.0%)

5th Arashi (2.5%)

6th =LOVE (2.0%)

6th TWICE (2.0%)

6th CHANMINA (2.0%)

6th MONAKI (2.0%)

10th BTS (1.5%)

10th CUTIE STREET (1.5%)

10th HANA (1.5%)

10th SixTONES (1.5%)

10th Bullet Train (1.5%)

*Multiple answers allowed

First place went to "iLiFE!," a group creating overwhelming excitement in the live idol scene. Comments like "Their faces are just incredibly cute" (3rd year high school, female) and "I love them so much I travel to their concerts every time. They're the cutest in the world" (1st year high school, female) show they have immense support, especially among female high school students. Second place is "M!LK," which is making huge strides, appearing everywhere in media and on social media. Comments like "Their quirky songs are the best" (2nd year high school, female) and "I like their interesting songs and unique dances" (1st year high school, female) were received. Their unique music, which sets them apart from other groups, and their individual, lovable characters have firmly captured the hearts of high school students.

❚ Who is your favorite male actor right now?

1st Ryō Yoshizawa (6.0%)

2nd Ryōhei Suzuki (4.0%)

2nd Ryūsei Yokohama (4.0%)

4th Hiroshi Iwase (3.5%)

4th Ryōsuke Yamada (Hey! Say! JUMP) (3.5%)

6th Mackenyu Arata (2.5%)

6th Hayato Sano (M!LK) (2.5%)

6th Masaki Suda (2.5%)

6th Keita Machida (2.5%)

6th Yūdai Toyota (2.5%)

*Multiple answers allowed

❚ Who is your favorite female actress right now?

1st Kanna Hashimoto (11.0%)

2nd Mio Imada (10.0%)

3rd Natsuki Deguchi (7.5%)

4th Mei Hata (5.0%)

5th Satomi Ishihara (4.0%)

5th Keiko Kitagawa (4.0%)

7th Minami Hamabe (3.5%)

8th Kasumi Arimura (3.0%)

8th Nanoka Hara (3.0%)

10th Hiyori Sakurada (2.5%)

10th Suzu Hirose (2.5%)

*Multiple answers allowed

❚ Who is your favorite talent/comedian right now?

1st Jarujaru (5.0%)

2nd Chidori (4.0%)

3rd Kamaitachi (3.0%)

3rd Rainbow (3.0%)

5th Sandwichman (2.5%)

6th Chocolate Planet (2.0%)

6th Rurand (2.0%)

6th Soshina (Shimofuri Myōjō) (2.0%)

6th Atsuhiro Tsuda (Dian) (2.0%)

6th Hirona Nagahama (2.0%)

*Multiple answers allowed

❚ Who is your favorite voice actor right now?

1st Natsuki Hanae (14.9%)

2nd Kenjiro Tsuda (6.0%)

3rd Mamoru Miyano (5.0%)

4th Yuki Kaji (4.0%)

5th Yūichi Nakamura (3.5%)

6th Kana Hanazawa (3.0%)

7th Akira Ishida (2.5%)

7th Subaru Kimura (2.5%)

7th Hiro Shimono (2.5%)

10th Hiroshi Kamiya (2.0%)

*Multiple answers allowed

❚ Who is your favorite model/influencer right now?

1st Hirona Nagahama (5.5%)

2nd MINAMI (3.5%)

3rd Yui-pisu (2.0%)

3rd Yuppi (2.0%)

3rd Nene Furuzono (2.0%)

3rd Rion Tada (2.0%)

3rd Nozomi (2.0%)

8th Tomoko Issho (1.5%)

8th Yua Kobayashi (1.5%)

8th Sakura (1.5%)

8th Rei Mukai (1.5%)

*Multiple answers allowed

❚ Who is your favorite YouTube channel/TikTok account right now?

1st Heisei Flamingo (4.0%)

2nd Tomoko Issho (3.5%)

3rd Tū-san to Yuppi (2.5%)

4th Hikakin TV (2.0%)

4th Colorful Peach (2.0%)

6th MAZZEL (1.5%)

6th PKA channel (1.5%)

6th Comdot (1.5%)

6th Minami Channel (1.5%)

6th Miyako no Owari desu Channel (1.5%)

6th Rikko28 (1.5%)

*Multiple answers allowed

❚ What characters are trending now?

1st Tamagotchi (17.3%)

2nd Chiikawa (12.4%)

3rd Monchhichi (9.8%)

4th Hello Kitty (4.9%)

5th Esther Bunny (4.4%)

6th Puppet Sungsung (4.0%)

7th Jewelpet (3.1%)

8th Lil ala mode by mikko (2.7%)

9th Pompompurin (1.8%)

9th Yo-kai Watch (1.8%)

*Multiple answers allowed

❚ What songs are trending now?

1st Yoru no Odoriko / Sakanaction (13.3%)

2nd Idol Power / M!LK (6.6%)

3rd Suki Sugite Metsu! / M!LK (5.2%)

4th Five / Arashi (4.7%)

5th It's Me / ILLIT (4.3%)

6th Kyawa Poppin' Do / iLiFE! (3.8%)

6th Honma Yade ☆ Nande Yanen ☆ Shiran Kedo / MONAKI (3.8%)

8th Bakuretsu Aishiteru / M!LK (3.8%)

9th mosi mosi? / Rakun (3.3%)

10th A・RA・SHI / Arashi (2.8%)

*Multiple answers allowed

❚ What TV programs are trending now?

1st Kyō, Suki ni Narimashita. Series (33.5%)

2nd Golden SixTONES (5.9%)

2nd Getsuyō kara Yofukashi (5.9%)

4th Sore Snow Man ni Yowasete Itadakimasu (5.4%)

5th Suiyōbi no Downtown (3.0%)

6th LAST CALL (2.5%)

6th Sekai no Hate Made Itte Q! (2.5%)

8th PRODUCE 101 JAPAN Shinsekai (2.0%)

8th Terebi x Mrs. (2.0%)

10th Ueda to Onna ga Hoeru Yoru (1.5%)

10th Genkai Toppa! Yatte M!LK (1.5%)

*Multiple answers allowed

Finally, we present excerpts from comments regarding the "Next Trends" predicted by high school students.

❚ Top 10 Next Trends

[Food] Angel Hair Chocolate An evolved Dubai chocolate that is gaining worldwide attention, made by wrapping traditional Turkish thread-like cotton candy "Pişmaniye" and rich pistachio cream in smooth chocolate. Its cute packaging and new, fluffy, crispy texture are already attracting the attention of high school students.

[Food] Yume no Beji Fuwa Yuki (Dreamy Veggie Fluffy Snow) A "sugar-free" fluffy shaved ice made from vegetables and fruits, released by Kurazushi on May 1st. It features a fluffy, snow-like melt-in-your-mouth texture and comes in three flavors. Its appeal lies in its ability to enjoy an unprecedented healthy shaved ice at a reasonable price.

[Person] Shizuku Yano A current beauty student creator. She is the younger sister of popular YouTuber Sakura, and her makeup videos and affectionate sibling moments on her sister's channel are also a topic of conversation. Her high makeup skills and cuteness are popular among high school students.

[Person] Aimio A pair of identical twin creators and models, Aina and Miona. Their total SNS views exceed 100 million. Their transformation makeup, synchronized dance videos unique to twins, and vlogs are gaining support from high school students.

[Item] Marulani Toys that are very popular in Korea, offering unique tactile sensations, including squishies. They come in a wide variety, from soft as marshmallows to crackly like chocolate bars. Some have sweet scents like real bread or cheese, and they are also gaining popularity among Japanese high school students.

[Item] Iron Beads Pressed with a Towel By pressing ironed beads onto a towel immediately after heating, the texture of the towel's fibers is transferred to the surface, creating a cute, fluffy, three-dimensional effect. The number of high school students imitating this technique is rapidly increasing due to its ease of achieving high quality.

[Character] Untaneko A character drawn by illustrator and manga artist "Biktaro." Its innocent, carefree nature and cute yellow, round illustrations seem to have captured the hearts of high school students.

[Cosmetics] Mochimochi Cheek A chewy-textured blush released in March this year by the Korean cosmetic brand "BBIA." Its rich color selection and smooth, non-smudging adherence to the skin, creating a fluffy finish, are gaining attention mainly on social media.

[Game] Poppy Playtime A survival horror game from the United States. Its creepy world set in a toy factory and puzzle-solving elements are popular, and the monster character "Huggy Wuggy," characterized by its blue fur and sharp teeth, is overwhelmingly popular among high school students for being creepily cute.

[Word] Tsonkatsu A term referring to the activity of fully affirming the existence and way of life of one's "oshi" (favorite person/character) or respected person, and going to meet them to directly express gratitude and respect. The attitude of revering (tsonton) the other person's humanity is increasing among high school students who use it, primarily on social media.

[Selected Comments]

[Person] Shizuku Yano Selected Comment I'm so happy to be selected!!! Thank you for always supporting me so much, I'm happy!! I will continue to express myself in my own way, and I will do my best to be someone who can bring even a little bit of energy and courage to those who watch me! ♡

[Activity Information] Shizuku Yano Born May 9, 2007. From Miyazaki Prefecture. While studying specialized beauty knowledge as a beauty student, she is active as a model and influencer, mainly on social media.

[Person] Aimio Selected Comment Thank you for selecting us for Shibuya Trend Research's Next Trend! It is truly an honor to be considered "the next big thing" by high school students. We are still growing, but we will continue to work hard together to create content and activities that you will enjoy even more, while having fun with trends! Thank you very much for this opportunity!

[Activity Information] Aimio Worked as an exclusive model for the fashion magazine "Cuugal" for elementary and junior high school girls from the June 2022 issue to the June 2025 issue. Since June 1, 2026, she has been working as a regular model for the fashion magazine "Popteen" for teenage girls. She has also started idol activities as the twin idol unit "Twin:Tale." They share trends and daily life through various social media platforms such as YouTube, X, TikTok, and Instagram.

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Further explanations are available on the official website!

Shibuya Trend Research Official Website: https://shibuya-trendresearch.jp/

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[About Shibuya Trend Research] Since 1995, we have conducted monthly face-to-face surveys targeting high school girls visiting Shibuya. In 1998, we expanded our survey areas to three major cities: Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka. Since our founding in 1990, we have been continuously conducting research targeting trend-sensitive teens for over 30 years, providing survey data to media and companies. Currently, we conduct monthly surveys of high school students sensitive to trends, providing easy-to-understand explanations and information on the latest trends, the factors behind their emergence, and their movements.

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[Survey Overview] Survey Theme: Summer 2026 Trend Survey Target Audience: High school students (boys and girls, ages 15-18) Survey Period: Thursday, June 2, 2026 - Saturday, June 13, 2026

Survey Method: Web-based questionnaire survey Number of Valid Responses: 200

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[Regarding Citation and Reproduction of Survey Results (Images)] When quoting or reproducing any part of this survey, please cite "Shibuya Trend Research" as the source and include the URL (https://shibuya-trendresearch.jp).