=LOVE's 'Tokubechu, Shite' Wins Best Girls Idol Culture Song (Group/Solo) at MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026

The idol group =LOVE (pronounced 'Equal Love'), produced by Rino Sashihara, continues to achieve viral success across multiple platforms. Their song 'Tokubechu, Shite,' released last February, has surpassed 170 million cumulative streams and over 2.2 billion views on TikTok. Additionally, their 20th single 'Gekiyaku Chudoku,' released on April 1 (Wed), topped both the Billboard and Oricon Weekly Single Rankings for the seventh time overall, with cumulative shipments exceeding 500,000 copies.

On June 13, the award ceremony for MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026—the largest international music award in Japan, hosted by five major music industry organizations—took place. At the 'Premiere Ceremony' held at SGC Hall Aomi, =LOVE's 'Tokubechu, Shite' was announced as the winner of the Best Girls Idol Culture Song (Group/Solo) award. Producer Rino Sashihara commented on the win: 'I understand this award is decided by votes from music industry professionals. Although I've been in the music industry for quite some time (admittedly), it's truly an honor to have a song I've poured my heart into recognized in this way. Thank you so much to everyone who voted for us!'

=LOVE held the final performances of their 8th-anniversary tour, '=LOVE 8th ANNIVERSARY PREMIUM TOUR,' at Yokohama Stadium in Kanagawa Prefecture on April 18 (Sat) and 19 (Sun), successfully drawing an audience of approximately 70,000.

Furthermore, the group is set to hold the large-scale '=LOVE STADIUM LIVE' at MUFG Stadium (National Stadium) in Tokyo on June 20 (Sat) and 21 (Sun), aiming to attract around 120,000 attendees over two days. =LOVE's momentum continues to accelerate, and they are undoubtedly a group to watch.

★ Stream 'Tokubechu, Shite' here:

https://equallove.lnk.to/tokubechu_koisuki

★ 'Tokubechu, Shite' Music Video:

https://youtu.be/F3P8vcZkIh4

'Tokubechu, Shite'

Lyrics: Rino Sashihara

Music: Kenta Urashima, Hiroto Kikuchi

Arrangement: Hiroto Kikuchi

Sound Director: Takayuki Yabuyama (Sony Music)

Recorded by Sony Music Studios Tokyo

[MUSIC VIDEO]

Director: Ryōhei Shingū (BABEL LABEL)

Choreographer: SACO MAKITA

★ New song 'Gekiyaku Chudoku' now available!

https://equallove.lnk.to/GekiyakuChudoku

★ 'Gekiyaku Chudoku' Music Video:

https://youtu.be/Bco8bY9r_H4

'Gekiyaku Chudoku'

Lyrics: Rino Sashihara

Music: Sōta Saitō

Arrangement: APAZZI

Sound Director: Takayuki Yabuyama (Sony Music)

Recorded by Sony Music Studios Tokyo

[MUSIC VIDEO]

Director: Ryōhei Shingū (BABEL LABEL)

Choreography: SACO MAKITA

Producer: Tomoyuki Mii, Kikuki Tsuchiya (north river)

★ =LOVE STADIUM LIVE

■ Date: June 20, 2026 (Sat)

Venue: MUFG Stadium (National Stadium), Tokyo

Doors Open 15:30 / Show Starts 17:30

■ Date: June 21, 2026 (Sun)

Venue: MUFG Stadium (National Stadium), Tokyo

Doors Open 15:30 / Show Starts 17:30

https://equal-love.jp/news/detail/11325

[Profile]

An idol group produced by Rino Sashihara. They made their major debut on September 6, 2017, under Sony Music with their first single '=LOVE.' To date, they have released 20 singles, all of which have ranked in the Oricon Weekly Single Rankings Top 10. (Their 6th single 'Zurui yo Zurui ne,' 8th single 'Seishun "Subliminal",', 12th single 'Be Selfish,' 14th single 'Natsumatope,' 15th single 'Rasuto Nōto Shika Shiranai,' and 19th single 'Rabu Song ni Osowareru' all debuted at No. 1. Their first album 'Zenbu, Naisho.' released in May 2021, also debuted at No. 1 on the Oricon Weekly Album Ranking.)

In February 2025, they released their 18th single, 'Tokubechu, Shite / Koibito Ijō, Suki Miman,' achieving their highest first-week sales to date on both the Oricon Weekly Single Ranking and Billboard JAPAN Top Singles Sales. Amid widespread buzz, with 'Tokubechu, Shite' surpassing 170 million streams and 2.2 billion TikTok views, Sashihara won the Lyricist Award at the 67th 'Kagayake! Nihon Record Taishō' for this song. Their 19th single 'Rabu Song ni Osowareru,' released in October, surpassed 333,000 copies in first-week sales—their highest ever—and topped both the Oricon Weekly Single Ranking and Billboard JAPAN Top Singles Sales.

The title track of their 20th single, 'Gekiyaku Chudoku,' released on April 1, 2026 (Wed), recorded cumulative shipments exceeding 500,000 copies and achieved No. 1 on both the Billboard and Oricon Weekly Single Rankings for the seventh time overall.

On April 18 (Sat) and 19 (Sun), 2026, they successfully held the final concerts of their 8th-anniversary tour '=LOVE 8th ANNIVERSARY PREMIUM TOUR' at Yokohama Stadium in Kanagawa Prefecture. They are also scheduled to hold '=LOVE STADIUM LIVE' at MUFG Stadium (National Stadium) in Tokyo on June 20 (Sat) and 21 (Sun), marking their largest-scale concerts to date.

The name '=LOVE' embodies Rino Sashihara's belief: 'An idol must be loved by fans, and at the same time, must love the job of being an idol.'