Dempagumi.inc is Gone [10/2/2025]
Dempagumi.inc, the legendary Akihabara-based, otaku-culture-loving, quirked-up girl group disbanded after nearly 17 years of releasing straight bangers, and I need to talk about it.
Founded in 2008 with just two members and a dream in DearStage – an underground live music club in Akihabara catered to the idol subculture – Dempagumi.inc expanded over time to highlight various different sub-sects of Japanese otaku culture, including gaming, cosplay, and even yaoi…?! Their style was eccentric, nerdy, and an all-around treat to those who tapped in – their goal of “delivering moe-kyun songs to the world” was further achieved after their win of MTV’s “Best Japan Act” award in 2015. Their music often follows the genre of denpa-kei, characterized by its nonsensical nature, often accompanied by a fast BPM with strange vocals and sounds. The genre has become a key part of otaku culture over time, with moe songs in particular – or those with themes expressing love towards anime, manga, and games – striking a cord with the subculture.
Perhaps what made them most relatable to their audience was the group’s openness about their struggles as those ‘different’ from the norm. Many of the members found solace in anime and gaming communities, as a retreat from their difficulties. Even their leader, Mirin Furukawa, has described being bullied in school and finding refuge on the internet – but now, after being able to fully embrace her quirkiness through the group, she proudly proclaims herself as a “gamer idol who can sing and dance” in her official catchphrase.
Weird Jpop concepts are ultimately Dempagumi.inc’s bread and butter. “Future Diver” – one of the group’s first singles – has a video with excellently strange and off-putting outfits and effects, very reminiscent of its release year 2011. Their mid-career releases have a similar effect, with “Bali 3 Republic” containing neat intersection of rock and denpa elements, with another visually striking music video combining 2D and 3D animation with live action footage, alongside “STAR☆tto Shichauze Harudashi ne” having another quirked up music video by the group, following their escapades on a movie set while wearing outfits clearly inspired by TV color bars. Later releases contain both intense, ear piercing sounds with sections of pure metal goodness, like “Augmented Grandfather”, which features a literal Augmented Grandfather dancing alongside the girls in the music video.
Beyond their more experimental works, Dempagumi.inc explores more traditional genres as well. “Shoudouteki S/K/S/D”, released in the later part of their career, instantly embraces a distorted, metal feel combined with traditional J-Pop sounds. Dempagumi.inc’s early and very unexpected cover of “Sabotage” by the Beastie Boys also tackles an unexpected side to the group, highlighting the experimental and non-conformist nature from the get go – while it embodies the rebellious nature of the original song, girlier elements are purposely included in the production to highlight the nature of the idols and the group as a whole. Their track “Taiyou Keikan Satsuchu Seimeitai” ventures into jazz territory, filled with groovy bass and piano fills. “Hatsutaiken” or “Kuchizuke Kibonnu” adopt a slower pace and more acoustic sound, bringing the group down to earth, without abandoning their quirky vibe.
“W.W.D ENDING” is the group’s disbandment song, with a video of the girls running through Akihabara in wedding veils, fighting monsters in a pixel art style, and performing in an underground club like where the group started. It is a perfect bow to wrap up their career – an homage to where they started, and a thank you to those that supported them throughout.
However, Dempagumi.inc’s disbandment doesn’t mark the end of their legacy – there have been a number of groups spun off from them, or created with similar theming, under their agency DEARSTAGE. Some of them have elements of denpa kei in their works, while others go in a different direction; Meme Tokyo is often characterized by a more aggressive soundscape, while Niji no Conquistador and Sayonara Stay Tuned opt for more traditional Jpop idol sounds. Other particular standouts are ARCANA PROJECT, CYNHN, LAVILITH, Amemoyou no Solaris, and Kyururin te shitemite – though this isn’t nearly an exhaustive list. I highly recommend checking out the groups individually if any of them spark joy!
After a decade and almost a dollar in change, Dempagumi.inc has certainly made its mark, spawning a dedicated fan community alongside other groups sprouting from their wake. Their strange, off putting, otaku-centric vibes will remain near and dear to my heart, and their music videos and unapologetic style will be burned into the subculture like a plasma TV after leaving it on for a little too long for the rest of time. In the comments section for their disbandment track, many otaku gathered to recount how Dempagumi.inc accompanied them through pain and hardships in their life. Perhaps more important than their contributions to their genre, the group helped people struggling like they had; and their backlog and the groups that sprung from them will continue to do the same.