=LOVE debuts new single 'Gekiyaku Chudoku' in TV performance with viral fan theory twist

By Sam 31 March 2026

The idol group =LOVE performed their viral hit "Tokubechu, Shite" and debuted their new single "Gekiyaku Chudoku" on a major Japanese television special. The performance of the new song featured a unique, member-devised ending that immediately sparked discussion across social media.

=LOVE members posing in lavender dresses

Their February 2025 single "Tokubechu, Shite" has surpassed 1.4 billion cumulative streams and 22 billion views on TikTok. The new track "Gekiyaku Chudoku," set for full release on April 1 as their 20th single, has already broken the group's own record, with its music video reaching 10 million views in 19 days and accumulating over 28 million streams.

For the TV performance, the group wore the researcher outfits featured in the "Gekiyaku Chudoku" music video. The performance concluded with a new, unrehearsed scene conceived by the members: center member Maika Sasaki, after biting an apple, offered it to fellow member Ori Noguchi. The ambiguous gesture, captured in a direct camera gaze as the song ended, fueled immediate fan theories online.

Following the broadcast, terms including the song title, "#ResearcherOutfit," "#FairyOutfit," and "#EqualLove" trended on Japanese social media platforms as fans dissected the new performance lore.

Five =LOVE members in red outfits posing with the song title Gekiyaku Chudoku

=LOVE is in the middle of their largest tour to date, the "8th ANNIVERSARY PREMIUM TOUR." The tour concludes with final shows at Yokohama Stadium on April 18 and 19. The group has also announced a stadium live event scheduled for June 20 and 21 at Tokyo's MUFG Stadium (National Stadium), with an expected total attendance of approximately 120,000 spectators across the two days.

The new single "Gekiyaku Chudoku" is currently available for digital streaming. The physical single releases on April 1 in multiple editions, including CD+DVD and CD+Blu-ray versions featuring live concert footage from their anniversary tour.