| Kawaii Lab. | |
| Founder: | Asobisystem |
| Genre: | Japanese pop |
| Country: | Japan |
| Location: | Harajuku, Japan |
Kawaii Lab. (カワイイラボ; stylized in all caps) is a Japanese idol project by Asobisystem founded in 2022, with the goal of sharing Japan's idol culture with the world. The project is led and produced by model and former Musubizm leader Misa Kimura and has produced girl groups Fruits Zipper, Candy Tune, Sweet Steady and Cutie Street.
Kawaii Lab. was founded on February 14, 2022, as an idol project by Asobisystem.[1] The project is led by model and TV personality Misa Kimura who is a former member of Musubizm where she was the group's leader.[2] Kawaii Lab.'s slogan is as it aims to produce idols who can be active on the world stage.[3]
On the day that Kawaii Lab. was established, Idolater who were a girl group formed in 2019 joined the project as its first artist.[4] The seven member line-up of the project's first girl group, Fruits Zipper was revealed on February 22, 2022.[4] Fruits Zipper released their debut digital single,, on April 10.[5] On December 14, the first members of Kawaii Lab.'s second girl group which would later be known as Candy Tune were announced.[6]
Candy Tune's seven member line-up was complete by mid-February 2023 and they released their debut eponymous digital album on March 7.[7] Fruits Zipper released their debut maxi single, on September 13.[8] The song which had originally been released digitally on April 29, 2022, went viral on TikTok.[9] Idolater disbanded after their final concert on October 15.[10] On November 21, Kawaii Lab. launched the trainee group Kawaii Lab. Mates.[3]
The formation of Kawaii Lab.'s third girl group, Sweet Steady, was announced on January 23, 2024. Sweet Steady's initial eight member line-up consisted only of promoted trainees from Kawaii Lab. Mates.[11] On July 23, Kawaii Lab. announced that they would form a fourth girl group.[12] The group's name Cutie Street and eight member line-up consisting of three promoted Kawaii Lab. Mates members was revealed on July 30.[13] On August 7, Candy Tune's debut maxi single,, was released.[14] Cutie Street released their debut maxi single "Kawaii Dake ja Dame Desu ka?" on November 13.[15] Sweet Steady will release their debut maxi single on December 18.[16]