ROIROM Makes Appearance at Ueda Tatsuya Festival, Sparking Emotional Fan Debate

Former KAT-TUN member Tatsuya Ueda (42) is producing the music festival MOUSE PEACE FES. 2025 2nd Bite, held from October 29–30.

While some of the performing artists had already been announced, it was revealed that Hiromu Honda (25) and Roi Hamagawa (19), who gained attention through the timelesz new member audition series timelesz project -AUDITION-(exclusively streamed on Netflix), will perform on the second day.

After the audition series ended, the two formed a unit called ROIROM. Their appearance at the festival has sparked a mix of support and criticism.

Why Fans Felt Conflicted

MOUSE PEACE FES. (nicknamed Maupi Fes) held its first edition on October 31 last year at Pacifico Yokohama in Kanagawa Prefecture. This year, the venue was moved to the Tokyo National Yoyogi Gymnasium First Arena. The lineup features Tatsuya Ueda, Keiichiro Koyama (NEWS, 41), Noeru Kawashima (Travis Japan, 30), Sho Kiryuin (Golden Bomber, 41), BALLISTIK BOYZ from EXILE TRIBE, and 7ORDER, among others.

On September 28, the official Maupi Fes social media announced additional guests: Maki Goto (40) for Day 1, and Dream Ami (37) and ROIROM for Day 2.

“According to the X (formerly Twitter) post, ROIROM will participate only in the collaboration corner. This made ROIROM fans upset: ‘If it’s just a collab corner, I don’t think they’ll debut new songs, but seeing ROIROM live before cHaRm [their fan name] is heartbreaking,’ ‘Is it fair that some people get to see ROIROM before cHaRm? It feels so unfair,’ ‘Debuting at Maupi Fes feels complicated,’” said an entertainment writer.

ROIROM’s members, Hiromu Honda and Roi Hamagawa, were finalists on timelesz project -AUDITION- but did not make it into timelesz. After the final round aired on February 15, many viewers were curious about their next steps.

“Since the two had previously appeared together on another audition, fans had hoped they would continue working together after timelesz. On May 8, Honda and Hamagawa announced via Instagram that they had formed ROIROM. Since then, they have been active in magazines, TV, and other media, performing at a level far beyond what one might expect from a unit that hasn’t debuted on CD yet,” said the same source.

ROIROM also announced their first solo show, ROIROM debut showcase～dear cHaRm～ presented by BEAT AX VOL.7, on September 16, with additional performances added on September 28 due to high demand. The solo debut will take place on November 23.

However, because ROIROM will perform at Maupi Fes on October 30, fans will see them live before their official solo debut. This is why some fans felt conflicted about the timing.

She once confessed in the past that “I have a favorite contestant.

However, on ROIROM’s official website, it is explained that regarding “Maupi Fes,” there will be no performance of original songs, meaning they plan to save their original music for their own debut showcase.

“At the same time, many fans are excited about ROIROM’s collaboration with Ueda. At last year’s festival, timelesz’s Sō Matsushima (27) appeared, and during the MC segment when ‘Typro’ was mentioned, Ueda reportedly said, ‘I have a favorite contestant.’

Then in April this year, responding to a fan question on Instagram Stories asking, ‘So who was your favorite in Typro??’ he confessed, ‘I forgot to say was it Roi-kun? The kid from Okinawa.’” (same source)

Fans who knew this background reacted to ROIROM’s appearance at “Maupi Fes” with excitement:

〈Ueda-kun told us his favorite was Roi-kun, and now he’s actually at this year’s ‘Maupi Fes’! What a world!〉
〈I knew Ueda-kun’s favorite was Roi-kun and hoped he’d be invited to ‘Maupi Fes,’ and it actually happened.〉
〈Knowing Ueda-kun is Roi-kun’s fan, it’s really amazing that he got invited and is performing regardless of agency, making this collaboration possible〉

“On the second day of ‘Maupi Fes,’ the unit ‘7ORDER,’ composed of former Johnny’s Jr. members, will also participate. The casting apparently reflects the wishes of producer Ueda. When he met Shōki Morohoshi (30) of 7ORDER, he personally offered him the opportunity, securing his appearance. It’s possible Ueda’s enthusiasm also played a key role in ROIROM’s collaboration this time” (same source).

On the day of the festival, fans are eager to see what kind of interactions Ueda will have with ROIROM.