Meet Kuro: The Cosplayer-Turned-Idol Bringing Funky Vibes to the Scene
Have you ever wondered what happens when you merge the colour and vibrancy of cosplay with a passion for music and a knack for dancing? Meet Kuro, a cosplayer, idol, and dancer from Melbourne, Australia. With their debut single, Funky Fortune Cookie, Kuro has burst onto the scene with a playful energy that would even make Hatsune Miku, who features on the track, jealous.
“I joined the Melbourne idol community in 2024. I thought it was incredible to see local idols releasing their own music,” Kuro says. “So I set myself a goal to produce my own in 2025!”
That goal blossomed into Funky Fortune Cookie, a bright and upbeat homage to the iconic AKB48 hit Koisuru Fortune Cookie. Kuro wanted the song to carry forward the same uplifting message of hope, optimism, and love, like a sweet surprise hidden in a fortune cookie. “Life and love can surprise you with happiness if you stay positive and keep trying,” they explain.
And of course, no idol debut is complete without a music video that matches its energy. In Funky Fortune Cookie’s MV, Kuro dons a Lawson Miku cosplay, rollerskates through neon-lit streets, and dances with infectious joy. “I always knew that I wanted to cosplay Miku in “Funky Fortune Cookie” as soon as I figured out how to get her on my song. Kuro recalls.
“I remember sitting back in my chair after pressing play on the finished mix and my mind being flooded with images of roller derbys and discoballs. My friend Mary was nice enough to lend me her Lawson Miku cosplay, so I put together a story of a bored Miku finishing her shift and rollerskating the night away after all the customers had left!”
The result is as charming as it is chaotic, in the best way possible. “The most fun part of filming was being able to lip sync to my song as Miku. It was kind of surreal to hear my song play over the speakers while I gave my best performance to the camera! ” Kuro says with a laugh. “The most challenging part was doing anything other than just going forward. I tried to do a turn into going backwards and just fell over”
Kuro’s love for cosplay, music, and dance is what drives the Kirapure project, and their debut perfectly captures their identity as an artist. “This song is the purest expression of who I am and what I love doing”, they say. “It was a pleasure to flex all my creative muscles.”
Vocaloid culture also plays a huge role in Kuro’s artistic journey. Attending Miku Expo 2024 was a turning point. "I had only really heard about Miku in passing but never really fell down the Vocaloid rabbit hole.” Kuro says. “At Miku Expo 2024, it was awesome to see so many people brought together by their love of Miku and the other Vocaloid members. I started to get into a lot of the different producers who’d worked with Miku, including DECO*27 and GIGA, which started to shape the sound that I wanted in my own creative identity!”
For Kuro, featuring Miku on their debut track was a no-brainer. “She brings this warmth and energy to songs that’s hard to replicate,” they say. And if there’s another Vocaloid they’d love to collaborate with? “Definitely Rin! She has a youthful sound which would be so cool on a more kawaii-core track.”
So what’s next for Kirapure? “I’d be interested in collaborating more with idols in the wider community, whether that be from supplying my own vocals or producing music. It’s great to see idols create, and I want to continue to foster that growth!” Kuro says. “That being said, as a music lover, I’m interested in a wide variety of music, so I would definitely take up any opportunity to explore other genres like hip-hop or R&B!”
And as for their own fortune cookie message? Kuro doesn’t hesitate:
“Happiness is chasing you—stop running!”