Complete Guide to Face-Recognition Junior Concerts: Summer Recap

To all Junior fans who survived the summer, great job.

Thank you for responding to the "Face-Recognition Junior Summer Concert Win/Loss Survey" conducted since June. (Total responses: 2,210)

This record is for Junior fans who were not eligible this time but might be in the future, and for fans of debut groups who may see this system introduced soon.

Reading this article should help even first-timers understand the flow and mechanics of face-recognition concerts.

Note: I did not attend every face-recognition concert, so details may vary by show. This is based on my personal experience.

① Application → ② Photo Registration → ③ Results → ④ Entry → ⑤ Post-Entry

① Application

This is the most critical step; it can determine your success or failure. Even if you follow the rules, you risk getting zero wins, so pay close attention. A key danger is that your results depend on the win/loss status of people applying with you.

First, understand that face-recognition concerts are not "companion games." Each name has a maximum number of wins allowed. (A companion game means applying as a companion to multiple shows to increase win chances.)

Whether you apply alone, as a representative, or as a companion, the number of possible wins is fixed.

(If max wins = 2)

Rep A × Comp B

Rep B × Comp A

Rep C × Comp A

If applied like above:

• Pattern 1: A, B, C each win once (A wins twice).

• Pattern 2: A and B win twice, C gets nothing.

C only applied for one show but lost because companion A had already reached the max win limit.

To avoid this risk, apply solo. Or manage all names yourself. Be careful when applying with friends; ensure everyone understands how many applications they have submitted to avoid total loss.

Regarding swapping Rep/Companion roles: If you cannot physically split into two people to enter, the duplicate application will likely be rejected.

② Photo Registration

After applying, you receive an email from the Information Bureau to register your face within the deadline.

You can register via the site below, though currently only Junior Information Bureau members can access it.

Important: Once registered, your photo cannot be changed. It may be used for future verification. Please register carefully after confirming the name associated with the account.

Unlike past systems (e.g., Arashi's last live), where one photo per name was required, you must register a new photo for Junior accounts even if you had one previously.

Forgetting photo registration results in automatic disqualification.

About the AUTH thru system:

AUTH thru is a facial recognition entry/exit system developed by Roco Co., Ltd.

Its core is the 1:N matching method, which compares one face image against many registered data points to automatically identify the person.

Crucially, it matches facial feature vectors (mathematical values representing eye/nose/mouth position, angles, distances, bone structure) rather than visual appearance. AI converts images into thousands of dimensions of data.

Because these features are precise, changes in hairstyle or makeup do not significantly alter them, making it highly effective for identity verification.

Source: What is AUTH thru? Multi-name registration - Koreiina

Some think registering a bare-face photo and wearing heavy makeup/contacts allows entry as someone else. Given the system's logic, this is ill-advised. Makeup does not change bone structure. You will likely be flagged and sent to manual verification. Stick to one face per name.

③ Results

Results depended heavily on the max win limits discussed in Step 1. Here is a summary of win caps and approximate attendance for this summer's Junior concerts:

B&ZAI (Tokyo) → 2 shows, ~40,000 attendees

AmBitious (Tokyo, Osaka) → 5 shows, ~60,000 attendees

Three (Tokyo) → 2 shows, ~12,000 attendees

Howzit (Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka) → 3 shows, ~57,380 attendees

Youth (Osaka) → 2 shows, ~12,500 attendees

Summer Festival (Tokyo) → 1 show, ~14,800 attendees

Key factors are total applications vs. capacity. Narrower capacity relative to applications lowers the max win count. Attendance numbers matter more now than before.

Also, the Junior Info Bureau defines "Eligible" vs. "Ineligible" names (based on whether your favorite artist matches the performing group).

While eligible names naturally won more, surprisingly, ineligible names also won tickets. Reports exist of people winning multiple shows despite being ineligible. We couldn't calculate exact rates here, but future analysis could be interesting.

④ Entry

Staff line up horizontally. An iPad is held near your face. A "ping" sound indicates approval. It takes about 1 second and is smoother than expected. After passing, use standard ticket machines with your QR code to print tickets and enter.

I carried ID but wasn't asked for it. At B&ZAI's first day, representatives showed IDs initially, but this stopped later due to delays. Carrying ID seems optional but recommended.

⑤ Post-Entry

B&ZAI: Second face scan at arena entry.

AmBitious: No second scan.

Three: No second scan.

Howzit: Second face scan at arena entry.

Youth: No second scan.

Summer Festival: No second scan.

At balcony sections, staff randomly checked IDs during audience descents, verifying member numbers and login screens. Unclear if faces were checked.

Conclusion: The agency is seriously combating scalping. Those advocating for fairness hoping to eliminate high-price resale might be disappointed. While lower competition theoretically helps, we saw eligible names lose entirely while ineligible ones won multiple times. Revival draws favored those who already won multiple times.

Will everyone be satisfied? Unlikely. Since any Info Bureau member can apply, barriers are low. I hope eligible names get priority treatment.

Thanks for reading. End.

[Update]

More face-recognition Junior concerts announced post-summer:

• Kansai Juniors & Family Ting

• Kansai Juniors CONCERT 2026

• Junior Showcase 2026 Shinsei

Face recognition 𝓶𝓾𝓼𝓽 𝓰𝓸 𝓸𝓷…