Karina goes full foodie in Japan
On June 22, fashion magazine DAZED Korea lit up Instagram with a surprise bundle: seven personal snapshots curated by Karina of aespa herself. The post, titled “7 photos Karina chose from her gallery,” gave fans an unexpected peek into her off-duty life—and one image in particular had everyone talking.
Torikizoku—yakitori queen enters the chat
One photo features Karina casually munching on yakitori (grilled chicken skewers) at Torikizoku, a cozy and budget-friendly izakaya chain beloved in Japan. The moment felt so real, so un-idol-like, that fans instantly went into detective mode.
“Where exactly is this branch?” “We must go!”—Japanese fans flooded comment sections with questions and emoji-filled excitement.
Desserts, tamagotchis, and travel vibes
But yakitori wasn’t the only thing on Karina’s list. The photos also showed sweet desserts from Japan, a nostalgic tamagotchi sighting (yes, the iconic 90s digital pet!), and scenic shots of her strolling overseas. It’s a soft, slice-of-life side to the sparkling idol life we’re not used to seeing—but that fans absolutely love.
What’s next for aespa?
Karina’s down-to-earth moments arrive just weeks after aespa made their long-awaited comeback on June 5 with their 6th mini album “Rich Man.” The genre-hopping, confidence-fueled record is already gaining traction worldwide—and Karina’s real-world snaps add a refreshing contrast to their ultra-polished comeback promotions.
Fan takeaway: idols, they’re just like us…sort of
In a sea of perfectly staged content, Karina’s yakitori moment hit differently. It’s a reminder that even global stars crave midnight skewers and tamagotchi throwbacks. Relatable? Kind of. Iconic? Absolutely.
