Penlight Chronicles

Happy 2026 guys! We ended 2025 with a bang, by sending Zoe to STARTO to Move. Today's episode is all about what we thought of the live, the livestream and the Netflix version. Come listen to us scream about what we liked, what we thought could be improved, and what we missed!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit penlightchronicles.substack.com

Penlight Chronicles is wrapping up the year with an end-of-year STARTO roundup, kinda like STARTO “Yearbook Superlatives” style. Hoshi, Maiko, and Zoe look back on this year’s releases with a handful of awards (from instant earworms to standout performances), and plenty of fandom-related screeching along the way. Drop your own nominations, tell us your favourite PenKuro episode moment, and be sure to like, comment, and follow on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube (@PenlightChronicles), and tag us on Twitter/X @Pen_Kuro.

Happy New Year, and come start the next one with us—same fandom energy, new year, more episodes.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit penlightchronicles.substack.com

Charismax! Come hang out with us as we dive into Snow Man’s latest album, Onkochishin! A non-linear journey through time, we thought this is Snow Man’s most interesting album to date. Come find out our thoughts on the album, which songs reminded us of what STARTO senpai, and why we’re declaring “Art is art”. So press play and tell us what you think of Snow Man’s latest album!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit penlightchronicles.substack.com

SixTONES SixTONES SixTONES! This week, we watched SixTONES’ YOUNG OLD and we’re here to share our impressions. Come and weigh in on an argument about Kyomoto Taiga’s hair, how you feel about Jesse’s hats, and how SixTONES has leveled up their production over the years. Well? We’re waiting for you!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit penlightchronicles.substack.com

We’re back! We missed you all but no worries, your favourite hosts are back and ready to tell you all about our time off. Between Hoshi, Maiko, and Zoe, we’ve seen and eaten our way around Japan. Don’t worry, we didn’t forget to oshikatsu and do all sorts of fangirl things. Come and find out how we spent our time!

Music by Oleg Fedak from Pixabay

Sound Effect by freesound_community from Pixabay

Sound Effect by I Love Jesus Christ from Pixabay

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit penlightchronicles.substack.com

Ever dream of your perfect STARTO Idol combination? We have! We have created idol groups based off of the usual concepts: Cute, Sexy, Prince, Cool etc. But also random combinations that we’d love to see together! So join us as we share our ultimate (unhinged) idol group made up of our favourite boys.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit penlightchronicles.substack.com

Today is the day! WEST. is on streaming! Zoe and Maiko were joined by a special guest to chat all things WEST.! Join us, and Dumpling Box’s Sabi, as we expound on the wonders of WEST., their music, and what we hope for their future.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit penlightchronicles.substack.com

Could you survive on an uninhabited island? Could your oshis survive on an uninhabited island? This week, we’re going to try and answer that question. Join us as we put our idols in an unthinkable situation and see if we’re all surviving - together.

Music by: ALEXEY BEZRUCHKO

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit penlightchronicles.substack.com

STARTO, welcome to the 21st Century! Today we’re discussing the STARTO content you can watch on streaming services. Come learn about what the three of us are watching right now, what we intend to watch, and what we recommend you watch. What are you waiting for? Join us now!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit penlightchronicles.substack.com

Ready to dive into our impressions of Snow Man’s RAYS concert? Join us for a chaotic ride as we forget that we’re doing a podcast and start gushing over what we thought of the Snow Man’s RAYS concert. We’ll hit our favourite sections, discuss things we didn’t love, and talk about our thoughts on all four unit songs.

Feel free to drop us a comment on what you thought!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit penlightchronicles.substack.com