f5ve is a Japanese girl group built on dreamlike fantasy. Their whole concept revolves around them being inter-dimensional dream agents from Tokyo. They exist to fight self-doubt while spreading positivity with their music.
That sounds whimsical, but the execution has teeth. Their music blends futuristic J-pop with bright, hyperpop energy. It’s all pretty, but it’s not empty.
One song on their debut album sequence 0.1 shows exactly why their style works. “Lettuce” is one of those tracks that seems cute until you realize it’s actually calling someone out with a smile.
Lettuce as a personality type
The song revolves around a simple line that lands harder than it should: “you eat a lotta lettuce, but you’re toxic.”
It’s a perfect metaphor for a specific kind of person. The type who presents themselves as clean. The kind who drinks green juices, remembers to stretch in the morning. Everything looks pure on the outside, but their behavior tells another story.
“Lettuce” narrows in on that contradiction. The person looks harmless, but they’re toxic to whoever is around them. They’re flirtatious one moment, distant the next. They act sweet, but their presence drains everyone in the room. f5ve turns that dynamic into something light-hearted, while still cutting through the bullshit.
This is where the group’s tone works. They don’t lecture. They play. The lyrics make their point with confidence instead of bitterness. The message is simple: know your worth. Don’t stick around waiting for someone who can’t hold themselves accountable.
The visuals make the metaphor clearer
The music video takes the metaphor and runs with it at full speed. Directed by Charlotte Rutherford, the video builds out a dreamlike space. In one scene, the group is chased by giant lettuce animals.
They’re adorable, but the scale makes them dangerous. If they step on you, you’re done.
That’s the point. Cute on the surface doesn’t mean it’s safe.
The set design uses food-inspired props and surreal, cartoonish imagery. It mirrors exactly what the song is saying. People can build an entire identity that looks intentional, and easy to trust. Yet aesthetics don’t protect you from someone who refuses to take responsibility for the mess they make.
Someone can live on salad and still be terrible for your emotional health.
