On December 4, 2021, Kizuna Ai announced that she would be going on indefinite hiatus. Prior to her 'sleep,'  the VTuber will hold her final online live event, 'Kizuna AI The Last Live "hello, world 2022" on February 26, 2022. For those wanting to participate in the show, applications are now open!   Ai would like the performance to be held with as many people as possible--not only those who are active as VTubers, but also those who are interested in being active in the virtual space. And, of course, those who have supported her over the past five years! Be sure to tune in to this final performance filled with virtual talent!

Get ready for your trip to Virtual Sanrio Puroland! For the first time ever, Sanrio is teaming up with U.S. company VRChat for an entirely virtual music festival, SANRIO Virtual Fes in Sanrio Puroland on December 11 and December 12, 2021. Guests will be able to enjoy the event using a VR Headset, a PC, or a smartphone.      The concert space will feature both live and virtual artists (VTubers), as well as popular Sanrio characters in a massive five-story underground space beneath Virtual Sanrio Puroland. Participants will also be able to transform their avatar into the Sanrio character of their choice during the event! High-fiving other concert-goers will result in an explosion of Hello Kitty bows, and there will be plenty of surprises during the music performances, so don’t miss it!   The lineup for the event includes Kizuna AI, Hatsune Miku+PinocchioP, AKB48(Team8), CHiCO with HoneyWorks, Haneru Inaba, Kaede Higuchi, KMNZ, VALSHE, Hakushi Hasegawa, YuNi, Pasocom Music Club, Mom, Megu Shinonome, AMOKA, Yukichi Kasaku/men, LAUSBUB, and Kinu. Plenty of Sanrio characters will also make appearances, including Hello Kitty, Cinnomoroll, Kuromi, Cogimyun, and Hapidanbui.    Who are you looking forward to seeing perform in this adorable virtual space?   ©‘21 SANRIO　©’21 SANRIO　SP-M　© ‘21 SANRIO S/F・G 著作(株)サンリオ ©AKB48　©Kizuna AI　©BANDAI NAMCO Arts Inc.　 ©ANYCOLOR, Inc. Art by KEI　©Crypton Future Media, INC.

From her debut in 2016 until 2021, Kizuna Ai was the most subscribed VTuber on YouTube, and the one responsible for the term ‘Virtual YouTuber.’ Now, this legendary star will be holding a concert available to fans of Japanese culture around the world, while also showing off the beauty of a Japanese fireworks festival. The event will take place on Facebook’s Oculus, on the Venues app, on September 25, 2021 in Japan. Anyone who has an Oculus Quest can view the concert for free.   Oculus Venues is a VR video platform, allowing users to enjoy a variety of concerts, sporting events, and comedy shows from the front row. There’s no need to worry about grabbing expensive tickets or dealing with crowds when you can enjoy your favorite events from the comfort of your own home!   In January 2021, Kizuna Ai announced a contract with UTA (United Talent Agency), one of the four major agencies in the United States. In April and May, she went on her first virtual US tour. Under the theme of connecting with everyone in the world, Kizuna Ai is attempting this new challenge using Oculus to get closer to fans than ever before. As a guest artist, world-renowned performers HANABI will perform, blending traditional Japanese culture with cutting-edge technological art in this one-of-a-kind DJ-directed space.   Will you be tuning in to Kizuna Ai’s fireworks concert?  

American singer Alaina Castillo released her debut album parallel universe pt. 1 on May 29. The Japanese release of the album includes the song down 4 u performed in collaboration with the world famous virtual YouTuber Kizuna AI.   After amassing hundreds of thousands of subscribers on YouTube, Alaina Castillo was noticed by RØMANS, the Grammy-nominated producer known for working with such artists as Alicia Keys, John Legend, Demi Levato, Lewis Capaldi, and others. Since 2019, Alaina has released a string of singles and as well as an EP. She also made it onto Spotify RADAR, an emerging artist program which helps up-and-coming artists with exposure. Her hit single just a boy was also picked up by V of BTS.   Alaina is a fan of Japanese anime and anime characters. In the music video for her single wishlist which dropped last year, Kizuna AI made an appearance. Alaina herself repaid the favour by performing as a guest at the final show of Kizuna AI's 'Virtual US Tour' in New York on May 30. The two artists came together once more by performing down 4 u feat. Kizuna AI, a track sung in English and Japanese. Comments from excited fans around the world flooded into the live stream.At the end of the show, the two danced to Kizuna AI's AIAIAI feat. Yasutaka Nakata.   This marks Alaina's first collaboration with another artist as well as Kizuna's first collaboration with an artist from the US.   Alaina's new album parallel universe pt. 1 features seven tracks including pocket locket, parallel universe, make it rain, and down 4 u.

Trackmakers Yunomi and YUC’e will release their newest compilation album Mirai Chaya vol.2 on October 16, 2019 from Miraicha Records, a record company spearheaded by the two artists. The cover art, track names and creators and artists featured on the album finally been unveiled. Yunomi, KOTONOHOUSE and Neko Hacker are making a return from Mirai Chaya vol.1. Tomggg, Peno, yuigot, and Matcha Land will make an appearance for the first time. Several other artists will also make guest appearances on select tracks: Haruka Fukuhara will feature on Yunomi's song, rinahamu on KOTONOHOUSE's, YuNi on Neko Hacker's, Kuishinboakachan on Tomggg's, Dora and Liu Shen on Peno's, and Mai Kanno on yuigot's. A party entitled "Mirai Chaya vol.3 ~Third Future Tea Time~" will be held at Shibuya WOMB on November 2 in promotion of the album's release. Performing at the show will be select creators featured on the new album, as well as self-produced Tokyo-style idol unit CY8ER.   We previously featured interviews with Yunomi here on MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON for songs on the previous Mirai Chaya albums. Check for here vol.0 and here for vol.1.

Kizuna AI recently performed at SUMMER SONIC 2019 on the RAINBOW Stage on August 18. She also interviewed various acts who performed at the music festival, including Yasutaka Nakata and Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. The full interview was posted on her YouTube channel.   SUMMER SONIC 2019 - Official Artist Interview vol.02: Yasutaka Nakata & Kyary Pamyu Pamyu

Kizuna AI released a cover of Kyary Pamyu Pamyu's song Kizunami on August 16 which is taken from Kyary's fourth studio album Japamyu which dropped back in September 2018. To celebrate the release of the new song, Kizuna AI appeared as a surprise guest on Yasutaka Nakata and Kyary Pamyu Pamyu’s set at SUMMER SONIC 2019 where her and Kyary performed Kizunami.   Below is a translated summary of the interview.   Kizuna AI: "Our first collaboration together! Was I okay...?" Kyary: "I haven't collaborated with that many people. It's rare for me to sing with someone, but I was really happy with how it went!" Kizuna AI: "Nakata, when did people start calling you Ouji [Prince]?" Kyary: "He has a lot of out-there nicknames! [laughs]" Yasutaka Nakata: "Battery Eater is another one [laughs]" Kizuna AI: "What does 'chumete' mean?" [Referencing a word taken from the chorus of Kizuna AI's song AIAIAI, written and produced by Nakata] Yasutaka Nakata: "That's a secret! Because you can interpret it in many different ways." Kizuna AI: "What's a word or occurrence [in music] that's stuck with you the most, Kyary?" Kyary: "Ninja Re Bang Bang. The title was originally 'tentative.' I feel it's a mysterious word that anyone can get behind. Even when touring overseas everyone sings it together." Kizuna AI: "Finally, please give a message to your fans!" Kyary: "It was so much fun getting to stand on stage together with Nakata. I hope we can do something together again!" Kizuna AI: "Kyary, can you put these ears on?"   Kizuna AI has posted lots of other interviews from the festival on her YouTube channel too including with SHAED, SOFI TUKKER, Alan Walker, the telephones, and AI. Be sure to check them out.