The vocal-dance group ATARASHII GAKKO! made their global debut in 2021 on the 88rising label, which promotes Asian music and culture to the world. The four members have continued to attract attention over the past few years, recently performing on NHK’s New Year’s staple Kohaku Uta Gassen for the first time and starting their own TV show. On January 9, the group held its first concert, SEISHUN SHURAI (Youth Invasion),  at Nippon Budokan.

When the first notes of Tokyo Calling began playing, all 12,000 fans in attendance instantly reached maximum excitement as they focused their attention on the 360-degree stage. The LED lights covering the stage began to shine and the members, clad in red sailor uniforms, appeared to the sound of wild applause.
After performing Toryanse, a new song released from embargo just before the start of the concert, and thePineapple Kryptonite Remix, the members began a brief MC, eager to address and thank the audience. “All of you fans out there, can you see us in all 360 degrees? We’ve dreamed of the day that all four of us would be here, standing on our own feet on this legendary stage.”

After a short intermission, the group moved on to a block of songs appearing on their first and second albums, including Night Before the Exam, Tomei Boy, Koi Geba, and other fan favorites, followed by a medley featuring Freaks, NAINAINAI, and other songs released following the group’s international debut in 2021. Rin performed finger drumming and the members amused fans with a cover of the Beastie Boys’ classic Intergalactic while wearing traffic guard costumes.

The audience’s excitement only continued to grow as the girls called out, screaming “Budokan, here we go!” before breaking into an intense performance of Saisyu Jinrui filled with head-banging and shoulder rides. During the last part of the concert, ATARASHII GAKKO! performed their new song BORN TO BE FREE!!!! for the first time. The track’s fast-paced sound immediately captured the hearts of fans, and the girls closed the main event with SEISHUN WO KIRISAKU HADO, an extremely popular song at their live performances.

During the final MC portion, there was a tearful moment in which Suzuka cried and hugged the other members. “I don’t want anyone to suffer alone,” she said. “We’re all here together. Thank you all so much.”

The group’s first concert at Nippon Budokan ended with Mayoeba Toutoshi, known as a common final song at ATARASHII GAKKO! concerts. “If you ever feel lost, you can always rely on us–on our concerts, our videos, and everything else,” Suzuka said.

Along with the announcement of a new fan club, the group’s first fan club tour, which will visit five prefectures, was announced during the show. Additionally, the new song Toryanse will be available to stream on January 26.

■SET LIST
Tokyo Calling
Giri Giri
Toryanse
Pineapple Kryptonite (Yohji Igarashi Remix)
Night Before the Exam
Sekigae Gattuso
Tomei Boy
Koi Geba
Dokubana
Shiritai
Freaks
NAINAINAI
Fantastico
Pineapple Kryptonite
Intergalactic
Saishuu Jinrui
Janaindayo
BORN TO BE FREE!!!!
SEISHUN WO KIRISAKU HADO

＜ENCORE＞
OTONABLUE
Que Sera, Sera
Mayoeba Toutoshi

Following her successful seven-city world tour across four countries including a show at Primavera Sound, one of Europe’s largest music festivals, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu has once again taken the stage in her native Japan. On July 15, the artist performed a stunning solo show, Celebrating 100 Years: Kyary Pamyu Pamyu Special Live 2023 ~Midnight Sun~, at the Hibiya Open Air Concert Hall in Tokyo.

The performance itself was part of a larger project to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Hibiya venue. Fittingly, the theme of this one-night-only show was ‘the biggest celebration of your life,’ inspired by the ‘both joyful and terrifying festival held beneath the Midnight Sun.’ Kyary Pamyu Pamyu directed the performance herself, and the final product felt like it was pulling the audience into a movie world rather than a live performance.

The costumes, made exclusively for this performance, were created by fashion stylist Yudai Ichinosawa. Stunning special effects makeup was provided by Kaiho, who has worked with Kyary in the past. In addition, the floral stage decorations for the live performance, made to be sustainable, were created in collaboration with Hibiya Kadan, whose headquarters are located inside Hibiya Park. Fresh flowers and greenery along with colorful artificial flowers were used to create a unique space for the special occasion.

To begin the show, the curtain was raised as joyful Celtic music was played by a band of elves. The ‘Kyary Family’ marched onto the stage, their faces hidden by veils. The daughter, Kyary, appeared with dancers dressed as her father, mother, and twin sister, and as the characters removed their veils, the artist began with a performance of Easta, an Easter-themed song.

During the MC portion of the show, Kyary shared her heartfelt congratulations to Hibiya Open Air Concert Hall for its 100-year history. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a colorful outdoor stage before,” she continued, inviting the audience to take in the gorgeous scenery.

Kyary also shyly addressed her marriage in front of an audience for the first time. The artist also announced that she had invited the person who found her lost shoe sole in Harajuku months ago to the show, causing plenty of excitement in the audience.

It was a night of celebration at the Hibiya Open Air Concert Hall, between the 100th anniversary of the space, Kyary’s marriage, and the recovery of her beloved shoe sole. The setlist included 22 songs along with an encore, blending both classic and new tracks, including songs not often performed live. The performance was punctuated with Celtic flare, giving the entire show an odd yet welcoming air as the audience celebrated the Midnight Sun with Kyary’s unique family.

The official Midnight Sun playlist, which includes some special content, is available on major music streaming sites now. During certain portions of the concert, fans were allowed to film, so you can also expect to find some video footage scattered around social media.

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu is scheduled to perform at LuckyFes on July 17 and FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL on July 30. As she continues to take the stage at festivals around Japan, fans are invited to come and see this internationally-acclaimed pop star as she continues to wow audiences.

Photo: Aki Ishii

■Playlist
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu Special Live 2023 – Midnight Sun –
https://lnk.to/KPP_Midnight_Sun

On June 4, FRUITS ZIPPER held FRUITS ZIPPER LIVE Vol. 1 and FRUITS ZIPPER Vol. 2 at Hulic Hall Tokyo. The group recently celebrated its first anniversary. The concerts were planned and held in Japan on extremely short notice, as the girls were initially meant to perform at A-kon in Dallas, Texas on June 2 and 3. Sadly, their appearance had to be canceled, but after so many rehearsals and so much preparation, the group still wanted to put on a show for its dedicated fanbase. Hopefully, this live report can give American fans a glimpse into the incredible show!

With the event being announced on June 1, only three days before FRUITS ZIPPER took the stage in Tokyo, it was uncertain how many fans would show up. Shockingly, the hall was completely full for FRUITS ZIPPER Live Vol. 1 and FRUITS ZIPPER Live Vol. 2, and the audience immediately began cheering as the members appeared on stage. The venue went dark, and mysterious sound effects began to play, setting the scene for an incredible show.

The girls began with three fan favorites: Kimino Akaruimiraiwo Oikakete, Kanpeki Shugide☆, and Happpy Chocolate. Immediately, the hall was thrown into a frenzy, and the energy was contagious.

“Welcome to Hulic Hall! We’re FRUITS ZIPPER!”

Soon after, the girls prepared to introduce themselves in English. First, Suzuka Chinzei addressed the crowd. “I’m so glad that so many people are here even with such little notice–thank you so much! We’d like to perform in Yurakucho today as if we were in America. Is that okay?” The audience immediately responded, shouting “Yeah!”

One by one, each member shared a bit about themselves in English.

Yui Sakurai: “Nice to meet you♡ I’ll make everyone fall in love with me in just 5 seconds♡”

Amane Tsukiashi: “How are you? I’m happy to meet you!”

Suzuka Chinzei: “I brought a quick joke as a gift from Japan today! Look at me…♪Like this~♪Lunchbox~…Don’t exist!!! I hope you had a good laugh. Thank you for the big laughs!”

Karen Matsumoto: “I will do my best! Please continue to support me!”

Luna Nakagawa: “It has been my dream to perform in America, so it’s a dream come true! Thank you!”

Noel Hayase: “I wanna say thank you all your guys for coming today. Even though we announced this live concert 3 days ago and there are so many people here in front of us…I’m so happy. Let’s enjoy our day together, thank you!”

Mana Manaka: “I’m sorry that we couldn’t go to America this time but I will do my best to improve my performance and meet you all soon! Thank you for your support!”

Among the members, Noel Hayase is trilingual, fluent in Japanese, English, and German. Speaking to the audience, she got a big reaction with her impressive pronunciation. “Here we go on the next song, okay?” Next, the group performed Roller Coaster Heart, Re→TRY ＆ FLY, and Furefuru Summer!

During Furefuru Summer!, Luna Nakagawa called out to the members and audience alike. “Do you have this towel? Are you ready?” The venue was filled with fans waving their towels around to the beat of the seasonal classic.

“The next song is going to be harder…are you guys ready,” Noel called out. “More more scream,” Luna added, and soon, Going! began to play. During the group’s most famous track Watashino Ichiban Kawaiitokoro, Yui Sakurai called out in English with a request for the audience–”Let’s KAWAII dance~♡”

To conclude, FRUITS ZIPPER performed the NEW KAWAII-infused track RADIO GALAXY, followed by their latest song Chou Medetai Song ~Konnanni Shiawasede Iinokana?~. Applause rang out as the final notes sounded, with many fans in the audience congratulating the group on a successful show.

As is tradition, a commemorative photo was taken with the audience at the end of the show–this time, with some American flair.

“We are going to take a picture, and it’s going to be used on our official Twitter, so if you don’t want to be in a picture please hide your face. Hide, your, face, please,” Luna said, with the last bit in over-the-top broken Japanese. The members made their classic poses with adorable expressions on their faces.

After the photo shoot, Mana Manaka shared her gratitude with the fans in the audience. “Thank you so much to everyone who came to this concert, despite the short notice. We were really encouraged by everyone planning on going to the U.S. with us and everyone who supported our trip abroad on social media. FRUITS ZIPPER will continue to expand its activities around the world, so don’t be discouraged by this setback! Please continue to support us! Thank you for coming today!” The members smiled and said “See you!” as they left the stage.

FRUITS ZIPPER LIVE Vol. 1 and FRUITS ZIPPER Vol. 2 were held on very short notice after the group’s upcoming U.S. appearance was canceled. Despite this, the audience’s unwavering and sincere support for the girls was palpable throughout the venue. The fans raised their hands and shouted along with the group, and the performance was filled with nothing but warmth and happiness.

There’s no doubt that the girls will continue their global expansion. We’re looking forward to FRUITS ZIPPER’s performance in the U.S. sometime in the future, and as they continue to impress audiences around the world, there’s no doubt that the group will soon touch every corner of the globe.

Photo: yoshimoriyuna

Idol group FRUITS ZIPPER will embark on its first nationwide tour, FRUITS ZIPPER JAPAN TOUR 2023 -AUTUMN-, this September.

FRUITS ZIPPER has been climbing to the top of the idol scene at a breakneck pace. Their first overseas solo performance in Taiwan was recently a huge success, and tickets for their first anniversary live shows at Toyosu PIT in Tokyo and Namba Hatch in Osaka in May sold out immediately after going on sale.

The tour will begin with a concert in Osaka on September 3, followed by performances in Aichi, Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Hokkaido, and Kanagawa. Tickets for the presale lottery are now on sale for members of the KAWAII LAB fan club.

FRUITS ZIPPER’s single Watashino Ichiban Kawaiitokoro, released last year, has inspired over 700 million related videos on TikTok, while the music video has been viewed over 10 million times. Keep an eye on their activities in the near future!

A new idol group is coming in March 2023 from KAWAII LAB. , to promote Japan’s growing idol culture to the world.

So far, four members have been announced ahead of the group’s debut concert. The group name and details of their debut concert have just been revealed!

Following IDOLATER and FRUITS ZIPPER, the third idol group born from KAWAII LAB. has been announced as CANDY TUNE. The name is meant to evoke the image of both kindhearted girls and catchy melodies and harmonies.KAWAII LAB. will continue to focus on its concept of promoting Harajuku culture to the world.

The four members announced so far are Mizuki Kirihara, Rino Fukuyama, Natsu Minami, and Nanako Ogawa. More members will be announced in the near future.

Clockwise from top: Mizuki Kirihara, Nanako Ogawa, Rino Fukuyama, Natsu Minami

CANDY TUNE’s debut concert titled KAWAII LAB. SESSION ~CANDY TUNE~ will be held on March 14 at Spotify O-EAST! IDOLATER and FRUITS ZIPPER, both created by KAWAII LAB., will also perform, with the members of CANDY TUNE performing on the same stage as their seniors for the first time.

Singer Vickeblanka has released a live performance video of Black Catcher, the opening theme song for the anime series Black Clover. On January 25, 2023, the singer will release Vickeblanka presents RAINBOW ROAD -Ki- on Blu-ray and DVD.

Black Catcher – Vickeblanka (from「RAINBOW ROAD -Ki-」LIVE DVD＆Blu-ray on sale January 25, 2023)

Black Catcher serves as the 10th opening theme for Black Clover. The song has been ranked in Spotify’s Top 10 Most Played Japanese Songs Overseas for three consecutive years and has been streamed over 160 million times. The accompanying music video has been viewed over 50 million times.

Vickeblanka appeared in the recent Shochiku Tokyu New Year’s drama series Kaden Samurai Special Stop! Chuushingura. At the start of the series, the main character Shijuro Kanenashi plays a yakuza in prison after being falsely accused of a crime. The series co-stars Kenichi Takito who was surprised by Vicke’s powerful performance.

Treasure, the theme song for the regular drama series, is also being used as the theme of this special.

Vickeblanka presents RAINBOW ROAD -Ki- will be released on Blu-ray and DVD on January 25, 2023. This was the singer’s first arena concert, featuring a rare 19-track setlist including encores.

The live show includes signature tracks like Masshiro, Ca Va?, and ULALA, as well as an encore performance of the song Changes. The concert release also includes a 2-CD set of live recordings from the performance. The asymmetrical stage featured a unique acoustic setup that is fully captured in this incredible set.

In addition to the standard edition, a Limited First Edition will include a 52-page photobook with rare images from the rehearsal.

Those who preorder through the French Link fan club will receive a special rubber band, and an A3-size calendar poster on a first-come, first-served basis. 55 people who preorder by midnight on January 6 will win an A3-size calendar poster autographed by Vickeblanka himself.

FRUITS ZIPPER will hold a solo concert at LINE CUBE SHIBUYA on February 12, 2023. The idol group’s representative track Watashino Ichiban Kawaiitokoro has pulled in over 600 million plays on TikTok. 

The group debuted in April 2022 with the concept ‘from Harajuku to the world.’ Within their first year, FRUITS ZIPPER has attracted fans from around the world, holding their first overseas event in Thailand in October.

On December 31, the girls took to the stage in Tainan, Taiwan for the Tainan Christmas and New Year’s Eve Party. Many popular Taiwanese artists, including W0LF(S), the Korean idol group EPEX, and Aaron Yan from the boy band Fahrenheit performed at the event which attracted over 100,000 people.

Aaron Yan announced FRUITS ZIPPER as they headed to the stage and the audience quickly burst into excited cheers. While many in the audience had never heard of the idol group before, their curiosity was piqued by the sound of local fans. 

After performing RADIO GALAXY, the members introduced themselves one by one in Chinese, much to the delight of the audience. 

The group then performed Sekaiwa Kimikara Hajimaru. The music video for the song was uploaded to YouTube on December 25 and has pulled in over 60,000 views to date. Soap bubbles floated and sparkled throughout the venue during the song, and to show their cool side, the girls then switched to We are Frontier, a fan favorite.

Aaron reappeared for the next MC section, interviewing the FRUITS ZIPPER members. “People in Taiwan are so incredibly kind,” said Noel Hayase. “They have been so nice to me and it’s made me so happy.” When asked how she felt about so many people in the audience knowing the song Watashino Ichiban Kawaiitokoro, Suzuka Chinsei answered with a smile. “We’re so happy that so many people love FRUITS ZIPPER and our music. You’ve given us so much love, and we’ll keep giving that love back through our music. We want to reach the whole world, the whole universe!” She finished by saying “I love you” in Chinese. 

As expected, the girls finished their set by performing the song Watashino Ichiban Kawaiitokoro. When the familiar intro began playing, the audience erupted in cheers, and fans danced together during the chorus. Again, soap bubbles filled the venue and the audience was transformed to match FRUITS ZIPPER’s kawaii style. As the song came to a close, the girls said goodbye in Chinese. 

The event was broadcast live on the Taiwanese TV channel TVBS and was streamed live on YouTube, pulling in 30,000 viewers during FRUITS ZIPPER’s performance.

Only eight months following their debut, FRUITS ZIPPER performed live in front of 100,000 people, with 70,000 in attendance and 30,000 viewing virtually. Given their incredible success in Taiwan, 2023 is sure to be a big year for these budding idols!

Photo: Harry Huang

holo*27, a new music project collaboration between Hololive and DECO*27, has announced two upcoming albums! VIA/TOY’S FACTORY will release holo*27 Originals Vol. 1 and holo*27 Covers Vol. 1 on March 15, 2023.

Lip-Sync / Murasaki Shion x La+ Darkness Music Video

https://youtu.be/NjtIAuZQN_E

The music video for Lip-Sync featuring VTubers Murasaki Shion and La+ Darkness was also released on December 20, 2022. The hard-hitting drum ‘n bass track features incredible lyrics by DECO*27 and rap portions from both La+ and Shion.

holo*27 Originals Vol.1 features ten new tracks by DECO*27, while holo*27 Covers Vol.1 features ten covers of classic DECO*27 tracks by Hololive VTubers. The limited edition release will come with an exclusive shoulder bag only available with this product.

In addition, holo*27 Vol.1 Special Edition will also be released including both albums, a special art booklet, and exclusive goods. 

The jacket artwork for the original album was provided by Miyoshi Yoshimi, while the art for the cover album was created by Omutatsu. 

The Hololive talents participating in this album include Tokino Sora, Sakura Miko, Hoshimachi Suisei, Yozora Mel, Murasaki Shion, Nakiri Ayame, Yuzuki Choco, Ookami Mio, Nekomata Okayu, Usada Pekora, Shiranui Flare, Kanata Amane, Himemori Luna, Yukihana Lamy, La+ Darkness, Takane Lui, Hakui Koyori, Sakamata Chloe, Kazama Iroha, Moona Hoshinova, Airani Iofifteen, Kureiji Ollie, Takanashi Kiara, Mori Calliope, Gawr Gura, Nanashi Mumei, and Hakos Baelz.

A special version of the Daiginjo Yuki Yatsuki, a tasty sake, is coming soon. The beverage is being developed as part of Lamy’s Sake Making Project by Yukihana Lamy, a VTuber belonging to the Hololive, along with Meiri Shurui, a sake brewery in Ibaraki Prefecture. The sake will go on sale at Meiri Shurui’s website starting December 16 at 17:00.

This special version of the sake was made to celebrate the company’s Bronze Medal at the IWC 2022. The rice used is Yamada Nishiki and Miyasaka with a polish ratio of 48%, and the M310 yeast helps express a light and easy-drinking flavor while maintaining a fruity aroma. 

The IWC (International Wine Challenge) is the world’s largest and most prestigious wine and sake competition, taking place each year in London.

Yuki Yatsuki Season 3 Celebration Model

The label features a new design by Abaraheiki, who Lamy loves. The illustration shows the VTuber wearing a crimson dress ready to attend the award ceremony. The box is also decorated with a bronze medal, which only IWC award winners are allowed to wear.

Enjoy this special beverage with your friends and family this holiday season!

Yukihana Lamy

Hololive’s 5th Generation’s blue rep, Yukihana Lamy!
The daughter of a noble family from a distant, snowy land. She decided to leave her home, along with her companion Daifuku, after Hololive’s streams full of fun and color touched her heart. Her serious personality belies her naive, sheltered nature.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFKOVgVbGmX65RxO3EtH3iw
Twitter: https://twitter.com/yukihanalamy

The female VTuber group holoX, part of Hololive, is celebrating its first anniversary with a special stream relay!

A new key visual celebrating the group’s huge milestone has also been released, created by Rei Hiroe, the artist of Black Lagoon. The members will also take part in a stream relay over the course of five days, and fans can look forward to information about new merchandise!

Each stream will highlight the individual member’s personality and talents and the girls will be showing off their idol costumes for the first time. 

1st Anniversary Streaming Relay

La+ Darknesss
Date: November 26, 2022
Streaming Channel: Laplus ch. -holoX-
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCENwRMx5Yh42zWpzURebzTw

Takane Lui
Date: November 27, 2022
Streaming Channel: Lui ch. -holoX-
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs9_O1tRPMQTHQ-N_L6FU2g

Hakui Koyori
Date: November 28, 2022
Streaming Channel: Koyori ch. -holoX-
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6eWCld0KwmyHFbAqK3V-Rw

Sakamata Chloe
Date: November 29, 2022
Streaming Channel: Chloe ch. -holoX-
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIBY1ollUsauvVi4hW4cumw

Kazama Iroha
Date: November 30, 2022
Streaming Channel: Iroha ch. -holoX-
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_vMYWcDjmfdpH6r4TTn1MQ

On December 4, a stream featuring all five members will be streamed on the official Hololive YouTube channel. The holoX girls will perform a mini-concert dressed in their new idol costumes and more merch info will be announced, so be sure not to miss it!

Shirakami Fubuki, a popular member of the VTuber group Hololive, has been appointed as a Lifesaving Supporter in the Japan AED Foundation’s team ASUKA.  

The collaboration aims to stress the importance of AEDs, which can be used to stop sudden cardiac arrest. A newly-drawn illustration of Fubuki is being used to promote this important crossover, which will be found in leaflets, gacha machines, and online training course certificates, as well as on the official website and social media. More details about the collab will be announced in a video scheduled to be released on October 14. 

From November 3 until November 27, fans of Hololive will want to visit Tokyo Tower! The iconic location will host a collaboration with several popular VTubers at RED° TOKYO TOWER, the largest esports park in Japan. Usada Pekora, Shirogane Noel, Shishiro Botan, and Sakamata Chloe will take part in the collab, and during the event, a special video will be shown on a giant 15-meter LED monitor inside the complex. A special food and drink menu will also offer up goodies based on the girls themselves, and fans will find original merchandise showing the talents in casino costumes and bathrobes. 

Visitors can play poker with special collaboration chips, and visitors to the RED° E-SAUNA UENO, which will be running concurrently, can snag original sauna hats and towels before relaxing in a private sauna room with life-size panels of the Hololive members. Tickets must be purchased in advance, so don’t miss out!