Otsuka Pharmaceutical released a 30-second video titled “Netsunarero” on their official YouTube channel on May 6 announcing Hatsune Miku and members of Leo/need from the Project Sekai Colorful Stage ft. Hatsune Miku mobile game as the official ambassadors for the Japanese sports drink Pocari Sweat.

The importance of “Netsunare”

The video stresses the importance of netsunare – sweating in order to get used to the heat during summer. Leading the promoting of this message is Hatsune Miku who is followed by Leo/need, MEIKO, Mirai Akari, Fuji Aoi, and YuNi. The video features the original song Waiting for Clear Weather created by Orangestar for the Project Sekai Colorful Stage ft. Hatsune Miku mobile game. The popular track has been streamed over 1.9 million times as of April 2021.

The Character Line-Up

Since December 2019, Otsuka Pharmaceutical has appointed Hatsune Miku, MEIKO, Leo/need, MEIKO, Mirai Akari, Fuji Aoi, YuNi, and other familiar faces as official ambassadors for Pocari Sweat to spread information on how to overcome Japan’s hot summer weather to the world. It is part of the beyond2020 project which Otsuka describes: “With an eye to 2020 and beyond, this cultural program will contribute to the creation of a legacy befitting a maturing society that will make the next generation proud, through Japan’s strength which consists of its local and diverse culture.”

Leo/need from Project Sekai Colorful Stage ft. Hatsune Miku

Project Sekai Colorful Stage ft. Hatsune Miku is a mobile game for iOS/Android. The members of Leo/need include guitarist and vocalist Ichika Hoshino, keyboardist Saki Tenma, drummer Honami Mochizuki, and bassist Shino Hinomori. They will release their first single on June 9, 2021.

Twitter Campaign

Otsuka Pharmaceutical is also holding a Twitter campaign in Japan as part of the promotion where 200 random people can win a box of seven 500ml Pocari Sweat bottles for cooling down in the summer heat.

How to Sign Up

Step 1: Follow Pocari Sweat on Twitter @pocarisweat_jp

Step 2: Retweet or quote any of Pocari Sweat’s posts featuring the hashtag #ネツナレろ (“Netsunarero”)

Running: May 6, 2021 – May 19, 2021 (Japan Only)

Campaign Site: https://pocarisweat.jp/action/pocarimiku/netsunarero/

© SEGA / © CP / © CPM / © Mirai Akari Project / © YuNi / © Fuji Aoi

Virtual singer YuNi has announced that her major debut album eternal journey will release on June 16, 2021, almost two years after the release of her previous album. She has also announced a solo concert this summer and released some new visuals to go alongside it. Details on the concert are TBA.

YuNi is a virtual singer produced by Activ8, a company that produces XR content and virtual talent.

eternal journey First Press Limited Edition | CD+DVD+2 Bonus Tracks | Release Date: June 16, 2021

eternal journey RegularEdition | CD-Pnly | Release Date: June 16, 2021

kirai Now On Sale (Digital Release)

YuNi claims herself to be a pioneer of the virtual singing world. Her song Kokoro Knock was used as an ending theme for the anime series Uzaki-chan Wants to Hang Out! last year. Her major debut album will bring the singer to new heights. Its title, eternal journey, was previously used as the title of her VR live concert held in October last year. The record will be released with First Press Limited Edition and Regular Edition copies with a track list that collaborates with a variety of Vocaloid producers, music artists, and more. The Limited Edition version includes a music video and two bonus tracks. Both editions’ CD covers were designed by Sakuragi Ren. The album also sees YuNi writing her own lyrics for the first time.

YuNi’s song kirai from the album was released digitally on April 16. Produced by DJ’TEKINA//SOMETHING a.k.a Yuyo Yuppe, the electro pop number is an upbeat and positive trip with YuNi as bright and energetic as ever.4

©️YuNi

Japanese “hybrid” bookshop honto, which is co-managed by Junkudo and 2Dfacto, has used its online and physical book sales data to rank the top 10 manga series of the current 2020 summer anime roster. Their ranking was released on July 2.

Ito (PR, honto) | Comment

“The 2020 summer anime roster is about to start. With people staying at home right now, there is more opportunity to watch anime, so there must be a lot of people looking forward to the new series coming. So we are releasing our own ranking of manga and light novels from the anime series that are airing this summer. Let’s peruse series that are in the spotlight right now by dividing the ranking and the differences in age of people buying the books.”

*Data is based on the sales taken from the first half of 2020

The Top 3 Series

The slapstick love comedy Uzaki-chan Wants to Hang Out! (Volume 4) by Take clocks in at number one. The series has sold over 1 million copies in Japan. The data shows that the series is most popular with people in their 30’s, who rate at 41.2% of the sales. Will they be watching the anime adaptation too?

In 2nd place is Fire Force (Volume 22) which is serialised in Weekly Shonen Magazine. This series is most popular with those in their 20’s. Season two of the anime series will premiere on July 5.

And in 3rd place is Sword Art Online (Volume 24), a series loved by fans the world over. This hugely popular series has sold over 20 million light novels, and is popular in all age groups, with the biggest percentage of sales going to those in their 40’s at 28.2%. The first season of the anime adaptation aired back in 2012. The second half of the War of Underworld will begin on July 11.

Full Top 10 List

1st Place: Uzaki-chan Wants to Hang Out! (Volume 4)
2nd Place: Fire Force (Volume 22)
3rd Place: Sword Art Online (Volume 24)
4th Place: Kanojo, Okarishimasu (Volume 14)
5th Place: Baki Dou (Volume 5)
6th Place: Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World (Volume 22)
7th Place: Diary of Our Days at the Breakwater (Volume 6)
8th Place: My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, As I Expected (Volume 14)
9th Place: Super HxEros (Volume 9)
10th Place: A Certain Scientific Railgun (Volume 15)

*According to honto