Tokyo Community Radio (TCR), an online radio platform run by Licaxxx, has announced a new event titled communities. The event will be held at Daikanyama UNIT / Saloon in Tokyo on June 30 and at Osaka JOULE on July 1.

The guest lineup includes re:ni and Laksa, two hot up-and-coming DJs and producers reshaping the UK music scene. The duo has a monthly program on NTS Radio titled re;lax, along with a party series of the same name. In February 2023, they released a new EP, Body Score, on their new label founded to explore music with faster tempos and to carry the torch of UK techno, jungle, dubstep, and grime. Each DJ is also active individually and the two have constantly been in the spotlight.

Music fans are invited to partake in this stunning musical event led by Licaxxx and targeted at the current generation of music makers as they extend beyond Asia and take their activities around the world.

re:lax (re:ni & Laksa)

Licaxxx

ZEROTOKYO, an entertainment mecca known for heating up Tokyo nights, is teaming up with ASOBISYSTEM to create an exciting new party! ASOBIZA, named after the origin of Kabukicho, will be held on April 28.

The lineup includes music artists as well as charismatic figures at the top of their fields in fashion, beauty, and art. Transcending musical genres and generations, this night will embody ZEROTOKYO’s concept of being a true “Entertainment Junction.”

Additional performers may be announced in the future.

The Mine City Tourism Association has announced a Christmas & Valentine’s Day event at Akiyoshido Cave, one of the largest limestone caves in Japan. The event will see the natural wonder illuminated by a number of colorful lights. The Christmas event will run from December 21 to 25, 2022, while the Valentine’s Day event will run from February 10 to 14, 2023.

Akiyoshido Cave is one of Yamaguchi Prefecture’s most popular tourist attractions. The interior will be decorated with colorful lights and unique soundscapes, creating a once-in-a-lifetime setting for visitors. These illuminations and sounds were directed by world-renowned lighting designer Motoko Ishii, known for her work on Tokyo Tower and the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge.

A story-based digital GPS rally inspired by Chainsaw Man will be held within Tokyo’s subway system from November 1 until November 28. Fans of the anime series won’t want to miss it!

Participants will be tasked with one vital mission: to find five senior devil hunters who are currently undercover at subway stations around the city.

Participants will download an app from the special website and follow the instructions within to find stamp locations at stations throughout Tokyo. When they reach the designated location, they’ll find a special poster, and they’ll just need to press a button in the app to earn a stamp. By collecting stamps in all six locations, fans will receive a unique key visual which can only be obtained through this event. 

Pop-Up Shop

During the event period, fans will also find a limited-time pop-up shop inside Ikebukuro Sunshine City. Original collaboration items will be on sale, and a game will be set up with winners able to walk away with unique prizes. From November 1 to November 20, admission to the shop will be by advance reservation only on a first-come, first-served basis to reduce crowding. Reservations can be made through the official website.

©藤本タツキ／集英社・ＭＡＰＰＡ

HELLO KITTY SHOW BOX, a theater and restaurant offering Hello Kitty-themed shows and meals on Awaji Island, and HELLO KITTY APPLE HOUSE, an apple-shaped observation theater based on the popular character’s home, are both currently holding the Apple Halloween 2022 event until October 31! 

Guests can enjoy a mystery-solving event and some adorable photo spots inspired by apples and the Halloween season. By solving certain riddles, visitors will be rewarded with candy!

Come have fun this Halloween with Hello Kitty, friends, and family!

Started in October, the New Show ‘HELLO KITTY THE PARTIES’ Gets Rave Reviews

HELLO KITTY THE PARTIES, a new show at the theater and restaurant HELLO KITTY SHOW BOX, will run until December 30, 2022. The show features a new theme each month and currently features a jazz band.

October’s theme is Happy Halloween Party, and visitors can listen to a number of famous songs while enjoying tasty and healthy dishes packed with autumn flavors. At the end of the performance, a meet and greet with Hello Kitty will be held. November’s theme will be Hello Kitty’s Birthday Party, while December will focus on a Christmas Party!

The popular anime series Free! will celebrate its 10th anniversary with a special event at Saitama Super Arena on August 13, 2023. Cast members from the series, including Nobunaga Shimazaki, Tatsuhisa Suzuki, Mamoru Miyano, Tsubasa Yonaga, and Daisuke Hirakawa, will be in attendance. Free! -the Final Stroke- The Second Volume will be released on Blu-ray and DVD on April 5, 2023, and will include a priority purchase application ticket for the special event. Check out the official website for details!

The Free! anime franchise, which is loosely based on the High Speed! light novels by Kouji Ooji, began in 2013 and includes three TV series and multiple films produced by Kyoto Animation. The three anime series–Free!, Free! Eternal Summer, and Free! Dive to the Future–have been incredibly popular around the world. The first part of Free! The Final Stroke was released in theaters last year, with the second part hitting theaters in April 2022. Fans won’t want to miss out on the exciting 10th-anniversary activities in 2023!

©おおじこうじ・京都アニメーション／岩鳶町後援会2021

A special event is coming to Tokyo and Osaka this summer to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Kuroko’s Basketball anime series. Fans will want to visit Tokyo in July and Osaka in September.

Kuroko’s Basketball is a manga series by Tadatoshi Fujimaki which was serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump until 2014 and tells the story of a high school basketball team trying to make it to the national tournament. The anime adaptation began airing in April 2012.

Kuroko’s Basketball ~A Miracle One Day in the City~

Kuroko’s Basketball ~ Kyoto Exhibition

Gallery Corner

Voice Guide

Admission Bonus – Invitation Card (9 varieties)

Exclusive Goods – F6 Character Board

Goods

Acrylic Stand (9 varieties)

Mini Acrylic Charms 1 (Random)

Mini Acrylic Charms 2 (Random)

Pin (9 varieties, random)

Purchase Bonus – Shopping Bag

The event will feature exhibits highlighting the history of the series and will feature a special voiceover. Exclusive merchandise will be on sale and guests will be welcomed by Kuroko and his friends at the entrance, all wearing special costumes drawn for the event.

Are you a Kuroko’s Basketball fan?

© 藤巻忠俊／集英社・黒子のバスケ製作委員会
© 「黒子のバスケ」アニメ10周年プロジェクト

Aniplex Online Fest 2022 will be available to stream worldwide on September 24, 2022! This is the third such event, with the first streaming in 2020. The large-scale online festival will share the latest information on Aniplex’s anime works and a number of live performances are planned. Participating artists will be announced soon, so keep an eye out for more information. 

Last year’s Aniplex Online Fest featured information on 11 anime series and had a lineup of incredible musical artists, DJs, and live drawing events. The festival was streamed on YouTube worldwide in both English and Japanese for over six hours and recorded a total of 850,000 viewers.

To commemorate the upcoming event, the main visual has been revealed. The illustration was done by Kerorira, the character designer for Bocchi the Rock!

Comment from Kerorira

“It’s not often I get to create an original image from scratch, so I’ve been given a very rare opportunity! Please enjoy it!”

Stay tuned for more Aniplex Online Fest 2022 information!

Massively popular VTubers from Hololive Productions will appear at Anime Expo 2022 in Los Angeles from July 1 until July 4, 2022. The contention is one of the largest anime events in North America.

Fans will be able to purchase exclusive merchandise featuring the Hololive Meet ambassadors: Gawr Gura, Tokino Sora, and Ayunda Risu. The three represent Hololive English, Hololive, and Hololive Indonesia, respectively. Everything from shirts to wall scrolls will be on sale, so if you’re in the LA area, be sure to come out and support your favorite streamer!

MIKU LAND is Hatsune Miku’s official VR amusement park. The locale opens sporadically on the Virtual Cast platform, inviting fans of the virtual singer to interact with the star herself and other music lovers from around the world. From April 28 until May 1, the MIKU LAND 2022 YOSAKURA event will invite Vocaloid lovers to the metaverse to enjoy the cherry blossoms and a number of unique experiences. 

Guests can visit Senbonzakura World, Miku’s Detective Agency, Rin & Len Kagamine’s Post Office in the Sky, and even a virtual haunted house during the event. VTubers Megu Shinonome, Tokino Sora, and Mirai Akari have been chosen as the official ambassadors of the event.

Senbonzakura World

Hatsune Miku’s iconic track Senbonzakura, written by Kurousa-P, turns 10 this year. What better way to enjoy it than beneath virtual cherry blossom trees? Even if you can’t visit Japan quite yet, enjoy the Japanese shrine atmosphere as you spend time with friends in this gorgeous virtual space.

Miku’s Detective Agency

This puzzle-solving attraction invites guests to become assistant detectives by passing a test handed out by Detective Hatsune Miku! Those able to complete the challenge will also receive a limited-edition item.

Rin & Len Kagamine’s Post Office in the Sky

This post office in the clouds isn’t just a quiet place to relax. Visitors can take on a few different challenges, from mazes to more physical tasks.

Official Ambassadors

Megu Shinonome Comment
“I’ve been chosen as an ambassador for MIKU LAND! My name is Megu Shinonome, and I’m so excited to work with Miku! MIKU LAND keeps getting bigger and bigger, so I’m wondering what it will look like this spring…I’m looking forward to it! I’ll do my best along with my fellow ambassadors Tokino Sora and Mirai Akari to convey the many charms of MIKU LAND to as many people as possible. We can’t wait to see you!”

Tokino Sora Comment
“I’m so excited to visit MIKU LAND again! I’ll do my best to make this another incredible event, and I’ll be sure to enjoy myself as much as possible!”

Mirai Akari Comment
“I’ve been invited to MIKU LAND to act as the MC for this awesome event! During the SUMMER VACATION event, everyone on Virtual Cast was so kind to me. It was a blast, so I’m really looking forward to this too! I’ll be sure to bring some extra excitement, so don’t miss it!”

In 2021, the Hypnosis Mic -Division Rap Battle- Hypnosis Flava event was held at Mixalive Tokyo, attracting tons of attention and making fans of the franchise extremely happy. Now, the event will travel to Nagoya and Osaka!

Hypnosis Flava -The Missing Case-

CAFÉ  Hypnosis Flava

Food

Hypnosis Flava 〜 Rap Roll　Buster Bros!!! （Curry-flavored Chicken）/ MAD TRIGGER CREW（Meatball）/Fling Posse（Meat Tacos）/Matenrou（Grilled Salmon）/Dotsuitare Hompo（Yakisoba with Mayo）/Bad Ass Temple (Miso Katsu)

Dessert

Hypnosis Flava -Division Rap Battle-
Hypnosis Flava 〜 Mille Crepe　Buster Bros!!! / MAD TRIGGER CREW / Fling Posse /Matenrou / Dotsuitare Hompo /Bad Ass Temple〜

Drink

Hypnosis Mic -Division Rap Battle-
Hypnosis Flava ~ Jelly Soda Drink　Buster Bros!!! / MAD TRIGGER CREW / Fling Posse/ Matenrou / Dotsuitare Hompo /Bad Ass Temple

Menu Order Bonus

Coaster (36 varieties)

Cafe Merchandise Corner

Sticker Set /Clear Photo Card／Square Pin Hypnosis Flava Ver.2（6 varieties) / Acrylic Block Keychain Hypnosis Flava Ver. (18 varieties) / Candy and Magnet, Hypnosis Flava Ver. (6 varieties) / Handkerchief Hypnosis Flava Ver. (1 variety)

Store

2nd D.R.B Winner: Commemorative Acrylic Smartphone Stand (Fling Posse) / Acrylic Panel (Division Leaders) /2nd D.R.B Postcard Collection

T-Shirt /Hoodie Hypnosis Flava Ver.

The event contains three events: Hypnosis Flava -The Missing Case-, an interactive riddle-solving attraction that challenges guests to solve a mission to find the missing Division team leader, Cafe Hypnosis Flava, offering food and drinks inspired by the world of Hypnosis Mic, and Store Hypnosis Flava, a shop selling exclusive merchandise featuring newly-drawn illustrations. A merchandise corner will be set up at the cafe, where six new items will be on sale to commemorate the Nagoya and Osaka events.

©︎ヒプノシスマイク-Division Rap Battle- HypnosisFlava@Mixalive TOKYO製作委員会

Wishing you could be in Japan to see the cherry blossoms? The Cherry Blossom Drone Project on March 27 will be live-broadcasting some of the most beautiful blossoms in the country to viewers around the world. 

Incredible 4K aerial footage will be available to watch on YouTube LIVE for free from 12:00 until 19:00 on March 27, 2022. No matter where you are, you’ll be able to lose yourself in the feeling of spring. 

Three Best Cherry Blossom Viewing Spots Chosen by Sakura Enthusiasts

Breathtaking Mountain Cherry Blossoms at Mount Yoshino in Nara

The First New Sakura Species in Over 100 Years Found in Wakayama Prefecture

A Sea of Cherry Blossoms at Takato Joshi Park in Ina, Nagano Prefecture