Tokyo International News Agency

The hit figure skating anime Yuri!!! on ICE has officially marked its 10th anniversary! To celebrate this milestone, the franchise has announced a highly anticipated, massive anniversary project that is currently taking social media by storm. First up is the gorgeous "10th Anniversary Key Visual," illustrated by character designer Tadashi Hiramatsu. Fans are already raving over the beautiful artwork, which depicts the characters gracefully gliding across the ice. Adding to the excitement is the announcement of a "10th Anniversary Blu-ray & CD BOX." This premium release is packed with exclusive content, most notably a live-action performance of protagonist Yuri Katsuki’s Free Skate (FS) routine on real ice by former world champion Stéphane Lambiel. The physical release will also include a wealth of immersive collectibles, such as a "boarding pass-style card," Yuri Katsuki's personal free skate music selection memo, and a replica press conference ar...

A major shockwave has hit the idol industry with the announcement that Hana Kojima (22), a former member of the group AMEFURASSHI, will be joining the Hello! Project group BEYOOOOONDS as a new member. Kojima is well-known as a former member of AMEFURASSHI, a group under Stardust Promotion that disbanded in March this year. She has garnered significant popularity for her outstanding vocal and dance skills. It is extremely rare for an established, highly talented idol with a career history under another major agency to join a Hello! Project group, making her successful audition a massive point of discussion. It was also revealed that she had consulted with former Juice=Juice member Karin Miyamoto before deciding to take on this new challenge. In response to this surprising news, social media has been flooded with expressions of excitement and joy. Fans commented, "This is a shocking announcement, but I'm so happy she is continuing her career as an idol," "She's an ...

The idol world was recently shaken by the shocking announcement that Hana Kojima, a former member of the idol group AMEFURASSHI, would be joining Hello! Project’s BEYOOOOONDS as a new member. Amidst the buzz of this unprecedented transfer, fans are showering former Juice=Juice member Karin Miyamoto with praise, recognizing her as the key advisor who made this historic move possible. According to reports, Kojima decided to audition for BEYOOOOONDS after consulting her close friend, Karin Miyamoto. While it is extremely rare for an established idol from another agency to join Hello! Project, Miyamoto’s encouragement pushed Kojima forward and opened a new path. Idol fans have expressed profound surprise and gratitude toward Miyamoto for her pivotal role in this drama. Social media has been flooded with thank-you messages, with fans writing, "Karin Miyamoto, thank you so, so much!" and calling her "the savior and pioneer of the idol world." Others praised her character,...

Japanese creator platform Fantia has sparked widespread online debate following a sudden revision to its guidelines and its subsequent suspension. On May 29, Fantia apologized for the confusion and revealed that it is renegotiating its policies and standards for the 2D (anime/manga) genre with a "legal agency" that had flagged the platform. Until a new standard is established, the review process will temporarily revert to the previous guidelines. Following this announcement, social media has been flooded with users asking, "Which legal agency specifically flagged them?" While some speculated about the police, government administrative bodies, or the Internet Hotline Center, others expressed skepticism. Many suspect that the term "legal agency" is actually a cover-up for pressure from credit card companies and payment processors, which have been tightening regulations on creative content. Furthermore, many users pointed out the unnatural nature of Fantia...

The highly anticipated full music video (MV) for the new song “Dreamers’ Beat” has premiered on YouTube for the popular mobile rhythm game Project Sekai Colorful Stage! feat. Hatsune Miku (commonly known as ProSeka ), sparking immense buzz across social media. This track features a star-studded collaboration between characters Shiho Hinomori, Minori Hanasato, An Shiraishi, Tsukasa Tenma, alongside Virtual Singers Kagamine Rin and Kagamine Len. Written and composed by the popular Vocaloid producer 40mP, the song has received overwhelming praise from listeners, who described it as “the ultimate cheering song” and “wonderfully bright.” The stunning illustrations by artist Soichi, which bring the MV to life, have also become a hot topic. Among the many highlights, fans are particularly captivated by the sheer cuteness of Minori Hanasato. Comments like “Minori is just too adorable!” and “that big, beaming smile totally won me over...

A section of the Nagoya Railroad (Meitetsu) Hiromi Line between Shin-Kani and Mitake stations in Gifu Prefecture is set to be discontinued. Local municipalities have concluded discussions on preserving the segment, and Meitetsu has confirmed it will proceed toward closure. Moving forward, the focus will shift to transitioning to alternative transportation, such as local buses. High Costs Lead to Abandoning the 'Vertical Separation' Model The decision to end rail service was reached by the three municipalities along the line: Mitake Town, Kani City, and Yaotsu Town. The local governments had been exploring a "de-facto vertical separation" framework to keep the line running. Under this model, Meitetsu would handle train operations while the municipalities would cover the costs of maintaining track infrastructure and carriages. However, local authorities ultimately abandoned the plan. According to announcements from Mitake Town and other partners, the model would have im...

The upcoming ice skating show "Touken Ranbu - ICE BLADE -" has announced its performance dates and star-studded cast, revealing that world-class figure skater Kaori Sakamoto will star as the original character "Spirit of Ice." Along with the announcement, a new key visual has been released and pre-sale tickets have gone on sale, sparking massive excitement across social media. This highly anticipated show is scheduled for a two-day run on October 3 and 4. The stellar lineup of professional skaters includes Takahito Mura as Mikazuki Munechika and Keiji Tanaka as Heshikiri Hasebe. Adding to the excitement, the original voice actors for the Touken Danshi will perform live voice-overs at the venue, making this a must-see event for fans. Among the announcements, Kaori Sakamoto's participation has drawn the most intense spotlight. As a three-time World Champion and Milan-Cortina Olympic singles silver medalist who recently announced her retirement and marriage, many f...