New 'Hyakki Yakō Counter-Training Program' Event Begins in Popular Touken Ranbu ONLINE, Co-Developed by DMM GAMES and Nitroplus

A new event, the "Hyakki Yakō Counter-Training Program," began on Tuesday, July 29th, in "Touken Ranbu ONLINE," the popular sword-raising simulation game co-developed by DMM GAMES and Nitroplus. This event serves as combat training to prepare for the upcoming main "Hyakki Yakō" (Night Parade of One Hundred Demons) event. Soon after its launch, related terms quickly climbed to the top of X (formerly Twitter) trends, generating significant buzz among Saniwa (the game's players, also known as masters).

The "Hyakki Yakō Counter-Training Program" will run until 9:59 AM on Tuesday, August 12th. Its purpose is to raise the proficiency of Touken Danshi (sword boys) through battles against encroaching enemies. By completing this training, players can obtain new Touken Danshi like "Kuki Masamune," as well as popular existing ones such as "Shizukagata Naginata" and "Hakusan Yoshimitsu" as rewards, motivating many Saniwa to repeatedly clear the stages.

On X, numerous posts express joy, with comments like "The EXP is delicious! Training Program!" Many see it as an optimal opportunity for leveling up undeveloped Touken Danshi or those who have just returned from "Kiwame" (a special awakened state). However, some voices also express frustration over manual operation, such as "No auto-loop? It's been a while since I played manually," or point out the inconvenience of indoor battles when forming teams, like "It's a hassle when you get an indoor map if you bring a Naginata + 3 others." There are also Saniwa reminiscing about past events, saying, "What did I do last year, lol?" and others building anticipation for the main event, exclaiming, "It's still just the training program! Not the main event...🤣" These comments highlight the high level of interest in the event.

Particularly concerning "Kuki Masamune," offered as a reward, some players feel it hints at new story developments within the game, further increasing anticipation for the main "Hyakki Yakō" event. While mindful of their Koban (in-game currency) consumption, Saniwa are diligently working on the "Training Program" in preparation for the upcoming "Hyakki Yakō."

The Context

“Touken Ranbu ONLINE” is a popular free-to-play collectible card and simulation game developed by DMM GAMES and Nitroplus. Launched in 2015, it quickly gained a significant following, particularly among female players, and has since expanded into various media, including anime, manga, stage plays, and musicals. The game centers around "Saniwa" (referred to as masters or sages), who travel through time to prevent historical revisionists from altering the past. To achieve this, Saniwa awaken famous Japanese swords into human-like forms known as "Touken Danshi" (sword boys).

Players collect, train, and strengthen these Touken Danshi through various battles and expeditions, leveling them up and improving their "proficiency" (練度). "Kiwame" is a special transformation that further enhances a Touken Danshi's abilities and changes their appearance after they undergo a period of "修行" (training) away from the citadel. Events like the "Hyakki Yakō" (Night Parade of One Hundred Demons) are recurring or special challenges that often introduce new Touken Danshi, unique rewards, and expand the game's lore. Players use "Koban" (小判), the in-game currency, for various purposes, including crafting new swords or refreshing resources, making its careful management a key aspect of gameplay, especially during demanding events.