Tokyo International News Agency

Popular music group M!LK has announced a massive nationwide collaboration project titled "M!LK Nippon Genki Fireworks 2026," set to take place in the summer of 2026. The announcement has sparked significant buzz on social media. This project involves partnering with fireworks festivals held in the members' hometowns. The special production will feature M!LK’s music synchronized with the fireworks displays (excluding some venues). Additionally, the area around the venues will host "mini-festivals" organized by the group, and members will participate in "station takeovers" in their respective hometowns, offering a jam-packed experience that fans are eager to attend. The project was spearheaded by member Daichi Shiozaki, reflecting the group’s shared passion for connecting directly with fans and revitalizing local communities. Fans have flooded social media with praise, calling Shiozaki a creative genius and commending the group's deep love for their ...

Ishikawa Prefecture's Noto Airport (Noto Satoyama Airport) is set for a massive transformation, becoming the first facility in the world to officially bear the Pokémon name. The new nickname will be "Noto Satoyama Pokémon with YOU Airport," with its grand opening scheduled for July 7, 2026, coinciding with the Tanabata (Star Festival). The highlight of this renovation is an immersive display featuring "Flying-type" Pokémon, perfectly suited for an aviation hub. All 111 species of Flying-type Pokémon discovered as of May 2026 (excluding Mega Evolutions and regional forms) will be featured throughout the facility, creating an experience fans won't want to miss. Social media has been buzzing since the announcement, with fans expressing high expectations. Comments like "Flying-type enthusiasts absolutely must go!" and "The whole airport looks like a dream theme park" have flooded platforms. The project also plans to install a massive Pikachu ...

The biggest "Zombieland Saga" homecoming concert in Saga Prefecture history has been announced to take place over two days, on April 24th and 25th, 2027, at "SAGA Arena," the venue that graced the final scene of the movie "Zombieland Saga the Movie: Yumeginga Paradise." This announcement has generated a massive reaction from fans. With this being the first large-scale performance in Saga Prefecture in eight years, expectations are soaring. Following this announcement, social media has been flooded with enthusiastic comments such as "So happy for the LIVE at SAGA Arena!" and "I'm definitely going to SAGA Arena next year!" Fans who attended the currently ongoing live events have also expressed their immediate eagerness to secure tickets for the upcoming event, stating, "It was divine! I'm applying for the SAGA Arena concert!" On the other hand, as the scale of the event grows, some concerns have emerged. Regarding SAGA A...

The large-scale project “Panel Offer Project ‘Offermas’” commemorating the 20th anniversary of the popular game series “The Idolmaster” is finally set to launch nationwide on January 30, 2026 (Friday). This project aims to revitalize regions and promote businesses by having companies and local governments “offer” idols, installing life-size panels of those idols. Following the project’s announcement, many Producers (fans) expressed their joy on social media. Posts celebrating the selection of their favorite idol or a region they have a connection to were particularly numerous. Enthusiastic comments poured in, such as “Thank you for participating in Offermas! I’ll definitely visit the store!!” and “There’s an Idolmaster collaboration in my hometown—I’m definitely going!!!” This “Offermas” project sees the participation of a diverse range of companies and local governments. For instance, Maekawa Miku from The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls will have a panel installed in Tokoname City, Aich...

Nippon Hyakkaten, known for curating exquisite Japanese products, has announced a large-scale collaboration with the popular VTuber group Nijisanji, creating a significant buzz on social media. The collaboration has garnered attention not only from VTuber fans but also from those seeking regional specialties and limited-edition goods, making its diverse appeal a hot topic. Fans Enthusiastic About Unique Collaboration with VTuber Group Nijisanji Nippon Hyakkaten is launching a collaboration titled "#NijiNipponHyakkaten" featuring three Nijisanji Livers: Oliver Evans, Furiol D, and Seible. They have "seriously selected salt sets" and original merchandise featuring newly drawn illustrations, which will be sold at Nippon Hyakkaten stores and a special online shop. In particular, the unveiling of new visuals has been met with an outpouring of praise, with comments such as "absolutely stunning" and "magnificently beautiful." The initiative is also b...

In recent years, with growing interest in the entertainment industry, a local high school has established an 'Idol Club' as an extracurricular activity, attracting significant attention. What has particularly drawn widespread reaction, especially on social media, is the school's policy of officially recognizing this club as an 'enhanced club'—similar to sports teams like baseball clubs—and providing a platform for students to excel in singing and dancing without having to move to urban areas. Responding to this news reported by Yahoo! News (Shinano Mainichi Shimbun Digital), many users posted comments like 'A real school idol has been born, lol,' 'Is this real-life Love Live?!,' and 'A school idol club in reality!?' Voices evoking the popular anime series 'Love Live!' were numerous. There were also expectations for the development of diverse club activities, similar to 'Seishun Koukou 3-nen C-gumi' (Youth High School Class 3-C...

A phrase, “promotion of settlement and establishment,” found in documents related to a partnership agreement between Sanjo City, Niigata Prefecture, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has caused a significant stir on social media. This wording has led to an influx of concerns, with many speculating it signifies an “immigration acceptance policy” and criticizing the government. Meanwhile, JICA and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have denied these claims, asserting they are “misinformation,” intensifying the debate. The core of the issue lies in brochures and related documents from a partnership agreement signed on July 26, 2024, between Sanjo City, JICA, and Keio University. Several social media users have shared images explicitly showing the phrase “promotion of settlement and establishment in Sanjo City” within these documents, asserting that “it’s not fake news” and “JICA and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are lying.” Some also claim that relevant information fro...

Manhole covers featuring Pokémon designs, known as "Poké Lids," which appear in the popular game "Pokémon," were installed for the first time in Ibaraki Prefecture on Thursday, July 10, 2025, generating significant buzz on social media. This long-awaited installation in Ibaraki, which was previously a "Poké Lid-less prefecture," has been met with cries of joy from local fans. According to the official Pokémon account, the "Poké Lids" unveiled on this day feature popular Pokémon such as Rayquaza, Serperior, and Bellibolt, with designs tailored to each specific region. Notably, the Tsukuba City manhole features Rayquaza, speculated to be linked to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Mito City has a design featuring Ferrothorn, while Chikusei City's design depicts Croagunk, seemingly inspired by the region's association with "Gama no Abura" (toad oil). Illustrator sowsow, who designed the Poké Lids, also expressed joy on...