Category Archives: Idolmaster

March 11, 2026

My Deck Building Games are too Juicy, the Roguelikes too Buttery

By omo

With Slay the Spire 2 now in Early Access on Steam, I’ve been slowly pecking at it, reliving playing the first game casually years back. I’ve been also looking at it just like any Gakumas player would–where do these two games overlap?

I am not exactly a big Gakuen Idolm@ster player, in fact I am quite casual about it other than spending money on gacha. I’m not even P Level 70 yet. I’m probably more invested in the characters, the stories, the live concerts, and definitely the music, over the game itself.

I’m just writing that I can’t decide which game to play. On one hand, the grind in Slay 2 is a lot easier to mix it up, each run can be quite different than the next, especially at my point in the progression. In Gakumas, I’m generally taking the easiest P idol card to one of the two or three modes and just trying to hit the current event objective, maybe it’s Hajime Legend or NIA (either). I’m actually not all clear on the Step 3s, so I’ll be taking some time to grind that out. It’s kind of annoying some step 3s only gave you a week to clear before the boost period expires, and, uh, my oversea trips are sometimes longer than that!

I have a lot of backlog stuff to do in Gakumas, like all the idol road unlocks (I guess I have some XP to banked up there). I don’t even sweat the contests (auto team all the way, rank 6 and occasionally 7). The nature of service game is that it’s part of your life, a chunk of your routine. Slay 2 ain’t it. Maybe it is why the whole experience feels fresh, kind of like opening a new present on Christmas.

It is definitely a luxurious problem to have, but how do I allocate time to which game that basically scratch a similar itch? In Gakumas, the turns are basically a timer in which you have to hit a goal. In Slay the Spire, you also have to hit a goal (kill the enemy) but the timer is really your defense and health. For some decks it’s a DPS check, for others it’s the equivalent of Magic: the Gathering’s mono blue wincons. Is that something people understand these days? In Slay you are looking at a map and trying to smartly choose the path, choose your rewards, choose your upgrades and artifacts, for the max impact. In Gakumas you are picking usually 1-3 options to max your total stats versus your primary stat, while picking up potion combos and deck upgrades, and oh, there’s health here too.

Maybe it’s more about the issues with service games. You really need to have a good grasp of them before they tear too much of your life away from you. Don’t need them to block you from doing the things you want…indeed, the real buttery lobsters are waiting for you. It’s time to take a break from school to slay some for yourself.

Leave a comment | posted in Bishoujo Gaming, Idolmaster, Modern Visual Culture

February 24, 2026

Never End Idol

By omo

The 765PRO ALLSTARS+ put on a show in August 2025, for the first time in a long time, with the full cast. You can check out the set lists here.

I was asked to give some words about Never End Idol to Vini so he can put it in a video, which I will link back here when it’s ready to go. But in order to do that, I should write some of that down and organize my thoughts.

As someone who went to it with some trepidation and anticipation, I can say that in the end all of that effort and energy was met with an equally enjoyable and memorable experience, a touchstone performance for the ages. Part of it is what I brought–a bunch of tickets so folks I met on my P journey can share the moment. Part of it is what I … brought … in that with these fan-oriented events, you get as much out of it, to some degree, as you put in. Some Ps put their entire life (or life savings, maybe) into this series, so the payback could be (the focus is on *could*) tremendous, in terms of emotional highs at least. I am not sure that was me even in 2025 terms, but I probably was in that target demographic.

For sure, it was the FOMO, I think, that made NEI worth while. It’s never going to be better than your first Yakusoku, as the logic goes. I’m glad some people got their first Yakusoku finally. Looking back at that memory after Chihaya Budokan, though, I’m not sure about that logic anymore. It’s not about logic, after all, but that’s another post.

Personally, Yakusoku is a pretty amusing thing to talk about. As someone who got into IM@S through the original TV anime and IM@S 2, you would think that meant a lot to me, but I am sure even in 2026 as I write this, it’s still just “that Chihaya song.” I thought the whole thing that went down during 9th tour was, as everyone who witnessed it, an emotional touchstone of the franchise, the moment Chihaya Ps collectively melted into Primordial Puddles of tears. But since I wasn’t there, I don’t really have a handle on it to do anything, to process that event.

Of course, as someone who didn’t go to 9th, it was tainted with a shade of FOMO. It wasn’t even really the thing I was fearing out about–I just wanted to witness in person the peak Hirorin performances during the Nagoya stop. I had more urgent things to miss out on, as it were, that I didn’t really get to think about Yakusoku or feel like I needed to fixate on how Erimingosu had added that page to their legend at the time.

Fast forward to 2025–I got to meet Erimingosu at Acen. That was the weekend when the final piece of the puzzle kind of fell into place. For the short moments I got to talk to Mingosu I was able to get a glimpse why are so many ChihayaPs are earnest tryhards, or the 10 years of history recapped in that silly ending to MOIW 2015. Of course, I had casually followed the two of them over various media forms from SNS to their IM@S and non IM@S works for decades, but I never saw the “heart” of the matter until I saw the two of them interact and each put on their cast member faces for the oversea Producers.

Anyways, the short of it is that at NEI not only I saw the same thing Erimingos saw–which are the happy crying faces of other Producers, but also I sort of better understood how it felt and what it meant. I still think the lead-in to Yakusoku on day 1 was egging it on a tad too much, and I really enjoyed the set list on day 2 more, bias or not. Across both days of NEI, things were much better for the people who were disappointed with Sunrich Colorful. And it is a warning that with IDOLM@STER, we are always a hair’s breadth away from disappointment–because the stakes are always so high, because the fans put so much into it.

But because for everything that I had gone through since I began this journey and for every ounce of energy and money that I spent on this series, I can see that the magic and potential for something legendary is there. It’s always riddled with risk and disappointment, but in the world of entertainment there are few opportunity for legendary experiences, and the 765PRO ALLSTARS+ are one of the few who can deliver.

And no it doesn’t even have that much to do with the great seat I got on day 2, or I got fansa from Hirorin, or that I got TEARS or VOY@GER. I see the very deep cuts NEI had (the crown thing at the end of day 1 was chef-kiss I gotta say.) but that largely missed for me. Thanks to the powers that be I was able to do some uchiage with oversea Ps after day 1. Thanks to the Hilton setup I even had a great time talking about the show and fandom in general on day 2 with Ps who stuck around in the hotel and around the venue. I even was able to chill at the 7th floor bar on day 0. The show went on and on, and it never ended for me, I suppose.

PS. Never End Idol is the first time I put decoration on my hotel window? It was fun so it’s worth doing again. Next time I’ll bring some two-sided tape…

Leave a comment | posted in Conventions and Concerts, Idolmaster, Modern Visual Culture

June 1, 2025

Gakuen IDOLM@STER 1st Period Harmony Star Impressions

By omo

I attended the Gakumas 1st concerts this weekend. It’s called “1st Period” but it’s actually not the first concert for the media-mix mobile game franchise. It’s just the first show (or 4 shows, spanning 2 weekends) that features the full cast, after the roughly-dated anniversary of the game’s live service a year ago. Since the game (and really before the game was released, including all the lead-up marketing) became available it has done well in the rankings and players generally have good things to say about the latest entry in the IDOLM@STER series. A lot was on the shoulders of the staff and cast to make this hotly-anticipated show a success.

There was a set of tours where 3 cast members form a team and tour Japan’s 3 largest cities (Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya), each team doing 3 stops within a month, in almost back-to-back months. One of the stops was postponed by a typhoon, while the last set of 3 had a gap until February of this year. The appropriately called “Hajime” Tour needs to be mentioned because this is the cast’s actual first live stage experience, except one member. The tour definitely gave the stage experience to many of the newbies in the Gakumas cast, and more importantly it gave the fans a glimpse of what fresh grasshoppers were like close to a year ago.

The importance (or however little it is) put on seeing the growth of the idols is a core tenant in the design of the game, which various interviews have listed. This is just another aspect I suppose, but I appreciate how they made the live performance aspect parallel to its digital version. Or rather, I appreciate them knowing what it ought to be like on the receiving end.

As a Million P for many years, it feels tortured, it basically feels the opposite of it–things we would love and be hyped about often don’t happen when they ought to, or happens at all. Some things are delayed by over 10 years. Maybe delay is the wrong word, but at some point it just became sort of this deep barrel or well where we are glad to have anything being pulled out of, even though we know the contents can make for something much more.

Anyways, for a good example, when Our Chant dropped on Day Two of Harmony Star, we know (since the SSR) there would be a flag just like how Chiisana Yabou, Wonder Scale and Clumsy Trick all had their props. So Gakumas surprised and delighted us by adding Saki to the picture when she walks in with the flag. In fact, after seeing the Hajime Tour version of Wonder Scale and Chiisana Yabou we already think there would be props, just like how the game versions did. For even more foreshadowing, Harmony Star featured a duet (or trio in one case) of cast members joining in another idol’s solo song (and for this weekend it was limited to the B-side solos) so by the point on the second day when Our Chant happened, it felt like a perfect match when you stick the right jigsaw puzzle piece in the right slot.

For details, here are the links to the official site posts for the show, for posterity, and the usual imas-db links. Onward with the rest.

Continue reading

Leave a comment | posted in Conventions and Concerts, Idolmaster, Modern Visual Culture, Seiyuu, Idol, Pop

May 5, 2025

Anime Events, May Anime, Eventing in May

By omo

Isn’t it wild that Masako Nozawa is appearing at a West Coast convention and you can join her meet and greet for $3500? Anyways, this is just one of the many recent developments I saw today.

Let me start with house keeping, it’s this kind of a post, sorry? First of all, the newsletter is pretty dead since over a year and half ago so that was that. I have links and pages dated 2023 that I have not linked anywhere. Slowly I’m trying to clean those up from my massive number of Chrome tabs. Only 3-400 more to go or something.

For anime, for what it is, the business that it is, you can check out a couple substacks. It’s nice that semi-pros are doing what I always envisioned to exist in the right way. That said I really should continue to write about my own niche–events, and seiyuu, around anime/game/manga etc.

I recently came back from a local convention (Kogaracon) and talking/overhearing some people who attend these events there are definitely a network of local school cons on top of the more profit-driven events. If you know one near you, it helps to support them by showing up. It’s also pretty relaxing to hit a con and be back home the same day, getting all the things you want.

I have a post written up for Kawaiikon and the fan event I helped run for Sally Amaki and Kana Ichinose. Hopefully that comes out before I start my next chain of events starting from Acen in a couple weeks. (This sentence weights on me more than you think.)

I should also put some thoughts down about the upcoming changing of guards with the josei seiyuu wave. I did have this few weeks of break so I can go back to recouping for things. Or rather, from Aceon onward I will be kinda busy for the rest of the summer–like after Labor Day basically.

This means I actually watched a lot of anime in March and April. I went back and basically finished Atri the anime. This season, I actually felt engaged with a number of the offerings. The last two seasons on the other hand was kind of a dull thing. Maybe it’s just I didn’t watch the shows I would enjoy. Or maybe I should watch more Netflix. Anyways, going to list some for this season that I am/will be/had been watching.

  • Lazarus – The show they finally end up making after like 30 years, IDK. A huge miss to be dub only in legit stream means in the US though.
  • Cinderella Grey – Other than Alexandros being there and breaking the combo of Umamusume signing the OP, it’s just as you’d expect. Which is great. Just like the EN game release date is now set.
  • Witch Watch – Possibly my fav this season. It’s a romcom with a pop culture edge and Narichan nailed her role.
  • Maebashi Witches – It’s a kids show that is dressed like a young adult, and it’s oddly amusing to me.
  • Aharen-san – Not sure if I’ll continue in S2, probably will drop if I don’t have the time, given it’s getting stale already.
  • Zatsutabi – It’s ok and one of the three chill anime girls-do-cute-things anime this season (Kadokawa).
  • Summer Pockets – I might save this for later but it’s ok?
  • Aru Majo ga Shinu Made/Once Upon a Witch’s Death – This production is too gucci to, uh, Drop(s).
  • Ballpark de Tsukamaete – Too many baseball seiyuu in this. Also the subject matter is one I like. Oddly enough the main character is the one thing that sticks out.
  • GQuuuuuuX – I enjoyed Beginnings enough, so it’s time to see what Tsurumaki has left for the rest of “us” who aren’t like myself. I mean it’s a gorgeous work already.
  • Apocalypse Hotel – Sold me after 2 eps, just a matter of finding time to keep up.
  • Takamine-san – Probably will still watch, if not to completion.
  • YOUR FORMA – I have a Samsung tablet so this is actually something I can easily pull up on my TV. That said this show feels like a 2010s anime.
  • Rock Lady – This is also an anime kinda made for me, so I feel obliged to continue.
  • Anne Sherley – Surprisingly great, thanks to Honoka’s spirited performance and dialing the grating aspect of this brat to the right level.
  • KOWLOON GENERIC ROMANCE – Also sold me from the start but I feel this is bait… I will wait for the season to end probably to finish.
  • Ossan Kensei/From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman – I don’t like the harem aspect so not sure how far I’ll get…
  • mono – the highest profile girls-do-cute-things anime this season (Aniplex). I probably will finish it but it’s like an inferior Yurucamp anime reminding you about Yurucamp.
  • Meshi Umashi/Food for the Soul – The third or my favorite cute-girls-do-cute-things this season (PA Works). It’s the reunion of the Non Non Biyori creatives? It is also an original media mix.
  • Yandere Elf – Takamiina in the lead role of this particular character niche that she seems to end up with every time? As an American I don’t even think it fits her that well, but maybe this is a cultural thing. It’s a trashy anime so I might not survive it, but it is short.

Speaking of shorts there is a Uma short and a Lycoris Recoil short, and others that don’t get wide distribution (Kaiju #8 and Frieren)? It’s been a while since I’ve followed so many in one season. Let’s see if I can keep this up.

If I don’t, it is because…Umamusume EN (Steam, and Android/iOS!), and for sure, Gakuen IDOLM@STER. I can’t play Sense for my life but I can play the other two just fine and it’s been a lot of fun. The game’s commu are super enjoyable and as someone who don’t bother most of the time it’s even gotten me to read (almost) all of it. The gameplay is a bit broken at time, and RNG at times, but it’s part of the game and they copied the right things from Slay the Spire, let’s just say.

With the first anniversary later this month I probably will be stuck in this gacha hell for some time. I hope I am not totally bankrupt lol. Uma EN will be right before AX, and AX as usual will conflict with the usual MLTD anniversary event. If Uma EN is going to be the first produce scenario from the JP game, it will be a huge time sink so I don’t know, it’ll suck for a while. At least I know early-game Uma is kind of skippable.

Anyways, feel free to say hi if I run into you at Acen, London, Berlin, Gakumas 1st HS, Dere Okinawa, LiSA NYC, AX, Ado NJ, 765AS, Animethon, Anime NYC, Anisama…and more…

Leave a comment | posted in Bishoujo Gaming, Conventions and Concerts, Gundam, Idolmaster, Modern Visual Culture, Umamusume: Pretty Derby

March 21, 2025

The End of an Era, The IDOLM@STER Million Live’s 10th Pause

By omo

It’s not about jokes revolving End Of Service, or retirement or graduation, even. It’s just the pronouncement of a pause, a well-deserved break, a long vacation maybe. Well, nobody is going on vacation except me, writing this up within a sun-lit villa on the islands of Hawai’i.

I was just musing with other Ps in a chatroom about how due to the postponement of ML11th, we now have these things after ML10th Act 4, as Million Live has not had another major concert since:

  • A new IM@S brand, which finished a 3-city tour four times
  • A full unit tour, and 2 more big productions for Cinderella Girls
  • 765PRO All Stars, well, with 961Pro, also put on 3 productions for MR concerts (Hangetsu, Re:Flame x2)
  • SideM had a few events, with its 10th anniversary stuff lined up. There were concerts and P-meets and even some reading plays.
  • Shiny Colors probably had the most. A full 2-cour anime (26eps) has aired since, plus a handful of full on concerts. A lot of stuff came with it.
  • There was also the big IDOLM@STER Expo which had cross-branch content, and the weird entrance exam-type event last month.

Million Live has had some things, namely a radio event (a 2-session talk and mini concert), and two release events (also same format). But it is definitely a big pause for a series that is about, uh, concerts. Which is just to say, that was merely theme, and not a promise that Million Live will have a lot of concerts. I mean, it did, just not anymore since maybe 2018.

The pause was dramatized here but also largely due to the postponement of ML11th due to uncontrollable circumstances. COVID still exist and caused some other cancellations, among other illnesses and issues putting the cast members on the disabled list temporarily. In the case of Ume Hanami’s character voice, she has been on hiatus since last autumn, and it is concerning given there has been no notice or signs of her getting better. The 1st full, big concert for Gakuen Idolm@ster is coming up at the end of May, so time is running out.

Having mixed media, live-performing content for decades invariably you have to work through the issues the average person may have with their bodies, be it normal or abnormal. When the cast count across all 6 (7? 8?) branches is in the several hundreds, well, you cannot really help it when folks take maternal leave or had to rest to recover from their throat surgery, or what have you. This is good–we don’t want to replace cast members in this franchise if we can avoid it, and if we’re cheering them on, we should cheer for their health benefits also. With this many people it’s bound to happen here or there across the full cast.

The funny thing to me is, it’s pretty clear that the team behind IM@S is taking the foot off the accelerator pedal now that ML enters this post 10th phase (all right after the anime and the postponed 9th/10th stuff). As a fan it feels like we’re floating, a bit like the anime production team between the end of the TV series and the OVA a couple years out?

Maybe it’s time to say it’s time to take a break, except seeing what they’re doing in the other branches, they are clearly tending to them with what spare energy they have left. I still clearly remember how bad KominoP looked during the announcement stream, there was probably some death marching going on? I don’t know, but bringing up Gakumas from the start had to be hard, especially with the amount of engagement the series is getting. It’s a lot. I can’t remember any time engaging with any IM@S series that I had this much difficulty keeping track of all the collaborations that it has. And this is a series that isn’t even a year old.

So while my foot is also on the pedal like the rest of them at Bannam, maybe it’s still a good time to take a breather for the hard Million Ps out there. HotchPotch 2 is almost upon us, and so is the 20th anniversary stream (part 2?) in a few days. I hope everyone can take a moment to rest and finish out 2025 safely and with health.

PS. There was a tweet/post of WakachikoP (Wakako Hazama) looking frenetic at one of the AEON mall events some months ago–those events tend to feature a small space in a rural or suburban mall, with a couple cast members giving a talk and some giveaways. It all tend to be somewhat disorganized (for Japan standards) and the frenetic face in the pic is worth a thousand words. I am truly hoping the members of the team take better care of themselves. Running events can be hard (LOL don’t we know).

1 comment | posted in Bishoujo Gaming, Idolmaster, Modern Visual Culture