Oshi-Katsu Chronicle 2015: Touken Ranbu Meets the Museum, Netflix and Apple Music, Nogizaka46 at the Kohaku

In 2015, the video streaming service Netflix and the music streaming service Apple Music both launched in Japan, giving people more ways to pay a monthly fee and enjoy movies, dramas, and songs anytime.

In games, Touken Ranbu Online, which personifies famous Japanese swords, and the smartphone RPG Fate/Grand Order made their debuts. Prompted by a favorite character, fans across the country began visiting museums and historic shrines and temples that hold the actual swords.

Seeing the Swords You Met in Touken Ranbu at the Museum

On January 14, the PC browser game Touken Ranbu Online began service. Co-produced by DMM Games and Nitroplus, the game casts players as a “Saniwa” fighting enemies who seek to alter history by collecting and raising “Touken Danshi,” real Japanese swords personified as male characters. Nitroplus’s launch notice (in Japanese)

As the game became a hit, inquiries surged at the Tokugawa Art Museum in Nagoya about the short sword “Namazuo Toshiro,” which appears in the work. More young women visited the museum, broadening the visitor demographic well beyond the middle-aged and older men who had previously formed the core audience for sword exhibitions. Report of the University of Tokyo’s Cultural Resource Studies forum, interview with the Tokugawa Art Museum (in Japanese)

The gameLearn the Touken Danshi's appearance, voice, name and history.

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The museumSee the real sword the name comes from and learn about its history.

On May 5, the Tokugawa Art Museum set up a booth at “Hyakuto Ryoran,” a Touken Ranbu-only doujinshi fair at Tokyo Big Sight, where it sold life-size sword posters and exhibition catalogs that sold out completely. Rather than only waiting for fans in its galleries, museum curators went directly to an event venue where fans gathered. Same report (in Japanese)

Long lines also formed for the national treasure “Mikazuki Munechika” at the Tokyo National Museum and for special exhibitions at the Kyoto National Museum. In bookstores, specialist books on Japanese swords and the official art book Touken Ranbu Kenran Zuroku went through repeated reprintings, and from October 30 to November 8 the 2.5D stage production Musical: Touken Ranbu Trial Performance established a two-part format with a second-act live concert where audiences waved penlights.

FGO Launches, Alongside Anime Films and Idol Series

The smartphone RPG Fate/Grand Order (FGO) launched on July 30 for Android and August 12 for iOS. It combines an expansive story written by Kinoko Nasu and other writers with battles fought alongside “Servants” inspired by heroes and historical figures from around the world. Official update timeline (in Japanese) / Introduction at the time (in Japanese)

Players not only raised Servants summoned through the gacha system, but also read through the main story and interlude episodes to explore each character’s background and relationships. In 2015, Touken Ranbu was available only on PC browsers, with the smartphone app Touken Ranbu Online Pocket arriving the following year on March 1, 2016. Launch of the smartphone version in 2016 (in Japanese)

Computer browser

Touken Ranbu Online

• Began on January 14
• Collect and raise Touken Danshi
• Smartphone version came in 2016

Smartphone RPG

Fate/Grand Order

• Android on July 30, iOS on August 12
• Fight alongside Servants
• Read the story as you play

Both centered on characters you raise and follow.

On television, idol and music anime series aired one after another, including The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls across two split cours in January and July and the third season Uta no Prince-sama: Maji Love Revolutions from April. In cinemas, Mamoru Hosoda’s The Boy and the Beast (Bakemono no Ko) opened on July 11, earning ¥5.85 billion with its story of a master and apprentice set between Shibuya and the beast realm of Jutengai. Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan (in Japanese)

Netflix and Apple Music: More Flat-Rate Ways to Pick Your Works

In music and video, monthly flat-rate subscription services launched in rapid succession. In music streaming, CyberAgent and Avex launched “AWA” on May 27 and “LINE MUSIC” followed on June 11, before Apple Music began service in Japan on July 1. Apple’s announcement (in Japanese)

In video streaming, Netflix arrived in Japan on September 2 with exclusive streams of a new season of Terrace House co-produced with Fuji TV and original dramas, and on September 24 Amazon launched “Prime Video” as a benefit for ¥3,900 annual Prime members, making it easy to catch up on classic anime and films on smartphones or TVs. Netflix’s history in Japan (in Japanese)

July 1Apple Music

Music for a monthly fee.

SeptemberNetflix

Films, dramas and other video for a monthly fee.

The Hokuriku Shinkansen Opens to Kanazawa, and Naoki Matayoshi’s Hibana Wins the Akutagawa Prize

On March 14, the Hokuriku Shinkansen opened between Nagano and Kanazawa. The fastest “Kagayaki” trains using new E7 and W7 series rolling stock linked Tokyo and Kanazawa in as little as 2 hours and 28 minutes, dramatically cutting travel time from the Tokyo area to Ishikawa and Toyama prefectures and making sightseeing at the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa and Kenrokuen, as well as anime pilgrimages and concert trips to the Hokuriku region, much more accessible. JR East (in Japanese)

In publishing, the novella Hibana (Spark) by comedian Naoki Matayoshi of the duo Peace caused a sensation. Portraying the struggles of an unsuccessful young comedian named Tokunaga and his brilliant senior Kamiya, the work led the February issue of the literary magazine Bungakukai to an unprecedented 40,000-copy reprint, won the 153rd Akutagawa Prize on July 16 after selling out repeatedly in hardcover, and topped two million copies in print. Hon no Hanashi (Bungeishunju) (in Japanese)

Nogizaka46 and μ’s Make Their Kohaku Debut, and Anime Songs Reach the Year-End Stage

On June 13, the all-new theatrical film Love Live! The School Idol Movie opened in 121 theaters nationwide. Following the graduation ceremony at the end of TV season two, the nine school idols of μ’s travel to New York and return to stage a live performance across Akihabara with school idols from across the country; repeat viewings and cheer screenings pushed box-office revenue to ¥2.84 billion. Production company’s record of the work (in Japanese) / Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan (in Japanese)

On December 31, Nogizaka46 made its first appearance on the 66th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen, with all 37 members at the time—including Under members—taking the stage to perform their signature song “Kimi no Na wa Kibou.” Report that day (in Japanese)

Also making its Kohaku debut was μ’s (pronounced “Muse”), the unit of nine voice actors who play the characters of Love Live!. On the day, Yoshino Nanjo (the voice of Eli Ayase) was absent due to a knee injury, so eight members performed the season-two opening song “Sore wa Bokutachi no Kiseki” in front of newly produced animation footage. Announcement of the performers (in Japanese) / Report on the lineup (in Japanese)

At the 57th Japan Record Awards, Sandaime J Soul Brothers from EXILE TRIBE won the Grand Prix with “Unfair World,” their second consecutive win after “R.Y.U.S.E.I.” the year before, while drawing 1.2 million people including live viewings on their annual dome tour BLUE PLANET. The Best New Artist award went to Hello! Project’s Kobushi Factory. Japan Composers Association (in Japanese)

1. Jun 13Love Live! movie opens
2. Dec 31Nogizaka46 and μ's make their Kohaku debut
3. Year-endSandaime J Soul Brothers win the Record Award again

Anime, idol and dance groups shared the year-end spotlight.

Keyakizaka46 Forms, and Fans Get to Know the Group Before Its Debut

On August 21, the final audition for the second “Sakamichi Series” group following Nogizaka46—which had been recruiting members under the name “Toriizaka46”—unveiled 22 successful candidates and announced on the spot that the group’s name would be changed to Keyakizaka46. Natalie Music (in Japanese)

Their eponymous variety show Keyakitte, Kakenai? began airing in October, building a following that watched the members’ personalities and growth months before their April 2016 CD debut.

On June 6, the vote count for the “AKB48 41st Single Senbatsu General Election” was held at Fukuoka Yahuoku! Dome, where local HKT48 member Rino Sashihara won a record 194,049 votes to reclaim first place for the first time in two years. HKT48’s official vote count (in Japanese)

And on September 28, singer-actor Masaharu Fukuyama and actress Kazue Fukiishi announced their marriage, sparking the term “Masha loss” (“Fukuyama loss”) across talk shows and social media as longtime fans voiced their shock.

LINE LIVE Launches, and Comments Reach People as They Talk

On December 10, the live-streaming service “LINE LIVE,” linked to the LINE messaging app, launched. Initial broadcasts centered on celebrities, artists, and official accounts, allowing viewers to participate in real time by sending comments and hearts from their smartphone screens. LINE’s announcement (in Japanese)

The feature allowing any general user to broadcast live opened the following year in August 2016. LINE’s record of the service

Meanwhile, the virtual live space “SHOWROOM,” which had started inside DeNA in November 2013, was spun off on August 3 into SHOWROOM Inc. with investment from Sony Music Entertainment and others, strengthening the platform where idols and talents streamed daily and fans supported them with comments and digital gifts. DeNA (in Japanese)

The Sextuplets of Osomatsu-san, and Japan’s Rugby Team Gets Everyone Talking

Broadcast late at night starting October 5 to mark the 80th anniversary of Fujio Akatsuka’s birth, the TV anime Osomatsu-san (Mr. Osomatsu) depicted the sextuplets of the classic gag manga Osomatsu-kun as grown adults. Voiced by six popular male voice actors—Takahiro Sakurai (Osomatsu), Yuichi Nakamura (Karamatsu), Hiroshi Kamiya (Choromatsu), Jun Fukuyama (Ichimatsu), Daisuke Ono (Jyushimatsu), and Miyu Irino (Todomatsu)—the brothers and their color-coded hoodies (red, blue, green, purple, yellow, and pink) sparked a merchandise frenzy that caused anime magazines like Animage to sell out and reprint immediately after release. Production company Pierrot (in Japanese) / Official 10th anniversary record (in Japanese)

In sports, on September 19 local time (September 20 in Japan), Japan’s national rugby team coached by Eddie Jones defeated two-time champion South Africa 34-32 in its opening match at the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England. Turning down a penalty goal that would have tied the match in the dying seconds to choose a scrum instead, Japan scored a comeback try through Karne Hesketh in what became known as the “Miracle of Brighton.” Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese)

Fullback Ayumu Goromaru scored 24 points in the match (one try, five conversions, and three penalty goals), and his pre-kick routine of pressing his index fingers together became famous nationwide as the “Goromaru pose,” drawing huge crowds to domestic Top League matches.

1. 01TrailingBehind by three points until just before the end
2. 02Late tryScored at the finish
3. 0334-32The final score

Ayumu Goromaru scored 24 points in the match.

Key Events of the Year

1. Jan. 14The PC browser game "Touken Ranbu -ONLINE-" launchesGames
2. June 67th AKB48 General Election: Rino Sashihara takes first placeIdols
3. June 13The film "Love Live! The School Idol Movie" opensAnime
4. JuneApple Music launchesMusic streaming
5. July 30"Fate/Grand Order" launches on AndroidGames
6. Aug. 3SHOWROOM Inc. is establishedMedia
7. Aug. 12"Fate/Grand Order" launches on iOSGames
8. Aug. 14–16Comic Market 88 (550,000 total visits over 3 days)Fan works
9. Aug. 21Keyakizaka46 is formed with 22 first-generation membersIdols
10. Sept.Netflix launches its service in JapanVideo streaming
11. Sept. 20Japan beats South Africa at the Rugby World Cup (Japan time)Sports
12. Oct.TV anime "Osomatsu-san" begins airingAnime
13. Nov. 26It is announced that μ's will appear on Kohaku for the first timeMusic
14. Dec. 1"Bakugai" and one other word win the Buzzwords of the Year grand prizeMedia
15. Dec. 10LINE LIVE launchesMedia
16. Dec. 29–31Comic Market 89 (520,000 total visits over 3 days)Fan works
17. Dec. 31Nogizaka46 appears on the 66th Kohaku for the first timeMusic

1. Jan 14Touken Ranbu Online begins
2. Mar 14Hokuriku Shinkansen opens to Kanazawa
3. Jul & SepApple Music and Netflix launch in Japan
4. Jul 30Fate/Grand Order begins
5. Sep 19Japan beats South Africa at rugby
6. Dec 10LINE LIVE begins
7. Dec 31Nogizaka46 and μ's on Kohaku

The Year’s Buzzword Awards

Grand PrizeBakugai ("explosive buying," shopping sprees by Chinese tourists)

Luo Yiwen (President, Laox Co., Ltd.)

Grand PrizeTriple Three (a .300 average, 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in one season)

Yuki Yanagita, Tetsuto Yamada

Top 10Abe seiji o yurusanai ("We will not tolerate Abe's politics")

Hisae Sawachi

Top 10Anshin shite kudasai, haiteimasu yo. ("Don't worry, I'm wearing them," the catchphrase of comedian Tonikaku Akarui Yasumura)

Tonikaku Akarui Yasumura

Top 10Ichioku sokatsuyaku shakai (a society where all 100 million people are active)

Shinzo Abe

Top 10Emblem

Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games

Top 10Goromaru (pose, the pre-kick routine of rugby player Ayumu Goromaru)

Ayumu Goromaru

Top 10SEALDs (a student activist group)

Aki Okuda

Top 10Drone

Kenzo Nonami

Top 10Mainichi, Shuzo! ("Every day, Shuzo!")

Shuzo Matsuoka

The grand prizes went to “Bakugai” (shopping sprees by inbound tourists) and pro baseball’s “Triple Three,” while the top ten included rugby’s “Goromaru (pose)” and the comedy duo Kumamushi’s song phrase “Attakaindakaraa.” Jiyu Kokuminsha (in Japanese)

Triple three means achieving a .300 batting average, 30 home runs, and 30 stolen bases in the same pro baseball season; in 2015, Tetsuto Yamada (Tokyo Yakult Swallows) in the Central League and Yuki Yanagita (Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks) in the Pacific League accomplished the feat simultaneously for the first time in 65 years, leading both of their teams to league pennants.

In 2016, we trace Your Name., cheer screenings, Pokémon GO, Keyakizaka46’s debut, and SMAP’s breakup.