Koshidaka Co., Ltd., which operates “Karaoke Manekineko” — Japan’s largest karaoke chain by number of stores — has been running a large-scale collaboration with the popular virtual liver group “Nijisanji” since May 8, 2026. The company has newly announced a kitchen car opening at the “Nijisanji Fes 2026” venue (Makuhari Messe), held on Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17. At the same time, live viewing has started at all Karaoke Manekineko stores nationwide from Thursday, May 14, drawing strong reactions across the country.

Collab Drinks and Singing Campaign

To color this collaboration, two collab drinks plus a “CONCERTO” special drink are on offer. With each drink order, customers receive limited novelties such as a random coaster from a 16-type lineup, or a “slim clear card” exclusive to the special drink — must-have items for fans.

A singing campaign is also running, and customers can join by reserving and performing songs by Nijisanji at participating stores nationwide. Customers who sing one of the designated songs receive a random “original wallpaper image” from a set of four.

Live Viewing and Archive Streaming in Karaoke Rooms

Karaoke Manekineko’s “LIVE BOX” service offers both live viewing and archive streaming. Starting with “VACHSS LIVE ‘THE TAKEOVER'” on Thursday, May 14, a total of four concerts — including both days of the 8th anniversary live “CONCERTO” — will be broadcast live. The fully private rooms provide a karaoke-room-only experience, with large screens and immersive audio in a space where fans can cheer out loud without worrying about others.

The price is 3,500 yen (tax-included, including karaoke room fee and novelties). Participants receive lavish collaboration-exclusive novelties (a foil-stamped postcard and an acrylic clip). Reservations are accepted exclusively online via the dedicated reservation page.

Collab Rooms and Standee Panels

Collab rooms are available at seven Karaoke Manekineko stores nationwide, covering major cities: Hokkaido (Sapporo Ekimae), Tokyo (Ikebukuro Sunshine Dori), Kanagawa (Sakuragicho), Aichi (Osu), Osaka (Nankai Dori), Kyoto (Kawaramachi Takoyakushi), and Fukuoka (Hakata Ekimae). Reservations can be made via the collab room reservation site.

Standee panels are also placed at each store: on DAY 1 at Sapporo Ekimae, Nankai Dori, and Hakata Ekimae, and on DAY 2 at Ikebukuro Sunshine Dori, Osu, and Kawaramachi Takoyakushi. Note that panels may be temporarily withdrawn from the storefront during busy periods.

Looking Ahead and the Nijisanji Fes 2026 Kitchen Car

A kitchen car opening at the “Nijisanji Fes 2026” venue (Makuhari Messe), starting Saturday, May 16, has been confirmed. Through venue-exclusive menu items, the plan is to deliver a different kind of excitement to fans attending the festival than what they experience in stores. The overall collab runs through Sunday, June 7, with the experience designed to continue during and after the festival period.

Details on the campaign, collab drinks, and the list of live viewing stores are continuously updated on the collab special page.

Commentary and Outlook

Karaoke Manekineko has run many VTuber collaborations in the past, but this initiative stands out with its five-layered structure: collab drinks, singing campaign, collab rooms, live viewing, and the kitchen car — connecting in-store experiences seamlessly to venue experiences. Koshidaka’s strategy of positioning “entertainment as infrastructure” is redefining karaoke stores as infrastructure for fan activities, making this a noteworthy example of how the VTuber industry and existing entertainment formats are merging.

Source: PR TIMES