ABEMA held “NEPOX! ~Nepolabo x Secret Society holoX~,” the first joint live event by hololive 5th generation (Nepolabo) and Secret Society holoX, over two days on Saturday, September 26 and Sunday, September 27 at Ariake Arena. About 20,000 people attended across the two days, and the event hit No. 1 on X trends on both days.

Nepolabo x holoX: Eight Members Come Together for a First Joint Event

This is the first joint live event by hololive 5th generation (Nepolabo) and Secret Society holoX, announced in May. Four members from Nepolabo (Yukihana Lamy, Momosuzu Nene, Shishiro Botan, and Omaru Polka) and four from Secret Society holoX (La+ Darknesss, Takane Lui, Hakui Koyori, and Kazama Iroha) took part.

From original game showdowns to a special live concert, the two units delivered special stages. The game segments were interactive experiences in which the audience’s cheers, glow sticks, and even the seating area became part of the virtual staging.

Day 1: A Tug-of-War Decided by Glow Stick Colors

Day 1 kicked off with “Show Your Style! Synchro Posing,” in which four members per team struck poses based on a given theme and competed to see how many could match. In the next game, “Shout! Big Cheer Tug-of-War!,” the audience’s glow stick colors were identified in real time, and the share of yellow (supporting Nepolabo) and pink (supporting holoX) was displayed on screen. With the outcome decided by the volume of fan cheers, the entire venue took part.

In “Take Back the Heart! Pop-Up Pirate Panic!,” members popped out of a barrel and tossed signed balls into the audience. In the final game, “Don’t Move or You’re Out! All-Together Red Light, Green Light!,” all eight members joined forces to take on a giant robot.

Day 2: Signed Balls Fired into the Crowd by Bazooka

Day 2 opened with “Communicate with Your Body! Charades,” in which members conveyed the given topics without using words. In “Aim with the Bazooka! Audience Hole-in-One Shot,” the venue was turned into a golf course, and actual signed balls were fired from a bazooka into the audience, drawing huge cheers.

After “Hakkeyoi! Giant Paper Crash,” a battle of giant paper sumo, the final game, “Believe in Your Teammates! Ultimate Quiz Attack,” saw the mysterious robot defeated on Day 1 return. The two teams called a truce and once again faced the robot together as eight.

First Collaboration Song “Watcha Gatcha !!!!!!!!” Debuts

On both days, the eight members closed the show with a special live concert, where the first collaboration song by Nepolabo and Secret Society holoX, “Watcha Gatcha !!!!!!!!,” made its debut. Eight songs were performed each day, and the members ended with words of thanks to the fans in the venue.

What’s Next: Archive Streaming, Watch-Along Lives, and Post-Event Merchandise Sales

The event can be watched in archive form on “ABEMA PPV” until 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, October 27 (DAY1 / DAY2). In addition, “watch-along lives,” in which members enjoy the footage together with viewers, have been announced: Secret Society holoX will watch DAY1 starting at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, October 9, and Nepolabo will watch DAY2 starting at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, October 23.

Post-event merchandise sales are also underway at Cyber Goods Store until 11:59 p.m. on Monday, October 12. Acrylic panels are exclusive to the post-event online sale, and five customers who spend 8,000 yen (tax included) or more will be selected by lottery to win goods signed by all eight members. Details are available on the event’s special website.

Our Take

Mechanisms in which audience participation becomes part of the stage production, such as identifying glow stick colors in real time and reflecting them in the results, are a highlight unique to VTuber events that blend the virtual and the real. Drawing about 20,000 attendees with a joint event that crossed unit boundaries, and even producing a first collaboration song, once again shows the appeal of hololive’s unit-based charm. We are also curious to see how the members themselves look back on the event during the watch-along lives.

Source: PR TIMES