kawaii, the VTuber production operated by LOY Inc., was dissolved in November 2024. Its former first-generation member Nene Amano will end her independent VTuber activities on October 12, 2026.
kawaii, the VTuber production operated by LOY Inc., dissolved in November 2024. The most recent story about the former roster is Nene Amano's announcement on September 29, 2026 that she will end her activities on October 12. Amano debuted on May 1, 2021 as a first-generation member and continued as an independent VTuber after the dissolution. She focused on ASMR videos and posted in Japanese and English. She gave no reason or future plans.
The other stories associated with the kawaii name cover separate projects and do not describe the production. Sanrio Games announced Sanrio Kawaii Me Live, a dance and rhythm game for iOS and Android, on June 28, 2026, and later set a January 2027 launch. Sanrio Party Land, a Nintendo Switch party game, is scheduled for October 29, 2026. Sega Fave launched the Sanrio Characters prize series Kawaii YumYum MART in August 2026. SO.ON project LaV released the single "kawaii No.1" on July 31, 2026. A trading card game project called Stage Collection launched on September 17, 2026, with its first release, KAWAII LAB. CARD GAME, set for summer 2027. Ojisan wa Kawaii Mono ga Osuki. premiered on October 4, 2026, with Kazuyuki Okitsu as Mitsutaka Oji and Tomoe Makino directing at LIDEN FILMS.
None of those projects are connected to the VTuber production in the stories. The coverage of the kawaii name after November 2024 concerns the independent career of a former member and unrelated works that use the word in a title.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every fact links the story it came from.
Nene Amano announced on September 29 that she will end her activities on October 12. She debuted on May 1, 2021, as a first-generation member of the VTuber production kawaii, operated by LOY Inc., and continued as an independent VTuber after the production was dissolved in November 2024. She focused on ASMR videos and posted in Japanese and English. She gave no reason or future plans.
Sanrio announced on September 21, 2026 that Sanrio Kawaii Me Live, the first smartphone dance and rhythm game from its in-house brand Sanrio Games, will launch in January 2027 for iOS and Android. Pre-registration opened the same day. The song lineup includes original songs by Universal Music artists Soala and SHE'S, plus a tie-up with Zutto Mayonaka de Ii no ni. A release commemorative live event is set for January 14, 2027.
Sanrio Games held a developer talk stage for Sanrio Party Land at Tokyo Game Show 2026 on September 17, the event's first business day. Katsuyoshi Tanabe, general manager of Sanrio's Game Business Division, and Toya Yoneda, senior manager in the same division's marketing section, spoke, with Hello Kitty and Pompompurin on stage. Sanrio Party Land is scheduled for release on October 29, 2026 as a Nintendo Switch party game priced at 6,380 yen. It supports solo play, local multiplayer, and online play for up to four players. The game features more than 145 Sanrio characters and over 45 original cooperative minigames set across five areas of Party Land. Tanabe said the team aimed for a game themed on Sanrio's corporate philosophy of everyone getting along, one that three generations of a family can play together, which led to the party game genre. Yoneda demonstrated three minigames live.
A new trading card game project called Stage Collection has launched, built around real idols and artists. Its first release, KAWAII LAB. CARD GAME, goes on sale in summer 2027 and turns five KAWAII LAB. groups into cards: FRUITS ZIPPER, CANDY TUNE, SWEET STEADY, CUTIE STREET, and MORE STAR. Members and songs become cards, and players assemble a stage rather than fight. A four-company production committee runs it, with nationwide official tournaments planned.
FRUITS ZIPPER held its second program event, 'NEW KAWAII tte shite yo? Fes ~Manatsu no Shichigen Uta Gassen~', on August 5 at Tokyo International Forum Hall A. The event featured a male cosplay song battle and an impersonation song battle. TELASA will stream a special edition with full Projection Dance coverage starting August 20.
Sanrio announced on August 20, 2026 that its in-house game brand Sanrio Games will exhibit at Tokyo Game Show 2026, held at Makuhari Messe from September 17 to 21. The brand, launched in April 2026, will occupy two areas: a general exhibition booth in Hall 8 and the Family Game Park 2026 at TKP Tokyo Bay Makuhari Hall. Attendees can try the party game Sanrio Party Land, scheduled for release on October 29 for Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, and the smartphone rhythm game Sanrio Kawaii Me Live!, planned for 2027. The booth will also debut wall-sized game illustrations of the Knights and Lords from Fragaria Memories Color of Wishes. Hello Kitty, Kuromi, My Melody, Pompompurin, and Cinnamoroll will appear at the booth, with a DJ performance by Kuromi and a live show by Pompompurin. Talk stages feature Shizuku from Polkadot Stingray for Sanrio Kawaii Me Live! and voice actors Gakuto Kajiwara and Shunsuke Takeuchi for Fragaria Memories Color of Wishes. Visitors receive limited-edition sun visors.
SO.ON project LaV, the virtual idol group from Tokyo School of Music & Dance, releases its 11th single "kawaii☆No.1" on July 31, 2026. The song is the official tune for the VRM Awards 2026, where the group is ambassador. Lyrics by Kyoko Oyama, music by Hirotaka Hayakawa and Leo Kawahara, arrangement by Kawahara.
Sega Fave is launching a new Sanrio Characters prize series called Kawaii YumYum MART in August 2026. The lineup includes swimsuit mascots, a 60 cm Guramocchi cushion, mermaid Hello Kitty figures, nostalgic Heisei-era mascots, and a tanned Hello Kitty plush, all rolling out sequentially from August 6.
The Ojisan wa Kawaii Mono ga Osuki. TV anime revealed its October 4 premiere date, a key visual, and three new cast members on Friday. Takuya Eguchi, Yūki Kaji, and Ayumu Murase join the series, which stars Kazuyuki Okitsu as Mitsutaka Oji and Miyu Tomita as Pugtaro.
The official theme song for the fashion show and music live event X VORDER RUNWAY was released on August 3, 2026, along with a music video. The song, titled Kousaku OMNIVERSE, was composed by Kohei Tanaka, with lyrics by Seiko Fujibayashi and arrangement by Hiroshi Nakamura. The MV uses the event's key visual by illustrator Mika Pikazo, who also designed the runway costumes. The track brings together all 14 announced performers, including VTubers such as Hoshimachi Suisei, Kaf, and HIMEHINA; real artists like Nanawo Akari and KAWAII CLUB; and game and anime characters including Chun-Li from Street Fighter, Kujikawa Rise from Persona 4 Revival, and the trio Amami Haruka, Kisaragi Chihaya, and Hoshii Miki from The Idolmaster. The event itself is scheduled for September 27, 2026, at Makuhari Messe in Chiba. A second lottery for on-site tickets is open until August 9, and advance merchandise sales began on August 3.
Sanrio Games, the in-house game brand launched by Sanrio, announced its first smartphone title, Sanrio Kawaii Me Live!, a dance and rhythm game for iOS and Android scheduled for release in 2027. The game was revealed during the results announcement stage of the 2026 Sanrio Character Ranking event at Sanrio Fest 2026 in Minato Mirai on June 28. It will be free-to-play with in-app purchases and is planned for release both domestically and internationally. Players form a team of six Sanrio characters, tap notes to songs, and can customize costumes and stages. Two modes are available: Performance Mode, with simple controls focused on watching character dances, and Technical Mode, a four-lane rhythm game for higher difficulty. A partial song list includes seven tracks, among them Kuromi's Greedy Greedy and the social media hit Purin to Muffin no Pompom Beat☆. A closed beta test for residents of Japan runs from July 15 to July 21, with lottery applications open from June 28 to July 7. Feedback from the test will be used to improve the game before launch.
The TV anime My Charms Are Not Working for Medaka Kuroiwa has been nominated in the Best Romance Anime category at the Japan Expo DARUMA Awards 2026. Public voting is open until July 1. The awards are decided by a jury and fan vote through the Mangacollec app or website.
Sega Fave announced a new Sanrio characters plush series called Kawaii YumYum MART, with the first wave themed as an American diner. The series imagines what products would be on shelves in the town where Sanrio characters live, combining kawaii and yumyum aesthetics. The first wave, Kawaii YumYum MART Diner, includes 11 plush items: five main menu items (Hello Kitty's BLT Burger, Hello Kitty's Chicken Burger, Cinnamoroll's Pine Burger, Pompompurin's Pancake, Kuromi's Moon Viewing Burger) and six side menu items (Hello Kitty's Milk, Hello Kitty's Fries, Cinnamoroll's Float, Pompompurin's Pure Honey, Kuromi's Cola, Kuromi's Fries). Each plush is sized for easy holding, with side menu items including an original bag that stores inside the plush. All items have loops for use as bag charms. The plushies will release nationwide on August 6, 2026, at toy sections, mass retailers, and online shops, priced at 1,980 yen each. A world premiere will occur at Sanrio Fest 2026 at Pacifico Yokohama on June 27-28, 2026, where attendees can touch the plushies and experience themed photo booths and darts. From July 2026, a limited photo booth collaboration with NICO MAKE will run for two months, and from August 2026, Sega Prize amusement exclusive items featuring Hello Kitty, Cinnamoroll, Pompompurin, My Melody, and Kuromi will appear in game centers.
The television anime adaptation of Tsutomu's manga Ojisan wa Kawaii Mono ga Osuki. has revealed its cast, staff, and October premiere date in a new promotional video. Kazuyuki Okitsu leads the cast as Mitsutaka Oji, with Tomoe Makino directing at LIDEN FILMS.