The 1st hololive OFFICIAL CARD GAME Shop Staff Networking Event was held at Bushiroad’s headquarters in Tokyo on January 13, 2026.
(A session was also held in Osaka afterwards on January 20.)
Staff members passionate about trading card games (hereinafter “TCG”) gathered from 137 Bushiroad-authorized stores across Japan. The event provided an opportunity for participants to interact with one another and rediscover its appeal through playing hololive OFFICIAL CARD GAME (hOCG) matches.
This event aims to promote a positive cycle where store staff, who are the closest point of contact with users, can enjoy the hololive OFFICIAL CARD GAME themselves while deepening their understanding of its appeal and then their experiences are enthusiastically passed on to hololive OFFICIAL CARD GAME users visiting their stores.
The hololive OFFICIAL CARD GAME, first released in September 2024, is a trading card game featuring talents from hololive production and is planned and developed by COVER Corporation, with Bushiroad Inc. providing sales and operational support.
This article features a report on the much-anticipated networking event and includes interviews with participating shop staff. It also introduces the current position of hololive OFFICIAL CARD GAME within the TCG market, along with comments from the people in charge.
︎Where Does the hololive OFFICIAL CARD GAME Stand in the TCG Market? Insights from the Producer
hololive OFFICIAL CARD GAME is a TCG where players support their favorite “holomem” (short for “hololive members”) and send “cheers” to the holomem on stage, building up their stage while competing against their opponent.
In 2026, a wide variety of TCG titles and genres are available on the market. According to Reiki Horie, Head of the TCG Development Department and Producer in the Card Business Development Office, hololive OFFICIAL CARD GAME currently ranks around 5th–6th in domestic market share within Japan.
※Source: September 2025 New Trading Card Sales Ranking (Japanese only) https://www.torema.jp/202509orecamarketconditions/
Horie: “When we released the hololive OFFICIAL CARD GAME in 2024, it was a year when many other TCG titles were also launched. Because of this, we are very grateful that so many users have chosen and are playing our game. Recently, I’ve been seeing hololive OFFICIAL CARD GAME posters more often when visiting card shops, and it feels like the game is gaining recognition within the industry. I also believe one of the reasons for its success is that the main demographic of TCG users and that of hololive fans, namely men in their 20s and 30s, overlap with each other.”
According to research by Bushiroad Inc., the number of stores carrying hololive OFFICIAL CARD GAME products has also been steadily increasing. There were 380 stores in September 2024, immediately after launch, but that number had grown to be 867 stores by December 2025. The number of networking events and shop tournaments has also increased year on year, and the number of participants joining networking events has more than doubled in a year and a half.
Some users say they have even become fans of hololive through the hololive OFFICIAL CARD GAME.
Horie: “At events, I sometimes get the chance to speak with hololive OFFICIAL CARD GAME players. Some tell me, ‘I used to play other TCGs and didn’t know much about hololive, but I am now a fan of hololive and its talents because they started playing the game. I even watch their streams now too.’ On the other hand, I have also heard people say things like, ‘hololive OFFICIAL CARD GAME was my gateway to discovering how fun TCGs are,’ or ‘I had been away from TCGs for more than 10 years, but the hololive OFFICIAL CARD GAME has brought me back.’”
What Makes the hololive OFFICIAL CARD GAME Distinct? Playing with Your Oshi’s Cards
What makes the hololive OFFICIAL CARD GAME unique compared with other TCGs? According to Horie, “being able to play the game with cards of your oshi (or favorite talent)” has remained one of its core strengths since launch.
Horie: “In the hololive OFFICIAL CARD GAME, we try to incorporate each talent’s individuality into the card illustrations, text, and abilities as much as possible. When I see fans who pick up the cards talking on social media and saying things like, ‘This comes from that stream a while ago,’ or ‘This is one of that talent’s iconic moments,’ it makes all the development effort worthwhile.”
On the other hand, working with real talents also comes with its own considerations.
Horie: “Each talent has their own fans, and many users want to play using their oshi when they play. However, due to the nature of trading card games, it’s difficult for every card to have exactly the same strength. That’s why we try to create opportunities beyond simply competing in terms of power, so that players can use their oshis as much as possible.”
One such opportunity is the “Oshi holomem Selection” tournament format. This system is used largely in hololive OFFICIAL CARD GAME tournaments, where players who finish the preliminary rounds undefeated are given priority to advance to the final rounds if they are using different oshi holomem cards.
Horie: “We also focus on organizing events in ways so that the atmosphere doesn’t become too tense. In February this year, we held a casual matching event where everyone who participated received a prize regardless of their results. At events like that, players engage in ‘oshi talk’ with each other and chat about their oshis, so I hope they become opportunities for people to truly connect.”
The play styles of hololive OFFICIAL CARD GAME users are also unique.
Horie: “I feel that many players coordinate their supplies—such as card sleeves and playmats—with items featuring their oshi. Many players also show their support for their oshi not only through their cards but through other merchandise as well, which I think is another characteristic of hololive OFFICIAL CARD GAME users.
Over the past year or so, we’ve also seen more users organizing their own tournaments. It’s physically difficult for us to host tournaments in all 47 prefectures, but players organize events themselves, and hololive and hololive OFFICIAL CARD GAME fans gather there to interact. As a creator, seeing that level of enthusiasm makes me very happy.”
︎Prizes for Undefeated Participants! A Look Inside the hololive OFFICIAL CARD GAME Shop Staff Networking Event
Let us now take a look at the “1st hololive OFFICIAL CARD GAME Shop Staff Networking Event” held on January 13. On the day, 85 shop staff members from 68 stores nationwide took part.
The matches were divided into five blocks named after holomem: Usada Pekora, Ichijo Ririka, Tsunomaki Watame, Omaru Polka, and Shirakami Fubuki.
Since the matches were between card shop staff, many intense matches took place. Meanwhile, participants who finished their matches early and had time to spare were also seen chatting and exchanging information about the hololive OFFICIAL CARD GAME and their respective stores in a friendly atmosphere.
Some participants also brought playmats and sleeves featuring their favorite holomem, while others came with bags decorated with merchandise and plush toys of their oshi. As Horie mentioned earlier, one of the attractive points of the hololive OFFICIAL CARD GAME is that players can express their passion for their oshi not only through their cards, but also through supplies and merchandise.
The main tournament consisted of four rounds. Participants from stores who finished the event undefeated were awarded a special apron, a store-display standee, and the right to host an April 2026 shop tournament with extra PR packs (“PR Pack Mashimashi”).
The undefeated stores were as follows:
▼Tokyo Venue
A Block “Usada Pekora” — BOOKOFF Fujinomiya Kitamachi Store (Shizuoka) — Player: Yukka
B Block “Ichijo Ririka” — Fujiya (Tokyo) — Player: souka
C Block “Tsunomaki Watame” — D-Carten Laboratory Oami (Chiba) — Player: MUR / Hobby Station Chiba Store (Chiba) — Player: Mono
D Block “Omaru Polka” — Trading Card Game Shop 193 Akihabara (Tokyo) — Player: WsM / Kurocchi
E Block “Shirakami Fubuki” — D-Cent game&card / Descent Game (Tokyo) — Player: Matsumoto
▼Osaka Venue
A Block “Usada Pekora” — Lux Nara Kashiwagi Store (Nara) — Player: Kuromine
B Block “Ichijo Ririka” — Toreca Plaza 55 Osu Ameyoko Store (Aichi) — Player: Rose
C Block “Tsunomaki Watame” — Sports Card & Card Game Shop MINT Sannomiya Store (Hyogo) — Player: Mare / Card Shop Kaede (Kochi) — Player: Kaze-san
D Block “Omaru Polka” — GIRAFULL Namba Store (Osaka) — Player: Zenis
E Block “Shirakami Fubuki” — Skip (Osaka) — Player: kai
When asked for comments, several winners shared their excitement and mentioned that “the hololive OFFICIAL CARD GAME is really gaining momentum at our stores!”
After the matches, shop staff, COVER employees, and Bushiroad employees also partook in an opinion exchange session. Fruitful discussions took place in a number of groups about the current situation of the hololive OFFICIAL CARD GAME at each shop and how the game can be further promoted in the future.
We hope that this event can continue to spread the appeal and enthusiasm of the hololive OFFICIAL CARD GAME to users through shop staff who participated from all across Japan.
Please follow the link below for the official hololive OFFICIAL CARD GAME report (in Japanese).
Comments from Shop Staff Nationwide
We also conducted on-site interviews with several shop staff who participated in the event. We gathered real insights from stores that currently sell hololive OFFICIAL CARD GAME-related products with some of their responses below.
Q. How have customers responded since your store started carrying hololive OFFICIAL CARD GAME products? What parts of the game do you find appealing?
“Since we began selling the game, more customers who enjoy hololive have come to the store, with some even saying, ‘Thank you for stocking it.’”
(Otachu Akihabara No.5 Store)
“Many people have started playing TCGs because of the hololive OFFICIAL CARD GAME, and we’ve seen an increase in new customers visiting our store.”
(Playspace Platz Sakura)
“I think its appeal is the cuteness of the illustrations and the characters.”
(D-Cent game & card)
Q. Which events or initiatives at your store have received the biggest response?
“Box battles held alongside the release of a new set have been very popular. Going forward, we would like to try selling decks.”
(Otachu Akihabara No.5 Store)
“The store qualifiers for the Exstreamer Cup. Our regular shop tournaments also attract a steady number of participants and have been well received.”
(Playspace Platz Sakura)
“The Exstreamer Cup area qualifiers have had the biggest response.”
(Card Game Seagull Sendai Ekimae Store)
Q. Compared with other TCGs, have you noticed any particular customer trends?
“Most customers are male, but compared with other TCGs, the ratio of female players seems higher. Whenever packs are available, they sell out quickly, so we definitely feel that the game is gaining momentum.”
(Amenity Dream Ikebukuro Power 9 Store)
“Before we started selling it, I thought there would be many younger customers, but in reality it seems that people across a wide range of ages are purchasing it. The customer base is overwhelmingly male, but there are female customers as well. It sells very well right after release, but stock often runs out, so there are many people who want to buy it but cannot.”
(Playspace Platz Sakura)
“It feels like the age group tends to be high school students and older. I get the impression that more customers buy more boxes compared to other TCGs.”
(D-Cent game & card)
Q. Are there any talents whose cards or decks are particularly popular at your store?
“As a TCG, players often use the oshis that are strong at that time. In saying that, I think Houshou Marine and Shirakami Fubuki are consistently popular.”
(Playspace Platz Sakura)
Other names mentioned included Nakiri Ayame, Kazama Iroha, Inugami Korone, Hoshimachi Suisei, Takanashi Kiara, Oozora Subaru, Nekomata Okayu, Tokino Sora, and Robocosan.
Q. What would you like to see from the hololive OFFICIAL CARD GAME going forward?
“Since new starter decks are released regularly, it would be great if there were more lessons for beginners.”
(BOOKS Nagashima)
“We would like to try holding gameplay lessons (trial sessions) as official store events.”
(BOOKOFF Nishidai Takashimadori Store)
“We would like to see more events held in regional areas.”
(Takarajima Sakata Store)
Thank you very much to everyone we interviewed!
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