It all started when you (ABEMA) approached us with the idea of hosting an event, right?

At that time, one of our directors had the opportunity to meet with your Gaming Business Development Office. While COVER was already hosting live music events, we felt that introducing a different kind of event could bring something new and exciting to both the talents and the fans. That’s why we proposed an event centered around gaming.

At COVER, we hold “hololive SUPER EXPO & fes.,” our largest annual event, at the end of the fiscal year in March. While it’s a huge highlight across the organization, it also makes it harder to launch equally impactful initiatives in Q1 (April – June). That’s when we realized this project could be a way to fill that gap, and the discussions moved forward from there.

When we first brought up the idea, the venue hadn’t even been decided yet. But as discussions went on, we managed to book two days at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium in May, and as Kodera-san mentioned earlier, the timing worked out perfectly for the company. That’s said, it was a large-scale venue, so I’d say it really was a bold decision on COVER’s part to go ahead with it.

There were, of course, concerns. ABEMA assigned team members who had a strong understanding of the talents, so we were confident in how the content itself would look, but what concerned us was the fact that we had never held a game-focused event before. The biggest question was whether people would actually show up.

 We’re grateful to say that both days sold out completely, including the limited-view reserved seats. The response was so overwhelming that it felt like the venue capacity wasn’t quite enough in the end. On top of that, since Ookami Mio had to miss the first event due to health reasons, we also felt strongly about making the second one happen with all the members together. Of course, both talents and fans had the same expectations. 

Audience satisfaction was high, but what truly exceeded our expectations was how satisfied the talents themselves were. We were still in a trial-and-error phase for the first event, working out how to collaborate with them effectively while creating a concept and direction. By the second event, however, the talents already had a clear vision of their own, which gave both sides a strong sense of confidence as we moved ahead with securing the venue. 

Planning for Cho-Cho-Cho-Cho GAMERS 2 began around October to November 2024, and from the outset up until the event, we had weekly online meetings between the two companies. Early on, the discussions focused on the bigger picture regarding the kind of event we’d like to create, and from there, talks gradually moved to specifics: how to structure the gaming segments, how to present the live performances and how to design the stage production and decorations. 

Depending on the week’s agenda, some of ABEMA’s participants would change, but overall there were always about 20 people involved. The well-prepared materials ABEMA provided made it much easier to keep things moving smoothly.
The strong response to the first event also meant audience expectations were high. How we could rise to that challenge and meet such lofty expectations was a major focus in our discussions with ABEMA. As Kamochi-san mentioned earlier, with all four members able to appear this time, we wanted to reach an even wider audience. While we were still debating the venue, the opportunity to host two days at Saitama Super Arena came at the perfect time. 
At a venue as large as Saitama Super Arena, there is a considerable distance between the stage and the very back seats. That meant it was crucial to work out what kind of content and stage design to maximize the experience for every audience member. We even made sure to walk around the entire arena with ABEMA, carefully checking the view from every seat. 

This year, we handed out silver streamers and cans of “holocharge!,” hololive’s original energy drink, as guests were leaving. We had many people comment on social media about how delighted they were to receive such gifts, which may seem like a small detail, but we wanted to create a little moment of joy even as the event was ending – and I think it added to the overall experience. 
Throughout the process, we were always able to come together to discuss how the audience would feel watching each part of the event and what would bring them the greatest amount of joy. I truly believe that this was only possible because we had such a wonderful partner in ABEMA.

Even though we were the organizer, our role was ultimately to work with the brand entrusted to us. That meant our top priority was staying true to the values that COVER and the talents, cares about most. Our entire team made sure to keep that in mind as we prepared for the event. 

Another thoughtful touch was ABEMA setting up a small “dagashi shop” (penny candy shop) in the green room. The talents lit up the moment they saw it, playing the lottery games, enjoying the sweets, and chatting together. I felt it really added to their positive energy and mindset going into the event.

There’s always some downtime between rehearsals and the main performance. At the first event, that time ended up being spent just waiting around, but for the second event, we wanted to make it more enjoyable, so we prepared something to help the talents pass the time in a fun way.

One clear strength was that ABEMA already has a pay-per-view streaming platform, which made it easy to integrate the livestream component smoothly. What also stood out to me was the speed of their proposals. Whether it was about merchandise or program ideas, once we shared our feedback, they would quickly come back with alternative suggestions – and the quality was always impressive.

At ABEMA, we produce a wide variety of programs and events across different genres, so we were able to bring in experience that offered something different from the music-focused events hololive usually holds. From planning and merchandise development to streaming, as well as marketing, promotion, and sponsorship outreach – all areas where the CyberAgent Group has strong expertise – we were able to handle almost everything in-house as one team. Of course, some parts involved support from external partners, but I believe we were also able to contribute in terms of resources. 

 Our work mainly falls into three areas: developing games, supporting game creators, and organizing events. Most of these projects begin from scratch, with no set format to follow, so we’re often building the framework ourselves. From my perspective in management, I see every day how the freedom within our department allows members to easily find places where they can make the most of their individual strengths and skills. Of course, creating something from nothing is never easy, but because the team approaches projects with a positive mindset, we’ve always been able to deliver new experiences through gaming – from this event, to the Shishiro Hai and even our collaboration with Death Stranding 2.

At the moment, there are around 20 of us: when the Office was officially launched in October 2024, there were only four or five of us. With our mission of “Together, Let’s Create Culture Loved by All” in mind, we’re looking toward the global content market and have already begun preparing initiatives for the coming years. The team has been growing rapidly in line with that vision. 

We were honored to receive the Project Award for Cho-Cho-Cho-Cho GAMERS 1. The project was carried out through collaboration not only within the Business Development Office but also across many different departments. Our company embraces three core values – “Bold Spirited,” “United without Boundaries,” and “Outcome Driven” – and I believe it was this cross-department collaboration, combined with the new licensing framework with ABEMA, that led to us being recognized for this award.

What really stands out to me, watching the talents in their streams and events, is how actively fans engage with one another. At events, you’ll see groups taking photos together, and there’s a strong culture of supporting their oshi together. I think that sense of community is a big part of why so many people choose to come to these events in person – not just to see the talents, but also to enjoy connecting with fellow fans. 
I believe this also comes from daily communication via streaming, with the bond between talents and their fans being incredibly strong. Beyond Cho-Cho-Cho-Cho GAMERS, we’ve also collaborated with hololive on projects like “HOLOGOE!” – ABEMA’s original late-night variety show – and even in those settings, you can really feel the warmth of fans rallying to support their oshi. Of course, having such a wide fan base is part of it, but what truly stands out is the high level of passion each individual brings.

Working together, what really strikes me is how each of the talents has a strong personality and unique appeal, along with an impressive ability to promote themselves. At ABEMA, we’d love to continue creating further opportunities, beyond just events, to create new platforms together with COVER where those individual qualities and strengths can shine even more.