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22/7 Idol Project's 1st 2 Anime Character Videos Stream Outside Japan
posted on by Jennifer Sherman
The 22/7 idol unit, a "dimension-crossing" idol group that AKB48 founder and producer Yasushi Akimoto is producing, is reaching out to overseas fans who speak English. The group's official website announced on Friday that character promotional videos are now available on YouTube for fans outside Japan. The first two “The Diary of Our Days” videos highlight the characters Miu Takigawa and Miyako Kono.
In the video, Miu (voiced by Nagomi Saijō) goes out on a snowy roof. Nicole (Mei Hanakawa) spots her, and Miu starts to speak. Before she can finish, Nicole tells her they are starting. Miu blurts out a brief thank you as Nicole shuts the door, and she takes one more deep breath before going back inside.
In the video, Miyako (Mizuha Kuraoka) and Akane (Kanae Shirosawa) sit in a restaurant. Miyako wants to order, so she tells Akane that she's going to push the button to call a waitress. Akane, however, is not ready and asks Miyako to give her more time. Myako thinks Akane will automatically be able to decide if they call the waitress, but Akane insists she would rather decide and then push the button. Miyako gets sneaky so she can push the button. When a waitress arrives, Akane hurriedly orders coffee and fries, and Miyako immediately decides to order the same.
The official website also began streaming a "day 3" video for the character Ayaka Tachikawa on Friday. The video is currently only available in a region-locked version for viewers in Japan.
The project has been releasing animated music videos since the idol group's debut in 2017. The group held thir first live concert on July 22 in Tokyo. During the live event, the group performed on stage as themselves, but also put on a motion capture performance as their anime characters.
The group based on the concept of "idols who cross dimensions" has eight anime idol characters, with their respective voice actresses performing as idols in the real world. A different character designer is handling each member's anime design. Sony Music Records and Aniplex received 10,325 applications for the idol group and held five rounds of auditions.
The cast members, their characters, and the characters' designers are as follows:
Chiharu Hokaze as Reika Satō, 17 years old. She is the student council president and an honor student.
Character design by Hirokazu Koyama of Type-Moon (Fate/Grand Order, Mahōtsukai no Yoru)
Ruri Umino as Jun Toda, 16 years old. She acts high class and is a tsundere.
Character design by Masayoshi Tanaka (your name., Toradora!, anohana)
Sally Amaki as Sakura Fujima, 17 years old. She is the daughter of a good family.
Character design by Kantoku (The "Hentai" Prince and the Stony Cat., Garakowa -Restore the World-)
Kanae Shirosawa as Akane Maruyama, 17 years old and cool.
Character design by Tometa Ohara of QP:flapper (Girl Friend BETA, Girlish Number)
Mizuha Kuraoka as Miyako Kōno, 15 years old. She is egotistical and speaks in a Kansai dialect.
Character design by Mieko Hosoi (Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash, Aiura)
Mei Hanakawa as Nicole Saitō, 17 years old and an idol.
Character design by Kurehito Misaki (Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend)
Nagomi Saijō as Miu Takigawa, 16 years old. She is an otaku and is a bit ignorant.
Character design by Yukiko Horiguchi (K-ON!, Tamako Market, Kokoro Connect)
Reina Miyase as Ayaka Tachikawa, 16 years old. She is aggressive and militant.
Character design by Koharu Sakura of QP:flapper (Girl Friend BETA, Girlish Number)
In addition, the website lists three additional cast members without roles: Aina Takeda, Urara Takatsuji, and Moe Suzuhana.
Sources: 22/7's Website, 22/7 Official YouTube Channel, MoCa News
