Idolmaster 20th Anniversary Project Ignites Fan Excitement with “47 Prefectures Illustration Project”: “I Have to Go!” “So Happy to See 876 Production Included!”

The Idolmaster series, created by Bandai Namco Entertainment, celebrates its 20th anniversary today, July 26. To commemorate the occasion, a wide range of celebratory campaigns under the banner of “The Idolmaster 20th Anniversary Year” are underway. Among them, the “47 Prefectures Illustration Project,” showcased on the official 20th anniversary website, has become a major topic online.

Originally launched in 2005 as an arcade game focused on idol production, The Idolmaster (commonly abbreviated as “iM@S”) captured fans with its gameplay—players produce and nurture idols—as well as its diverse cast and popular music. Since then, the franchise has expanded into home console games, radio programs, TV anime, mobile content, and live stage events.

The franchise encompasses multiple titles, including The Idolmaster, Cinderella Girls, Million Live!, SideM, and Shiny Colors. In 2024, a brand-new installment—the first in six years—Gakuen Idolmaster was announced. As part of the 20th anniversary festivities, a commemorative video titled “To You Who Produced Me That Day” was released on the official Idolmaster YouTube channel, and numerous other campaigns are in progress.

Among these, the “47 Prefectures Illustration Project” has particularly drawn attention. It features illustrations of various Idolmaster characters visiting different locations across Japan’s 47 prefectures. Visitors to the anniversary site can also interact with a special feature called “Where are you going today, and with whom?” which randomly displays one of the regional illustrations when a button is clicked. Upon release, the project became a trending topic on social media, with hashtags like “#AiniIkimasu” (a pun meaning both “I’m going to see you” and “I’m going to iM@S”) reaching the top of the charts, alongside “#Happy20thIdolmaster.”

Online reactions have been enthusiastic, with comments such as “Misuzu in Akihabara is hilarious,” “Look at how much fun Sakuraba’s having!!!,” “I’m so glad 876 Production is included,” “It’s great that it features places I actually visit,” “Tochigi and Riamu? Unexpected… wait, is it because of gyoza?” and “It’s a place I totally recognize—I’m laughing,” and “My oshi is in Kochi—thank you, love you, I’m so happy!”

Source : ORICON NEWS