Make Believe Bonus: B-Komachi Specials At Sushiro

Explorations In Anime Idol Food Tie-Ups

Via the Sushiro website

Oshi No Ko belongs to the rare class of creative franchise where the content of the work itself feels like it should be completely incompatible with commercial tie-ups…and yet, the characters from a series exploring the dark side of Japanese entertainment appear everywhere. They grace the boxes of chocolates on sale at Seven-Eleven. The character Kana Arima graced DyDo vending machines across the country last summer. The Yomiuri Giants baseball club had an Oshi No Ko day, featuring the voice actors throwing the first pitch. The show collaborated with a karaoke chain for a concept themed around…wedding dresses?

Like Neon Genesis Evangelion before it, it’s surprising just how surgically the characters from a show full of hard questions and disturbing content have become mascots for assorted convenience stores and clothing brands. I’m certainly being a little too precious — popular show makes moves to generate more money!? — but then again Perfect Blue didn’t link up with a popular takoyaki chain to create idol-themed octopus balls topped with sprinkles.

I did not try these