This year's theme is "OK!" The world's largest anime song event "Animelo Summer Live 2018 "OK!"" The first artists have been announced [Anime Japan 2018].

One of Japan's largest anime events, AnimeJapan 2018, was held at Tokyo Big Sight on March 24 (Sat.) and 25 (Sun.), 2018. Here we report on the "Animelo Summer Live 2018" press conference held on the BLUE Stage on Saturday, March 24. On stage were i☆Ris (Yu Serizawa, Yuki Wakai, and Hikka Akaneya), Miki Ito, Aya Uchida, Mare Uchida, ORESAMA, Konomi Suzuki, TRUE, and Satoru Kamizaki (composer), with MC Ken Washizaki, a familiar face on this stage.

Animelo Summer Live 2018 ("Anisama 2018"), one of Japan's largest anime song live events, will be held over the three days of August 24, 25, and 26, 2018. A press conference for this major event, which will be held for the 14th time this year, was held on March 24 at the BLUE Stage of AnimeJapan 2018.

The first announcement was the main theme of the event, "OK!" General Producer Koji Saito first mentioned that the theme was in English, which is familiar to Japanese people. He also said that he wanted Anisama to be a culture of "box-office" and that he wanted the event to be "not just fun for you or "OK!" for you, but fun for everyone, artists and attendees alike. The theme of the event will be "OK!", which is used as a word of total affirmation, including acceptance, rather than "yes" or "no".

Then came the announcement of the first batch of artists who were eagerly awaited.

The first artists to appear on August 24 were Aqours, Asakika, Miki Ito, Aya Uchida, OLDCODEX, GARNiDELiA, Poppin'Party, MYTH & ROID, Suzuko Mimori, and on August 25, Idol Master SideM, Marei Uchida. Master SideM, Mare Uchida, Ayaka Ohashi, GRANRODEO, Minori Chihara, TRUE, TrySail, fhana, Inori Minase, The Idolmaster Million Live on 26th! Million Stars, i☆Ris, Shota Aoi, Sumire Uesaka, ORESAMA, ZAQ, JAM Project, Konomi Suzuki, and Minori Suzuki. In particular, the audience cheered loudly when they heard the announcement that JAM Project would be returning to Anisama.

Next, i☆Ris (Yu Serizawa, Yuki Wakai, and Hikika Akaneya), Miki Ito, Aya Uchida, Marei Uchida, two members of ORESAMA, Konomi Suzuki, and TRUE appeared on stage, and the audience cheered even louder.

The theme song for the event was then announced. The theme song for Anisama 2018 will be "Mottoke! Sailor Fuku" (theme song of "Lucky Star") and "M@STERPIECE" (theme song of "THE IDOLM@STER MOVIE Beyond the Shine! theme song) and "M@STERPIECE" ("THE IDOLM@STER MOVIE Shine no Mukougawaide!" theme song). When his name was announced, the audience let out a ground-shaking cheer and Mr. Kanzen appeared on stage in a welcoming mood. When asked how he felt about being in charge of the theme song, he replied, "I am happy because I thought I had no connection to the project.

It was also revealed that Miho Karasawa, a.k.a. TRUE, who was one of the speakers, was in charge of the lyrics. The title of the song "Stand by.... MUSIC! MUSIC!!!", and furthermore, "THE IDOLM@STER MILLION STARS," "THE IDOLM@STER MILLION LIVE! Million Stars, Aya Uchida, Marei Uchida, Konomi Suzuki, and others were shown on the screen recording the song, and when the first chorus was played, the audience on stage strained their ears to hear the voices of their favorite artists.

Finally, each of the speakers expressed their enthusiasm for Anisama 2018.

Last year, as Pyxis, they performed "THE iDOLM@STER MILLION LIVE! Million Stars, Ito said, "I am nervous and anxious because I will be performing solo for the first time this year, but now I am feeling honored and grateful. I think this is an opportunity for a lot of people to hear me, so please give me your best." Washizaki-san's comment was perfect, as he gave his stamp of approval. Marei Uchida, whose memories of Anisama are deeply and intensely renewed every year, said, "This year's theme song is also a wonderful song that cheers us up when we sing it, so let's shout it out together, get excited, and make summer memories together," a comment that heightened expectations for the live. During the song, Ms. Washizaki made a reckless request for this year's theme song, asking the audience to include the word "OK" in their comments. While it was good at first, it became more and more difficult in the latter half of the session to avoid saying the same thing over and over again. The venue was enveloped in a friendly atmosphere as Mr. Kojima from ORESAMA responded to the question by rhyming with his unit name, "ORESAMA got an 'OK! The venue was enveloped in a friendly atmosphere.

The artists seemed to be in high spirits for the event, and we wondered if all the participants were ready for the event.

The Anisama 2017 Blu-ray, which will be released on March 28 (Wed.), will include an application card to apply for the fastest advance lottery reservation for "Anisama 2018" tickets, so please get that card first and participate in the fastest advance lottery.