is a virtual YouTuber agency owned by Anycolor Inc. (formerly Ichikara Inc.). The agency was founded in 2018 with the purpose of promoting the use of Live2D models and live streaming as opposed to the 3D and clips format popularized by Kizuna AI.
History 2018 On 11 January 2018, Ichikara Inc. announced that they were opening recruitment for virtual idols. The campaign centered around Ichikara's iPhone X face tracking app, also named Nijisanji. The app was designed to simplify the process of becoming a VTuber using Live2D software and the iPhone X's Animoji feature. The announcement stated that accepted talents, known as Virtual Livers, would be expected to stream live to various platforms using this app. The name Nijisanji was not used to refer to the talents themselves until the announcement of the second wave of recruitment on 15 March 2018.
On 17 July 2018, auditions were started for a Chinese branch in Shanghai and Taipei, and in cooperation with CAPSULE Inc., would recruit from each eight people for a total of sixteen Livers. The partnership with CAPSULE Inc. would end in March 2019, with Ichikara revoking its license. CAPSULE Inc. would spinoff what it maintained into VEgo. VEgo itself would go inactive by the end of March 2020.
2019 After the end of the original Chinese branch in cooperation with Bilibili, new Chinese auditions started in April 2019. From these, the jointly-operated "VirtuaReal Project" would emerge later in May.
In May, Ichikara also launched its "Nijisanji Network" service where it supported other content creators and affiliated companies through the use of Nijisanji management and support resources. They also announce the first and only participants of the program being Indie VTuber Fairys-chan and Tenkai Tsukasa. The service shut down on 31 December 2019 with all its participants continuing activities on their own.
In July, auditions began for an Indonesian branch of the agency, Nijisanji ID, which was launched in September. In November and December, auditions began for Indian and Korean branches respectively (Nijisanji IN and KR), each beginning activity in January 2020.
2020 In January 2020, Nijisanji officially opened the English version of its Twitter (now known as X) accounts, followed by an English YouTube account in June. As part of their attempt to appeal to the English-speaking audience, they also rebranded their Indian branch into a broader English branch (Nijisanji EN). However, in November, the three members of Nijisanji EN were returned to their original Nijisanji IN branch, while the audition for the only English-speaking talents was held in December. Nijisanji IN was eventually dissolved and all its members graduated on 30 April 2021.
In September 2020, Nijisanji created an "Aggressive Acts and Slander Countermeasure Team" to offer counselling to victims of harassment and take legal measures against perpetrators of harassment, specifically the online harassment plaguing the Japanese entertainment industry. This announcement came in the wake of Hololive VTuber Mano Aloe's retirement after only two weeks of activity due to online harassment.
In October 2020, Nijisanji privated the various Among Us streams of its members after receiving a complaint by Masuoka, a programmer who made the popular Japanese translation mod of the game. Through a tweet, Masuoka specified that the reason for his complaint was that Nijisanji was using Masuoka's mod without properly crediting him. Nijisanji have since entered negotiation with him to properly credit and license his work.
On 19 October 2020, it was announced that Meiro Kingyozaka had been terminated for breach of contract. This followed the posting of a leaked video by an external VTuber containing information only Kingyozaka herself could have known, leading to the conclusion that a leak had occurred. On October 21, Nijisanji's official Twitter account disclosed the circumstances leading to the termination.
On 1 December, Ichikara Inc. announced the official launch of Nijisanji's first-wave auditions for English-speaking countries. The audition period lasted until 15 December.
2021 Nijisanji EN debuted its first wave on 16 May 2021 dubbed "LazuLight". It consisted of three female Livers: Elira Pendora, Pomu Rainpuff, and Finana Ryugu. A simultaneous commentary livestream on their English channel, hosted by Nijisanji ID members Hana Macchia and Bonnivier Pranaja, was also held. It was followed by OBSYDIA in July and Ethyria in October.
On 17 May 2021, Ichikara officially renamed itself to Anycolor.
In June, Anycolor would announce a talent training initiative known as "Virtual Talent Academy". Its first auditions would be held on 18 June 2021, who would begin training starting from November. Upon completion, the graduate may be given the offer to debut in Nijisanji or freely move to other agencies to try to audition to them.
On 21 October 2021, Anycolor launched ROF-MAO (; stylized in all caps), a virtual unit of four Livers: Kagami Hayato, Kenmochi Toya, Fuwa Minato, and Kaida Haru. The unit's name comes from portmanteau of two internet slangs: ROFL and LMAO. The unit formation were announced through Nijisanji official YouTube channel.
On 12 December 2021, the fourth wave of Nijisanji EN VTubers debuted, called "Luxiem". It was made up of five male Livers: Luca Kaneshiro, Shu Yamino, Ike Eveland, Mysta Rias, and Vox Akuma. A debut program was hosted by Elira Pendora and Oliver Evans. Luxiem marked the debut of the first English-speaking male talent wave from a big VTuber agency.
2022 On 17 February 2022, Anycolor announced the merger of Nijisanji ID and Nijisanji KR into the main Nijisanji branch starting on 15 April 2022. As part of the merger, the official social media accounts of the two branches would cease operation and the ongoing audition for their latest generation for both would be cancelled.
It was later announced that Nijisanji's VTubers would collaborate with Japanese singer Yuya Tegoshi.
On 8 June 2022, Anycolor publicly listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, opening at per share. By 18 October 2022, the company was estimated to be worth over billion, with founder Riku Tazumi's 45% share netting him a personal wealth of roughly billion, making him Japan's youngest billionaire.
On 13 July 2022, Anycolor announced the next wave of Virtual Talent Academy graduates to debut directly into Nijisanji. The new wave, "Voltaction", began their activities on 16 July 2022.
On 24 July 2022, Iluna, the sixth wave of Nijisanji EN, debuted. The first English-speaking, mixed-gender wave to debut, Iluna included Maria Marionette, Kyo Kaneko, Aia Amare, Aster Arcadia, Scarle Yonaguni, and Ren Zotto.
On 9 December 2022, XSOLEIL, the seventh wave of Nijisanji EN, debuted. This was the second English-speaking, mixed-gender wave to debut, and included Doppio Dropscythe, Meloco Kyoran, Hex Haywire, Kotoka Torahime, Ver Vermillion, and Zaion LanZa.
2023 On 23 January 2023, Nijisanji announced AR Live "Colors," a concert featuring the members of the LazuLight, Obsidiya, Ethyria, Luxiem and Noctyx, waves. The event was split into two parts, Pastel Stage and Vivid Stage. Pastel Stage would feature Finana Ryugu, Pomu Rainpuff, Elira Pendora, Rosemi Lovelock, Selen Tatsuki, Petra Gurin, Enna Alouette, Nina Kosaka, Reimu Endō, and Millie Parfait, and Vivid Stage Luca Kaneshiro, Vox Akuma, Shu Yamino, Mysta Rias, Ike Eveland, Sonny Brisko, Fulgur Ovid, Alban Knox, and Uki Violeta. The parts were set to air at 12:00 JST on 8 April and 9 April, respectively. However, the event was canceled on 2 February due to delays caused by COVID-19 pandemic.
On 10 March 2023, Anycolor terminated Nijisanji EN Liver Zaion LanZa of XSOLEIL, citing multiple violations of her contract and rules set out by the agency, including copyright infringement and making "offensive remarks regarding discrimination and sexual assault". However, many of the allegations were disputed in a document released by VTuber Sayu Sincronisity.
On 23 March 2023, Nijisanji temporarily suspended Gundo Mirei after she posted a baseball-related tweet that offended Japanese baseball fans pushing Anycolor to suspend her. Mirei was tweeting her reaction to the ongoing WBC (World Baseball Classic). In a tweet thread she voiced her misunderstandings about baseball and made seemingly sarcastic jokes and comments about how baseball could be improved. Since her suspension, Mirei Gundo had not posted on social media or streamed. She eventually announced her graduation on 21 June 2023.
On 24 June 2023, Krisis, the eighth wave of Nijisanji EN, debuted. A male trio, this wave included Vezalius Bandage, Vantacrow Bringer, and Yu Q. Wilson.
On 21 October 2023, Nijisanji announced the graduation of Xia Ekavira, Mika Melatika, and Riksa Dhirendra. The talents, who were previously part of Nijisanji's Indonesia branch, are part of a growing list of former Nijisanji Indonesia talents graduating from the agency. Past graduations include ZEA Cornelia, Taka Radjiman, Siska Leontyne, Amicia Michella, Azura Cecillia, Nara Haramaung, Reza Avanluna, and Hyona Eliatora. All of these graduations have happened following the merge of the agency's Indonesian and Korean branches to the main Japanese branch. The three graduated on 17 November 2023, 28 December 2023, and 11 January 2024, respectively.
On 27 October 2023, TTT, the ninth wave of Nijisanji EN, debuted. This wave was formed of Kunai Nakasato, Victoria Brightshield and Claude Clawmark.
2024 On 29 March, Anycolor re-announced its AR Live concert, "Colors", after the event was initially cancelled in 2023. The event was held on 14 April with the concert featuring LazuLight, OBSYDIA, Ethyria, Luxiem, and Noctyx members.
On 26 April, the unit "Gakudan V!VO" (楽団V!VO) began their activities. Unlike previous vocal-based musical units, Gakudan V!VO is a chamber orchestra, consisting of pianist Suzuki Masaru, violinist Seraph Dazzlegarden, flutist Eli Conifer, cellist Emma★August, and trombonist Tachitsute Toto.
On 12 May, Nijisanji announced their first full 3D concert at Anime Expo which was to take place on 7 July. It was planned to feature Elira Pendora, Finana Ryugu, Petra Gurin, Rosemi Lovelock, and Millie Parfait who would have performed in the first program, followed by evening performances by Luca Kaneshiro, Shu Yamino, Sonny Brisko, and Uki Violeta. This was cancelled on 26 June alongside their planned "Summer Jam" festival.
The tenth generation of Nijisanji EN, Denauth, was announced on 21 May, with the group debuting on 25 May. The group consists of three members: Ryoma Barrenwort, Twisty Amanozako, and Klara Charmwood.
On 9 November, Nijisanji announced the 7th Anniversary Live "Overture" concert, split into a Daytime Stage and Nighttime Stage. The Daytime Stage was the first 3D concert for the EN branch held live rather than pre-recorded, and featured Elira Pendora, Rosemi Lovelock, Enna Alouette, Vox Akuma, Ike Eveland, Sonny Brisko, Maria Marionette, and Ren Zotto. The event was held on 24 February during the 7th Anniversary Festival.
2025