Yasushi Akimoto, Japan’s legendary idol producer, starts Idol projects leveraging Web3 on Astar zkEVM with emerging entertainment enterprises

Astar Network, the leading public blockchain in Japan and beyond, is excited to announce the kick-off of an ambitious project to establish a token-based idol economy - YOAKE entertainment Co, Ltd. - and they have decided to launch their project on Astar zkEVM, Ethereum Layer2 solution powered by Polygon CDK.

YOAKE entertainment Co, Ltd. welcomed Yasushi Akimoto, Japan’s legendary idol producer, as an executive producer. He is behind many of Japan's leading idol groups including AKB48, Nogizaka46, and SKE48. YOAKE aims to create global entertainment content and an idol economy by leveraging blockchain technology, using Astar zkEVM as their chosen network.

YOAKE entertainment Co, Ltd. is a joint venture of emerging entertainment enterprises - ASOBISYSTEM, TWIN PLANET, W TOKYO, and Y&N Brothers.

Astar Network is thrilled to welcome YOAKE entertainment Co, Ltd. and sees this as an expected killer use case of Web3 and Astar zkEVM. Astar Network is looking forward to onboarding retail consumers, media and traditional companies through this project.

“Yoake'' means dawn in Japanese. And as such, by leveraging the power of entertainment, we can trigger the dawn of a new web3 era.

Web3 is attracting more and more attention every day, but it still lacks use cases that can be widely used by the general public. Without these use cases, "Web3 for Billions" cannot be achieved. Entertainment has the power to move people. People will overcome UX hurdles to engage with their favorite entertainment content. We believe that by combining Web3 with entertainment, we can increase the user base that touches tokens and blockchain on a daily basis and create a larger market.

The idol industry today is undergoing major changes due to advances in digital technology and globalization, and these changes are affecting the relationship between content and fans, the way content is enjoyed, and the scope of the market. We believe it is important to capture this change and incorporate Web3 into fan marketing as well in gaining global fans and influence. By bringing together companies that continue to be active at the forefront of the entertainment industry, we can exert influence in the industry and, through Web3 technology, create a new entertainment economy in which all those with access to the internet can participate.

■About Yoake entertainment

The global entertainment project is launching in collaboration with Yasushi Akimoto, an entertainment industry veteran with numerous achievements under his belt, who remains at the forefront of the industry. Under the overall direction of Mr. Akimoto, the project aims to revolutionize and expand the economics of the entertainment industry globally by leveraging web3 technology.

The project will introduce tokens to fundamentally change the relationship between fans and idols, enabling fans around the world to support idol groups beyond regional and language barriers. The project aims to establish a token economy where tokens can not only be purchased on crypto asset exchanges but can also be earned through activities that support idol groups. Through listening to songs, purchasing CDs and merchandise, participating in events, posting UGC content and participating in campaigns, we propose a new form of entertainment in which fans and idol stakeholders become vested in the long-term success of the project by holding tokens.

The project will also develop and promote content in multiple languages so that anyone around the world can easily participate using tokens. In the future, the project aims to expand the global entertainment economy and establish an iconic blockchain use case by introducing tokens to existing idol groups.

Astar Network will provide the infrastructure for a user-friendly experience with Astar zkEVM, which will be developed in collaboration with Polygon Labs. We see this as a focus area, especially in the entertainment domain, where we hope to createa bridge between Japan and global Web3 users and projects and develop global use cases emanating from Japan.

■ Comments from Yasushi Akimoto, General producer of YOAKE entertainment Inc.!

I am captivated by Sota because “this” is something new to me.
That’s why I find it fascinating.

I know that, in the future, there will always be something that defies the status quo. My realm of comprehension, however, is limited to what has existed up until now.
That is why it is not compelling if it were up to me to tell Sota to “do something in web3” that is already beyond the scope of imagination.

I believe that you can unlock many new possibilities when you “meet the right person”.
I have faith in Sota, and I have faith in a future where our content can win at a global level.

Born in 1958. Lyricist. Guest professor at Tokyo University of the Arts. He has produced many national hit songs such as "Like a Stream Down the River" and "Koisuru Fortune Cookie". In addition to being a broadcaster, he has worked extensively on TV dramas, movies, commercials, and video games. In April 2022, he was awarded the Medal with Purple Ribbon.

■ Comments from Sota Watanabe, founder of Astar Network/ CEO of Startale Labs.

We are now looking forward to transmitting the content created by Akimoto-san, who has always been at the forefront of Japanese entertainment while dealing with numerous social changes, on our own Web3 platform.

By combining entertainment and Web3 technology, activities can be recorded on the blockchain, incentives can be designed for those who perform certain actions, and events can be attended by anyone around the world.

We will expand the possibilities of entertainment content and compete globally.

Born in 1995. Founder of Astar Network, Japan's first public blockchain, CEO of Startale Labs, founder of Next Web Capital and Hakuhodo key3. He is a board member of Japan Blockchain Association and advisor to Marui Group, GMO Web3, Dentsu web3 Club, etc. He was selected as one of Forbes Magazine's 30 under 30 in Asia for technology in 2022 and Newsweek's 100 most respected Japanese in the world in 2023.

Startale Labs is a company that aims to popularize web3, developing Astar Network, Japan's largest web3 product, a public blockchain, and Startale web3 Cloud, which provides web3 infrastructure. In 2023, the company announced a capital alliance with Sony Network Communications and the establishment of a joint venture to jointly develop a blockchain that will become a global core infrastructure.

■Profiles of joint venture companies and representative directors <ASOBISYSTEM, Inc.>
As a leader in cultural production, Asobi Systems, Inc. boasts artists like Kyary Pamyu Pamyu and Yasutaka Nakata at the forefront of Japanese pop culture. Our Harajuku-based company manages a diverse portfolio of artists, models, actors, and creators. We specialize in planning and producing a variety of events, including music festivals and fashion events, with operations extending both domestically and internationally.

TWIN PLANET Co. operates at the intersection of entertainment and intellectual property (IP). Viewing all content as potential IP, we engage in a broad spectrum of activities ranging from talent management and Web3 project production to the planning and execution of events and retail experiences based on IPs like "Tabekko Dobutsu" and "Touken Ranbu." Our offerings include product production, promotion, and media development, executed across diverse platforms.

W TOKYO Co. is a branding powerhouse, creating significant value by utilizing unique production expertise that elevated Tokyo Girls Collection to one of Japan's premier platforms. Under the banner of "Bringing Japanese girls' culture to the world," we collaborate with the United Nations, government bodies, and public offices, serving as a conduit for conveying dynamic social issues such as SDGs and regional development to the younger generation.

<Y&N Brothers Inc.>
Y&N Brothers Inc. remains at the cutting edge of entertainment content creation and is instrumental in revitalizing Japan's idol market. Our involvement spans a vast array of entertainment sectors, including video and music production, commercials, and film and stage productions, underscoring our commitment to enriching the entertainment landscape.

<Profile of Masayuki Fukuyama, President of YOAKE entertainment Inc.>
Masayuki Fukuyama, Executive Vice President of TWIN PLANET, Inc., is distinguished by his expertise in the entertainment sector, with a strong foundation in advertising and event production. Recently, he has taken the helm of Web3, blockchain technology, AI, Metaverse, and XR initiatives, launching innovative projects like the "CANDY GIRL Project" which transforms Yoshitaka Amano's fine art into IP content. Notably, in 2010, he achieved a milestone with the sale of CANDY GIRL NFTs, melding art with blockchain technology. Fukuyama consistently strives to deliver experiences that break new ground, seamlessly integrating advanced technology into the entertainment industry to explore and unlock novel possibilities.

More information on Yoake entertainment is available at
YOAKE entertainment official site：https://yoake-entertainment.jp/
YOAKE entertainment official X (Japanese)：https://twitter.com/YOAKE%5Fent%5Fjp
YOAKE entertainment official X (English)：https://twitter.com/Yoake%5Fent

More information on Astar is available at
Astar official website：https://astar.network/
Astar Network X Account：https://twitter.com/AstarNetwork
Astar Discord Account: https://discord.gg/astarnetwork