THE IDOLM@STER CINDERELLA GIRLS Supports Kumamoto Castle Reconstruction Campaign
Bandai Namco Entertainment announced today that it will hold the “Kumamoto Castle Reconstruction Support Campaign” featuring THE IDOLM@STER CINDERELLA GIRLS series from March 1 to May 8, 2023, in collaboration with Kyushu Industrial Transportation Holdings. Three Kumamoto-born idols in the series – Naho Ebihara, Ranko Kanzaki, and Miho Kohinata will be featured in the campaign.
Kumamoto Castle was heavily damaged by the Kumamoto Earthquake in 2016, and its castle tower was finally restored in 2022, attracting not only the residents of Kumamoto Prefecture but also domestic and international tourists. However, its stonewalls and Uto Yagura (turret) are still severely damaged, and it is estimated that it will take about 30 years to restore the castle to its original state, which means that a great deal of time will be required before the castle, a symbol of the people and tourism of Kumamoto Prefecture, can be fully restored.
This project was planned in collaboration with idols from THE IDOLM@STER CINDERELLA GIRLS, which has a connection to Kumamoto, in the hope that it will help support the reconstruction of Kumamoto Castle. During the collaboration period, a special pop-up store will be opened on the second floor of the “SAKURA MACHI Kumamoto” commercial facility, sales of collaboration goods featuring the three idols drawn especially for this project, a digital stamp rally around the facility, wrapping the Hinokuni highway bus with character illustrations, and various other events are planned in sequence.
Key visual:
Wrapping bus:
Kumamoto Castle:
Source: Bandai Namco Entertainment press release
©Toshiyuki Kubooka THE IDOLM@STER™& ©Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc.
