Daimaru Matsuzakaya Department Store to Start 2nd Round of Auditions for its VTuber Project on Wednesday, April 8 - Recruiting Next-Generation Creators Who Express Themselves Across Multiple mediums

Daimaru Matsuzakaya Department Store will hold the second round of auditions for its VTuber project, 'EchoVerse,' from Wednesday, April 8, to Thursday, April 30, 2026, to discover next-generation creator-oriented individuals who continuously express their own worldview through works in fields such as illustration, music, and video. Since the project's launch in November 2024, EchoVerse has supported creators' individuality centered on VTuber streaming activities, building a foundation as a VTuber business. For this second term, we will further evolve this initiative, aiming to create a new image of VTubers who express themselves through creative works that shape visual expression and worldviews, going beyond just streaming. Leveraging the discerning eye and communication power cultivated over many years as a department store, we will expand the expressive format of VTuber to a place for 'creating works' and 'disseminating them,' thereby delivering the possibilities of next-generation culture and expression to the world. Background for Starting the 2nd Audition As the VTuber market continues to expand, activity styles and expression methods are diversifying, evolving into a phase where the 'creator's self-expression itself' becomes valuable, transcending the role of a mere streamer. Our company, which operates department stores, has continued to create new value together with creators in various fields such as art and fashion from our founding to the present. Leveraging this expertise, in our VTuber business as well, we will not be limited to management but will take on the role of a 'curator' who discovers and delivers value to the world together with next-generation creators who will lead the next realm of expression. Now that we have entered a phase of growth as an original agency, turning our position as a latecomer from a different industry to our advantage, we aim to be a presence that pursues 'individuality (strengths)' in the VTuber industry and co-creates value with creators. First Term Achievements In the VTuber project 'EchoVerse,' which started in November 2024, we held the first round of auditions and selected [Yoruha Hanai] as our first affiliated VTuber from among many applicants. Towards her debut, she shared cover song videos and the creator's own thoughts, starting full-scale activities with her first YouTube stream in September 2025. In her streaming activities, she has continuously communicated with a focus on singing, building communication with viewers, and steadily developing her expressiveness and presence as a VTuber. Currently, her YouTube channel has over 30,000 subscribers, and her circle of support is also expanding on social media (as of April 1, 2026). In the first term, we focused on nurturing the VTuber as a creator for the long term, rather than as a short-term initiative, and worked on developing the activity environment and production. Furthermore, through the activities of our affiliated creator, we have begun to feel the spread of 'hakioshi' (supporting the entire group/agency), where not only the individual creator but the entire agency's efforts and worldview are supported.