randall pustular: Universal Studios Japan Hosts K-ON Cast, Life-Size Statues

5,000+ come for 1/2-hour event on Yui's birthday before month-long campaign

The amusement park Universal Studios Japan hosted a live performance by the K-ON anime's main voice cast and unveiled the life-size figures of the anime's five main characters on Sunday. Over 5,000 showed up for the live performance by Aki Toyosaki (Yui Hirasawa), Y?ko Hikasa (Mio Akiyama), Satomi Satou (Ritsu Tainaka), Minako Kotobuki (Tsumugi Kotobuki), and Ayana Taketatsu (Azusa Nakano), even though it only lasted about half an hour.

The life-size statues recreate a live performance by the anime's Ho-kago Tea time band, complete with all of their musical instruments.

Sunday is also the birthday of the main lead Yui, so like many fans of K-ON did, Universal Studios Japan celebrated with cake. The park decorated a giant cake with Yui's "Gui-ta" guitar made of the strawberries, and the park's Beverly Hills Boulangerie bakery served birthday cake. For Sunday only, the park's Studio Stars Restaurant and Parkside Grill offered a Ho-kago Tea Time set with a five-chestnut Mont Blanc dessert, "Jun-chan's half-eaten donut," and a soft drink.

The Sunday festivities were actually a preview for the month-long "K-ON! in Universal Studios Japan" campaign. The campaign will run from November 28 through December 3, and people who purchase a special pass to the park will receive an original K-ON! six-sided puzzle.

During the campaign, the Studio Stars Restaurant will serve a Ho-kago Tea Time set with just a Mont Blanc and a soft drink. On weekend and holidays next month, there will be carts with strawberry-flavored popcorn in front of the outdoors Gramercy Park Stage for special events, as well as in front of Stage 18 with the life-size figures. The nearest LAWSON store turned itself into a K-ON! movie goods store. Finally, the roller coaster "Hollywood Dream: The Ride" will play the movie's ending theme "Singing!"