Sep 282020
 

September 25th marks the 13th anniversary of the Vocaloid track “Packaged” by livetune.

This was the first Vocaloid track kz ever uploaded onto the Internet, beginning what has become a long and prosperous music production career.  While kz had been creating remixes of various tracks under the name RE:NDZ before the release of “Packaged,” this track was what first put him on the map.  Today, kz is one of the most recognized Vocaloid producers in the world and has left his mark in various other genres, from anime OPs to mainstream EDM.

Initially uploaded as a test video a few days earlier, “Packaged” was first uploaded to Nico Nico Douga on September 25, 2007, less than a month after Crypton Future Media first released the Vocaloid software for Hatsune Miku.  The track also made its way to the now-defunct music sharing site Muzie.  “Packaged” would become the title track of livetune’s first Vocaloid album, Re:package, released on August 27, 2008, with the record label Victor Entertainment.  This is significant because Re:package was the first Vocaloid album ever released by a major record label.  At the time, livetune originally consisted of 2 members, kz and Kajuki P, before the latter left livetune and ultimately retired from the Vocaloid scene in August 2008, shortly after the release of Re:package.  “Packaged” has been remixed and re-released several times since, including:

  • Packaged (piano ver) – Re:package (August 27, 2008)
  • Packaged (kisk baker’s yogamix) – Re:MIKUS (March 29, 2009)
  • Packaged – Re:Dial (March 20, 2013)
  • Packaged (Shipping in 2013 remix) – DECORATOR EP (March 5, 2014)

As of the writing of this article, the Nico Nico Douga upload of “Packaged” has been viewed 2,272,621 times with 115 comments.  It peaked at rank #7 in the “Musics” category and ranks in the top 10 for “Original Miku Song.”  A few years after starting a YouTube account, kz uploaded “Packaged” there on December 15, 2011, where it has racked up an additional 391,314 views.  While it is not quite as popular and well-known as kz’s later works and the works of other well-known Vocaloid producers, “Packaged” was the first spark that began kz’s journey to become the music production powerhouse he is today and paved the way for other aspiring Vocaloid producers to follow.

Jun 292018
 

A new update has hit Magical Mirai 2018 site today announcing the return of DJ Live event and music session this year. The first is a ticketed special DJ live to be held at exhibition stage in Tokyo on August 31st~September 1st. The two hour-long performances features six different notable artists across the dates, one of which is Omoi, the composer of Magical Mirai 2018’s theme song “Greenlights Serenade”.

The second, named “Magical Challenge Stage“, is a free-viewing music session featuring “Senbonzakura” by KurousaPregarded as one of the top Vocaloid songs of all time. The performances will be held on September 1st~2nd (also at exhibition stage in Tokyo) with 164 as our Day 1’s special guest. In addition to the listed performers below, five participants from home will also be joining in playing saxophone, violin, guitar, drum, and Yamaha’s Electone each.

Hatsune Miku: Magical Mirai 2018 will be held in Osaka and Tokyo on August 25th~26th and August 31st~September 2nd, respectively. The dates are closing in! http://magicalmirai.com/2018/

Exhibition Stage Special Live (Tokyo)

Date: August 31st, 2018 (Friday)
Time: OPEN 18:30 START 19:00
Artists: kz (livetune), Natsushiro Takaaki, PinocchioP

Date: September 1st, 2018 (Saturday)
Time: OPEN 19:00 START 19:30
Artists: emon (Tes.), Omoi (composer of “Greenlights Serenade” ), Wada Takeaki (KurageP)

Ticket Price: 2,000 Yen
Presales Lottery: June 30th at 12:00 JST~July 9th
General Sale: July 8th at 10:00 JST

Free-Viewing Live “Magical Challenge Stage” (Tokyo)

Date: September 1st~2nd
Time: 10:30~11:10 JST
Artists164 (Day 1’s special guest), Yamaki Kazuyuki (Saxophone), Takeuchi Izumi (Violin), Yamanaka Yuya (Guitar), Kawarai Mitsuru (Drum), Kobayashi Takeshi (Electone), and five participants playing saxophone, violin, guitar, drum, and Electone each.

Via the official Hatsune Miku blog

Sep 302017
 

In celebration of the soon-to-launch Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Future Tone DX this November, Sega will be holding a collaboration event with the indoor theme park Tokyo Joypolis on October 12th~November 26th. The event is called Hatsune Miku DAIBA de DIVA Future Tone DX, and will feature mini-live held everyday as well as attractions, special photo spot, Mikudayo, collaboration goods, and special menus.

Official site → http://tokyo-joypolis.com/event/DdDIVA_Ft/index.html
Project DIVA Future Tone DX → http://miku.sega.jp/FT/

Mini-live Daily

A series of special mini-live will be held daily at the main stage of the hall! There will be two setlists with three songs performed at specific intervals, including many songs from the game as well as the song “Ghost Rule” by DECO*27 to follow as DLC in December.

October 12th~November 3rd
14:00 JST – “World is Mine” (ryo), “Romeo and Cinderella” (doriko), “Tell Your World” (kz)
17:00 JST – “Remote Control” (JesusP), “Ghost Rule” (DECO*27), and “Senbonzakura” (KurousaP)
19:00 JST –  “Hajimete no Oto” (malo), “Last Night, Good Night” (kz), and “39” *(sasakure.UK x DECO*27)

November 4th~26th
14:00 JST – Weekender Girl” (kz x HachioujiP), “ODDS&ENDS” (ryo), and “Time Machine” (1640mP)
17:00 JST – “Remote Control” (JesusP), “Ghost Rule” (DECO*27), and “Senbonzakura” (KurousaP)
19:00 JST – “Two-faced Lovers” (wowaka), “Miracle Paint” (OSTER project), and “Tell Your World” (kz)

※ image below is from the past event

DAIBA de DIVA SUPER LIVE

In addition to the mini-live, the DAIBA de DIVA SUPER LIVE has been announced and will feature all the songs performed from the past events held at Tokyo Joypolis in celebration of Hatsune Miku 10th anniversary. The SUPER LIVE will be held on November 24th with doors to open at 19:15 JST.

Gekion Live Coaster & Fortune Forest

In the corner of attractions, the popular “Gekion Live Coaster”, a part music game and part roller coaster attraction, will be in Project DIVA Future Tone DX wrappings during the collaboration period, and features one of the following songs to play with:

Hand in Hand” (kz), “Sand Planet” (Hachi), “Senbonzakura” (KurousaP), “Miku Miku ni Shite Ageru♪” (ika), “Ghost Rule” (DECO*27), “Hibikase” (GigaP), “Tell Your World” (kz), or
DECORATOR” (kz).

Also announced is the collaboration with Fortune Forest, an attraction where you can get your very own event-exclusive fortune telling cards via interactions with various designated spots in the “forest”.

Mikudayo & Digital Contents & Project DIVA Future Tone DX photo spot

Everyone’s favorite menacing and mischievous mascot Mikudayo will be making stops on weekends and holidays during November 11th~26th (after 14:00 JST). Get ready for a photo session with her, or visit the nearby space for photos with the popular modules or a photo spot in theme of Project DIVA Future Tone DX prepared on the third floor.

Original goods 

Original goods have been announced for sale at the event, and features the key visual and various in-game modules as follows: A4 clear files (2 kinds in total), acrylic stands (4 kinds in total), acrylic charm (6 kinds in total), langue de chat cookie (also known as Cat’s Tongue), canned candy, t-shirt, can badge (16 kinds in total), an exclusive poster, and special pass cases (for Tokyo Joypolis passport).

Collaboration menus, coasters, and stickers

There will be a Senbonzakura theme floats for sale in collaboration with Dippin Dots Ice Cream on the first floor as well as collaboration stickers (6 kinds in total). The “Frame Cafe” on the third floor will also be serving collaboration food and coasters (11 kinds in total).

Mar 242016
 

orangeblossomfig_banner_alt

The Hatsune Miku: Orange Blossom ver. is now available for preorder! The design is based on the module by the illustrator Nidy-2D- for the song “DECORATOR” by kz(livetune). The figure stands at 1/7 scale, and is sculptured by Grizzry Panda, most known for great details in his works such as the Mikuzukin figure.

From SEGA’s rhythm game ‘Hatsune Miku -Project Diva- F 2nd’ comes a 1/7th scale of Hatsune Miku dressed in the Orange Blossom module! The unique look of the bright orange and blue outfit has been completely recreated with the use of pearl paints.

The figure is sculpted by Grizzry Panda known for sculptwork with a keen edge, which suits the futuristic design of the Orange Blossom outfit perfectly. Add the unique Miku to your collection and enjoy every detail of the work of art whenever you please!

The figure is priced at 17,280 yen on Goodsmile Online Shop, and will be available for preorder until April 20th at 20:00 JST. Additionally, an original B2 poster illustrated by the module designer “Nidy-2D-” will be offered via preorders at Goodsmile Online Shop. The release date has been announced for October this year.

Below is the tweet by Nidy-2D- showing the illustration for the original B2 poster.


https://twitter.com/beyond_the_2D/status/713204632038715392