The 21st installment of "Animelo Summer Live (Anisama)," one of the world's largest anime song live events, "Animelo Summer Live 2026 -Messenger-," will be held at Makuhari Messe (Mihama-ku, Chiba City) for three days from July 10th to 12th. Anisama is an anime song festival that started in 2005 and is held every summer. Singer and voice actress Riko Sasaki will be making her first appearance at Anisama as a solo artist. We asked Ms. Sasaki about her thoughts on Anisama.
◇Animelo Summer Live was a dream venue
For Sasaki, Animelo Summer Live was "a dream place, a stage she longed for." As a member of the band "Ave Mujica" from the media mix project "BanG Dream!", she stood on the big stage for two consecutive years from 2024 to 2025. In 2024, she also appeared as part of the unit "Jashin★Girls Sacrifice SUMMER" from the anime "Dropkick on My Devil!".
"I even wrote on my own X account around 2022 that I wanted to perform at Animelo Summer Live. I wasn't performing myself, but I wrote, 'Animelo Summer Live starts today' (laughs). It's a stage I've always wanted to perform on, both as a voice actress and singer, and I'm truly happy to be performing there as a solo artist."
The scene from when I first stood on the big stage in 2024 is still vividly etched in my memory.
"The theme for Animelo Summer Live 2024 was 'Stargazer.' The image was that the performers and audience would become like stars, creating the universe of Animelo Summer Live, and it truly shone with a brilliance that felt like the universe was expanding. The brilliance was contagious, sparkling and glittering. I vividly remember that scene, feeling like I was standing in a dream place. Ave Mujica performed on the first day, starting with my solo. It was a truly invaluable experience. Of course, I was nervous, but once I was on stage, I felt immersed in the universe of Animelo Summer Live, and I could feel everyone's sparkling smiles. I was so happy, and it went by in a flash. At Animelo Summer Live 2025, Mamoru Miyano's stage performance also left a strong impression on me. He created space with such freedom, it was truly amazing. I watched his rehearsals, and even there, he was giving his all; I could feel his professionalism."
In 2024, she also appeared in "Evil God Girls Sacrifice SUMMER".
"Jashin-chan was very free. We all wore yukata, ate and drank, and made the most of each character's personality. My character, Poporon, is also an idol, so I even took selfies on stage. The contrast with Ave Mujica was so great that I almost caught a cold (laughs). I'll never forget the first year."
In 2025, they returned to the stage as "Ave Mujica".
"In my second year, I think I had a little more composure. At first, I was constantly nervous thinking, 'So this is Saitama Super Arena...' but I was able to think a little more calmly, so I think I grew as a performer. I'll never forget singing 'KINGS' in collaboration with angela. Of course, I was nervous. Collaborations are one of the highlights of Animelo Summer Live, so I was excited from the rehearsal stage. angela are really kind. We made our entrance onto the stage from below, and it caused the ground to shake. The cheers were electrifying, the energy was incredible, and I could feel it all."
◇I will carefully weave together each and every word as I sing!
This year's Animelo Summer Live will mark my first time taking on such a major stage as a solo artist.
"When I heard I would be performing, I screamed. It seems the staff had been thinking really hard about when to tell me (laughs). They announced it in a solemn and tense atmosphere, and at first I couldn't believe it. In the center of my mandala chart, it said, 'To stand on the stage of Animelo Summer Live as an artist.' One of my biggest dreams has come true as I work as both a singer and a voice actress. But just because I've been chosen to perform doesn't mean it's over. I will carefully weave together each and every word as I sing! I want to deliver Sasaki Riko's music properly."
This year's Animelo Summer Live theme is "Messenger".
"I want to sing in a way that speaks to the heart of each and every person, conveying the message embedded in the song. I'm sure there will be many people who are hearing Sasaki Riko's songs for the first time. I will sing with all my heart so that they will think, 'There's something about this that piques my interest.' I also want to deliver everything I have to those who have been supporting me all along. I can always spot my fans at festivals and things like that. They seem to glow, and I can feel their love."
Sasaki's appeal lies in her overwhelming and powerful singing ability and performance. She delivers powerful messages at Animelo Summer Live as well.
"I've walked my path with music, and music and live performances are my passion. When I'm performing live, I feel so refreshed that all my worries seem insignificant. That's what motivates me. I'm not good at expressing myself with words, which is why I can pour my feelings into my songs. In the past, I was even more reluctant to open up and couldn't speak my true feelings, but only when I'm singing can I lay myself bare and feel liberated."
Finally, we asked Sasaki about what he finds appealing about Animelo Summer Live.
"It's a place where you can be saved by anime songs. At Animelo Summer Live, everyone who loves anime and anime songs gathers together, and it's a place where love is concentrated. There are so many people who are saved by anime, characters, and anime songs, and I think it's a place where you can feel that with your whole body. Moreover, there are so many people who feel the same way. It's a place filled with love. That's why I want to sing each and every song with care, and I want to become an artist who can create a landscape that only Riko Sasaki can show. I'll do my best!" (Mitsuru Anima/MANTANWEB)
