Animate Ikebukuro main store has been recognized by Guinness World Records™ as the world’s largest anime shop! “Animate Ikebukuro Main Store” Guinness World Records™ Challenge Results Announcement Event Shota Aoi “Your love created this record”

[Animate Holdings Co., Ltd.] From a press release

To commemorate the 1st anniversary of the grand opening of “Animate Ikebukuro Main Store'' in March 2024, the first store of “Animate'', an anime, comic, and game specialty store with 124 stores in 47 prefectures nationwide, Challenging the Guinness World Record for “Largest anime shop/store.'' As an event to announce the results, the "Animate Ikebukuro Main Store" Guinness World Records™ Challenge Results Event will be held at the Animate Theater of Animate Ikebukuro Main Store on Sunday, March 17th! During the event, "Animate Ikebukuro Main Store" was certified by Guinness World Records™️ as the largest anime shop/store based on measurement results in the presence of official certifiers. This is the first time that we have been registered as the "largest anime shop" and this is a new record.

Guests at the event include Ai Mikaze from Uta no Prince-sama, Shota Aoi, a popular voice actor known for his role as Yuyu Kondo from Cardfight!! Vanguard Will+Dress, Animate CEO Jun Fujiki, and Animate Ikebukuro main store manager Tomoyuki Noichi took to the stage to watch the Guinness World Record attempt. When the official certifier announced the results as “Guinness World Records™️,'' the venue was filled with applause.

After receiving a certificate from the official Guinness World Records certifier, Fujiki said, “Thanks to everyone involved, we were able to reach this day, and I would like to express my sincere gratitude.Our aim at Animate is to create products that are not just products. We believe that we are more than just a retail store that sells products. We provide more than just entertainment to anime fans around the world when they purchase products, and we provide an unforgettable experience for all our customers. We believe that this is what we are aiming for.We hope to use the Guinness World Records certification as an opportunity to continue evolving into a store that is even more loved by our customers,'' he said, expressing his gratitude and looking forward to the future.

Mayor Takagiwa, who came to celebrate the Guinness World Record recognition, said, “Animate opened its first store in March 41 years ago in Ikebukuro, Toshima Ward, and now there are Animate shops in every prefecture in Japan. We are excited not only by anime fans but also by everyone visiting Toshima Ward, and we are proud that our first store is in Ikebukuro, Toshima Ward, out of 124 stores in Japan. As a local Toshima Ward, we are very happy and proud that our splendid Ikebukuro main store has been certified as the world's largest anime shop.Toshima Ward and Animate have been working together on events in the past. Last year, we declared it a sacred place for cosplay, and we believe that manga and anime are Toshima Ward's greatest strength, so this year we would like to work even more closely with Animate to make it even more popular. I believe that our relationship is more like a brotherhood than a strong partnership,'' he said, looking back on the efforts to date and congratulating Toshima Ward, saying that they are the pride of Toshima City.

Furthermore, Aoi, who is deeply involved with Animate, said, “I believe that this achievement was born out of the love of Mr. Fujiki, manager Noichi, the many staff members, and everyone who visits the store.I myself have been a member of Animate since my debut as a singer. Animate is like a brother and family, and I feel like we grew up together.As actors who have played a variety of characters, Animate is a sacred place. .The voice actors and the animate team are once again determined to deliver dreams and wonderful entertainment to everyone,'' said Aoi, who has many fond memories.

In the talk corner at the end of the event, Aoi, who participated as a guest, looked back on her relationship with Animate and said, “I have participated in various events, but above all, as an artist, I have been a member of Animate Ikebukuro Main Store since the time of my first album. I was very grateful to them for allowing me to sing at the event space and for the release event. Animate's information program "Ani☆Kan" features Ani☆Mate-kun, whose voice is exactly like Mitsuo Iwata's. We started with the character, and we have been sharing various works with everyone on the program and doing public recordings. Midway through, we welcomed Yuya Nakata as a new member, and the program seemed to evolve, from in-store broadcasts to YouTube distribution. '', he said of his memories so far.

Furthermore, regarding his impressions of Animate, he said, “I was talking to Mayor Toshima earlier about how nice the space on the first floor is and how easy it is to enter.Animate's entrance is bright and open, and it has an atmosphere that says, “Come on in.'' I like it. I think that the fact that all the staff members love Animate and the countless works that we create is clearly communicated to customers, which creates an environment where it is easy for customers to step into Animate. , We have many Animate fans, so we play various roles on a daily basis, but without your love, our work cannot take off, so it's a sacred place, or rather a sacred place, a place where our likes fly around. I think. I think this is the place where the most important things in today's world are packed. I've always been close to him like a brother, so I'm really happy with this result. '', he said with deep emotion, expressing his gratitude for being able to witness this occasion.

Furthermore, Aoi, who is the MC of Animate's information program "Ani☆Kan," which holds the title of "World's No. 1," also shared her memories of her overseas business trips on "Ani☆Kan." “I have fond memories of visiting Animate in Bangkok and recording publicly in front of the local audience.I want the feeling of love to go beyond the country and spread around the world.That's why Animate I think he deserves a place in the Guinness World Records.By collecting feelings of love from all over the world, those feelings will connect. I think it has become a tool, and I would like it to become that way. I think the power of love is magnificent. '' he said, looking back on his experience and expressing his joy that Animate was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records.

When asked about what he would like to try in Guinness after this challenge, he answered, “If you look for it, I'm sure there will be a Guinness World Record in a new sense.'' Considering the content of Shota Aoi, he is a cosmetics lover. , Shota Aoi has even created an urban legend that fans who come to his concerts have beautiful skin, so I wonder if he will be able to maintain his beauty even as he gets older as a male voice actor… he will remain like this even after his 60th birthday. If that's the case, please give me a Guinness. When the time comes, please let me hold the award ceremony here again! '' he said, thinking about his future aspirations.

Aoi said, “Congratulations once again on being certified as a Guinness World Record.I believe that this record was created out of the love of all the staff, and the love of everyone who loves the work and Animate.And in the great love of everyone, As someone who has participated in one of the works, I am happy to be able to stand here, and Shota Aoi is still in the stage of evolving.I myself will continue to evolve. , I hope that we can continue to watch over the evolution of anime artists from all over Japan and around the world, helping each other, supporting each other, and moving forward.Also, I hope that we can continue to move forward together, helping and supporting each other. I'm looking forward to hearing and seeing you on this stage. '' He congratulated them once again, and the event came to a close with great success.

<Event Overview>
“Animate Ikebukuro Main Store” Guinness World Records™ Challenge Results Announcement Event
■Date and time: March 17th (Sun) 15:00-15:55
■Venue: Animate Ikebukuro Main Store “Animate Theater”
■Speaker (title omitted): Shota Aoi
Jun Fujiki (Animate Representative Director)
Tomoyuki Noichi (Manager of Animate Ikebukuro Main Store)
Tomomi Sekioka (Guinness World Records official certifier)
MC: Neki Matsuzawa

[About Animate]

"Animate" is a store specializing in anime, comics, and games with 124 stores in 47 prefectures nationwide. They have stores not only in Japan but also overseas, and in addition to selling anime goods, they also hold various fairs and events. The first store, Animate Ikebukuro Main Store, opened in front of Ikebukuro Sunshine City in March 1983, and moved to its current location in November 2012. On March 16, 2023, an extension was built on the site of the former Ikebukuro Public Health Center. The grand opening of the larger store will feature space from the 2nd basement floor to the 9th floor where you can purchase anime goods, an event/special event space, the "Animate Theater," and more. It became a store.

■Guinness World Records details
Recorded name: Largest anime shop/store (largest anime shop)
Record: 8,554.673㎡
Challenge date: February 21, 2024
Certification date: March 1, 2024
Challenge location: Animate Ikebukuro main store

■Store overview
"Animate Ikebukuro Main Store"
Address: 1-20-7 Higashiikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 170-0013
Business hours: Weekdays: 11:00-21:00 / Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays: 10:00-20:00

■Related URL
“Animate Ikebukuro Main Store” homepage:
https://ex.animate.co.jp/shop/ikebukuro/
“Animate Ikebukuro Main Store Grand Opening 1st Anniversary” Special Site:
https://www.animate.co.jp/ex/ikebukuro_1anniversary/
“Animate Ikebukuro Main Store” Guinness World Records™ Challenge Results Announcement Event:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjyTVhVCxgM