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Fans React to i☆Ris Voice Actress/Idol Group Skype Call Campaign

The voice actress and idol group i☆Ris announced this week that it is offering fans a chance to chat with performers via Skype. The service will be available for a fee, and fans have to apply to get a chance at a one-on-one with the idols.

This is a rare opportunity for fans to interact with idols on an individual basis and in an isolated setting. While most fans are thrilled about the chance, some people also have reservations. Net users voiced their musings about the campaign with "I wonder if I'm chat-ready" and "I wonder what other voice actresses are thinking about this." Some people were more wary, saying that fans will definitely try to get away with inappropriate behavior during the chats. Another fan said, "Although it's their job, it's hard on the voice actresses having to do this sort of thing."

One fan put the project in perspective:

i☆Ris has held things like handshake and photo events and autograph sessions, and things where fans are at a close distance are popular. But because of this close proximity, there are some people among the crazy fans who will commit misconduct. Also, there's a reputation for bad manners at live performances. At a live tour that was held in May, the security for one section of the performance enlisted a muscular black person on staff. As far as this project, maybe they will take some sort of measures on the management side. But being that things like that happened in the past, I'm looking forward to it on the one hand, but I also have anxiety as a fan.

Kimi Dake LIVE ("a concert for you alone") is holding the campaign and requires those who are interested to sign up through Twitter. You can then apply for a time slot for your favorite singer -- if you have enough Hearts. Hearts cost 100 yen (96¢) each, although you get five for free at the beginning and one each day you log in. You can apply to multiple time slots and cheer on the singer by clicking on a "cheer meter" to get the ability to apply to more slots. There is also a "premium ticket" that lets you watch a concert. Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Winners will be able to talk with or get a special performance from the idols for three minutes. i☆Ris members charge 100 Hearts for each one-on-one meeting, so fans will have to pay about 10,000 yen (about US$97) for a call. The voice actress and idol group Sunmyu is also offering pay-to-talk Skype calls. But because they only ask for 35 hearts each, Sunmyu calls will set fans back 3,500 yen (US$34). Although the price may seem steep for such a short chat, fans expressed their amazement online that this opportunity is even available. Some fans even said that the price was cheap for such a special opportunity.

i☆Ris is offering 50 time slots on October 21, October 22, October 24, and November 2. Some time slots are already sold out. Here is the full chat schedule:

• October 20: Misuzu Nishizono, Yayoi Kobayashi, Ayana Kinoshita (Sunmyu)
• October 21: Miyu Kubota (i☆Ris)
• October 22: Saki Yamakita, Himika Akaneya, Azuki Shibuya (i☆Ris)
• October 24: Yū Serizawa (i☆Ris)
• October 26: Reika Hasegawa, Mami Noda, Sena Niihara (Sunmyu)
• November 2: Yūki Wakai (i☆Ris)

Limited-edition goods will also be available for the idol groups as part of the campaign.

i☆Ris will perform at the Nippon Budokan arena in November to celebrate the fourth anniversary since their debut.

Source: Excite News via Yaraon!