Source: © HoriPro, Inc. / © PR Times, Inc.

Ayano Date, Daughter of First Virtual Idol Kyoko Date, Makes Her Debut

Kyoko Date DK-96

Do you remember Kyoko Date? As the world's very first "virtual idol," she created quite a sensation back in 1996. Produced by Yoshitaka Hori, the future president of entertainment company HoriPro, Kyoko Date DK-96 was a 3D CG character lovingly crafted polygon by polygon. Registered and marketed like the other idols at HoriPro, her activities included CD sales, radio and even television appearances which used motion capture technology, still very new at the time.

Although her career was relatively short-lived, she paved the way for other 3D CG idols, virtual idols such as Hatsune Miku and the current wave of virtual Youtubers launched by Kizuna Ai.

Here is a music video for her most famous single, Love Communication, which was the ending theme for the Nippon TV drama Yokubō no Shokutaku

Like Mother Like Daughter: Ayano Date Makes Her Debut

Now, 22 years after DK-96, it would seem that the proverbial baton has been passed on to a new virtual generation as HoriPro Digital Entertainment announced the debut of Kyoko's daughter Ayano Date.

A 16-year-old high school student just like her mother was when she made her debut, Ayano intends to begin her idol activities by starting up her own YouTube channel from her home. To set up the environment to film and edit videos, she's launching a campaign on crowdfunding site Makuake.

If you'd like to help her and contribute to the campaign, which will run until January 20th, please visit the website here (in Japanese). All kinds of cool rewards are available, ranging from stickers, membership cards to thank you letters, original iRings, apparel and more!

Ayano's Message

"Nice to meet you, I'm Ayano Date. At school, everyone calls me Ayanon. Because of my mom, I always dreamed of becoming an idol, so I decided to enter the same entertainment agency and begin my activities! I'm going to do my very best, so please support me!!!"