The popular series *IDOLiSH7* is currently holding its “『16 STAR SIGNS』2025 Birthday Store” event, a special celebration for the idols’ birthdays. *Anime! Anime!* is a regular participant in this monthly event, and this time, we’re excited to bring you a report from the “Yaotome Gaku Birthday Store,” which ran from August 1st to August 31st, 2025.
What is the “『16 STAR SIGNS』2025 Birthday Store”?
*IDOLiSH7* is a multimedia project spearheaded by Bandai Namco Entertainment, with its core being a smartphone app game centered on the concept of “idols who grow with their companions.” The project has seen remarkable expansion, creating idols through various media such as music, live performances, anime, books, and corporate collaborations.
As *IDOLiSH7* celebrated its grand 10th anniversary on August 20th, 2025, excitement is at an all-time high. New stories in the “Rainbow City Arc” have been released in the app game, and a commemorative event at Pia Arena is set for January 2026. These are just some of the continuous announcements and projects that are coloring this significant anniversary.
Furthermore, a theatrical compilation film is slated for release in October 2025, and fans were thrilled with the long-awaited announcement of a fourth season for the anime. It truly feels like a continuous “supply rush” from the series! For fans, this is a delightful kind of “busy,” promising days filled with happiness as they revel in the rich lineup of content.
The “『16 STAR SIGNS』2025 Birthday Store” is a special event celebrating the birthdays of the 16 idols from *IDOLiSH7*.
Each idol’s birth month features unique exhibits and exclusive merchandise sales. One of the highlights is enjoying in-store messages and solo songs from the idols themselves!
This August, the spotlight shone on Yaotome Gaku, the passionate leader of TRIGGER. Just before *IDOLiSH7*’s 10th anniversary, Gaku-kun celebrated his birthday on August 16th. Social media erupted with congratulatory messages, fan art, and posts featuring related merchandise, creating a truly “festival-like” atmosphere. This wave of celebration, combined with the anticipation for the 10th anniversary, amplified the fans’ joyful mood even further.
Who is TRIGGER’s Yaotome Gaku?
Gaku-kun is a super high-spec idol, boasting a tall 183cm stature, silver hair, and sharp, captivating eyes. While he might appear unapproachable and cool at first glance, his inner self is as fiery as a summer sun. He possesses an incredibly straightforward personality, detesting anything unjust or unreasonable. His deep loyalty to his companions and fans, coupled with his profound empathy, are also significant parts of his charm.
Moreover, Gaku-kun has extensive experience as an actor, and his expressive power and commanding presence are highly regarded within the industry. This sincere attitude and overwhelming charisma make his career truly unique. The coexistence of beauty and passion, charisma and humanity—these contrasting charms are precisely why fans are drawn to him again and again!
Celebrating Gaku-kun at the Birthday Store!
Upon arriving at Bandai Namco Cross Store Tokyo in Ikebukuro Sunshine City, we stepped into the Birthday Store venue. A lavish display, entirely dedicated to Gaku-kun, greeted us, and the air was instantly thick with fan excitement. Overwhelmed by the myriad exhibits, our cameras couldn’t stop snapping photos. Cheers of “Amazing!” and “So cool!” echoed through the venue, with fans eagerly discussing their favorite highlights. The immersive feeling, as if we had wandered into “Gaku-kun’s world,” made us lose track of time.
While the venue was filled with Gaku-kun’s fans, they weren’t the only ones. Fans of TRIGGER’s Tsunashi Ryuunosuke-kun and Kujou Tenn-kun, and even fans from other groups, were also seen celebrating, often bringing their beloved “Monnui” plushies. They came to express gratitude, acknowledging how Gaku-kun always supports their own favorite idols. This widespread celebratory mood, transcending the boundaries of individual members, clearly conveyed Gaku-kun’s immense popularity and the unwavering trust he commands from his fans within the series.
Unmissable Exhibits: Life-Size Panels, Birthday Voice Broadcasts, and More!
A particularly striking feature in the venue was the impressively present life-size panel of Gaku-kun, clad in his magnificent *『16 STAR SIGNS』* outfit. Many fans paused here, taking photos with their Monnui plushies or posing alongside the panel for commemorative shots. The life-size Gaku-kun, with his slender physique and overwhelming aura, seemed to genuinely stand there before us.
The realistic depiction, even down to the shadows falling behind him, created such a vivid sense of presence that we couldn’t help but be deeply moved!
The exhibition panels allowed us to look back at the history of previous birthday projects. Recalling events like *Ai Hake!*, *RabbiTube*, and the “Childhood Album” project by gazing at each panel brought back vivid memories of past excitement and emotions. For any “manager” (fan) reflecting on their own journey with the idols, it was a truly heartwarming experience.
![UR [16 STAR SIGNS] Visual Panel](/media/793772.png)
The UR [16 STAR SIGNS] costume visual panels, specifically installed for his birthday, offered a close-up view of the exquisite details, allowing visitors to appreciate the lighting and texture with a strong sense of realism. Additionally, the live scene footage from Movinana (『Gekijouban IDOLiSH7 LIVE 4bit BEYOND THE PERiOD』) was an absolute must-see, offering a taste of their professional and captivating performances.
And, of course, Gaku-kun’s message broadcasted in the store was absolutely essential listening. Even seemingly embarrassing lines were delivered effortlessly and sincerely by his straightforward and masculine character. The unique charm of this man, who can naturally utter such lines without ever appearing overly dramatic, was once again evident. One could almost picture Tsunashi Ryuunosuke-kun being deeply impressed by the cool message, while Kujou Tenn-kun would likely tease him with a comment like, “Gaku, how can you say such embarrassing things so easily?” (laughs).
Don’t Miss Out on Exclusive Merchandise!
The merchandise lineup, similar to previous birthday members, was extensive, featuring acrylic stands, birthday bromides, can badges, tote bags, and large towels. A special highlight was the Kyoto-exclusive konpeitou, a collaboration with the specialty store “Ryokujuan Shimizu,” with Gaku-kun’s flavor being vanilla.
Most of the goods, excluding the konpeitou, are also available for purchase via the online “Nanairo Store,” so those who couldn’t attend in person can still get their hands on them. As for this reporter, I thoroughly enjoyed my shopping spree at the venue, picking up a birthday bromide set, konpeitou, a clear card collection BOX A, and a Gaku-kun motif charm. Each item boasted Gaku-kun’s vibrant visuals, creating an exciting and high-quality collection. These items are a delight to display and use, leaving me completely satisfied.
Next Up: Get Ready for the “Baby Commu Store” in September!
And that concludes our report on the Yaotome Gaku-kun Birthday Store held in August.
Looking ahead to September, a new “Baby Commu Store” will be held, featuring the fan-favorite “Baby Commu” theme! The venue will be transformed into a pop and adorable atmosphere, offering exhibits and merchandise based on the popular “Baby Commu” birthday project from 2022. Be sure to visit and experience the special atmosphere that can only be found at the venue!
Event Overview
IDOLiSH7 “16 STAR SIGNS” 2025 Birthday Store
This store event celebrates the birthdays of all 16 idols throughout the year! In addition to unique exhibits and commemorative merchandise sales available only at the venue, there will also be special messages broadcasted from the idols themselves.
Event Period:
January 10th, 2025 (Friday) to December 31st, 2025 (Wednesday)
Operating Hours:
10:00 – 21:00
*Please note that operating hours may change without prior notice during crowded periods.
Venue:
Bandai Namco Cross Store Tokyo, 3F, World Import Mart Building, Ikebukuro Sunshine City
(C)IDOLiSH7
By animeanime
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