Shigure Ui: mezzo piano collaboration cancelled after threats

The planned collaboration between illustrator and VTuber Shigure Ui and children's clothing brand mezzo piano was cancelled on September 17, 2026. In its statement, organizer coly speaks of "various circumstances," while Shigure Ui herself explains that, alongside numerous reactions, threats of violence were received against her and other people involved, and that the cancellation was therefore made for safety reasons.

Pop-up shops had been planned for October

coly had only announced the collaboration on September 15. Planned were new illustrations, merchandise and three pop-up shops: from October 3 to 12 at Nagoya PARCO, from October 15 to 25 at SHIBUYA109, and from October 17 to 25 at Shinsaibashi PARCO. The official PR page has since been marked with a note that the project has been cancelled.

Following the announcement, criticism arose on social networks over the combination of Shigure Ui and a children's clothing brand. Several reports point to Shigure Ui's earlier song "Shukusei!! Loli Kami Requiem," whose provocative lolicon theme was judged unsuitable for the collaboration. However, coly itself does not name this debate as a concrete reason for the cancellation.

According to ORICON, Shigure Ui explains that, alongside various opinions, threats of violence were also received against her and others involved. Safety was therefore taken into account in the decision. A further explanation from coly has so far not been provided.

The discussion fits into a growing overlap between VTuber culture and established brands. aninew.de recently reported, for example, on Konomi Amakami's top placement in the Ciao VTuber ranking and on the sales halt of a VTuber dictionary after criticism.

The announced pop-up shops and the associated sales are, according to the current status, not taking place.