Hololive, the VTuber agency under Japan's COVER Corporation, continues its global expansion with a seemingly endless stream of collaborations and merchandise drops both domestically and internationally. Their popularity shows no signs of slowing down, with merch consistently selling out.
However, Hololive and SHIBUYA TSUTAYA IP Bookstore issued an apology yesterday (July 17) regarding the upcoming "Holo Summer Paradise Pop-Up Shop" event. The reason? A significant portion of the merchandise was slated for "random sale from a pool of 66 designs," which sparked massive fan backlash. In response, the official channels quickly announced a change in sales methods.
Originally set to kick off on August 1st, the "Holo Summer Paradise Pop-Up Shop" is Hololive's summer-themed merchandise event. SHIBUYA TSUTAYA announced that some brand-new items would be sold via a "random draw from 66 types." While it's true that Hololive boasts a huge roster of talents, making everything a blind draw was a bridge too far for fans. Many only "stan" a few members, and having to gamble on such odds led to widespread complaints about the "disgusting" sales tactic. 
▼ Items like the swimming ring keychains, acrylic coasters, and acrylic keychains were all part of the "random draw from 66 types."
This ignited a firestorm of criticism from fans, calling it "absolutely outrageous" and "straight-up fleecing the fanbase." The consensus was that it was a blatant attempt to make fans spend a fortune on blind draws just to get their favorite talent. Even the most dedicated "full-affirmation" fans, no matter how much they loved Hololive members, found it hard to stomach such a sales strategy.
Even Hololive GAMERS member Inugami Korone voiced her displeasure on her secondary account, exclaiming, "What is this 66-type random draw... Seriously, what is it...?" She admitted that as a company member, such a statement might be inappropriate, but "I just can't smile and tell my fans, 'Go have fun buying it!' This isn't something I can accept."
However, she also emphasized, "I know some people are still happy to buy them, and I don't want to criticize them. Thank you all so much for your continuous support."
SHIBUYA TSUTAYA IP's official channels quickly responded, stating, "We sincerely apologize for causing confusion and distress to our customers, and we will change the sales method." The revised plan divides the 66 members into five groups (approximately 12 to 14 people per group) based on their generation and unit. This allows fans to at least draw from a pool related to their preferred unit, increasing their chances of getting their "oshi."
SHIBUYA TSUTAYA concluded with another apology: "We sincerely apologize for the anxiety and discomfort caused within the Hololive fan community. Moving forward, we are committed to planning and operating events that will satisfy more people, and we kindly ask for your continued support and understanding."
While blind box sales are common these days, the sheer size of this particular pool was unprecedented, especially considering the likely price point. This "66-type random draw" truly showed that even the most die-hard supporters might find certain sales tactics a bit too much to swallow.