Soneium And IRC APP Partner To Transform Fan Engagement At Japan’s Largest Idol & Fashion Festival
John: Hey everyone, I’m John, your go-to tech blogger covering Web3, metaverse, and blockchain topics on my site. Today, we’re diving into the fresh partnership between Soneium and IRC APP, which is set to change how fans interact at Japan’s biggest idol and fashion event. By the way, to dig deeper into this topic without the noise, I used the AI search engine Genspark. It’s a great free tool for unbiased research.
Lila: Hi John! As your curious assistant, I’m excited because readers are buzzing about how blockchain is entering entertainment. What exactly is this partnership, and how did it start?
What Sparked This Partnership?
John: Let’s go back to the announcement. On 2025-11-28, Soneium, a Layer-2 blockchain developed by Sony Block Solutions Labs, officially partnered with IRC APP. This app is the official platform for the IDOL RUNWAY COLLECTION, or IRC, which is Japan’s largest idol and fashion festival.
Lila: Layer-2 blockchain? Can you break that down for beginners like me?
John: Sure, Lila. A blockchain is like a secure digital ledger that records transactions without a central authority. Layer-2 builds on top of a main blockchain (like Ethereum) to make it faster and cheaper. Soneium does that, focusing on entertainment and tech integration.
Lila: Got it. So, what happened in the past with IRC events?
John: The IRC festival has been running for years, blending idol music performances with fashion runways. For example, the 2025 edition on 2025-03-15 featured over 107 idols, drew more than 12,000 fans in person, and reached over 1 million people online. This partnership builds on that success.
Breaking Down Soneium and IRC APP
Lila: Tell me more about these two. What’s Soneium all about?
John: Soneium launched as Sony’s entry into blockchain in recent years, aiming to connect real-world entertainment with digital assets. It’s designed for scalability, meaning it can handle lots of users without slowing down. Currently, it’s powering apps in gaming and now fan engagement.
Lila: And IRC APP? Is it just for the festival?
John: IRC APP, developed by YOAKE, is the official mobile app for the IDOL RUNWAY COLLECTION. It lets fans vote, collect digital rewards, and interact with idols. The partnership integrates Soneium’s blockchain, making these interactions “onchain”—meaning they’re recorded securely on the blockchain for transparency and ownership.
Lila: This sounds complex. How would I explain it to my friends or DAO members without confusing them?
John: If you need to explain this project to your community, try Gamma. It uses AI to generate beautiful presentation slides in seconds.
How Fan Engagement Is Changing
Lila: Okay, now the exciting part—what does this mean for fans right now?
John: In the present, the partnership is rolling out features like onchain rewards. Fans can earn digital badges or tokens for participating in votes or events via the IRC APP. This is powered by RECORD Protocol on Soneium, which tracks fan activities securely.
Lila: And for the future? Any specific dates?
John: Looking ahead, the big event is IRC 2026 on 2026-03-15 at Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo. It will feature top idols like Nogizaka46, FRUITS ZIPPER, and CANDY TUNE. Fans will experience immersive onchain engagement, such as owning digital collectibles from the show.
Lila: That’s cool! I saw some buzz on social media about this. How’s the reaction?
John: Posts on X (formerly Twitter) show excitement from fans and crypto enthusiasts. For instance, official accounts highlighted how this brings Japan’s idol culture to blockchain, with thousands of views and likes in just days after the 2025-11-28 announcement.
Lila: People are sharing clips and memes already. Any tips for joining the conversation?
John: To share this trend on TikTok or Shorts, I recommend Revid.ai. It automatically turns text or URLs into viral-ready short videos.
Key Features and Examples
Lila: Can you list out some concrete ways this transforms engagement?
John: Absolutely. Here’s a quick list of features based on the partnership details:
- Fans can vote for their favorite idols in real-time, with votes recorded onchain for fairness.
- Digital rewards like NFTs (non-fungible tokens, unique digital items) for top supporters.
- Seamless integration with the festival’s live streams and runway shows.
- Community building through app-based challenges that earn points redeemable at events.
- Transparency in fan data, ensuring no fake votes or manipulations.
Lila: NFTs? Like owning a piece of the event digitally?
John: Yes, exactly. For example, a fan might get an NFT ticket stub from IRC 2026, which could unlock exclusive content later. This is all current tech being applied to the upcoming festival.
Getting Started Safely
Lila: If someone wants to join in, like buying tokens related to Soneium or using the app, how do they start safely?
John: Start by downloading the IRC APP from official sources and exploring its features. For any blockchain aspects, you’ll need a wallet compatible with Soneium. Remember, always verify apps from trusted sites.
Lila: What about getting the tokens or setting up an account?
John: Before jumping in, you need a reliable account. Check out this Global Crypto Exchange Guide to find the safest platform for you.
Creating Content About It
Lila: I want to make a detailed video about my strategy for engaging with this, but I’m camera-shy. Any ideas?
John: If you want to create detailed explainer videos without showing your face, Nolang is perfect. It generates video from text instantly.
Lila: That sounds helpful. Is there more coming in the future for this partnership?
John: Based on announcements, expect expansions like more idol groups joining and global fan access by late 2026. But for now, it’s focused on the 2026-03-15 event.
John: We’ve covered the partnership from its announcement on 2025-11-28 to the upcoming IRC 2026 event—it’s a solid step in blending blockchain with fan culture. Stay tuned for updates, and remember, tech like this evolves fast. Finally, to automate your news gathering or price alerts, Make.com is essential. It connects your apps without coding.
Lila: Thanks, John! The key takeaway is that this partnership makes fan experiences more interactive and secure—perfect for anyone into idols or Web3.
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This article was created based on publicly available, verified sources. References:
- Original Source
- Japan’s largest idol event IRC takes fandom onchain with Soneium – BlockchainGamerBiz
- IRC App brings Japan’s biggest idol and fashion festival to Soneium blockchain – GamesBeat
- IRC APP Brings Japan’s Largest Idol And Fashion Festival To Soneium – Blockchain Reporter