Japan’s famous virtual singer Hatsune Miku turns 16, thousands of fans celebrate

Hatsune Miku has always been 16 years old and worn long aqua ponytails.

She is Japan’s most famous Vocaloid – a computer-synthesised singing voice software that, in her case, comes with a virtual avatar.

Legions of fans celebrated the 16th anniversary of Miku’s August 31, 2007, release with events including a virtual exhibition and songwriting to showcase her standard high-pitched, cutesy voice. For sale are a special Seiko watch and a series of dolls in the character’s likeness.

The Vocaloid’s hits have been widely shared online, including on Miku’s own official YouTube channel, which has drawn 2.5 million subscribers. She has CDs and DVDs out and video games focused on fun rhythms co-produced with Sega, as well as cosmetic products plastered with her name and famous manga artists drawing portraits of her for T-shirts.

On Friday, thousands of people packed a concert hall in a Tokyo suburb to watch their virtual idol dance and sing while accompanied by human musicians.

The audience bobbed colourful light sticks in time to the music, with some people dressed like the doe-eyed Miku. As laser beams flashed about, the cheering crowd, who knew the songs and the choreographed moves by heart, performed them in unison. A human-size hologram of Miku was projected at the centre of a dark stage as though she was really there.