Ano-chan Turns Heads in a Playful Blue Yukata at the Sumida River Fireworks Festival

“I’ve been working lately just for this”

As dusk settled over midsummer, large numbers of young people walked in the same direction. Their faces were filled with excitement, as if they could hardly wait for the major event about to begin. Among them, however, several middle-aged men stood out, their expressions unusually stern as they kept a wary eye on their surroundings.

The reason was obvious. At the center of the group was a woman wearing a yukata: singer and television personality Ano-chan (age undisclosed).

On July 25, the annual Sumida River Fireworks Festival was held in Tokyo’s Taito Ward, and Ano-chan appeared as a guest on “Exclusive Live Broadcast: Sumida River Fireworks Festival 2026” (TV Tokyo).

“This year, actor Hideki Takahashi (82) and announcer Minami Nakahara (26) served as the main hosts, while distinctive guests such as Hiroyuki Ariyoshi (52), Tamiyo Kusakari (61), and actor Kanata Hosoda (24) also appeared. It was Ano-chan’s first time on the program. At the beginning of the broadcast, Takahashi asked her, ‘Have you ever watched the Sumida River Fireworks?’ She smiled and replied, ‘I’ve been looking forward to it so much. It’s a reward,’ before adding excitedly, ‘I’ve been working lately just for this.’” (Television magazine writer)

The opening scene showed Ano-chan moving from the waiting area to the special studio. She wore a blue floral yukata with a light-blue obi, while her hair accessory was also blue. For some reason, however, she wore bright-red sandals on her feet—perhaps another expression of Ano-chan’s personal fashion preferences. Overall, her look had a very cool and refreshing feel.

She walked among ordinary spectators heading toward the venue. According to one person who happened to be there:

“Almost nobody walking nearby seemed to notice Ano-chan. The roads had been closed to pedestrians only that day, but Ano-chan and her group walked on the inside of the guardrail, maintaining a certain distance from the other pedestrians. There was also a security guard at the front, so it felt like security was extremely tight.”

The staff reportedly maintained a tense atmosphere throughout. Ano-chan herself, however, remained completely relaxed. As the venue came closer, she walked along gently patting her waist with both hands, a smile gradually appearing on her face.

The fireworks festival ended safely at around 8:30 p.m. At the same time, heavy rain suddenly began to fall. As Ano-chan left the venue with her staff, she walked along holding an umbrella and looking at her smartphone, appearing thoroughly satisfied.

The following day, Ano-chan updated her social media.

“Thank you to everyone who watched the broadcast with me.”

In the accompanying photo, Ano-chan posed in her yukata, and her feet were adorned with geta sandals featuring red straps, giving her an especially cute look.

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