To mark its 9th anniversary, the naval shoot ’em up Azur Lane is set to host an in-person gathering in Tokyo named the “AZUR LANE MUSI9 FES,” taking place from September 5 to 6. Among the event’s highlights, a particular menu item has captured the interest of Japanese fans.
The standout offering is a simple, salted rice ball priced at 1,000 yen (around $6.5). Though steep for such a basic meal, these onigiri are crafted from “Owari Gyaru Rice,” a special rice variety born from an odd culinary partnership Azur Lane publisher Yostar initiated in December 2025 under the theme of “gyaru agriculture.”
For this collaboration, Yostar partnered with an award-winning farm in Gifu Prefecture to grow the rice, using an old Hatsushimo variety known for its rarity and quality. Throughout the cultivation—from seedlings to harvest—the rice was exposed to ASMR audio featuring Azur Lane character Owari. Gentle encouragements for the rice to thrive were played via speakers in the fields and delivered individually to each stalk through headphones, as documented in a special video about the project.
Originally, fans could purchase bags of “Owari Gyaru Rice” alongside Owari merchandise, but now the rice returns to the MUSI9 FES as exclusive onigiri. Yostar rep Dai Miwaki noted that the team intentionally omitted nori and fillings to highlight the rice’s unique taste. Due to its unconventional cultivation, these rice balls will be available in limited quantities.
Azur Lane is available on iOS and Android. The Azur Lane MUSI9 FES runs from September 5 to 6, 2026.