The Kagawa Prefectural Police just announced that AZKi, the virtual singer and member of Hololive’s 0th Generation, has been officially appointed as their Traffic Regulation Advisor and One-Day Police Chief for the Shozu Station. The appointment was confirmed through the department’s official account on X, along with exclusive traffic safety short videos and posters created specifically for the campaign.
AZKi debuted on November 15, 2018, originally under Cover Corporation’s music label INoNaKa Music, before officially transferring to the main Hololive branch on April 1, 2022, joining 0th Generation alongside Tokino Sora and Hoshimachi Suisei, among others.
With over 1.31 million subscribers on YouTube, she has built her career almost entirely around music, original songs, album releases, and live concerts, making her one of Hololive’s most established virtual singers.
The connection between AZKi and Kagawa Prefecture isn’t random. Her name derives from the Japanese word “azuki,” the red bean, and Kagawa is home to Shodoshima island, one of Japan’s most famous azuki-producing regions.
The Kagawa Police played up this detail directly in their announcement, noting that AZKi and the prefecture are practically inseparable. It’s the kind of detail that makes the campaign feel organic rather than a generic influencer placement.
The new traffic rule she’s here to spread
The campaign centers around a very real and significant change to Japan’s traffic laws. Starting September 1, 2026, the legal speed limit on residential roads will drop from 60 km/h to 30 km/h, a measure specifically designed to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists. AZKi addressed this directly in her promotional post, urging drivers to slow down in residential areas to protect those sharing the road.
【交通規制課】
この度、香川県警は #ホロライブ 所属 #AZKi さんを
⚒️香川県警察 交通規制アドバイザー
⚒️小豆署 一日警察署長
に任命しました！
AZKiと言えばあずき…小豆…小豆島と、香川県とは切っても切れない間柄！？
香川県警×AZKi限定の交通安全啓発ショート動画やポスターも作成しました！ pic.twitter.com/iUDxns18TX— 香川県警察 (@kagawapolice) March 24, 2026
To get the message out, the Kagawa Prefectural Police and AZKi produced exclusive short-form traffic safety videos, with a longer promotional video set to go live on Kagawa Prefecture’s official YouTube channel before the end of March.
Posters featuring the collaboration will also be displayed across the region. The campaign targets two audiences at once, AZKi’s fanbase and the general regional public, bridging a gap that traditional public safety messaging rarely manages to cross.
This is not the first time Japanese authorities have turned to virtual creators for public campaigns. Kizuna AI previously served as ambassador for the Japan National Tourism Organization’s “Come to Japan” campaign aimed at American travelers.
Hololive’s own Sakura Miko was appointed as an honorary fire chief for a public awareness effort. These collaborations work because VTubers bring genuinely engaged communities with them, communities that actually pay attention to what their favorite creators say and share.
Japan keeps proving this strategy works
What the Kagawa Prefectural Police did here fits into a growing and deliberate pattern across Japan of using unconventional figures to deliver public information. Earlier in 2026, a calico cat was appointed stationmaster at a local train station, another example of Japan leaning into the unexpected to generate attention and reach audiences that traditional campaigns simply miss.
VTubers are particularly effective for this kind of outreach. Their fanbases are young, highly engaged, and active on social media. When AZKi posts about the upcoming 30 km/h residential speed limit, her Pioneers, as her fanbase is called, aren’t just passively scrolling past a government PSA. They’re seeing someone they follow and trust putting her name behind a message, and that carries real weight. Authorities trying to reach younger demographics with road safety information couldn’t ask for a better vehicle.
AZKi’s appointment also comes at a strong moment in her career. On November 19, 2025, she performed her solo concert “Departure” at Pia Arena MM in Yokohama, a venue with a maximum capacity of 12,141 people.
The concert marked a new chapter for her after announcing in June 2025 that she was parting ways with Victor Entertainment following around two years under the major label, and returning her music activities to Hololive’s internal label. The Kagawa campaign adds another layer to what has been a period of momentum and reinvention for the virtual diva.
Whether other prefectural police departments across Japan follow Kagawa’s lead remains to be seen. But given how much traction this campaign has already generated online, it would be surprising if no one takes notes.
What do you think about a VTuber teaming up with the police to promote traffic safety? Would you slow down for AZKi? Drop your take in the comments!