VTuber Suisei Hoshimachi and virtual idol Hatsune Miku threw the first pitch at Monday's matchup between the Chiba Lotte Marines and Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. Hoshimachi appeared on the pitcher's mound via screen display and delivered a perfect pitch to Marines player Shingo Ishikawa, which she documented in a video posted to her X account.

The appearance was tied to the Chiba Lotte Marines' "Tsumetakute Aoi, Natsu ga Kita! Coolish & Sō Day" (A cool and blue Summer is here!) ice cream campaign, which launched on July 3. As part of the promotion, Lotte released 30-, 60-, and 90-second advertisements featuring both Hatsune Miku and Suisei Hoshimachi on its YouTube channel.

Hoshimachi, who streams under the VTuber agency Hololive, has become increasingly visible in mainstream Japanese entertainment. Her appearance at a professional baseball stadium reflects the growing crossover appeal of VTubers and virtual idols in traditional media and sports sponsorships.

The game itself came down to the final inning, with the Marines posting an early lead through the first three innings. The Hawks rallied back starting in the fourth inning and secured a 5-4 victory in the ninth, taking the final game of the three-game series.

This event continues a trend of anime, VTuber, and virtual idol personalities making appearances at Japanese sporting events and corporate partnerships, blending digital entertainment with real-world experiences for fans.