radiko Announces 15th Anniversary Project: Hiromi Ota Named PR Ambassador, Brand Movie Released

radiko (President: Takuo Ikeda, Location: Minato-ku, Tokyo) held a press conference in Tokyo on Monday, December 1st to commemorate the 15th anniversary of its service launch.Attending the press conference were Hikaru Ota of Bakusho Mondai, serving as the 15th Anniversary PR Ambassador; actor Taisei Kido, who appears in the brand movie; and Shinya Ishihara of Saucy Dog, who composed the music. Hosted by radio personality Fumika Hidushima, each shared their "love for radio."

Hikaru Ota: "I listen to everything from Osaka traffic info to department store event announcements in Wakayama (laughs)."

Ota, who ranked #1 in radiko's "Most Listened-To Program Participants" ranking in 2024, enjoys strong support from radiko users. He mentioned listening to programs nationwide via radiko in his private time, commenting, "Thanks to the area-free feature, I can enjoy programs and local information from all over Japan while in Tokyo. It feels like a dream."He further expressed his enthusiasm: "I'm deeply moved that radio has evolved into a 'new media' accessible via smartphones through radiko, reaching younger generations. Radio is where a person's true character shines through most. As a PR ambassador, I want to spread this joy."

As part of his PR activities, Mr. Ota will also appear on the original podcast program "radiko 15th Anniversary: Hikaru Ota and 15 Talkers."

Taisei Kido: "My radio companion is sleep." Shinya Ishihara: "Radio in the car holds special memories."

When asked, "What is radio for you?", Kido answered, "It's my sleep companion. I always fall asleep listening to the radio, but I've never managed to hear a show through to the end (laughs)." Ishihara replied, "It's travel. The radio always playing in the car during the drives and fishing trips my parents occasionally took me on are special memories. Even now, listening to the radio while traveling is part of my daily routine," sharing their respective ways of enjoying radio.

Brand Movie "Then and Now" Released

The press conference also unveiled the 15th-anniversary brand movie "Then and Now." This work embodies radiko's history and vision, tracing the radio's journey while connecting its value to the future. It features Kido Taisei, a rising young actor expanding his horizons, and the trio band Saucy Dog—who enjoy overwhelming support, especially among young people—who wrote the original song "Brand New."

Official Character Name "Radimaru" Announced

The name of radiko's new official character, "Radimaru," was also announced. It embodies the wish for Radimaru to "serve as a bridge connecting with all of you who love radio." Moving forward, Radimaru will appear in various 15th-anniversary campaigns and activities, conveying the appeal of radio and radiko.

Numerous 15th Anniversary Projects Launch

15th Anniversary Special Site Opens
Features a brand movie, messages from 99 station personalities, topics related to the 15th anniversary, and details on each campaign.
[radiko 15th Anniversary Site] https://15th.radiko.jp/

radiko App Friend Referral Campaign
An app-exclusive referral campaign. Both the referrer and the friend receive rewards.
[Friend Referral Campaign Overview]
Campaign Period: Monday, December 1, 2025 - Friday, January 16, 2026
How to Participate: Obtain the benefit code URL from the link within the app and share it. The friend you referred must log in to the radiko app and listen to programs for a total of 3 hours or more.
Prizes: 3-month Radiko Premium (Double Plan) coupon (for both referrer and friend), ¥500 Amazon Gift Card (1,000 winners selected by lottery from referrers)

Other collaborative projects are also planned.
To mark radiko's 15th anniversary, collaborative projects are being prepared with various broadcasters, programs, media outlets, companies, organizations, and IPs. The 15th-anniversary initiatives will run for one year until the end of November 2026.

With its 15th anniversary, radiko aims to further invigorate the radio industry and evolve from a "platform where you can listen to radio" into a "platform where users can enjoy audio content more freely, feel it more intimately, and discover new ways to enjoy it."

*About radiko
A free service allowing users to listen to radio and podcasts on smartphones and PCs. Features like "Time Free," "Area Free," and "Time Free 30" enable easy enjoyment of audio content anytime, anywhere. https://radiko.jp/
Participating Stations: All 99 commercial radio stations and NHK (Radio 1, NHK-FM)