Rion Takamiya Marks 8 Years With a Cover of kz(livetune)'s "Reply"

Rion Takamiya (鷹宮リオン) celebrated her 8th anniversary with Nijisanji the way she has for previous milestones — with a cover, this time taking on Reply by kz(livetune). Takamiya debuted August 9, 2018, and dropping this cover on the exact date keeps up a tradition; her 7th anniversary last year was marked the same way, with a pitched-up take on “Asu no Yozora Shoukaihan.”

Where “Reply” Comes From

Reply was originally performed by かぐや, voiced by Yuuko Natsuyoshi, as part of 超かぐや姫！(Cosmic Princess Kaguya!) — a Netflix original music anime from director Seigo Yamashita, known for his opening sequence work on shows like Jujutsu Kaisen and Chainsaw Man. The project reimagines the classic Kaguya-hime folktale with a stacked lineup of Vocaloid producers writing the soundtrack, including ryo (supercell), kz(livetune), 40mP, HoneyWorks, Aqu3ra, and yuigot. It’s a genuinely high-profile source to pull a cover from, and one built specifically around big, emotional pop songwriting.

A Fitting Pick for the Occasion

Reply leans into themes of memory and holding onto bright, fleeting moments — the kind of song that fits naturally with an anniversary release looking back on years of history with a fanbase. Takamiya built her identity in Nijisanji around a sharp tsundere-ojousama persona, but her music output has consistently shown a different, more sincere side, and picking a song this earnest for her anniversary cover continues that pattern.

The Team Behind It

Illustration comes from Itoma (いとま) and the movie from Tanshio (たんしお), giving this anniversary release its own distinct visual identity rather than a simple static cover.

Eight Years and Still Going

Eight years is a long run by any VTuber’s standard, and Takamiya marking each milestone with a new vocal cover has become one of the more consistent traditions in her channel’s history. It’s a small but meaningful way of showing the growth in her voice year over year, even as everything else about her stays recognizably her.

Track Credits

Title: Reply
Vocals: Rion Takamiya (鷹宮リオン)
Original Performed By: Kaguya (cv. Yuuko Natsuyoshi) from 超かぐや姫！(Cosmic Princess Kaguya!)
Lyrics: Erika Masaki (真崎エリカ)
Composition & Arrangement: kz
Guitar: Yuki Waga (和賀裕希)
Illustration: Itoma (いとま)
Movie: Tanshio (たんしお)
Agency: Nijisanji