
We’ve seen plenty about virtual girlfriends, fun little apps that provide you with all the charms of an attractive girl (well, almost all) without the inconvenience of having to deal with a real person. Well, what if you’ve been waiting for the crossdressing male version…?!
In Dolly Kanon, the newly announced Nintendo 3DS game from Happinet, you can take on the role of musical producer as you manage your secret cross-dressing boyfriend’s career as a music idol!
Dolly Kanon, or to give it its full name Dolly Kanon Dokidoki Tokimeki Himitsu no Ongaku Katsudou Start Desu!! (got that?) is a game adaptation of the shōjo manga by Yū Yabūchi. Join junior high school student Kokone as she helps beautiful boy Soushi become a star.
Dolly Kanon (ドーリィ♪カノン ) has been running as a shōjo manga in Ciao since 2012. Using the stage name Kanon, teenager Soushi moonlights as an idol, thus combining the secretly-famous excitement of Hannah Montana with all the crossdressing thrills of a Shakespeare play.
▼ Kokone, Soushi and (could they be the same person?!!) Kanon.
As Kanon’s manager, your main task is to produce music videos for her:
This requires you to choose her clothes, on a four-point scale consisting of ‘cute, elegant, cool, sporty‘, which incidentally is the mantra I chant to myself every morning as I get dressed.
And ‘direct’ the videos, which seems to have the same meaning here as ‘decorate with stickers’.
▼ To be fair, it is ostensibly a game for little girls.
There’s also a collaboration with über-genki morning kids’ TV presenters Oha-girl, featuring brand new songs:
Dolly Kanon Dokidoki Tokimeki Himitsu no Ongaku Katsudou Start Desu!! is out November 20, priced 5,480 yen (US $52). Make sure to call it by its full name at all times, or it might ditch you for a new virtual player.
Source: Inside Games JP, Oha-suta
Images: Happinet via Inside Games JP, Dolly Kanon








3DS games popping out and running away? Cyber Gadget has the solution!
Limited Edition Pikachu Yellow 3DS LL Sells Out on First Day
Awesome retro faceplate turns your New Nintendo 3DS into an old-school Game & Watch
Get your slime-striking swords ready, 3DS remake for Dragon Quest VIII announced
Tokyo ward looking to change lodging laws, ban more than half of its Airbnb-style rentals
Okinawa man convinced he won 700 million yen by scammers, saved by convenience store staff
Uniqlo’s sister brand will be waiting with Pokémon sweaters and parkas this fall [Pics]
New Transforming Business Card case brings anime mecha to Japanese work meetings
Mister Donut releases new sweet potato doughnuts in Japan, and we’ve ranked them from best to worst
Tokyo’s red-light district cafe lets you dine inside a real 1960s cabaret
New Japanese ice cream is Ballin, in more ways than one
Shinto shrine gate parfaits that tell your fortune now being served in Tokyo
Lego PlayStation recreates Sony’s original console, makes unusual choice for games to salute
Studio Ghibli adds new finger puppets to its anime merchandise collection in Japan
Kyoto temple bans visitors from wearing kimono
A real-world Pokémon Poké Ball hotel is opening in Japan at a still-secret location [Video]
Japan’s first fall color forecast for 2026 is here!
Tamagotchi evolves into a ring for its 30th anniversary, preorders now open
Starbucks Japan reveals new Tsukimi Moon-Viewing drinkware and gifts for autumn 2026
Family Mart releases Famima convenience store products nationwide, but which ones are worth buying?
New Pokémon anniversary song is 22 minutes long, features all 1,025 Pokémon species [Video]
One Piece Day 2026 brings new art, music, and new cast announcements
New Japanese convenience store rice balls taste like instant noodles [Taste test]
12-year-old British girl who went missing in Tokyo found safe after visiting anime sites around Yokohama
7-year-old boy left behind on Mt. Fuji by his own dad
Japan’s final Penguin Suica train cards have already shipped, and when they’re gone, they’re gone
Sushi Bus: Japan’s first conveyor-belt bus lets you eat sushi while sightseeing around Tokyo
Studio Ghibli unveils new anime calendars and diary planners for 2027
Study finds hundreds of people in Indonesia legally named after Naruto, Inuyasha, other anime stars
Japan approves foreign resident visa renewal fee increases of up to 967 percent, starts soon
Japan tripled its departure tax to fund tourism but is using the money on cherry blossoms and bears
Solo travel in Japan: Hidden beer garden in Tokyo is a haven for single visitors
Hobonichi unveils new 2027 planners, diaries and stationery with One Piece, Suica Penguin, Hello Kitty and a must-buy Mini Techo
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】