‘Umamusume’ concert cancellation highlights visa hurdles for Japanese performers

What should have been a victory lap for “horse idols” failed to get out of the gate this week, underscoring how difficult it is to bring Japanese entertainers to the world despite surging demand. Developed by Japan’s Cygames, “Umamusume” turns racehorses into anime girls with big ears and tails. The multimedia franchise spans video games, anime and manga, with music playing a major role.

Its first North American concerts were set to feature 17 voice actors performing at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater on Oct. 22 and 23. Yet all that was dashed on Oct. 20, when Cygames announced the shows had been canceled.