Install Japanese apps
This guide allows you to download apps directly from the stores, so you only have to follow this once and you will be able to update the app without having to install anything else!
- Head over to https://appleid.apple.com/account and fill out the information. Make sure Country/Region is set to Japan!
- It will ask you for a phone number for verification. This does not need to be Japanese, but it does need to be able to receive SMS. After clicking next, it will ask you to verify both the email and the number with a 6-number digit code.
- Head over to the App Store on your phone, and click the circle icon on the top right
- It will ask you for your login details, fill it out and click on Sign In
- Head over to SIF2’s page (or the app you want to install!) and click on Get. It will tell you that the ID hasn’t been used in the iTunes Store, so click Review.
- Make sure Japan is set as the region and accept the T&C
- On Payment Method click None, and fill out the information. This needs to be a Japanese address!!
- You will see that it asks you for a Japanese phone number. Don’t worry, you can put whatever, since you won’t need to verify it!
- Now you’re all set up to download Japanese apps on the App Store!
Install QooApp and follow the instructions there.
Links for each (Japanese) Love Live! app can be found here:
- School Idol Festival 2 (SIF2) MIRACLE LIVE!
- Link! Like! Love Live!
- School Idol Festival All Stars (SIFAS)
Note: These instructions were created on April 16, 2023 on a Samsung device running Android 13, One UI 5.1. The appearance of system settings and permission toggles will vary depending on your device and software version.
Summary: You will be using a VPN app and Aurora Store. Aurora Store is an open-source alternative Google Play Store client that allows you to download apps directly from Google servers anonymously.
- Install Proton VPN (or any reputable VPN app with Japanese servers) from the Play Store.
- Open Proton VPN and create an account. It will ask for a username, password, recovery email, and CAPTCHA.
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Until you've set up Aurora Store, you will not need a VPN.
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Download the stable version of Aurora Store.
- Your browser may warn you that the file might be harmful. Download it anyway.
- When the download is complete, open the APK file. If you have never manually installed an APK file before, you will need to grant your browser permission to do so.
- If needed, allow your browser to install unknown apps in the system settings prompt.
- Install Aurora Store.
- If prompted, allow Aurora Store to send you notifications. The permission is needed to allow background downloads.
- Agree to the terms of service.
- You will reach the Welcome page. Go to the next page.
- You should not need to touch anything on the Installer page. Go to the next page.
- Pick a theme you like or leave it default. Go to the next page.
- Pick your favorite accent color or leave it default. Go to the next page.
- On this page, you will be taken to various system settings to grant the neccessary permissions.
- Grant the permission for accessing external storage.
- If you are on Android 11 or newer, you will need to grant the permission for accessing all files.
- Grant Aurora Store the permission to install unknown apps as you did with your browser.
- Once you have finished granting the neccessary permissions, you will be taken to Aurora Store's login screen. You will need to make sure your VPN is on before you proceed.
- Return to Proton VPN and connect to a server in Japan.
- Verify that you have successfuly connected to a server in Japan.
- Once you're connected to a VPN server in Japan, return to the Aurora Store and login anonymously. Once logged into the Aurora Store, select the search button at the bottom of the screen.
- Look for the app you'd like to install in the list of results.
- Select the install button for the app. (Revue Starlight is being used an example here because SIF2 was already installed on this phone 😅)
- Wait for the download to complete, and then select the new install button in the system prompt. If you left the Aurora Store app while waiting for the download, you may need to select Aurora Store's install button again for the system prompt to appear.
You're done! App updates will appear in the Updates section of Aurora Store.
Note: These instructions were created on April 14, 2023 on a Samsung device running Android 13, One UI 5.1. The appearance and specific location of system settings will vary depending on your device and software version.
Summary: You will be using Google Opinion Rewards and a VPN app to create a Japanese Google account. Google Opinion Rewards will lock your Google Play billing region to Japan without having you add a Japanese payment method.
- Install Google Opinion Rewards
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If you already use Google Opinion Rewards in your home region, you must clear the app data for the app.
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On your home screen, hold down on its app icon until a menu pops up and select the App info icon ⓘ.
- Select the “Storage” option. This may also be labeled as “Storage & cache” on your device.
- Select the option to clear its app data. Your Google Play balance will not be lost in this process.
- Install Proton VPN (or any reputable VPN app with Japanese servers)
- Open Proton VPN and create an account. It will ask for a username, password, recovery email, and CAPTCHA.
- Connect to a server in Japan.
- Verify that you have successfully connected to a server in Japan.
- Open your system settings and select the “Accounts and backup” option. This may also be labeled as “Accounts” or “Passwords & accounts” on your device. If you are unable to locate the section, use the search button.
- Select “Manage accounts” if you are not taken to a screen with a list of accounts on your devices.
- Select “Add account” at the bottom of the list. The length of this list may differ depending on the apps you have installed on your device.
- Select “Google” in the list of accounts that you can add. The length of this list may differ depending on the apps you have installed on your device.
- You will then load into a login screen for Google. Create an account for yourself.
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Input a valid name and birthday.
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If prompted, skip adding a phone number.
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If prompted, you may opt out of Web Web & App Activity, Location History, and YouTube History if you’d like.
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Once you have created your account, open Google Opinion Rewards and select “Get started”.
- Make sure that you select the correct Google account in the pop-up.
- If you opted out of Location History during account creation, you may continue to opt out.
- Select “Setup” in the “Claim your rewards” banner.
- Confirm that the payment account being created is located in Japan.
- If the payment account creation is successful, you will have a Google Play Balance in Japanese Yen. (Note: The author of this guide does not recommend actually using the Google Opinion Rewards on an account set to a foreign region as the rate and payout of surveys given heavily relies on Location History. It is best practice to use Google Opinion Rewards on your primary Google account set to your home region with Location History on instead, if it is available in your home region. You can research further details about how Google Opinion Rewards works after you install SIF2!)
- Open the Play Store and tap on your profile picture. Switch to the Japanese Google account you have just created. You can also swipe on the picture to quickly switch between all the accounts you’re logged into.
- After selecting the correct account, open the menu using the profile picture again, and select “Settings.”
- Expand the “General” section and select “Account and device preferences”.
- Verify that your country is now set to Japan.
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You may turn off your VPN as you have verified that your country is set to Japan.
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Exit the settings, locate the listing for SIF2, and install!
Congratulations, you have successfully created a Japanese Google Play account and installed SIF2!
You may switch back to your primary Google account in the Play Store at any time. App updates will still appear as long you are signed into the Japanese account.
You may uninstall Google Opinion Rewards or clear the app data again to re-login with your primary Google account.