Top 6 Virtual Influencers in Japan 2024
Japanese virtual influencers, also known as virtual idols, are gaining popularity at home and abroad thanks to Japan’s latest technology and social media platforms.
Virtual girlfriend influencers are different from VTubers, who primarily focus on live streaming.
They are redefining the way we view human content. These are attracting the attention and interest of not only Japan’s Gen Z, but also brand owners.
Japanese virtual influencers, primarily active on her Instagram, can be more effective than traditional Japanese influencer marketing.
Virtual influencers are created using AI tools, photography, software, and more. They are similar to human influencers, but unique in that they are completely controlled by their creators. From the caption to the creative, our goal is to be the “ideal” influencer.
They can also reach a wider audience because they can cross language barriers. Some Japanese virtual influencers use not only Japanese but also English to connect with the world. This gives you a greater influence on your audience and is more likely to gain fans and followers.
Top 6 Virtual Influencers in Japan 2024
1.Hatsune Miku
Hatsune Miku is a Japanese virtual singer and character created using voice synthesis technology called Vocaloid. Since 2007, they have become a major influence in the Japanese music industry and pop culture.
Hatsune Miku’s characteristics are her character design, her cute voice, and her success in a wide range of music genres. Her voice is generated based on voice data programmed by the user, and she sings various songs. Therefore, composers and producers can freely create songs and have Hatsune Miku sing them.
Hatsune Miku also performs live at concerts and events, using 3D hologram technology to sing and dance on stage. This allows fans to enjoy a realistic live experience with virtual artists.
She is also actively developing commercial products such as character goods and collaboration products, as well as media mix development such as anime and games. Hatsune Miku’s popularity has spread not only in Japan but all over the world, and many fans are attracted to her charm.
Hatsune Miku is more than just a virtual character, she has brought about a revolution in the music industry as an entity that proposes new musical culture and forms of expression.
2.Imma
Imma is a Japanese virtual model who appeared on Instagram in 2018 and is known for her infamous bubblegum pink bob. He is also known for his fashion sense and has collaborated with global brands such as Burberry and Ferragamo. She has also participated in many NFT art collaborations.
Her Japanese fans are attracted not only to her appearance but also to her humble answers in interviews. Imma is a virtual girlfriend influencer who is so curious that she questions her own identity using her hashtag #ithinkimcgi. This digital personality also likes visiting museums and she is very vocal about issues related to race and gender.
She has an audience all over the world and posts primarily in English. In recent years, she has also collaborated with major brands such as IKEA, Nike, Amazon, Dior, Puma, Calvin Klein, Valentino, and Lenovo. She is Japan’s largest commercial virtual influencer.
3.MEME
She is a virtual influencer from Japan. She is known for her less-than-perfect features and her flawed beauty. This can be said to break the conventional wisdom of virtual influencers when it comes to beauty. She reflects today’s diverse views on beauty and promotes the idea that you can be beautiful despite your flaws. This makes her very unique among other virtual influencers.
4.RIA
Ria is the founder of Aww Inc., Japan’s first virtual human company. She is known for calling herself “Newman”.
She believes that she exists between the real world and the virtual world, and she explores different locations to understand her place in it. Her personality is the reason why she is loved by so many people.
She is active as a fashion model all over the world. She also has a curious personality and especially likes trying new things.
Her Instagram posts introduce some aspects of the Japanese lifestyle that others may not know about. She also has her own love life and is often seen playing with her boyfriend, Plasticboy.
5.LiamNikuro
みんな、はじめまして！僕はCGで作られたバーチャルヒューマンのリアム・ニクロ。僕はリアルには存在しないけどこれから僕が生み出すクリエイティブやプロデュースする事が世界中の人を少しでも楽しませたり、ちょっぴり希望を与えたり、世の中のほんの少しだけでもお役に立てたらなって思ってるよ。 pic.twitter.com/YcTU0DZSDD
— Liam Nikuro (@liam_nikuro) April 3, 2019
He is a unique virtual influencer who is Japanese American. He is a stylish character who is good at playing instruments and is based in LA and Tokyo.
He is active in music, modeling, fashion, and even basketball production. He participated in the NBA bubble with Rui Hachimura, a famous Japanese NBA player, and the Wizards.
He also takes political positions on Asian hate, #BlackLivesMatter, and the Ukraine war. His characters are more than just influencers; they stimulate social discussion.
6.Plastic boy
Plastic Boy is a Japanese virtual male model with a cool personality.
He is also very mysterious and has not revealed his age yet.He loves music and has appeared on the covers of various magazines such as “Uniform Magazine.” The visuals are said to be “worth seeing.”
Conclusion
The popularity of virtual influencers in Japan is increasing tremendously.
It is true that, depending on one’s point of view, there are concerns that the boundary between the virtual world and reality may become blurred. But they create a unique opportunity for companies to have complete control over the image of their characters.
Virtual influencers are also less likely to face legal issues and scandals, unlike human influencers. Japan’s virtual influencers demonstrate that commercial collaboration can also be effective.
The marketing provided by HOTICE meets all of the above points.
Because we are not just a marketing company, but have “SNS marketing” as our weapon in Japan, we are able to provide services and know-how tailored to companies looking to market from overseas to Japan.
Please feel free to contact us if you are a company looking to expand your business into Japan.
If you are interested in our services, please contact us.
