Ippo Nuruta Discusses VTuber Detective Novel "1/n No Watson" in New Interview
The interview reveals how VTuber fan culture directly inspired the structure of a mainstream light novel series, with the fan-name concept driving the narrative.
Reporting from 1 sources: PANORA.
Author Ippo Nuruta, known for VTuber-related works, gave an interview about his light novel series "1/n no Watson," published by Shogakukan's Gagaga Bunko. Volume 2 released on April 17. Nuruta explained the concept came from the idea of a detective VTuber whose fans, called "Watsons," engage in deduction battles for their oshi. He developed the duo of engineer Kei and female VTuber otaku Hikari as viewpoint characters, writing without a pre-planned plot.
Ippo Nuruta, author of the light novel series "1/n no Watson," sat for an interview with VTuber studies editor and philosophy researcher Hiroki Yamano, published by PANORA on May 28. The second volume of the series, released by Shogakukan's Gagaga Bunko on April 17, follows detective VTuber Homuru-chan as she plans a new 3D model while her fans-called "Watsons"-compete in deduction battles for her attention. Nuruta said the fan name came naturally: "If I were to come up with a fan name for a detective VTuber, it could only be 'Watson.'" He noted that if Homuru has 10,000 subscribers, that means 10,000 Watsons, which inspired the idea of a deduction battle among them. The author wrote the novel without a pre-planned plot, developing the duo of engineer Kei Kogasa and female VTuber otaku Hikari Morito as viewpoint characters.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.