Kizuna AI Marks 10 Years as VTuber Scene Turns a Decade
The milestone prompts a reexamination of how VTubers are perceived, particularly their music activities and idol status.
Reporting from 1 source: PANORA.
Kizuna AI celebrated her birthday on June 30, 2026, with a 3D live and collaboration stream featuring Sakura Miko, Mori Calliope, and others. The pioneer of the VTuber scene, active since November 29, 2016, is approaching her 10th year, prompting a two-part analysis of whether VTubers are idols.
Kizuna AI's birthday event on June 30, 2026, brought together a roster of VTubers including Sakura Miko, Mori Calliope, Hajime Todoroki, Kokoro Amamiya, Kaede Higuchi, Hinano Tachibana, Otama Tamashii, Ponpoko, and Peanuts-kun. The solo live that followed featured new songs.
With her debut on November 29, 2016, Kizuna AI is set to enter her 10th year in a few months, a span that also marks a decade since the VTuber scene emerged. The anniversary has sparked a discussion on how VTubers are viewed, especially when they engage in music, from 3D live performances to original songs. The question of whether VTubers are idols is explored by tracing the evolution of idol culture, citing SMAP as a model for idols who handle everything from singing to hosting.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.