Nijisanji VTubers Host Relay Commentary for Street Fighter USA Anime
This collaboration bridges a decades-old 'phantom' anime with a current generation of VTuber streamers, turning a piece of Street Fighter history that was inaccessible in Japan into a communal live event.
Key Facts
- The program 'Nijisanji × Anime Street Fighter USA All 26 Episodes Relay Live Commentary' runs on Nico Nico Live from September 17 to October 8, 2026, every Thursday at 20:00.
- Four Nijisanji VTubers participate: Hyakumantenbara Salome (episodes 1-7), Kuzuha (episodes 8-13), Iha Rai (episodes 14-19), and Saeki Ittetsu (episodes 20-26).
- Street Fighter USA aired in the US in the 1990s and was never broadcast or released on home video in Japan; it became available on streaming services in 2021.
- Kuzuha's current Street Fighter 6 rank is Ultimate Master, and Iha Rai's rank is High Master (MR1680).
- Street Fighter 6, released in 2023, has sold 7 million units globally, and a new live-action Street Fighter film is scheduled for October 2026.
Reporting from 2 sources: KAI-YOU, PANORA.
Dwango announced on July 27 that four Nijisanji VTubers will host a four-week relay live commentary for the TV anime Street Fighter USA on Nico Nico Live. The program, titled 'Nijisanji × Anime Street Fighter USA All 26 Episodes Relay Live Commentary,' runs from September 17 to October 8, 2026, every Thursday at 20:00. The participants are Hyakumantenbara Salome (episodes 1-7), Kuzuha (episodes 8-13), Iha Rai (episodes 14-19), and Saeki Ittetsu (episodes 20-26). All four are known for playing Street Fighter 6, with Kuzuha reaching Ultimate Master rank and Iha Rai at High Master. Street Fighter USA aired in the US in the 1990s and was long considered a 'phantom title' in Japan because it was never broadcast or released on home video there; it became available on streaming services in 2021. The VTubers will watch the series fresh, without prior viewing or information. The broadcast will show the anime footage alongside the VTubers' reactions on one screen. A follow-and-repost campaign on the Nico Nico VTuber official X account offers prizes. Kuzuha commented that he wants to learn character matchups by watching the anime to raise his rank.
The program is the latest in a long line of collaborations between Nijisanji and the Street Fighter franchise. In 2021, former Nijisanji member Azuchi Momo founded the 'Niji Street V Division' (now 'Niji Street 6 Division'), a group of VTubers who regularly stream Street Fighter practice and hold tournaments. In 2023, an online lottery featuring Nijisanji members dressed as Street Fighter characters was released. In January 2026, Kuzuha hosted the 'KZHCUP RUMBLE in STREET FIGHTER 6' event at Pacifico Yokohama National Hall, which brought in pro gamers as coaches. Street Fighter 6, released in 2023, has sold 7 million units globally, and a new live-action Street Fighter film is scheduled for October 2026. The VTubers' current Street Fighter 6 ranks vary: Salome is Diamond, Kuzuha is Ultimate Master, Iha Rai is High Master (MR1680), and Saeki Ittetsu is Diamond ★4. Salome, who started with SF6 and only played training mode in SF5, uses Zangief as her main character. Kuzuha plays Akuma, Iha Rai plays Ken, and Saeki Ittetsu plays Alex. The broadcast schedule splits the 26 episodes into four blocks: episodes 1-7 on September 17, episodes 8-13 on September 24, episodes 14-19 on October 1, and episodes 20-26 on October 8.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 2 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.