Santo Nomu Marks 8 Years, Shifts From Official VTuber to Official Character
Santo Nomu's transition from official VTuber to official character signals a strategic evolution for one of the few remaining corporate VTubers from the 2018 era, aiming for wider recognition beyond the VTuber scene.
Reporting from 1 source: KAI-YOU.
Santo Nomu, Suntory's official VTuber, marked her 8th anniversary on August 17, 2026. The company announced new initiatives, including an AI version, a mini-character, and a shift in her official title from VTuber to official character. Santo Nomu assured fans she will not disappear, framing the change as a step toward broader activities.
Santo Nomu, Suntory's official VTuber, is changing her official designation. As of her 8th anniversary on August 17, 2026, she will be known as Suntory's official character, a shift that comes with new projects: an AI version called AI Santo Nomu and a mini-character version.
In an interview with KAI-YOU, Santo Nomu described her original role as a bridge between customers and Suntory, noting that the company's beverage products are part of daily life. She credited her continued activity to the support of her fans, the Nomu Friends, whose voices reached Suntory.
She reassured fans that the change does not mean an end, stating, "It's not like the current me will disappear, so please rest assured." The move is positioned as a step toward a more solid existence as Suntory's official character, with expectations for activity across a wider range of formats.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.