Yubari Rei Interview: Former Agency Staff on VTuber Survival
The interview offers a rare dual-perspective view of the VTuber industry from someone who has worked both as an agency staffer and as an independent talent, providing practical advice on debut strategy, tool selection, and the mindset needed to sustain a career.
Reporting from 1 sources: MoguLive.
MoguLive published an interview with VTuber Yubari Rei, who debuted in July 2025 after working as a staff member at a VTuber agency. In the interview, Rei discusses her transition from behind-the-scenes support to becoming a talent, citing a desire to give back to the industry and gain firsthand experience. She notes that her debut cost about 4.5 million yen, mostly for music video production, and that she faced challenges finding a compatible Live2D creator. Rei emphasizes the importance of having a clear "short title" to quickly convey individuality to viewers, pointing to examples like Kizetsu-chan and Shiteharu-san. She compares the pros and cons of independent versus corporate VTuber life: independence offers freedom but requires self-management and social skills, while corporate affiliation provides easier initial recognition and support but comes with higher audition hurdles and group dynamics. Rei's core advice for newcomers is that persistence matters most: "Those who don't quit win." She also tested Live2D's tracking app "nizima LIVE" for the article, calling it intuitive and beginner-friendly.
Rei said she was "really conflicted" about debuting and had considered leaving the industry entirely to become an acupuncturist, possibly one specializing in VTubers. She also cited a book, "The Garden Story" by Tsunehiro Uno, which argues that people who can immerse themselves in production are strong, as a influence on her mindset toward not fixating on view counts.
Rei runs an interview series where she asks other VTubers about their revenue and channel management strategies. She said she asks "quite probing questions" because those are details "only fellow VTubers can ask." Guests have included Peaky Hikers.
Rei tested Live2D's tracking app "nizima LIVE" for the article. She called it intuitive and beginner-friendly, noting that it worked smoothly with a 3,000 yen webcam and that its status as a Japanese-developed app makes update information easy to follow. The app allows users to drag and drop Live2D files, adjust expressions, and add background effects like dappled sunlight without external editing software.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.