人気Vtuber「ニコ生上がりのVtuberはおばさんが多い」
A popular Vtuber recently sparked online discussion by stating that "many Vtuber streamers who originated from Niconico Live are older women."
This comment elicited mixed reactions; some agreed, noting "there certainly are many experienced individuals," while others questioned, "Is it appropriate to judge based on age?"
This has led to a lively exchange of diverse opinions across the internet.
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Vtuber (Virtual YouTuber)
Vtuber refers to entertainers who stream videos or live content using 2D or 3D avatars. Since Kizuna AI began activity as a "Virtual YouTuber" in late 2016, the phenomenon has rapidly become a global movement. Particularly from around 2018, numerous Vtubers emerged, both corporate and independent, primarily on video platforms like YouTube. They deliver diverse content including game streaming, cover songs, casual chats, ASMR, language learning, and planned videos. The market size is rapidly expanding; a survey by Yano Research Institute estimates the Vtuber market size to have exceeded 50 billion JPY in fiscal year 2022 and predicts it will approach 70 billion JPY in fiscal year 2023. Key factors driving this growth include anonymity, allowing activity without revealing one's real appearance, the potential for diverse expression through avatars, and the evolution of motion capture technology enabling natural character portrayal. The demand for online entertainment during the COVID-19 pandemic further boosted Vtubers' prominence. Fans tend to empathize with the personality and story projected onto the avatar, experiencing deeper immersion and attachment to the character than with typical streamers. Consequently, Vtubers have evolved beyond mere streamers to occupy a critically important position in the modern entertainment industry.
Niconico Live (Nico Nama)
Niconico Live (commonly known as Nico Nama) is a live streaming service within "Niconico Douga," operated by Dwango Co., Ltd. Launched in 2007, it held significant influence over Japanese internet culture, especially from the late 2000s to the 2010s. Its primary feature is allowing users to freely set up and broadcast live programs, with viewers posting comments in real-time. This on-screen comment function is said to have influenced many subsequent live streaming services. In its heyday, Niconico Live saw ordinary streamers, known as "Namanushi," broadcast diverse content such as game streams, casual chats, cover songs, and drawing streams, forming unique communities. Many adopted a style of streaming using only their voice without showing their face, which arguably laid some groundwork for the later Vtuber culture. A considerable number of popular streamers and Vtubers active today are "Nico Nama-agari" – individuals who started their streaming careers on Niconico Live. These experienced individuals often possess well-honed talk skills, comment handling abilities, and methods for engaging with listeners, which they developed during their Niconico Live days. Therefore, statements like the one in the article's title are understood as an important context for those familiar with the former Niconico Live culture and the current streaming culture that evolved from it.
"Age" and "Experience" in Online Streamers
In the world of online streaming, "age," while seemingly superficial information, is intimately linked to "experience" and significantly impacts a streamer's activities and content quality. Younger streamers often have a keen sensitivity to new trends, are adept at popular games and social media use, and readily gain empathy from their peers. In contrast, older streamers, particularly those active since early platforms like Niconico Live, tend to have longer streaming histories and often excel in the following areas:
1. **Talk Skills and Versatility**: Their communication skills, refined over years of experience, are sophisticated, offering strong improvisation abilities to keep the conversation flowing and a wealth of topics. Diverse life experiences contribute to talks from deeper perspectives and relatable anecdotes.
2. **Troubleshooting Ability**: Streaming is prone to unexpected issues (equipment, network, aggressive viewer comments, etc.), but experienced streamers possess the know-how to respond calmly and accurately.
3. **Audience Relationship Building**: Through long-term activity, they often build strong trusting relationships with their loyal fans, enabling stable community management.
4. **Planning and Execution Skills**: They tend to have a higher ability to produce streams from multiple angles, including planning content to prevent stagnation and coordinating collaborations.
In the current discussion, the statement "Nico Nama-agari = older women," while referring to an age demographic, can be interpreted as an evaluation of "qualities as a streamer stemming from long experience" or as highlighting a generational gap. It's not merely about being older; the "value of experience" accumulated with age is a crucial aspect shaping a streamer's appeal, which is very important for a deep understanding of the online streaming industry.