Over the past few years, YouTubers have diversified, and more and more groups are expanding their activities overseas. Keigo Mihara and JUN of "Mihara (Sanen) JAPAN" are YouTubers who belong to Capsule Japan Co., Ltd., and are based in Taiwan. With over 1.4 million YouTube channel subscribers, he is said to be the most famous Japanese in Taiwan. This time, we will focus on the activities and charms of Mihara Japan. Free announcer Sakura Tasaki listened to the story.
Mr. Mihara and JUN started their activities as YouTuber "Mihara JAPAN" in 2015. Until then, both of them worked as employees of a television station.
Image in this article (11 photos)ーーHow did you become a YouTuber from a TV station employee? Mr. Mihara (hereafter, Mihara): It all started when I noticed that the number of individual video distributors is increasing year by year. As I watched their videos, I gradually began to think, "I want to use my experience as a TV station employee to create my own videos."ーーHow did you come to work with JUN? Mihara: JUN-san and I are in a senior-junior relationship from the same university. JUN is the senior and I am the junior. We had made a movie together when I was in school, so I approached him.ーーI heard that you were posting videos on Facebook at first. Mihara: At that time, Facebook was the social networking site used by many Taiwanese. Of course there was YouTube, but it wasn't as well known as Facebook. The reason I switched to YouTube was when the president of Capsule Japan approached me. I decided to join YouTube because I thought that if I worked hard as a YouTuber, I would be able to make the videos I wanted to make while earning a living.
ーーWhat are your professional roles like? JUN (hereafter, JUN): Basically, my role is to nod when Mihara talks about her dreams (laughs).ーーMr. Mihara, is that true…? Mihara: No, it's not (laughs). I'm asking JUN to be a coordinator when planning projects on a team-by-team basis, and to provide support where I can't get around. We have several channels in the group, so I'm asking you to manage them.ーーPlease tell us about your impressions of each other. What kind of person is Mihara-san from JUN-san's point of view? JUN: You're a crazy person (laughs). All of a sudden, they say, “I want to do this, I want to go here.” Personally, I think that's what makes him interesting. I always feel fresh because I do things that I would never do if it were me.
ーーWhat kind of person is JUN from Mihara's point of view? Mihara: I have the impression that you are a caring senior. I often tend to be overwhelmed with myself, but JUN is someone who spends his time for others and sees his surroundings. I am really glad that I invited you.
Since 2015, the two have been active as YouTubers and have distributed videos of various genres. It seems that the reason why he became famous in Taiwan was a video that introduced Japanese with music.
ーーWhich of the YouTube videos you've released so far would you recommend? Mihara: I recommend all of them, but the video with the most views is called "Japanese Memorabilia". It's our representative work, so I'd like you to see this first.
ーーI heard that this video had a great response in Taiwan. Mihara: That's right. I think it's been played about 6 million times. I was very happy to hear that I was able to learn Japanese with this and that it was interesting.ーーI think you can also recommend it to viewers outside of Taiwan. Mihara: Actually, people outside of Taiwan have also seen this video. The comment section is full of words from all over the world, and I still look back at it from time to time.
ーーWhat other videos do you post? Mihara: At first, as a foreign YouTuber, I posted funny content about Japanese culture. But if that's all it is, it can only be seen by "Taiwanese people who are interested in Japan." Our goal is to be the top YouTuber in Taiwan, so we decided to drop the title of "Japanese" and make videos that everyone can see.ーーI see! What kind of videos did you start making? Mihara: It's a gluttonous video. Because it was a genre that had not penetrated Taiwan at the time. However, as I continued to shoot gluttonous videos, my health started to suffer... so I put it back to normal (laughs).
What they keep in mind is to post videos every day like Japanese YouTubers. It seems to be commonplace in Japan, but it seems to be different in Taiwan.
JUN: In Taiwan, it's like, "It's fine to post at a pace of about one per week." In the first place, many Japanese YouTubers are quite serious and hardworking. But that's the good thing about Japanese people, and we thought we'd try to imitate them without losing out.
ーーHowever, it's hard to post every day, isn't it? JUN: It was really hard (laughs). Together with the updates of other channels, I have put out 20 to 30 episodes a week. At that time, I was facing the computer all day long.
About the content of the video, Mr. Mihara says that he tries not to make videos of only what we want to do and what we like.
Mihara: Of course, it's important to do what we want to do, but that's enough to separate us from the rest of the world. The needs of the world are decided to some extent and there is a flow. So, even if it's a little different from our tastes, we're trying to incorporate it. JUN: Also, I try to keep an eye on trends and have a sense of speed. The great thing about YouTube is that you can instantly post videos that match the trend. But on the other hand, it also means that if you don't adapt to the changing times, you won't be able to survive in the YouTube world, so I'll continue to keep that in mind.
One of the charms of Mihara Japan is the active interaction with fans. Before Corona, he says that he had ingenuity that other YouTubers didn't often see.
Mihara: Before COVID-19, we gathered fans once every six months and held a live event to perform our songs. I had a lot of interaction with the fans there.
ーーThere aren't many YouTubers who hold live events! Why was it a live event? Mihara: Because I like idols and admired them (laughs). I was so happy when I held my first live event.
ーーWhich event you have held so far has attracted the most fans? Mihara: It's an event called "Let's make a Guinness World Record for the size of tapioca milk tea." It was a great success with about 3,000 to 4,000 people participating. I'm glad it was held.
It is the staff of Capsule Japan Co., Ltd. that supports Mihara Japan behind the scenes. We also asked them about their relationship with the staff.
ーーHow is the relationship between Mihara JAPAN, the agency, and Buddy (manager)? JUN: You really support me. When I first started living in Taiwan, I didn't understand Chinese, so I struggled with administrative procedures and paying taxes. Sales inquiries were also difficult. But after the office started supporting me, everything went smoothly.
ーーHow did you learn Chinese? Mihara: I'm mostly self-taught. So incorrect Chinese has spread within the group... JUN: I'm imitating Mihara's Chinese, so there's a high chance I'll remember it wrong (laughs).
ーーBut you were releasing videos in Chinese from the beginning, right? Mihara: That's right. In the early days, I put a clip under the camera and cut the bad parts without hesitation. So the video is pretty rough. Still, there were people who were happy, so I continued. JUN: There's a Taiwanese in the group now, so I'm learning from him. I think I'm learning to speak correctly little by little.
ーーHow is the response from Taiwanese fans? Mihara: Until the second year of our debut, even if we weren't very good at speaking Chinese, people would say "cute!" That's why I'm neglecting my studies?" I am still studying hard!
In addition, Mr. Mihara says that he has more tie-ups with companies because he belongs to the office. Among them, the tie-up with a beverage maker was a valuable experience for Mr. Mihara.
ーーAre there any tie-ups that left an impression on you? Mihara: It's a tie-up with a manufacturer that produces "Takkousui", a major beverage in Taiwan. Products with my signature and message written on them were lined up in the store. It was a very valuable experience. JUN: I was so happy that I bought a lot (laughs). Mihara: I bought it every time I saw it at the store. I also advertised to my friends in Taiwan, "Because it has my autograph!"
In addition, it seems that the “Shakato Project”, which has recently become popular on SNS, has received a great response. Mihara: Many Japanese people said, “I want to help” and “I want to eat!” But there was no one who could actually bring the Shaka head to Japan. We thought we could step in and help out, so we did our best. In the future, I would like to promote foods other than Shakato, and I would also like to promote Japanese foods to the world.
ーーYou've been collaborating with ROLAND since you temporarily returned to Japan. Mihara: I was really surprised when I received the offer... JUN: It just so happened that there was a Taiwanese staff member on ROLAND's side, and we were able to connect, but I never thought that they would collaborate with us.
ーーPlease tell us your frank impression of the collaboration. Mihara: Honestly, it was like a dream and I was happy. Mr. ROLAND is originally a very famous person in Taiwan, so the video was spread quite a bit. Mr. ROLAND himself was very friendly and easy to talk to.
Mihara JAPAN's activity goal is "Japan-Taiwan friendship". The video "Thank you for the vaccine" for the new coronavirus that I recently posted has served as an opportunity to deepen the bond between Japan and Taiwan.
Mihara: When the vaccine was sent from Japan to Taiwan, many Taiwanese people said, "Thank you, Japan." Even though we didn't deliver the vaccine, they were kind to us. At that time, I thought, "I should tell the Japanese people about this situation," and posted a video of "Thank you for the vaccine."
ーーI heard that the video was also a big response. JUN: That's right. We received a comment from President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan. What we did may be a small thing, but I was happy to realize that ordinary citizens can contribute to "Japan-Taiwan friendship". I would like to continue working as a bridge between Japan and Taiwan.
ーーYou recently posted a documentary video, right? Mihara: We filmed a monitoring video titled "What would Japanese people do if Taiwanese were discriminated against in Japan?" This one also got a great reaction. Many people commented that they were "moved" by the Japanese who spoke about their feelings for Taiwan with tears in their eyes.
ーーFinally, what do you want to do in the future? Mihara: Holding a live event at Taiwan Arena and making a feature film. I want to make it come true someday. It's still difficult right now, so I'll do my best to have as many people as possible see and enjoy the work we made, centering on the "Japan-Taiwan friendship" as before.
JUN: I want Japanese people to know more about Mihara Japan. Since I have come all the way back to Japan, I would like to take this opportunity to do more and more activities.
Mihara Japan In 2016, Keigo Mihara, who moved to Taiwan alone to fulfill his dream of becoming an idol, opened a Chinese-language YouTube channel, Mihara Japan. After that, after joining members and opening a channel for Japan "San En Taiwan", in 2019 "Mihara JAPAN" achieved 1 million registrations for the first time as a foreign YouTuber active in Taiwan. In addition to collaborating with companies, he has established himself as a top YouTuber in Taiwan, such as being the first YouTuber to appear in Taiwan's Kouhaku Uta Gassen. Mihara JAPAN https://www.youtube.com/c/SanyuanJAPAN2015Sanen Taiwan https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQimp8PIBqQSDHXtPg7_g9Q [Anime] Male college students. (Mihara JAPAN anime channel for Japanese) https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSLtABY4HHBqACq5Bl2yKXg/
Capsule Japan Co., Ltd. https://jtg.capsuleinc.co/Influencer management company with the largest YouTuber network in Taiwan. In addition to promotions using influencer IP, we provide comprehensive marketing support in Taiwan and Greater China, including YouTube tie-ups, SNS management/advertising, and cross-border EC management. Information on each service and detailed materials describing case studies can also be sent. Please feel free to contact us if you have any concerns regarding Taiwan/Greater China promotion, tourism promotion for visiting Japan, etc.
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