Making VTubers an 'Academic Discipline'. Iwanami Shoten's Comprehensive Academic Book 'VTuber Studies': Nemu to Participate as an Author!

I am thrilled to announce that I, Virtual Girl Nemu, will be participating as one of the authors for the comprehensive academic book 'VTuber Studies,' to be published in July by the major academic publisher Iwanami Shoten! 'Metaverse Evolution Theory (Impress)'Following this, this will be my second commercial publication.

This book is an ambitious project that aims to establish 'VTubers (Virtual YouTubers),' which have spread from Japan to become a global culture, as a comprehensive 'academic discipline' with an eye toward their further development. 13 experts will be in charge of writing.

As one of the longest-running independent VTubers, I plan to explain the early days of VTubers, the benefits of being active, and future prospects from the perspective of an independent VTuber. In addition, I will be fully cooperating with the promotion of this book, including issuing press releases, advertising, and media correspondence. On 3/10, I will be live-streaming a project announcement event to commemorate the decision to publish this book on my YouTube channel!

In this article, I will introduce the project details and media coverage history.

※Updated 7/30: Additional information has been released in this article.

■ Iwanami Shoten VTuber Comprehensive Academic Book 'VTuber Studies' (Tentative)

Major academic publisher 'Iwanami Shoten' has decided to publish the comprehensive VTuber academic book 'VTuber Studies' (tentative) in July 2024. This book is an ambitious attempt to establish 'VTubers (Virtual YouTubers),' which have spread from Japan to become a global culture, as a comprehensive 'academic discipline' with an eye toward their further development. 13 experts from various fields such as sociology, anthropology, philosophy, cultural studies, gender studies, tourism studies, and entertainment business will analyze VTubers as a phenomenon from their respective perspectives and be in charge of writing each chapter.

<Overview>
・Book Title: 'VTuber Studies' (Tentative)
・Publication Date: Scheduled for early July 2024
・Format/Page Count: A5 size, approx. 350 pages planned
・Price: Undecided
・Publisher: Iwanami Shoten

<Structure>
・Part 1 'Introduction to VTubers'
Explains VTubers from various perspectives, including their origins, historical development, and business characteristics. A VTuber theory for beginners. 4 chapters in total.
・Part 2 'VTuber Studies ① (Survey/Research Edition)'
Researchers from various fields interpret VTubers from their own professional perspectives. Questions about contemporary society from sociology, anthropology, gender, representational culture, etc. 4 chapters in total.
・Part 3 'VTuber Studies ② (Theory Edition)'
What exactly is a VTuber? Results of academic analysis by authors specializing in philosophy. 5 chapters in total.

■ Publication Commemoration Project Announcement Event 3/10 Live Stream

To commemorate the decision to publish this book, we have decided to live-stream a 'Project Announcement Event' on Sunday, March 10th, at 21:00. The three individuals—initiators and editors Ken Okamoto and Hiroki Yamano, and one of the authors, VTuber Virtual Girl Nemu—will talk about the intent of the publication, introduce the authors, and discuss the progress of production. You can watch it for free on YouTube.

・【LIVE】Comprehensive Academic Book 'VTuber Studies' Publication Commemoration Project Announcement Event【Making VTubers an 'Academic Discipline'】: https://youtube.com/live/_H_qnWlH7ls

■ About Promotion Cooperation

This is summarized separately in this article.

■ Introduction of Initiators and Editors

The three people who are also the initiators of this book will act as editors to determine the overall structure and select the authors.

Ken Okamoto

Born in Nara Prefecture in 1983. Associate Professor at the Faculty of Comprehensive Social Sciences / Institute of Information Science, Kindai University. He is also the person behind the VTuber 'Zombie-sensei'. Completed the Tourism Creation Major at the Graduate School of International Media, Communication, and Tourism Studies, Hokkaido University in March 2012. Ph.D. (Tourism Studies). Author of 'Zombie Studies' (Jinbun Shoin), 'Pilgrimage Business' (KADOKAWA), 'Tourism Sociology of Anime Pilgrimage' (Horitsu Bunka Sha), 'Zombie Studies Learned at University' (Fusosha), etc.
・X: https://twitter.com/animemitarou
・researchmap: https://researchmap.jp/t-okamoto

Hiroki Yamano

Enrolled in the doctoral program at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo. Graduated from the Department of History, Faculty of Letters, Sophia University in 2017. Completed the master's program at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo in 2019. Master of Philosophy. In addition to researching Paul Ricoeur, one of the leading philosophers of contemporary French philosophy, he is taking on the challenge of establishing a new academic field called 'VTuber Philosophy.' Author of 'Self-Taught Thinking' (Kodansha, 2022) and 'VTuber Philosophy' (Shunjusha, scheduled for publication in March 2024).
・X: https://twitter.com/Ricoeur1913
・researchmap: https://researchmap.jp/HirokiYamano

Kei Yoshikawa

Interviewer / Writer / Cultural Journalist. After working as a lecturer at the Tokyo Chinese School and at Dwango, he served as a reporter and editor for HuffPost Japan, BuzzFeed Japan, and Business Insider Japan. In addition to interviewing VTubers and executives of VTuber management companies, he covers entertainment and business from all times and places, including VTubers, animation, manga, rakugo, and long-established companies. His areas of interest are culture, history, and business. Currently working as a freelancer, contributing to magazines and web media.
・X: https://twitter.com/dong_po_rou

■ Part 1 'Introduction to VTubers': Author Introductions

Chapter 1: Minoru Hirota

Representative Director of PANORA. After working as a magazine editor and web journalist at ASCII and ASCII Media Works (now KADOKAWA), he became independent. While specializing in covering Apple, Nico Nico Douga, and Hatsune Miku, he encountered the recent VR movement and began reporting on it in 2013. Later, feeling the need for a specialized medium, he launched 'PANORA' in November 2014 and has been active as a VR evangelist. He has also paid attention to the VTuber movement from its early stages, interviewing top runners like Kizuna AI to report on the industry.
・X: https://twitter.com/kawauso3

Chapter 2: Kei Yoshikawa

(Same as above)

Chapter 3: Ko Kusano

Born in Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture. A writer/interviewer/columnist active in various media such as 'Real Sound,' 'SPICE,' 'KAI-YOU,' and 'Rolling Stone Japan,' focusing on music, anime, and VTubers. He also works as a playlist selector for the music playlist media Pluto.
・X: https://twitter.com/kkkkssssnnnn

Chapter 4: Virtual Bishoujo Nem

A metaverse native and metaverse culture evangelist. She has been active as a beautiful girl idol since 2017 under the theme of 'becoming the self you want to be in virtual reality,' and is a self-proclaimed world's oldest individual VTuber. Her book 'Metaverse Evolution Theory' (2022, Gijutsu-Hyohron Co., Ltd.) won the 'Grand Prize' in the business book category of the 'IT Engineer Book Awards 2023.' She spoke at the UN international conference 'IGF Kyoto 2023.' She was selected as the 'Most Shining VTuber of the Year' at the MoguLive VTuber Award 2023.
・X: https://twitter.com/nemchan_nel
・researchmap: https://researchmap.jp/nemchan_nel

■ Part 2 'VTuber Studies ① (Survey/Research Edition)' Author Introductions

Chapter 5: Ken Okamoto

(Same as above)

Chapter 6: Soma Ikeyama

Born in 1994, lives in Nachikatsuura Town, Wakayama Prefecture. Completed the master's program at the Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University in 2022 (Master of Human Sciences / Anthropology). While working as a company employee, he is enrolled as a visiting researcher at the Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University. He conducts anthropological research focusing on the relationship between digital artifacts and humans, mainly targeting VRChat. His avatar is primarily a bipedal real cat.
・researchmap: https://researchmap.jp/sativus_sataivus
*Avatar: ©suzuki2n

Chapter 7: Liudmila Bredikhina

Enrolled in a doctoral program at the University of Malta. Through ethnographic methods, she researches male 'kawaii' and virtual gender expression. In 2021, she received the 'Prix Genre' academic award in the field of gender from the University of Geneva for her master's thesis on 'Babiniku' and traditional Japanese theater. A translated 'Summary: Babiniku—What Lies Behind Virtual Performance. Challenging Gender Norms Through Technology and Japanese Theater' was published in 'Gendai Shiso'.
・X: https://twitter.com/BredikhinaL

Chapter 8: Marie Sekine

Serves as a part-time lecturer at Waseda University, Jumonji University, Bunka Fashion College, and others. Completed doctoral coursework in the Graduate School of Humanities and Sociology at Gakushuin University in 2020. Holds a Master's degree in Representation and Culture Studies. Specializes in Representation and Culture Studies. Author of books including 'Post-Information Media Theory' (co-authored, Nakanishiya Shuppan, 2018), 'Invitation to Posthuman Studies: 11 Perspectives on Body and Feminism' (co-authored, Horinouchi Shuppan, 2022), and 'Shaking Cultural Studies' (co-authored, 2023, Hokuju Shuppan).
・X: https://twitter.com/mariekr430
・researchmap: https://researchmap.jp/marie_sekine

■ Part 3 'VTuber Studies ② (Theory)': Author Introductions

Chapter 9: Hiroki Yamano

(Same as above)

Chapter 10: Yutaka Tomiyama

Associate Professor at the Education Center, Faculty of Information Science and Technology, Chiba Institute of Technology. Completed his doctoral program in Philosophy at the Graduate School of Humanities and Sociology, The University of Tokyo in 2016. Holds a Ph.D. in Literature. Specializes in Husserlian phenomenology. Author of 'Husserl: Philosophy of Intentionality' (2023, Seidosha) and 'Word Map: Modern Phenomenology - An Introduction to Philosophy Starting from Experience' (co-authored, 2017, Shinyosha).
・researchmap: https://researchmap.jp/YutakaTomiyama

Chapter 11: Taiga Shinozaki

Currently enrolled in the doctoral program in Philosophy and Ethics at the Graduate School of Letters, Keio University. Completed his Master's degree in Philosophy and Ethics at the Graduate School of Letters, Keio University in 2023. Holds a Master's degree in Philosophy. While working on the metaphysics of consciousness and value theory using analytical philosophy methods, he also attempts pop culture research applying modern metaphysics.
・X: https://twitter.com/taiga_shinozaki
・researchmap: https://researchmap.jp/shinozakitaiga

Chapter 12: Daiki Matsumoto

Completed doctoral coursework at the Graduate School of Humanities and Sociology, The University of Tokyo. Serves as a part-time lecturer at Tokyo Woman's Christian University and Chiba University. Researches the nature of visual fiction and the ontology of artworks, relying on philosophy and aesthetics. Also pursues the possibility of extending aesthetic theory to various fields such as sports and contemporary pop culture.
・researchmap: https://researchmap.jp/hirokimatsumoto

Chapter 13: Hiroyuki Homma

Currently enrolled in the doctoral program at the Graduate School of Humanities and Sociology, The University of Tokyo. Serves as a part-time lecturer at J. F. Oberlin University. Graduated from the Faculty of Letters, The University of Tokyo in 2015. Holds a Master's degree in Literature. Focuses his research on the thought of John Duns Scotus in late 13th-century late Scholastic philosophy. Author of 'History of World Philosophy 4: Medieval II - The Awakening of the Individual' (co-authored, 2020, Chikuma Shobo).
・X: https://twitter.com/spt__dormi
・researchmap: https://researchmap.jp/h-homma

■ Media Coverage History

PANORA

ITmedia NEWS

Mado no Mori / Yahoo! News

KAI-YOU / Yahoo! News

Real Sound

GAMEMO

Meta-Culture Frontline

Virtual Life Magazine

NFT Media / THE OWNER

Anibu News

VTuber Labo.

VTuber Info

VTuber post

Metaverse News

VNOS Inc. (Press Release)

*Click here for media coverage at the time of the additional announcement (July)