VShojo



VShojo is a US-based VTuber agency based in San Francisco.

The company was founded in 2020 by former Twitch employee Justin "theGunrun" Ignacio and YouTuber Phillip "Mowtendoo" Fortunat, with the vision of creating an organization where the talent have complete freedom. Its goals are to provide members with in-house tech, legal, PR, sponsors, upgrades, opportunities, social media expansion and a positive environment. As of May 2021, the organization has more than 3 million followers on Twitch and 3.5 million subscribers on YouTube.

Unlike most Japan-based VTuber agencies, VShojo mostly recruit existing independent VTubers. VShojo primarily uses Twitch for livestreaming, with YouTube reserved primarily for highlight clips and edited content.

Profile
VShojo is a talent-first VTuber company, dedicated to the growth and success of its members.

"Founded by fans of VTuber culture, we aim to create and foster content that pushes the boundaries of VTubing and talent freedom, while maintaining deep respect for the people and companies that helped paved the way."

Origin
VShojo was founded by Gunrun, who worked at Twitch from 2011 to 2018; and Mowtendoo, a popular YouTuber and video game developer with expertise in 3D motion graphics, video production, and professional music production.

The project had been in the works since at least as far back as August 2020, with the web domain vshojo.com registered on August 9, and the Twitter account @VShojoOfficial created that same month.

2020
On 7 September, VShojo made their r/VShojo subreddit.

On 16 November, VShojo made a VShojo Highlights channel.

On 24 November, VShojo's YouTube channel uploaded a video introducing its first affiliates formerly independent VTubers: Nyatasha Nyanners, Zentreya, Ironmouse, Silvervale and Projekt Melody made their redebut. A debut video announced these five members and an additional two: Froot and newcomer Hime Hajime. Froot's debut was scheduled for 27 November. Hime's debut was delayed until 2021.

On 28 November, VShojo's Japanese Twitter account was created and made its first tweet.

Lewdcast, a weekly variety VTuber podcast hosted by Melody, Ironmouse and Silvervale also became affiliated with VShojo upon the company's announcement, having been previously run independently by the three. Their first episode as a part of VShojo was Episode 9, which came out on 4 December. With Apricot being their guest after her debut, making her the first member of VShojo not including the hosts to be on the show post agency launch.

2021
On 30 January, Hime debuted on Twitch.

On 14 February, zentreya raised over $42,069 for StJude.

On 12 March, VShojo partnered with Metaview to bring the viewers a playlist of the best VShojo member moments.

On 15 March, VShojo launched its first set of merch with sharkrobotstore.

On 31 March, Ironmouse, Nyanners, and Zentreya appeared in Anthony Padilla's "I spent a day with" series.

On 2 April, VShojo held the first and so far last episode of VShowdown. An online game show hosted by Highgai with Ironmouse, Nyanners, Silvervale & Zentreya as the contestants. Ironmouse was the winner with 4900 points.

On 6 April, VShojo's Twitter account uploaded a video hinting at a new member.

On 9 April, Veibae joined VShojo.

On 13 April, VShojo members Ironmouse, Froot, Silvervale, Veibae and Nyatasha Nyanners played with prominent Japanese VTubers Kizuna Ai, Higuchi Kaede and Dennou Shojo Siro in a collab called #VAmongEarth. Silvervale took the place of Inaba Haneru, who had to cancel at the last minute due to illness.

On 24 April, Nyatasha Nyanners performed with Japanese VTuber Kizuna Ai at her Virtual US Tour. DJ TeddyLoid was also involved in the tour. There was also a release party for Nyanners first single: Foolish Heart.

On 22 May, VShojo members Ironmouse, Silvervale, Veibae, and Nyatasha Nyanners attended the DigiKomi convention, where they played a game called "Otaku Exposed" hosted by Neko Boi/capitalcatboy. Nyanners was the winner with 4 points.

On 16 June, VShojo made its first collaboration with hololive, between Nyanners and Takanashi Kiara. The event was streamed on both YouTube and Twitch, and attracted a peak total of around 40,000 viewers across both sites.

On 19 June, another hololive EN collaboration between Ironmouse and Mori Calliope was streamed on Twitch and attracted nearly 25,000 viewers at its peak.

On 22 June, VShojo was included in Nagoya VTuber Exhibit at PARCO thanks to panoravr.

On 23 June, VShojo made their first collaboration with VOMS Project between Ironmouse and Amano Pikamee.

On 5 July, VShojo appeared at AX with their first ever Japanese inspired variety show called "VShojo Presents: The V-Riety Show" hosted by Highgai With Zentreya, Silvervale, Nyatasha Nyanners, Apricot, Projekt Melody, and Ironmouse as contestants. Ironmouse & Nyanners' team won by 10 points.

On 15 July, VShojo & friends had a dramatic reading of the script of 2003 "The Room" by Tommy Wiseau on Nyanners' Twitch channel. To celebrate their milestone.

On 16 July, VShojo started a partnership with V-Clan, a VTubing project by Nippon TV.

On 21 July, VShojo made their first collaboration with NIJISANJI EN between Projekt Melody and Pomu Rainpuff.

On 6 August, both Veibae and Froot were interviewed by BBC News about spreading the word about VTubers in the UK.

On 20 August, VShojo announced that they are holding auditions for new members.

On 30 September, VShojo closed the auditions.

On 21 November, it was made public by Nux Taku that since the spring the talents of VShojo and mini who applied to, were targeted by doxxers/swatters. In October, fake VShojo emails were sent to two unaffiliated VTubers in order to solicit personal data, one of them being Nux. Nux contacted VShojo to verify, and they informed Nux of the ongoing investigation behind the scenes.

On 23 November, VShojo published its "Official VSJ Cybersecurity Statement" with details on its cybersecurity practices.

On 24 November, the upset VShojo members, who partly were under the assumption that Nux had been asked not to do this or explicitly asked him post-release, as they feared that it would harm their safety even more and revealing the methods they used to catch him would just make it easier for others to learn how to get away with it. Nux claimed that he had discussed the issue with upper management and they greenlighted his decision, as the official VShojo Twitter account even had tweeted thanks for the video (though that same tweet was additional info that they felt was needed for clarification). Nux also released a Twitlonger where he detailed his side of the story.

On 25 November, Nux privatized the video, and put up an apology video.

On 26 November, VShojo responded, trying to straighten more details.

On 18 December, Ironmouse, Silvervale and Nyatasha Nyanners participated in VILLS vol. 3, one of the biggest VTuber events in Japan. The group enchanted the audience with their vocal performance and the new VShojo VILLS idol costumes.

2022
On 19 January, VShojo made a channel called VShojo Shorts that puts out short clips from Twitch streams.

On 21 February, VShojo put out an update around the audition, that they reached out to current candidates regarding the next steps.

On 3 March, VShojo announced that they would be holding a week-long fundraiser for Project HOPE, a humanitarian charity helping out during the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.

On 12 March, VShojo's own Nyatasha Nyanners, Veibae and Ironmouse were nominated for best VTuber Streamer. They lost to Code Miko.

On 1 April, April Fool's Day, VShojo announced a joke rebranding into GShojo, with the various members being replaced by gecko-ized versions that were initially introduced by Zentreya.

On 6 June, VShojo announced that it would be working on a new project with Kagura Nana.

On 15 June, VShojo was taken over and corrupted by Melware. The day was saved by Zen.

On 24 June, official VShojo x Senpai Squad Itasha wrapped GT-R was at announced to be at Anime Expo

On 1-4 July, VShojo had V-IRL Experience at Anime Expo with all members in attendance doing meet and greet or doing panels, except Hime.

On 2 July at the Anime Expo, VShojo announced two new members: Kson and the newly introduced and designed by Kagura Nana: Amemiya Nazuna. This announcement was accompanied by Kson appearing in the Anime Expo booth in person.

On 16 July, Kson made her official VShojo re-debut and Amemiya Nazuna made her debut.

On 26 July, VShojo, looking to bridge the gap between the Japanese speaking content creators and the English audience put out a translator application form.

On 6 August, VShojo members Ironmouse, Nyanners, and  Projekt Melody would be attending the Crunchyroll Expo VIRL Experience and selling merch released by Senpai Squad.

On 2-5 September, VShojo would be attending PAX West. with Ironmouse, Silvervale, and Kson while also at San Japan 2-4 with Nyatasha Nyanners and Ironmouse.

On 25 September, VShojo opened applications for a Spanish translator.

On 6 October, VShojo announced that they would be partnering with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (@BCRFcure) this month for the Paint Gaming Pink charity.

On 7-9 October, VShojo announced that it would be attending TwitchCon with ironmouse, Nyanners, Melody Silvervale, Foor, and Zentreya all in attendance.

On 27 October, Streamy Awards nominated Zentreya, Ironmouse, Nyanners and Veibae in the VTuber category. On the same day Zen tweeted that she has "already put in my withdrawal".

On 5 November, Ironmouse & Nyanners held a panel and meet & greet at Nishi Fest 2022.

On 24 November, VShojo pushed back their 2 year anniversary to November 28th, because it fell on the same day as the U.S. holiday Thanksgiving.

On 28 November, VShojo celebrated their 2 year anniversary by releasing their cover of DECO*27 - Zombies, featuring the original 7 members Nyanners, Projekt Melody, Ironmouse, Froot, Zentreya, Silvervale, and Hime Hajime. And they released a video that showed all members doing stuff.

On 3 December, during a chibi stream Haruka Karibu announced that she would be joining VShojo. She had her re-debut the same day.

At some point VShojo changed their Twitter name from @VShojoOfficial to just @VShojo.

2023
On 4 January, VShojo collaborated with Ironside to put out limited edition PC cases.

On 25 April, VShojo's Twitter account announced that Silvervale and Veibae would be leaving the company after not renewing their contracts.

Trivia

 * The name VShojo is a pun on the Japanese word "bishoujo" meaning "pretty girl." The letter "V" stands for "virtual," as in VTuber.
 * VShojo does not use "generations." All current and future talents are considered part of the same "generation."
 * VShojo operates closer to a cooperative, where all talents are free to upgrade or replace their models and outfits as they see fit, leading to a number of "styles" across 2D and 3D.