Morino Kodoku

Morino Kodoku (もりのこどく), also known as "Schizophrenic Vtuber Morino Kodoku Channel" (統合失調症Vtuber もりのこどくちゃんねる) is an independent female Japanese Virtual YouTuber. She primarily posts videos about her experiences with schizophrenia.

Personality
Morino is very bubbly and easy-going. She always tries her best to engage with her chat, even trying to speak English when replying. She's also very passionate about sharing information about her condition, making videos sharing her experiences and talking about it during her streams when appropriate to hopefully lessen the prejudice and stigma against the condition.

Background
She started her YouTube channel and Twitter account both on 1 July 2021, posting a teaser video on the platforms the same day. She also posted a series of photos showing parts of her model on her twitter the few days leading up to her debut.

She officially debuted on 7 July 2021.

2021
On 21 November 2021, she was featured on an article on the Virtual Reality-related news site, MoguLive, alongside other Japanese independent Vtubers.

2022
On 1 February 2022, she was featured on the social side of the morning edition of the Tokyo Shimbun newspaper as well as on the news publication's website. Her section talks about her and her activities since she started making YouTube content, as well as general information about schizophrenia.

Because of the article, she went from 200 to exceeded 700 subscribers on YouTube and 400 followers on Twitter the same day.

On 9 February 2022, she reached 1,000 subscribers on YouTube.

On 21 February 2022, 12 days later, she reached 1,700 YouTube subscribers.

On 25 February 2022, she announced a crowdfunding campaign for her upcoming project called "Mori no Heya" (もりのへや ; lit. Forest Room), a metaverse space commissioned from cluster where other people diagnosed with Schizophrenia can gather and share experiences with one another and where "schizophrenics can feel at ease" ("統合失調症患者が安心して過ごせる、そんな居場所です. ") against prejudice. The space may also be used to hold events for members.

The crowdfunding site was then announced immediately after with the campaign's deadline set to 15 April 2022.

On 15 March 2022, she was featured on the business information and media magazine, DIME, along with other virtual YouTubers from Hololive and NIJISANJI. The feature highlighted her activities as well as input from well-known Japanese comedian and M-1 Grand Prix champion, Takashi Watanabe from Nishikigoi.

On 17 March 2022, following the magazine feature, she reached 2,100 subscribers on YouTube.

On 22 March 2022, her crowdfunding campaign was promoted on the evening edition of that day's Tokyo Shimbun newspaper, marking her second feature on the publication. On the same day, she reached 1,000 followers on twitter.

On 11 April 2022, her crowdfunding campaign has reached it's final goal of 2,500,000 yen.

On 15 April 2022, after making a little over 3,000,000 yen since it's conception, the crowdfunding campaign for Morino no Heya has concluded. She held a stream celebrating the achievement.

On 26 April 2022, she achieved channel monetization. On the same day, she also reached 3,000 subscribers.

On 12 June, she announced that she would be featured in a one-to-one interview article with Japanese pop culture publication QJWeb. The interview covered topics relating to her recenty concluded non-profit fundraiser project as well as her VTuber activities and some aspects of her personal life relating to her condition.

On 24 June, she posted on Twitter announcing the completion of Mori no Heya with a stream commemorating the achievement to be held on the 26th.

On 7 July, she celebrated her 1st debut anniversary and announced that she started attending high school again.

On 2 August, she would be mentioned on yet another Japanese newspaper publication, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun.

Trivia

 * She stated she became a Virtual YouTuber after being saved by them when she was at a low point because of her illness. Now she wants to use her platform to share more information about schizophrenia and how it can affect the people diagnosed with it.
 * Because of her condition, her primary form of content is YouTube uploads. But, she does stream occasionally – usually more laid-back talking streams or English study streams.
 * She was diagnosed with schizophrenia during her 2nd year of high school when she was 16 causing her to repeat 2 more years. At the time the video was posted, she mentioned that she didn't go to school for the time being so she could rest.
 * She has since continued her studies the following year.
 * At one point, she mentioned being at a point where she was "about to die" [sic] due to her condition but has since stabilized after being hospitalized and prescribed medications.
 * In a now archived stream where she did the Eiken Speaking Test, she mentioned her English pronunciation's something she's always been proud of since she was little.
 * The first Virtual YouTubers she watched were HIMEHINA and Kizuna Ai, as well as 3D virtual singers KAF and isekaijoucho, Laz (who also did her Live2D modelling), and VRchat VTuber unit, Triambly.
 * She also mentioned having looked at clips of NIJISANJI and Hololive in the past.
 * She has mentioned that streaming has helped her condition improve overtime with her going from being unable to talk to people to her enjoying making videos.

Media

 * 統合失調症Vtuber もりのこどくちゃんねる - YouTube Channel
 * Morino's Crowdfunding Page - readyfor.jp Page
 * @morino_kodoku - Twitter Account
 * @kodoku_info - Contact & News
 * @morino_heya - Metaverse Project Twitter Account

Twitter Hashtags

 * #もりのこどく - General tag
 * #こどくな絵 - Fan art (R18 prohibited)
 * #こどくならいぶ - Live tag
 * #こどくなEnglish - Dedicated English studying stream tag