VShojo



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

Unlike Japan-based VTuber organizations, VShojo primarily uses Twitch for livestreaming, with YouTube reserved primarily for highlight clips and edited content.

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.

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, Nyatasha Nyanners, Zentreya, Ironmouse, Silvervale and Projekt Melody made their official redebut. All five were existing popular VTubers streaming on Twitch. A debut video announced these five members and an additional two: Froot, the VTuber also known as Apricot; and newcomer Hime Hajime. Froot's debut was scheduled for 27 November. Hime's debut was delayed until 2021.

On 28 November, created their @VShojoJP twitter account.

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 U.S./31 January, 2021 (Japan time), Hime finally made her debut on Twitch. This makes the first VShojo member to make her initial appearance after the group's creation.

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

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

On 15 March, launched their 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 tweeted a video hinting at a new member.

On 9 April, Veibae was announced as a new addition to 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 15 April, put out a tweet looking at the viewers for answers to an upcoming VShowdown #2 that never happened.

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 27 April, VShojo got their first itasha inspired by Projekt Melody.

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 their 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" on Nyanners’ twitch channel.

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 4 August, VShojo made their second collaboration with NIJISANJI between Ironmouse and Bonnivier Pranaja.

On 5 August, Ironmouse on her anniversary held a special charity stream, raising over $100K towards the Immune Deficiency Foundation.

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

On 12 August, Ironmouse had her first episode of her talk show “Speak of the Devil” with Sykkuno as guest.

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

On 5 September, Projekt Melody released her first single "Y4ND3RE".

On 30 September, VShojo closed the auditions.

On 3 November, VShojo announced “After sorting through thousands of applications, we sent an email to EN applicants who are advancing in the application process.”

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 scene.

On 23 November, posted an Official VSJ Cybersecurity Statement

On 24 November, the upset VShojo members, who partly were under the assumption that he 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 but by then he had already been condemned by creators both in and outside of the VTuber community. But at the same time making him one of the most revered in the VTuber community.

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

On 13 December, VShojo announced both the start of a partnership with GoodSmile_US and a nendroid from Nyatasha Nyanners.

On 15 December Nyanners got her own itasha.

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 our current candidates regarding our next steps. And future updates will be kept internal for privacy reasons.

On March 3rd, 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, VShojothey were working on a new project with nana kaguraaa.

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 2 new additions to the company: Kson and 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 official VShojo debut.

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 16 September, The Ironmouse x Nyanners - Getcha (Cover) song was released.

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

On 30 September announced that Ironmouse would have a meet & Greet at WeebStop.

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

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

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

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.