Filian Explains Hololive’s Absence from The VTuber Awards 2023

The VTuber Awards 2024 garnered significant attention with over 90,000 concurrent viewers tuning in. However, the notable absence of Hololive, the leading agency in the industry, left many fans perplexed about the reasoning behind their non-participation.

Despite Hololive members clinching 9 out of the 22 prestigious awards, none attended the event or delivered acceptance speeches. Some members, including FUWAMOCO, did celebrate their achievement by hosting a post-awards stream after being named VTuber of the Year, although they were not present physically at the ceremony.

Event host and Twitch personality Filian shed light on the situation, explaining that while there was considerable interest from Hololive talents, the presence of legal complications stemming from the differences between Japanese and American laws hindered their attendance this year. Filian stated, “It’s a complicated situation, so we couldn’t have it this year.”

Future Participation of Hololive in the VTuber Awards

Filian’s comments suggest a hopeful outlook for Hololive’s involvement in the upcoming VTuber Awards 2025, contingent upon resolving existing legal obstacles.

These legal challenges are primarily linked to Japanese regulations, which necessitate that any claims of superiority, such as “Best VTuber,”must be substantiated by factual evidence. This requirement poses a dilemma, as the awards are largely popular vote-based, where fans select their favorites rather than relying on objective measurement.

Official promo art of Fuwawa and Mococo, the two halves of Hololive's twin VTubers FUWAMOCO. — Hololive Production

One possible solution would be to rename award categories for clarity, transforming titles like “Best VTuber”to “Fan-favorite VTuber.”This rebranding would directly convey that winners are determined by fan votes alone.

However, even with potential category changes, the strict nature of Japanese law could still pose challenges. Although the likelihood of legal issues arising in connection with the VTuber Awards is minimal, the risks remain significant enough to warrant caution from Cover Corporation at this time.

As the situation develops, only time will reveal what approach Filian will implement. Nonetheless, her remarks provide a glimmer of hope for Hololive fans eager to see their beloved agency included in future award ceremonies.

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