GeoNote Kyushu Co., Ltd. announced that it will hold the “Shiiba Village eSports Challenge – Shiranui Custom” online on April 24, 2026, in collaboration with popular VTuber Shiranui Aoi, as part of a support project in Shiiba Village, Miyazaki Prefecture. This initiative, which connects creators, local communities, and private businesses, is gaining attention as a new approach to digital and regional revitalization, delivering the charm of mountainous regions through streaming.

Hosted by Shiranui Aoi: A New Collaboration of Creators, Regions, and the Private Sector

This project will be led by Shiranui Aoi, a popular VTuber, as the host, with GeoNote Kyushu Co., Ltd. managing the operation as a co-host, and Shiiba Village providing support as a sponsor (support project). It will take the form of an eSports event featuring local teams from Shiiba Village alongside VTubers and streamers, promoting the village’s appeal through online streaming on platforms like YouTube and Twitch.

GeoNote Kyushu also collaborates with the Anime Tourism Promotion Council and possesses knowledge of regional revitalization utilizing digital content, such as “pilgrimages to sacred sites.” The collaborative framework that transcends boundaries between private entities, government, and creators can be seen as an easily referenceable format for local partnerships initiated by VTubers.

Promoting Shiiba Village’s Appeal with Prizes like Local Honey “Hyakka Golden”

Shiiba Village, known for its rich nature and cultural history, faces challenges such as population decline and the need to create connections with younger generations. This project aims to utilize digital content like VTubers and eSports to deliver the village’s appeal in a new way to demographics that are difficult to reach with traditional tourism initiatives.

To help participants experience the charm of the local area, prizes will include Shiiba Village’s specialty products. The pure honey “Hyakka Golden,” harvested from nature, is crafted using traditional methods and is characterized by its rich aroma and deep flavor. Beyond the results of the eSports competition, there is an emphasis on creating pathways for viewers to “get to know the area.”

Future Developments: Aiming for Population Creation and Regional Revitalization

The main broadcast of this tournament is scheduled to take place on YouTube Live on April 24, 2026. The organizers aim to increase access to the official Shiiba Village website and tourism information through this tournament while fostering a willingness to visit in the future and creating a relationship-based population.

With information dissemination by VTubers and streamers, community-oriented event design, and the introduction of regional culture during the broadcast, the project features a design that does not end as a one-time event. Information from the Shiiba Village Tourism Association (official site) will also be linked, and there are expectations for ongoing initiatives to increase actual visitors triggered by viewing the broadcast.

Impressions and Outlook

This project, which unites seemingly unrelated players – VTubers, eSports, and local governments – under the common theme of regional revitalization, symbolizes the expanding societal role of streamers. The design that directs interest towards nature, culture, and local specialties through the medium of a gaming tournament is expected to be a model that is easily scalable for the Japan Tourism Agency and other local governments. As the ST Magazine editorial team, we are eager to continuously monitor how the number of views post-broadcast and actual visits to the sacred sites will accumulate.

Source: PR TIMES