Future Link Network Inc. (FLN) and uyet Inc., a company specializing in business support for the VTuber market, will run the second edition of their VTuber-powered city promotion project in Niimi City, Okayama Prefecture, from July 1 to the end of October 2026. Through a collaboration with a local sightseeing bus tour, a joint project with Okayama Kyosei High School, and business-experience events, the initiative aims to attract tourism and grow the region’s “related population.”

A Second Niimi City Collaboration Under the “Machi Supacha Project”

This initiative is part of the “Machi Supacha Project” that FLN runs jointly with uyet. The project aims to introduce VTuber fans—primarily in their teens to 30s—to a “town worth cheering for” that can become their second or third hometown.

So far it has been carried out in eight municipalities: Niimi City (Okayama), plus Hachimantai City (Iwate), Hokota City (Ibaraki), Kitakata City (Fukushima), Tamana City (Kumamoto), Tarui Town (Gifu), Tsurui Village (Hokkaido), and Kawaguchi City (Saitama). For Niimi City, this marks a second edition following last year.

Bus Tour, High School Collaboration, and Business Experiences—A Range of Real-World Projects

The centerpiece is a sightseeing bus tour featuring VTubers. As the bus travels around tourist spots in Niimi City, a VTuber displayed on the in-vehicle monitor serves as a real-time bus guide, letting participants enjoy communicating with the VTuber. Applications for the bus tour are scheduled to open in July.

In addition, there will be a collaboration project with Okayama Kyosei High School—the first school in Japan to establish an esports club—and a “Real Quest” business experience run in partnership with “Yumesuki Park.” The details of both are currently being finalized. The featured talents are Shigure Mito and Nanahoshi Nana, who is active as an esports caster VTuber.

What’s Next (July Live Streams, FAN2026 Booth in October)

In July, the VTubers will hold live streams on their own YouTube channels to introduce the October bus tour project and promote the appeal of Niimi City.

Then, on Saturday, October 24, Niimi City will host a regional revitalization event, “FAN2026”, featuring a panel exhibition that introduces the initiatives carried out with Niimi City to date. The venue is Niimi Ikoi to Fureai no Koen (Niimi Rest and Interaction Park), from 11:00 to 18:30 (held in light rain, canceled in stormy weather).

Impressions and Outlook

Collaborations between local governments and VTubers are spreading across Japan, but what sets Niimi City’s approach apart is that it goes beyond one-off PR: by layering real-world touchpoints such as bus tours and business experiences, it aims to shift from an “exchange population” to a “related population.” Fans visit a region because of the talent they support and keep cheering it on—this design for continuous connection looks set to draw attention as a model case for regional revitalization × VTubers. Expectations are rising to see just how far this second edition can expand the related population.

Source: PR TIMES