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Iwate Prefecture Launches YouTube Channel ‘iiiwate’ With 32 Staff YouTubers Across 7 Teams, Debuts Official VTuber ‘Koko-chan’
Iwate Prefecture has launched video content on its YouTube channel “iiiwate” featuring 32 prefectural staff members organized into 7 teams, selected through an internal recruitment drive, starting July 10, 2026. In addition to showcasing tourist attractions and regional culture, the Public Relations Division’s dedicated VTuber “Koko-chan” has begun promoting the charms of Iwate.
Key Points
- Staff YouTubers: 32 members across 7 teams appointed through internal recruitment to create video content
- Dedicated VTuber: The Public Relations Division’s “Koko-chan” has released a self-introduction video
- Initial uploads: Three videos including a walking tour of the Japan Important Agricultural Heritage site in the Tabashineyama foothills
- Channel: “iiiwate” will feature regular updates showcasing each region’s appeal
32 Staff YouTubers Across 7 Teams Begin Operations
Iwate Prefecture has appointed 32 staff members across 7 teams as prefectural YouTubers this fiscal year, drawn from its main office and regional promotion bureaus. The diverse lineup includes Team Ecolol (Environmental and Life Department, Resource Recycling Promotion Division) and the Iwate Information Bureau (Prefectural Land Development Department, Sabo Disaster Division / Board of Education Secretariat, Education Planning Office). Some teams like Rias Koumuin (Coastal Regional Promotion Bureau) span multiple departments, reflecting a prefecture-wide commitment to the initiative.
Three Videos in the Initial Upload
Three videos were uploaded at 4:00 PM on July 10. Alongside a walking tour video of the Japan Important Agricultural Heritage site in the Tabashineyama foothills (full and short versions), a self-introduction video by the Public Relations Division’s dedicated VTuber “Koko-chan” was also released. Koko-chan is set to promote the wide-ranging appeal of Iwate Prefecture going forward.
What’s Coming Next
Upcoming content includes a vlog documenting the “Clean Iwate Action Day” held on June 9, a video featuring unique goshuin (shrine stamps) from Hanamaki City, and a series covering the Michinoku Coastal Trail and Sanriku Geopark geosites. The channel aims to showcase Iwate’s appeal from multiple angles, spanning not just tourism but also environmental initiatives and cultural heritage.
Outlook
While more local governments are using YouTube to promote their regions, the launch of a dedicated VTuber “Koko-chan” in Iwate Prefecture is notable—following the examples of Nara Prefecture’s official VTuber “Nanaka” and Niimi City, Okayama’s VTuber collaboration. The large-scale setup of 32 staff across 7 teams could inspire other local governments, signaling further growth in the intersection of regional promotion and VTubers.
Source: PR TIMES
