hololive’s Hiodoshi Ao Graduates — A Multi-Talented Creator Bridging VTubing and VR

Japanese VTuber company Cover Corp. made a surprise announcement today that Hiodoshi Ao, a member of hololive ReGLOSS, will officially graduate from the agency. The news was shared on X (formerly Twitter) by her manager, expressing Ao’s gratitude toward her fans and her parting words: “I will keep loving everyone from now on too.”

The sudden announcement sent shockwaves through the hololive community, with the post surpassing 20 million views in just six hours. Many fans speculate that her decision may be linked to the adjustment disorder she mentioned during her previous long hiatus.

応援してくれるみんなへ

短い間だったけれど、ReGLOSSのメンバーとしてホロライブで過ごせた時間は夢のような時間でした。出会ってくれて本当にありがとう。

僕はこれからも、読者を愛し続けることを誓います。これだけは忘れないでね。
No1イケメン青くんとの約束だよ！

名残惜しいけど、またね🖊️

— 火威青🖋️ReGLOSS ホロライブDEV_IS卒業生 (@hiodoshiao) October 3, 2025

During her two years of activity, Ao quickly gained over 730,000 subscribers, captivating audiences with her unique mix of androgynous fashion—rare among hololive’s female talents—and her “failed-cool” personality, earning her the affectionate nickname “hololive’s Eiko Kano.”

Yet behind her comedic charm was genuine creative skill: Ao’s title of “manga artist” wasn’t part of her fictional character profile—she was, in fact, a professional illustrator. She had accepted freelance work in the industry and even collaborated with Houshou Marine, Shigure Ui, and Lunlun on art streams, showcasing another side of her creative talent.

Beyond streaming and illustration, Ao was also an experienced VR enthusiast with over five years of experience. In an interview with Real Sound, she revealed that she owned every headset in the Meta Quest series and used Haritora X motion capture equipment to explore the virtual world of VRChat, where she also built her own avatars and environments.

Unlike most of her hololive peers, Ao’s 3D performances took place entirely within VRChat, resulting in more expressive and natural full-body motion capture compared to traditional setups.

In today’s VTuber scene, where virtual performers are entering mainstream entertainment, few have fully embraced VR as a creative medium. At Vchavcha, we believe this is a missed opportunity — VR offers unparalleled freedom to express movement, construct immersive environments, and interact directly with fans in shared virtual spaces. 

Ao regularly participated in Virtual Market (Vket), the world’s largest metaverse convention. In late 2024, she hosted her own booth, inviting fans to visit, take photos, and explore the space together. During her live broadcast, she even toured other creators’ booths and held short interviews, introducing viewers to the diverse and vibrant world of virtual entertainment.

She also collaborated with other hololive members in VR projects, such as “One Day, I Met Marine in the Forest” with Houshou Marine, experimenting with new ways of creative storytelling.

If you haven’t seen Ao’s VR streams, they’re highly recommended — her smooth camera work, dynamic movements, and guided commentary make her one of the most technically skilled hololive members in virtual production.

Beyond her creative output, Ao was also the emotional backbone of hololive ReGLOSS. In the group’s early days, member Juufuutei Raden once struggled to adjust and even considered resigning, feeling out of place within hololive. During that time, Ao spent countless hours supporting and encouraging her, becoming her closest ally.

Shortly after Ao’s graduation announcement, Raden and her fellow members Otonose Kanade, Todoroki Hajime, and Ichijou Ririka released a heartfelt cover of Kenshi Yonezu’s “Sayonara, Mata Itsuka!” (Goodbye, Until We Meet Again) — a song they completed in just five days to express their gratitude for Ao’s kindness and support.

Gentle, multi-talented, and deeply empathetic, Hiodoshi Ao was just beginning to shine brighter on the hololive stage. Yet, perhaps burdened by pressures unseen to outsiders, she ultimately chose to step away after her extended hiatus. Even so, the memories and warmth she left behind will remain deeply etched in the hearts of hololive fans everywhere.

Let’s take a moment to revisit hololive’s official highlight video dedicated to Hiodoshi Ao — and once again, thank her for all the laughter and light she brought.

Congratulations on your graduation, Ao.