Fuwa-chan

Fuwa-chan
Fuwa-Chan in Shanghai in 2024
Birth nameHaruka Fuwa
Native nameフワちゃん
Born (1993-11-26) November 26, 1993 (age 31)
Hachiōji-city, Tokyo, Japan
Medium
  • Television
  • SNS
Education
Years active2018–present
YouTube information
Channel
Genres
Subscribers1.16 million[1]
Total views1.26 billion[1]
100,000 subscribers
1,000,000 subscribers
Last updated: 4 Sept, 2024

Haruka Fuwa (不破 遥香, Fuwa Haruka), known mononymously as Fuwa-chan (フワちゃん, Fuwa-chan), is a Japanese comedian and YouTuber. Since August 2020, she has worked as a freelance entertainer. She is known for her unique way of speaking, which is considered frank by most Japanese. She is also known for her hair style, which often features paired "devil horns."[2] In 2022, Fuwa-chan became a professional wrestler and is currently signed to World Wonder Ring Stardom.[3]

Biography

After her birth in a suburb of Tokyo in 1993, Fuwa-chan followed her parents to Los Angeles, where she lived from second to fourth grade in elementary school before returning to Japan in 2003. Her father was self-employed in the import/export business and her mother was a full time homemaker.[4] Throughout her childhood, Fuwa-chan enjoyed devising new games and pranks. For example, she came up with an idea for a game that combines volleyball with shoe throwing. The voice actress, Ayane Sakura, who was one of her high school classmates, remarked how Fuwa-chan "was like a typhoon."

Career

In March 2017, Fuwa-chan graduated from Toyo University with a B.A. degree in Chinese philosophy.[5] During her second year at university, Fuwa-chan enrolled in the 18th class of the Watanabe Comedy School in Tokyo.[6] Fuwa-chan decided to launch a career as a comedian because it seemed to be her natural forte. She formed a comic duo with another female high school classmate. However, this partnership ended in 2014.[7] After that, she formed another partnership with another classmate, creating a comic duo named "SF Century Space Child." After graduating from the Watanabe Comedy School in 2014, Fuwa-chan joined the Watanabe Entertainment Company, but left that company after three years following a heated argument with an agency executive.[8]

In September 2017, Fuwa-chan launched her own YouTube channel, "Fuwa-chan's Woo-woo" with TV Asahi director Takuro Samukawa. Then April 2018, she launched another channel known as Fuwa-chan TV/FUWACHAN TV.[9] That YouTube channel reached one million subscribers in April 2023. In July 2020 Fuwa-chan met with Tokyo Governor Koike and Fuwa-chan broadcast some messages in English and Japanese about ways to reduce the spread of COVID-19.[10] [11]

In recent years Fuwa-chan has been working as a freelance comedian, mainly as a solo performer. In 2020 she participated in Japanese entertainment events such as the "R-1 Gran Prix" and in the "Final Battle of the W Competition" for the best female entertainer, an event jointly operated by Yoshimoto Kogyo and Nippon Television. As a result, Fuwa-chan's TV appearances increased sharply.[12] She also became general MC of the TVTokyo show, "Shichōsha-sama ni kawaretai!" [I want to be kept by my viewers!] in August 2020.[13]

In July 2020 Fuwa-chan received the Japan Council for Better Radio and Television's monthly "Galaxy Award" for "Notable Talent."[14] [15] As a testament to her popularity, Jiyu Kokuminsha recognized "Fuwa-chan" as one of the most popular Japanese buzzwords in 2020 along with "Abenomask" and "Ai no Fujichaku".[16] [17] The noted sociologist Shōichi Ōta summarized Fuwa-chan's status by stating, "Fuwa-chan is like a mirror that reflects contemporary [Japanese] TV and society. We should keep an eye on her."[18]

2024 X post controversy

On August 4, 2024 Fuwa-chan made a post mocking comedian Yasuko [ja] on her X account, telling her to "kill herself since you're not great" using a quote post on a post Yasuko made two days prior.[19][20] The post was promptly deleted and Fuwa-chan later apologized, of which Yasuko accepted. Nonetheless she still received significant backlash online.[21] Commercials of Google Pixel featuring her were taken down and the comment section of her YouTube channel was shut down as a result.[21][22][23]

She ultimately announced that she would go on hiatus as of August 11 as a result of the controversy.[24]

Professional wrestling career

Fuwa-chan
Born (1993-11-26) November 26, 1993 (age 31)
Hachiōji-city, Tokyo, Japan
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Fuwa-chan
Trained byHazuki
DebutOctober 23, 2022

Fuwa-chan made her professional wrestling debut in World Wonder Ring Stardom on the first night of the 2022 edition of the Goddesses of Stardom Tag League which took place on October 23, where she teamed up with Hazuki in a losing effort against Queen's Quest's Saya Kamitani and Hina.[25]

References

  1. ^ a b "About フワちゃんtv /Fuwachan Tv". YouTube.
  2. ^ "Fuwa-chan 'wakamono kara chō shiji-sareru' miryoku no shōtai" フワちゃん｢若者から超支持される｣魅力の正体 [Fuwa-chan's true stance of being 'super-supported by young people']. 東洋経済オンライン (in Japanese). Toyo Keiza. April 26, 2020. Archived from the original on February 13, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2022.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  3. ^ 【スターダム】フワちゃんのプロレスデビューはテレビ企画だった. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). September 25, 2022. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  4. ^ "[Jitsuwa sugoi] Fuwa-chan no keireki matome! Eigo perapera? Daigaku ya kazoku mo" 【実はすごい】フワちゃんの経歴まとめ！英語ペラペラ？大学や家族も [[Actually amazing] Fuwa-chan's career summary! English fluent? University and family] (in Japanese). A kara Z made shirabete mimashita!. 27 October 2019. Archived from the original on February 13, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  5. ^ "Fuwa-chan's profile!" フワちゃんのプロフィール! [Fuwa-chan no purofīru!] (in Japanese). LogTube. July 16, 2021. Archived from the original on February 13, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  6. ^ "Fuwa-chan no kōkō ya daigaku no gakureki shusshin jōhō! Eigo peraperadakedo shōgai?" フワちゃんの高校や大学の学歴・出身情報！英語ペラペラだけど障害？ [Fuwa-chan's high school and university educational background and roots! English fluent, but handicapped?] (in Japanese). Resumedia. January 25, 2021. Archived from the original on February 13, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  7. ^ "Fuwa-chan no honmyō nenrei purofīru keireki! Daigakusotsu de eigo perapera?" フワちゃんの本名・年齢プロフィール経歴！大学卒で英語ペラペラ？ [Fuwa-chan's real name, age, profile, and career! English fluent after graduating from university?] (in Japanese). Nomada. Archived from the original on February 13, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  8. ^ Kobayashi, Yuriko (December 14, 2021). "Tarento Fuwa-chan ga kataru, watashi no hyaku dokuhon 'jibun wa jibun no mama de, jūbun suteki'" タレント・フワちゃんが語る、わたしの百読本「自分は自分のままで、じゅうぶん素敵」 [Talent Fuwa-chan comments on a recently read book by stating, "I'm just myself, it's good enough."]. Brutus (in Japanese). Magazine House. Archived from the original on February 13, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  9. ^ "Sashihara Rino mo fanda to kataru YouTuber geinin Fuwa-chan ni semaru" 指原莉乃もファンだと語るYouTuber芸人フワちゃんに迫る [YouTuber entertainer Fuwa-chan says that she is also a fan of Rino Sashihara] (in Japanese). Japan Music Network. April 30, 2019. Archived from the original on February 13, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  10. ^ "Message from Fuwa-chan". Tokyo Metropolitan Government. August 13, 2020. Archived from the original on February 13, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  11. ^ "Governor Koike Yuriko and Fuwa-chan discuss the "new normal"". Tokyo Metropolitan Government. August 20, 2020. Archived from the original on February 13, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  12. ^ Shūkan josei puraimu henshū-bu (August 10, 2020). "Fuwa-chan, hitto no haikei ni aru 'migotona senryaku'" フワちゃん､ヒットの背景にある｢見事な戦略｣ [The 'superb strategy' behind Fuwa-chan's success] (in Japanese). Toyo Keizai. Archived from the original on February 13, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  13. ^ St. Michel, Patrick (23 January 2021). "The social media creators in Japan to keep an eye on in 2021". Archived from the original on February 13, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  14. ^ "Fuwa-chan, gyarakushī-shō gekkan-shō de irei no kojin jushō 'tokuhitsu subeki sainō'" フワちゃん、ギャラクシー賞月間賞で異例の個人受賞「特筆すべき才能」 [Fuwa-chan wins the exceptional individual award at the Galaxy Awards for her 'Notable Talent'] (in Japanese). Mynavi. August 20, 2020. Archived from the original on February 13, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  15. ^ "Fuwa-chan, 7-gatsudo gyarakushī-shō "Tetsuko no Heya" "Mizu-dau SP" de no katsuyaku 'terebi to netto o mikiwameta, tokuhitsu subeki sainō'" フワちゃん、7月度ギャラクシー賞 『徹子の部屋』『水ダウSP』での活躍「テレビとネットを見極めた、特筆すべき才能」 [Fuwa-chan's success in the July Galaxy Awards 'Tetsuko's Room' and 'Mizu-dau SP' considered "A remarkable talent for identifying TV and the Internet"] (in Japanese). Oricon News. August 20, 2020. Archived from the original on February 13, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  16. ^ Osumi, Magdalena (December 1, 2020). "Viral hit: 'Sanmitsu' — the 'Three Cs' — declared Japan's buzzword of 2020". The Japan Times. Archived from the original on February 13, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  17. ^ "2020-nen shingo ryūkōgotaishō kettei toppu ten o happyō <jushō-go ichiran>" 2020年新語・流行語大賞決定 トップテンを発表＜受賞語一覧＞ [2020 New Words / Top Ten Buzzwords Announced <List of Winners>] (in Japanese). Netnative. December 1, 2020. Archived from the original on February 13, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  18. ^ "[Gyarakushī-shō terebi bumon 7 tsuki-do gekkan-shō] - 'GALAC' 2020-nen 10 tsuki-gō" 【ギャラクシー賞テレビ部門7月度月間賞】－「GALAC」2020年10月号 [October 2020 MonthlyGalaxy TV Award] (in Japanese). Hōsō Hihyō ondan-kai. December 1, 2020. Archived from the original on February 13, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  19. ^ "「おまえは偉くないので、死んでくださーい」フワちゃん、やす子への「誤爆」で？謝罪 くすぶる「裏垢でいつも言ってる」説". J-CAST News (in Japanese). 2024-08-05. Archived from the original on 2024-08-06. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
  20. ^ Shimizu, Youhei (2024-08-05). "フワちゃんの不適切投稿に批判殺到、やす子「とっても悲しい」…弁護士は「不法行為」にあたる可能性指摘". Bengoshi Dot Com News (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2024-08-06. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
  21. ^ a b "フワちゃん やす子に直接謝罪も一件落着とはいかず…TV関係者「スポンサーも事態を重く…出演難しい」". Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). Sports Nippon. Archived from the original on 2024-08-11. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
  22. ^ Shinohara, Shuji (2024-08-06). "Googleが「死んでくださーい」暴言のフワちゃんのCMを非公開に。本人が消しゴムマジックされる事態". Yahoo! News (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2024-08-06. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
  23. ^ "【フワちゃん】 ＹｏｕＴｕｂｅチャンネル コメント欄を閉鎖 「不適切な投稿」で騒動". TBS NEWS DIG (in Japanese). 2024-08-08. Archived from the original on 2024-08-09. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
  24. ^ "フワちゃん活動休止を発表「自分のことを 見つめ直す時間に」不適切投稿を直接謝罪も収束せず". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 2024-08-11. Archived from the original on 2024-08-11. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
  25. ^ Edwards, Scott (October 23, 2022). "STARDOM Goddess of Stardom Tag League Day 1 Results (10/23/22): KAIRI, Mayu Iwatani, And More". fightful.com. Retrieved October 27, 2022.