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Minato Aqua
Minato Aqua as designed by Gaou
Personal information
Born	1 December
Nationality	Japanese
Other names	Akutan, Onion, Ateishi
Occupation	Virtual YouTuber
Website	hololive.hololivepro.com/en/talents/minato-aqua/
YouTube information
Channel	Aqua Ch. 湊あくあ
Created by	Gaou (character design)
Years active	2018–2024
Genres	Livestreaming Singing Gaming
Subscribers	2.24 million
Total views	500 million
Network	Hololive Production
Creator Awards 100,000 subscribers 2019 1,000,000 subscribers 2021
Last updated: 28 August 2024

Minato Aqua (湊あくあ) is a retired Japanese VTuber affiliated with Hololive Production from 8 August 2018 to 28 August 2024. She was part of Hololive's 2nd Generation. On 6 August 2024, she announced her 'graduation' from Hololive, using terminology from the Japanese idol industry to refer to retirement. Her graduation concert marking the end of her 6-year career, streamed on YouTube on 28 August, attracted 749,854 concurrent viewers, making it the most watched VTuber stream in history.

At the time of her graduation, Aqua had 2.24 million subscribers on her YouTube channel and was the 11th most popular VTuber according to the ranking site Userlocal. After her graduation, she currently has 2.28 million subscribers on YouTube.

Career

On 14 July 2018, Hololive Productions put out a casting call for the virtual maid "Minato Aqua", with the character design done by the illustrator Gaou. Less than a month later, Minato Aqua debuted on YouTube as the first member of Hololive's 2nd Generation alongside Murasaki Shion, Nakiri Ayame, Yuzuki Choco, and Oozora Subaru.

Aqua's official character profile describes her as a marine-themed maid who can be awkward and clumsy, though fans know her as a shy introvert with exceptional gaming skills, particularly in Apex Legends.

Minato Aqua said that it was her childhood dream to be an idol, but thought it was impossible to achieve due to her self-stated lack of smarts, singing ability, and communication skills. She nonetheless applied for the Hololive auditions due to prospect of being able to stream from home. She cited Momoko Tsugunaga as her role model as an idol. On 21 August 2020, she held her first paid solo concert to celebrate her second anniversary, simulcast on the Niconico and Bilibili. She was supposed to have a concert streamed from the Nissin Power Station on 2 August 2021, but the venue suffered a DDoS attack and an information security breach and was forced to cancel the concert. Aqua was able to hold the concert on 19 February from the same venue. She held a solo concert with a live audience at the Toyosu PIT on 28 January 2022.

Aqua's channel reached 1 million subscribers on 13 January 2021, making her the 8th VTuber (and 5th Hololive member) to reach this milestone. On 9 May 2024, her channel reached 2 million subscribers.

Aqua produced and starred in her own visual novel Aquarium, developed by Entergram and released for the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 on 27 October 2022. For her Aquarium appearance, Minato Aqua won the 2022 Famitsu Award in the "Best Actor" category. The game received a Steam release with English localization in 2023. A sequel was announced in March 2024, but it was cancelled due to Aqua's graduation.

On 6 August 2024, Aqua announced that she would be 'graduating' from Hololive on 28 August, citing unspecified differences in opinion with the company. On the day of her graduation, she held a livestreamed concert on YouTube that gathered 749,854 concurrent viewers, breaking the previous record of 483,873 viewers set by fellow Hololive member Kiryu Coco's graduation stream in July 2021. Aqua's graduation stream was also noted for receiving US$237,571 in Superchat (YouTube donations) revenue, the second most of any stream in the VTuber industry after Coco's graduation stream.

"I am the type of person who thinks of the end when I start something. Ever since I joined Hololive, I've had the idea that I wanted to finish in a brilliant blaze. Just vaguely. When I think about it like that, I guess in a way, this graduation was also one of my dreams."

— Minato Aqua, during her graduation stream

Activity

Games

• Azur Lane (2019)
• Neptunia Virtual Stars (2020)
• BanG Dream! Girls Band Party! (2021)
• Aquarium (2022)
• Sword Art Online: Last Recollection (2024)

Live

2019

• Niconico Chokaigi: Chou Bilibili Vup Stage (27 April 2019, Makuhari Messe)
• Bilibili World 2019 (17 August 2019, Guangzhou Poly World Trade Center; 4 October 2019, Shanghai New International Expo Center)
• VR Anime Festival 2019 (18 August 2019, Niconico livestream)

2020

• Hololive 1st Fes. Nonstop Story (hololive 1st Fes. 「ノンストップ・ストーリー」) (24 January 2020, Toyosu PIT)
• Aqua Iro Super Dream (21 August 2020, Niconico and Bilibili livestream) – pay-per-view solo concert
• Spice Live! (18 October 2020, YouTube livestream)
• Hololive 2nd fes. Beyond the Stage (2nd day) (22 December 2020) – pay-per-view livestream on Niconico and SPWN, sponsored by Bushiroad

2021

• VTuber Fes Japan 2021 DAY1 (30 January 2021, Kawaguchi Lilia)
• Bloom, hololive IDOL PROJECT 1st Live. (17 February 2021, Tokyo Garden Theater)
• Aqua Iro Super Miracle Dream (9 May 2021, YouTube livestream)
• Aqua Iro 3rd Anniversary Live (9 August 2021, YouTube livestream）

2022

• Aqua Iro in Wonderland (28 January 2022, Toyosu PIT)
• Minato Aqua Seaside Aqua Fes (19 February 2022, Nissin Power Station livestream)
• Hololive 3rd fes. Link Your Wish (2nd Day) (20 March 2022, Makuhari Messe, SPWN/Niconico) – co-sponsored by Weiß Schwarz and others

2023

• Hololive 4th fes. Our Bright Parade (2nd Day) (19 March 2023, Makuhari Messe, SPWN) – sponsored by Bushiroad
• Dreamy Day (15 August 2023, YouTube livestream)
• hololive Summer 2023 3DLIVE Splash Party! (27 August 2023, YouTube livestream)

2024

• Hololive 5th fes. Capture the Moment (2nd day) (17 March 2024, Makuhari Messe, SPWN) – sponsored by Bushiroad
• Minato Aqua Graduation Live (28 August 2024, YouTube livestream)

Discography

Digital singles

EP

Collaborative works

Awards and nominations

References

1. ^ "About Aqua Ch. 湊あくあ". YouTube.
2. Perry, Kurt (10 October 2023). "All Hololive members: EN, JP, Holostars, DEV_IS". Dexerto. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
3. ^ "Hololive's Minato Aqua announces shock graduation leaving fans stunned". Dexerto. 6 August 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
4. ^ "Minato Aqua's graduation was the most watched VTuber event of all time". Dexerto. 29 August 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
5. "【詳報】ホロライブのアイドルVTuber・湊あくあ、涙の卒業ライブ約1万字レポート 「私は今日、伝説になりますから、ね」 | PANORA" (in Japanese). 29 August 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
6. sososo291 (17 July 2018). "ホロライブ、新VTuber「湊あくあ」オーディション開催中". PANORA VR (in Japanese). Retrieved 7 September 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
7. "[Alum] Minato Aqua | TALENT | hololive official website". hololive.hololivepro.com. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
8. "【ホロライブ】湊あくあ卒業へ。卒業ライブは同接96万人を超えて伝説に。全世界を"あくあ色"に染め上げて輝かしい最後を飾った（ファミ通.com）". Yahoo!ニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 7 September 2024.
9. "湊あくあ | もしもオーディションに応募していなかったら……【連載コラム Vol2】| レッドブル ブログ". Red Bull (in Japanese). 1 June 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
10. "＼なぜ人気？／ 胸に秘めるは〇〇プライド!? 湊あくあが語る「自分らしさ」 VTuber インタビュー". Red Bull (in Japanese). 29 April 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
11. "Vシンガー 湊あくあ、初のソロライブ開催 オンラインで活動2周年を祝おう". KAI-YOU.net | POP is Here . (in Japanese). 7 July 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
12. "VTuber「湊あくあ」オンラインライブ中止、原因は第三者の大量アクセス". ITmedia NEWS (in Japanese). Retrieved 7 September 2024.
13. "【振替公演】湊あくあ SEASIDE AQUA FES 湊あくあ Eventernote イベンターノート". 21 June 2023. Archived from the original on 21 June 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
14. "湊あくあ | ライブは自分が生きている証明のようなもの【連載コラム Vol6】". Red Bull (in Japanese). 3 October 2022. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
15. "【速報】ホロライブ・湊あくあ、チャンネル登録者数100万人突破 兎田ぺこらに続きホロライブ5人目 | PANORA" (in Japanese). 13 January 2021. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
16. "ホロライブ・湊あくあ、チャンネル登録者200万人を達成…スーパーウルトラ何でもパーフェクトなメイドさん、涙ながらに感謝伝える (2024年5月10日)". エキサイトニュース (in Japanese). 10 May 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
17. ^ Kiya, Andrew (10 June 2022). "Aquarium Is a New Dating VN From Hololive's Minato Aqua". Siliconera. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
18. ^ Digioia, Alessandro (20 March 2023). "Famitsu Game Awards 2022, la testata giapponese svela i vincitori: Elden Ring è il gioco dell'anno". IGN Italia (in Italian). Retrieved 10 April 2024.
19. Lada, Jenni (9 November 2023). "Interview: Minato Aqua Talks About Her AQUARIUM Game". Siliconera. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
20. "Virtual YouTuber Minato Aqua's New Aquarium Game Canceled After Her 'Graduation'". Anime News Network. 7 September 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
21. "【ホロライブ】湊あくあさん、80万人近くが見守った卒業ライブで「伝説のアイドルになる」ことを有言実行。最高の花道を飾る". Dengeki Online. Retrieved 8 September 2024. 何かを始めるときって必ず終わりも一緒に考えるタイプなんですけど、私はホロライブに入ったときから、最後は、輝いて終わりたいって思ってました。漠然とね。そう思うと、ある意味、この卒業も、私の一つの夢だったんだなと思います。
22. "「アズールレーン」×「ホロライブ」コラボが開催。"ときのそら"含む7人のVTuberが登場". 4Gamer.net (in Japanese). Retrieved 7 September 2024.
23. "ブイブイブイテューヌ". 「ブイブイブイテューヌ」公式サイト. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
24. Bueno, Daniel (26 February 2024). "Hololive Vtuber Minato Aqua Joins SAO: Last Recollection". Siliconera. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
25. "ニコ生、「Vアニ2019」を5/1・20時〜再放送 樋口楓、富士葵、YuNi、Kotone（天神子兎音）、湊あくあ出演 | PANORA" (in Japanese). 28 April 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
26. "Hololive 1st Fes. 『ノンストップ・ストーリー』@20/1/24 豊洲PIT – 超満員の豊洲PITで開催、VTuberグループホロライブ初の全体ライブ！" [Hololive 1st Fes. "Nonstop Story" to be held on 24 January 2020 at Toyosu PIT, featuring every member in Hololive's first full live concert!] (in Japanese). PR TIMES. 28 January 2020. Archived from the original on 23 August 2020. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
27. 株式会社インプレス (12 October 2020). "「ホロライブ」×「日清カレーメシ」コラボによる「カレーメシウィーク」開催中 「カレーメシ味変え選手権」や「スパイスライブ！」など配信". GAME Watch (in Japanese). Retrieved 7 September 2024.
28. "あの豊洲の感動をもう一度 28名出演 ホロライブ全体ライブ「Beyond the Stage」12/21、22開催" [Let's ride again on that Toyosu rollercoaster – A Hololive live concert with all 28 members, "Beyond the Stage", is to be held on December 21st and 22nd]. PANORA (in Japanese). 23 October 2020. Archived from the original on 29 October 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
29. "ドワンゴ、日本最大級のバーチャルアーティストたちの音楽＆トークライブフェス「VTuber Fes Japan 2021」を1月30日・31日に開催！ | V-Tuber ZERO". V-Tuber ZERO. 7 May 2021. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
30. "湊あくあ ワンマンライブ2022「あくあ色 in わんだ～☆らんど♪」". aqua2ndlive.hololivepro.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 7 September 2024.
31. "「ホロライブプロダクション」初となる全体イベント《hololive SUPER EXPO 2022》および《hololive 3rd fes. Link Your Wish》の同時開催決定！" (in Japanese). Cover. 3 December 2021. Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2021 – via PRTIMES.
32. Originally scheduled to be a paid event on August 26 on Z-aN.
33. "Hololive Idols Aqua, Subaru, Nene Sing The Great Jahy Will Not Be Defeated! Anime's Ending". Anime News Network. 7 September 2024. Retrieved 8 September 2024.

• Hololive Production
• Fictional maids
• Japanese YouTubers
• YouTube channels launched in 2018
• YouTube channels closed in 2024
• Living people
• YouTube streamers
• Japanese female idols