When you think of an Oni, the first thing that comes to mind may be the malevolent yōkai of Japanese folklore, but there also exists OniGiri – a VTuber Oni who prefers cooking, has gaming skills enough to challenge the neighborhood grandma, and embraces a “spicy-seiso” personality instead.

Recently, OniGiri stomped into Malaysia as a special guest for a meet and greet session at the Anime Fest+ ACG event, and we had the savory opportunity to catch up with her for an interview.

[Interview slightly edited for clarity.] 

The Start of OniGiri 

VTubers, like any heroes in comics and TV, have their own origin stories, so we start out by asking OniGiri how her VTubing career started.

“It actually began somehow unexpectedly during the Covid-19 lockdown period, when I was working from home and had a lot of free time on my hands,” replied OniGiri.

“OniBro was actually the one that really was into YouTubers and streamers. I didn’t know much about the whole streaming stuff back in the day. With so much time on my hands, OniBro suggested I give streaming a try as a means to break out of my shyness and connect with others. I hesitantly agreed, thinking it could be a way to step out of my comfort zone. As I started streaming and interacting with viewers, I discovered a genuine interest in the medium.”

“What appealed to me most was the anonymity it offered; I didn’t have to reveal my face or worry about dressing up, which suited my laid-back personality quite well. Additionally, I’ve always been drawn to the idea of maintaining a certain level of privacy while still engaging with an audience. This combination of factors made VTubing a perfect fit for me, and I found myself enjoying it immensely. I continued to pursue it and it gradually became a comfortable and fulfilling creative outlet for me.”

Inspiration into Content

One of the biggest drives for content creation is to always be inspired to stay creative and maintain engagement with audiences with something fresh. And so, we asked OniGiri how she discovers her inspirations in her daily life and transforms them into her creative content.

OniGiri said, “Often, I find inspiration from various sources like watching anime or playing games. For example, if I’m into a game like Monster Hunter, I might get inspired to try cooking a dish from it. Sometimes it’s simply about what food I feel like eating or haven’t tried making before. If I’m craving a particular dish, I’ll just go ahead and make it.”

OniGiri, the Chef VTuber 

Unlike most VTubers who shine in gaming content, one of OniGiri’s biggest draws is that her content has a huge focus on cooking. Claiming to be a professional cooking VTuber, despite a history of burning something as simple as rice (“accidentally” as she claims), we wonder about her reasons for venturing into cooking as her content direction.

To that, OniGiri said, “For me, it was more an accident because I didn’t play many games growing up, so I don’t really have a lot of skills in games. So when I was streaming, I did gaming content and I realized I wasn’t having as much fun and it also wasn’t as easy for me. I wanted to do something that gave me confidence that at the same time, the audience would like.”

“Given my passion for cooking and my enjoyment of watching cooking content, I try cooking on stream instead. OniBro was supportive and helped set up the cameras and equipment. Although our first setup had technical issues and was far from perfect, it ultimately worked out, and I found my niche in cooking content.”

As she had cooked many dishes over the past in her VTubing career, we also would love to know her favorite recipe, and she noted the most memorable dish she made is the tonkotsu ramen.

“I’m confident in my ability to cook a wide range of dishes. However, one that stands out as particularly memorable is the tonkotsu ramen I made. It was my first attempt at such a complex dish, and I dedicated hours to preparing it, including letting the tonkotsu broth simmer overnight as tradition dictates. The process was challenging but rewarding, and the final result was incredibly satisfying. So that was that time the most memorable thing.” 

Foodie

Since she does cooking content, we asked OniGiri if she is a foodie. Which, she expressed that she does not see herself as a foodie.

“People often think I’m a foodie, but I don’t see myself that way. I don’t only eat Michelin-starred meals or get too caught up in flavors and textures. I just know what tastes good to me. I don’t need fancy or complicated dishes to be happy; I just want good food. If it tastes good, I’m satisfied. I don’t nitpick about little things. I love eating because it brings me joy, but I don’t need extravagant meals. I just need something tasty.”

Malaysia

As mentioned, OniGiri flew all the way from Japan as a special guest for the Anime Fest+ event in Malaysia. In regards to her stay in Malaysia, OniGiri expressed her joy, saying, “I’ve been blown away by how hospitable and warm everyone is here, which was a pleasant surprise. I don’t want to say I was not expecting it, but it’s not what I usually get when I get to visit a new place or get invited to events and things like that. But everyone here has gone out of their way to ensure I’m well taken care of.”

Malaysia is a nation that prides itself on food, and OniGiri also specifically highlights the food here. “Obviously, the food was delicious,” she said. “I did a stream this morning, and everything I tasted was delicious. So, definitely, the food, the warmth of the people, and their incredible hospitality have stood out to me. It’s been really cool.”

She also highlighted McDonald’s in Malaysia, saying that the fast food chain in the country really impressed her, “especially their fresh sambal and delicious fried chicken”. She added, “It was so good that I couldn’t believe it was from McDonald’s. So, for me, McDonald’s in Malaysia stands out. Everything they served there was delicious, except for their Milo, it was diluted and mid at best.”

IM TRYING ALL THE FOODS IN MALAYSIA!!! LIVEEE NOWWW pic.twitter.com/89myqXLMyS

— Giri (@OnigiriEn_) April 27, 2024

“Face Reveal”

The appeal of VTubing is about staying anonymous while letting your personality shine through streams. As such it is uncommon for VTubers to ever reveal their face, but OniGiri is one of the rare ones who reveal her face… well, partially that is.

As for the reasons, she said, “I haven’t fully shown my face, just parts of it or with a mask. It wasn’t a sudden decision for me; it happened gradually.”

“During my IRL (in real life) streams in Japan, while I was on vacation, there were moments where parts of my face might accidentally show, like in reflections or through a glass. Luckily, my community didn’t make a big deal out of it. Some people got excited, but overall, they were understanding and mature about it. They either ignored it or moved on without fuss. This gave me the confidence to show a bit more of myself, knowing they wouldn’t react strangely or pressure me. It’s mainly because my chat is mature, which allows me to explore different types of content. Now, it’s not a big deal, and it’s nice to have the freedom to switch between real life and VTubing.”

Malaysia’s National Treasure: Ramly Burger! 🍔 ✨

She was saucy, tender, and savoury 🤤 Y’all need to stop gatekeeping your food Malaysia 😤 pic.twitter.com/n4odL4TuFQ

— Giri (@OnigiriEn_) April 30, 2024

VTuber or IRL? 

Continuing the topic of her face reveal, we asked if she has a preference between streaming in her VTuber form or as her physical self.

“It depends on the content of the stream. I enjoy streaming as a VTuber, especially for cooking sessions, as my setup works well for that. But if I’m being more creative, trying DIY projects, or exploring new things, it’s easier to express myself in person. It really varies based on the stream’s nature.”

OniGiri’s Lore 

Typically, VTubers have their own lore and persona behind the avatar. Since OniGiri has revealed her face in some capacity, we wonder how she manages her VTuber persona and her real-life self.

“Honestly, I didn’t really care. When I first started out, I introduced myself as an Oni warlord that was iseikaied to modern day, but just a week later, I was like, ‘Okay, guys, this is me.’ Then when I started doing IRL streams, I was like, ‘Tomorrow’s IRL, if you’re not into it, don’t show up.’ Most people were cool about it; they either liked it or respected my decision. So, if you set boundaries or expectations, everyone usually goes along with them. It’s never been a big deal for me.”

“One thing I do keep secret is my age. Some personal details are still private, but I like to play around with my age. I joke that I’m 690, turning 693 this year. But depending on how I reminisce about my childhood, people might guess which generation I belong to. In real life, I never reveal my exact age, so I like to keep it playful. I might say I’m ‘twenty-one in human years,” but “693 in VTuber years.’ People generally get the idea.”

OniGiri’s Wardrobe 

Over her streaming career, OniGiri’s avatar has gone through several changes in appearance, spotting new designs for her outfit.

When talking about her fashion choices, she expresses. “Yes, for each outfit, I have some standard elements like purple hair and yellow horns. The rest depends on the theme, like Easter or Halloween. I tell the designer what I want, they come up with ideas, and then we discuss and make adjustments.”

“I’m pretty involved in the design process, but I’m not good at designing myself. I rely on them to create something that I’ll like, and then we work together to fine-tune it. For example, I might suggest adding unique hair for a special occasion, like sandy white for Christmas. So, I’m part of the process, ensuring the character fits the theme while still keeping its core elements like purple hair.”

Popularity and Pressure

Given her popularity and her large fan base, we asked if she ever felt pressured or motivated about her career.

“Not really. I feel like I’ve grown steadily alongside my community,” she responded. “It’s been a gradual progression, never a sudden jump from zero to a lot of viewers overnight. This gradual growth has worked well for me. There’s never been a drastic shift from having a small community to suddenly having many eyes on you; it’s been more of a continuous journey.”

“People have been able to grow with me as my content evolves, especially with my cooking streams where small changes happen over time. I haven’t really felt pressured by having a large fan base. However, like any content creator, there’s always that nagging thought of whether I did well today or if others are doing better. Will I improve in the future? I think everyone thinks about that. But overall, I’ve just been going with the flow and haven’t felt stuck or unhappy with my community and where I’m at.”

Future Plans 

Given her blossoming VTubing career, we asked OniGiri if she could maybe give a tease on what to expect from her in the future.

She responded with enthusiasm, “I have a new outfit in the works, which I’m really excited about. It’s going to be a pretty big update. Hopefully, it’ll be ready by the end of May or early June, if not sooner. I’m constantly teasing bits of it, and everyone seems excited.”

“Alongside that, I have plans for a secret cooking show in the future. It’s still in the works and quite involved, but it’s definitely on the horizon. Right now, my streams are in 2D, but this new cooking show will be in 3D. So, those are some of the things I’m looking forward to exploring in the near future.”

Pokemon has an official dance!💃

The way everyone at the park looked at me when I filmed this 🥹 pic.twitter.com/XBKGRaX0F0

— Giri (@OnigiriEn_) April 3, 2024

Message to Malaysian Fans 

As we were concluding our interview, we asked OniGiri if she had any messages to her Malaysian fans.

“I’m just grateful to be here, if only I was able to have a few more days here to explore and eat! But I must say, the Malaysian community has been incredibly kind, welcoming, and generous, inspiring me to keep doing more. I truly appreciate their warmth and enthusiasm. It’s an honor to be here, and I look forward to the next time I can return to see more, do more, and eat more!”

Here concludes the interview. We would like to thank OniGiri for taking the time to answer all of our questions.

If you want to check out more of her crazy antics and totally “seiso” behavior from her streams, you can watch her Twitch and YouTube, or follow her on Twitter/X.