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Due to the size and the scope of the story involved, this will be a larger piece than I thought it was going to be at first. This will likely be ten or so pages. Just due to novelist OCD, I will have several parts that will require multiple rewrites to do the story of the character and her fans the "Hoomans" any proper level of service.
I severely underestimated the number of clipper bits, fan art, fan videos, fan music and even the basic complexity of the story involved. The deeper I looked, the deeper the rabbit hole went, until we were way past Wonderland. We will only be using a small fraction.
I will have to build this for people who know nothing about Hololive or Vtubers. I will make sure it does justice to the Hooman fans and the humanity of the person who played this character.
Haunt2003.com is the 5th website and service provider for my own MMO PVP guild. With tens of thousands of hours lost from various companies shutting down website operations, we are well aware that nothing on the internet lasts forever, in the place it was first placed.
That said, I consider this work on my own part community property, so if you desire, it can be saved or reposted anywhere and in any language. Anything used within is considered Fair Use, because it is a real part of Internet History that was experienced internationally by millions of people.
This is thread not a comparison to people in the Hololive company that have left. For those that have moved on to private projects, we have posted a thread on them and where you can find them here: https://haunt2003.com/index.php/community/general/where-you-can-find-graduated-hololive-members-who-moved-on-to-their-own-vtubing-projects/
This is also not a comparison to Mumei's active Hololive friends or their fandoms. Learning about this story made me appreciate how much those fandoms have become nervous about their own favorite entertainers. Deadbeats are trying to get workaholic Mori Calliope to take more breaks. KFP is constantly trying to keep Takahashi Kiara's spirits up. The list goes on, you see more and more examples as you look through each fandom.
It also made me appreciate how much the people leaving and the people that stay hate these events. There are very few jobs where people can say they were really friends with the people they worked with. There are many positives too that. That said, it makes it that much harder when someone you respect and bonded with eventually leaves.
So, to sum this story up, a good person's dream has died, because of health reasons completely beyond their control. Because of the damage to Mumei's vocal cords, she have had to step away from her a dream job and doing what she loved the most.
The lady who played Mumei may never be able to return to Vtubing. So, let's take a second to honor what she accomplished, as well as, the global network of fans that adored her.
We will include in that the art she inspired from those fans. We will also include their own words of what they thought of her and the difference that a lady, they never personally met, made in many of their lives, often in some of those fan's personal darkest moments.
As a honor to the Guardian of Civilization she played, we will metaphorically explain these moments and what they meant to her fans with nods to: pop culture, current culture, literature, and the voices of the past. After all, Nanashi Mumei was not just just a representation of humanity with all of its common merits and flaws. She was literally a symbol of the very best the human race has been and can be. That is true today and that is true throughout all of recorded history...
"All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts..." William Shakespeare's "As You Like It", Act II, Scene VII
Note 1:
Let's start with the times that this starts in. Hololive EN's Council would be the second set of Vtubers to take the stage right in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. This would be the largest worldwide public health crisis since the Spanish Flu of 1918.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic
The pandemic caused severe social and economic disruption around the world, including the largest global recession since the Great Depression.[10] Widespread supply shortages, including food shortages, were caused by supply chain disruptions and panic buying. Reduced human activity led to an unprecedented temporary decrease in pollution. Educational institutions and public areas were partially or fully closed in many jurisdictions, and many events were cancelled or postponed during 2020 and 2021. Telework became much more common for white-collar workers as the pandemic evolved. Misinformation circulated through social media and mass media, and political tensions intensified. The pandemic raised issues of racial and geographic discrimination, health equity, and the balance between public health imperatives and individual rights.
The WHO ended the PHEIC for COVID-19 on 5 May 2023.[4] The disease has continued to circulate. However, as of 2024, experts were uncertain as to whether it was still a pandemic.[11][12] Pandemics and their ends are not well-defined, and whether or not one has ended differs according to the definition used.
This was an era when people were scared. They were also isolated and lonely. Many were trapped and anxiety ridden inside their own residences as the world news and internet drove people into a panic that lasted for years.
Most entertainment and production companies were effectively shut down. The Vtuber scene exploded in popularity as people sought out some way to take care of their fear. This will be the story of one of those Vtubers who worked for a Japanese agency known as Hololive. https://hololivepro.com/en/
"Who are you?" -Lois Lane
"A friend." -Superman
-Superman: The Movie, 1978
Note 2:
The Japanese concept of Honne and tatemae
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honne_and_tatemae
In Japan, honne and tatemae are Japanese terms relating to a person's feelings and outward behaviors.[1] Honne refers to a person's true feelings and desires (本音, hon'ne; "true sound"), and tatemae refers contrastingly to the behavior and opinions one displays in public (建前, tatemae; "built in front", "façade"). This distinction began to be made in the post-war era.[2]: 35
A person's honne may be contrary to what is expected by society or what is required according to one's position and circumstances, and they are often kept hidden, except with one's closest friends. Tatemae is what is expected by society and required according to one's position and circumstances, and these may or may not match one's honne. In many cases, tatemae leads to outright telling of lies in order to avoid exposing the true inward feelings. In English speaking countries they are telling “white lies.”
There are the metaphorical masks everyone wears in order to get through life. One of my favorite parts of human nature is watching that mask slip and the real person shine through. That's why I enjoy, on one side the polite civilized nature of people like those in the service industry in Japan, and then on the other, watching the very same people go crazy at home gaming on the internet.
It is also why I enjoy some of the more crazy stories of people, from multiple countries, letting their hair down gaming on the internet. As none of us are perfect, it is some of the most humorous and endearing parts of being human.
We have a few threads recently showing that:
https://haunt2003.com/index.php/community/humor/odes-to-toxic-pvp/
https://haunt2003.com/index.php/community/humor/odes-to-gamer-rage/
https://haunt2003.com/index.php/community/humor/reactions-to-horror-games/
https://haunt2003.com/index.php/community/humor/animated-chaos-from-the-world-wide-web/
In addition to what everyone does, some people have additional professional masks. Actors are always something different the roles their fans like the best. Most people understand that, even while being fans of characters.
Thus, many people feel that it is the rarest thing to find seems to be truly good people underneath all of those masks. These are people that get treasured by those that discover them. This is more true when people are going through some of the scariest and stressful times of their lives.
Finally, we should remember, this was the early days of COVID. Most people in the modern world were wearing literal face masks. That was something that many believed was making people feel even lonelier and more isolated. After all, seeing something once taken for granted, such as the reassurance and warmth of another person's smile was literally impossible for many.
"The perfect blossom is a rare thing. You could spend your life looking for one, and it would not be a wasted life."
-Katsumoto (Ken Watanabe), The Last Samurai, 2003
"To love a thing means wanting it to live."
-Confucius (c. 551 – c. 479 BCE)
“In a world where everyone wears a mask, it’s a privilege to see a soul.”
-Amanda Richardson
[Amended Debut Details] hololive English -Council-OFFICIAL POSTPlease check the times (JST) below for the adjusted debut schedule of hololive English -Council-.
Sana: Monday, August 23, 2 AM
Fauna: Monday, August 23, 3:30 AM
Kronii: Monday, August 23, 5 AM
Mumei: Monday, August 23, 6:30 AM
Baelz: Monday, August 23, 8 AM
Debut times will follow that of the original schedule.
Once the debuts have finished, a collab stream will take place on Monday, August 23, at 10 AM featuring all five members, so please watch it as well.
#holoCouncil #hololiveEnglish
"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."
-Mahatma Gandhi (2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948)
"The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up."
-Mark Twain (November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910)
"To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else - means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting."
-E. E. Cummings (October 14, 1894 – September 3, 1962)
Thus begins the very shy debut of the Guardian of Civilization. She is a fictional member of Hololive's council watching mankind.
Aug 22, 2021 (US EST)
Nanashi Mumei Ch. hololive-EN
【DEBUT STREAM】Oh? OH! #holoCouncil #hololiveEnglish
https://www.youtube.com/live/M2gwJ-7s0Zo?si=dfOWxvVcQYL90yLE
Three comments
@PhytagorasPancake
3 years ago
Everyone on Mumei's debut: MUST PROTECC
Everyone now: We need protection from Mumei
@theflyingace611
3 years ago
I love the utter dichotomy between Mumei and the rest of the council. We have the warden of time, the embodiments of Nature and Space, Chaos incarnate
and bird
@Lewisking50
3 years ago (edited)
The runes on the little one literally read "Friend" or "Fryend".
That's just too cute 😀
Jan 16, 2022
「Original Song」A New Start - MV
English lyric translations for her song by Mori Calliope.
Three comments
@HakosBaelz
3 years ago
I'm so proud T_T
This video along with your beautiful voice is too much for me.
I LOVE YOU!@HazoDDD
3 years ago
"Nothing strange about straying, if you're true to who you are"
Mumei I adore you.
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
-Eleanor Roosevelt (October 11, 1884 – November 7, 1962)
"All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them."
-Walt Disney (December 5, 1901 – December 15, 1966)
"Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes."
-Carl Jung (26 July 1875 – 6 June 1961)
Takusachi Clips Ch.
Mumei Gets Emotional Talking About Singing, Her Past, and Hololive
Three comments
@epiccarrot88
3 years ago
I'm so happy for Mumei man. If you've watched her enough you can tell she's nervous about steaming for so many people, but at the same time she's also coming out of her shell, and is having so much fun doing it. I'm happy to call myself a Hooman. Mumei is such a sweet person, and I'm glad she's found a place she belongs. Gives me hope that maybe I can find my place one day.
@angelodescordo8455
3 years ago
In one of her earlier streams Kronii said "You guys give me more support than I deserve, really" similar to Mumei here who is wondering what she did to deserve this opportunity to be part of Hololive. Bae has also said "I did not expect that I would be here" while tearing up. Being chosen among thousands of applicants must feel like a surreal miracle.
Apr 17, 2022
Jeremy Robson (Hololive fan made music from Canada)
Mumei Takes Flight (A New Start for Orchestra)
Three comments
@pastanick48
3 years ago
This is an amazing arrangement, it truly does sound like she's taking flight. Amazing job!
@crav3ongaming97
1 year ago
[somewhere on earth before the beginning of the end ]
''...our civilization could not last if it not because of yo-''
''oh hi, whats your name again...hehe, im sorry its been uh how many years since ive visit here''
''its okay my name is ------''
@Crasuk
3 years ago
Very nice interpretation of one of my favourite hololive original songs.
“Dying is easy, comedy is hard”
-a death bed quote attributed to character actor Edmund Gwenn.
VtuberClip Ch.
Mumei WTF did you draw?
This clip is many times funnier if you know that Korone was Mumei's Oshi (idol) before she joined Hololive..
Three comments
@35PHaatonOtoVivid
3 years ago
It's not that she keeps on forgetting things, it's just that her mind wanders into Korone's search history.
@randomuser8144
3 years ago
I think she drew this after getting a surprise visit from Suisei. Kinda implying that whatever she drew is Suisei.
@theactualparadox
3 years ago
She said she liked metal during the Q&A and now she drew this
We really don’t know this owl at all lmao
But I want to=)
"Chuck Norris doesn't read books. He stares them down until he gets the information he wants."
-one of hundreds of Barrens chat Chuck Norris jokes, regularly said on World of Warcraft servers for years. These are a metaphor for the Owl being realized as an Apex Predator of the Sky, by her fandom the Hoomans.
Nanashi Mumei Ch. hololive-EN
【Animation】Mumei's Voicemail
Three comments
@youraverageguy8431
3 years ago (edited)
"I'll be getting back to you, but not by phone"
Is probably one of the most ominous lines a caller could possibly get.@netherslayer3561
3 years ago
The scariest part in all this: she doesn't even ask you to leave any information she could use to contact you outside of using a phone...
