Who are the most famous and popular Twitter influencers in Japan? In this article, we will be taking a deep dive into Twitter. In Japan, Twitter is the third most used social media platform after LINE and YouTube. It’s popular in Japan for several reasons: it is user-friendly, allows anonymity, has a robust community, and keeps users updated in real-time on current events and news, both domestically and internationally.
As of 2024, there are around 67.5 million registered Twitter users in Japan, of which 45 million are active users. This makes Japan the second-largest user base for Twitter, behind only the United States. Twitter is particularly popular among young people in Japan, with 70% of users being under the age of 35. This being said, Twitter ranks behind LINE and YouTube in terms of the number of active users.
Japanese KOLs and Celebrities use Twitter to build their brand by sharing their thoughts and opinions, posting behind-the-scenes content, engaging with their followers and other users, promoting their content, and participating in Twitter events to connect with other influencers.
Japanese culture highly values the opinions of others, making Twitter an ideal platform for sharing and appreciating diverse perspectives. Tweets that go viral are sometimes known by the slang word “Bazuru” – a clever play on words combining “Buzz” and “Ru”. These memes often feature a blend of humour and cleverness that resonates with the Japanese audience. Each post is boosted by the use of Japanese language trending hashtags.
In this list, we present the popular Twitter accounts in Japan based on the number of followers, each having a good level of engagement.
Top 10 Twitter Influencers and KOL in Japan
- Yusaku Maezawa
- Hitoshi Matsumoto
- Hiroiki Ariyoshi
- Hikakin
- Hajime Syacho
- Kyary Pamyu Pamyu
- Yoko Ono
- Kanna Hashimoto
- Suzu Hirose
- ROLA
1. Yusaku Maezawa
Followers: 10M
Category: Business, Fashion
Yusaku Maezawa is a well-respected Japanese fashion entrepreneur, philanthropist and KOL, best known as the founder of ZOZOTOWN, Japan’s largest online fashion retailer. Maezawa also has a large art collection, having spent millions of dollars on contemporary artworks and is one of the most famous people in Japan.
He gained widespread attention for organising a unique event on Twitter known as “Otoshidama Present” This giveaway promised 100 million yen to 100 lucky individuals, sparking a nationwide buzz. Maezawa later repeated the event, setting a Guinness World Record for the highest number of retweets. Adding to his captivating public persona, he announced plans for a space journey in 2023, further capturing the imagination of the Japanese people.
He tweets mainly about business, apps, tech and the fashion industry. He also promotes his service MZDAO in his bio, an online community for everyone to create companies and businesses together.
2. Hitoshi Matsumoto
Followers: 9.5M
Category: Comedy, TV
This celebrated Japanese comedian and personality made a name for himself with his frequent appearances on various popular TV entertainment shows across the country. With his signature humour, he captivates his audience, both on and off the screen. He is one half of the comedy duo called “Downtown”, along with Masatoshi Hamada.
His Twitter account offers fans an intimate glimpse into his personal life, thoughts, and relationship with fellow comedians. The thought-provoking and funny commentary he shares on current events in Japan reveals a side of him not often seen on television.
Following allegations published in The Shukan Bunshun, comedian Hitoshi Matsumoto will pause his career.
3. Hiroiki Ariyoshi
Followers: 7.7M
Category: Comedy, TV
Hiroiki Ariyoshi, a renowned Japanese comedian, has gained immense popularity for his quick thinking and honest commentary. His Twitter account showcases his unfiltered thoughts on trending topics in Japan, which has built him a large following of admirers and millions of followers. One of his most famous shows is the variety television show Susume! Denpa Shōnen, where he hitchhiked across Asia as part of a comedy duo.
He tweets about his day-to-day life, PR content, and comedy moments to promote his shows. Ariyoshi’s account has become a favourite among comedy enthusiasts across the nation.
4. Hikakin
Followers: 7M
Category: YouTuber, Comedy
As one of the first Japanese YouTubers, he has gained an impressive following of 11.9 million subscribers on his primary YouTube channel. His Twitter account serves as a platform to showcase not only his YouTube content but also his involvement in various events.
This content creator in Tokyo shares personal glimpses of his life, such as photos with fans and followers, creating a sense of connection with them. He promotes his YouTube channel and various product placements. He also posts messages about food and video games.
5. Hajime Syacho
Followers: 5.4M
Category: YouTuber, Comedy
As a leading Japanese YouTuber and influencer, he established his YouTube channel in 2012 and gained fans for his funny and imaginative videos. The content he produces involves challenges, Korean-style mukbangs, experiments and vlogs. His main channel has gained more than 10.7 million subscribers.
Through his Twitter account, he keeps fans engaged by sharing updates on his career, latest YouTube content and behind-the-scenes information.
6. Kyary Pamyu Pamyu
Followers: 4.9M
Category: Singer, Lifestyle
As a Japanese singer and fashion model, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu has gained widespread acclaim for her distinct musical and cute fashion sensibilities. She is sometimes known as “Japan’s Lady Gaga”, but that doesn’t do her justice. Representing the trendsetting style of Harajuku, she resonates with the younger generation of Japan. Her music has gained global popularity, and her performance at Coachella in 2022 captivated audiences worldwide.
Her active Twitter account offers a glimpse into her personal life and connections with other celebrities.
7. Yoko Ono
Followers: 4.4M
Category: Artist, Lifestyle
As a multi-talented Japanese artist, peace activist, and musician, Yoko gained international recognition through her marriage to John Lennon, a member of The Beatles. Together, they collaborated on numerous artistic projects during Lennon’s lifetime. Following his passing, she continued to make her mark as an artist in New York.
Through her social media presence, she shares insights into her everyday life and creative works, communicating with a global audience.
8. Kanna Hashimoto
Followers: 4.6M
Category: Actress, Musician
As one of Japan’s most widely renowned actresses, she initially gained fame as a member of Rev, an idol group. A photo of her dancing performance, shared by a fan on social media, led to her being dubbed the “once-in-a-thousand-year idol” (千年に一度のアイドル). Her widespread appeal has persisted, even as she transitioned from an idol to an actress.
She shares updates about her various movies, upcoming TV shows, movies, and musicals, as well as behind-the-scenes movie glimpses.
9. Suzu Hirose
Followers: 4.2M
Category: Model, Lifestyle
Born in 1998, Suzu Hirose is a talented Japanese actress and model hailing from Shizuoka City. She has received numerous awards for her exceptional acting, including the Japan Academy Prize for Best Actress. Known for her memorable performances in films and TV Dramas such as “Our Little Sister”, “The Third Murder” and “The Wandering Moon”, Suzu Hirose has wowed audiences with her talent. In addition to her acting career, she is a sought-after model who has collaborated with brands such as Shiseido and Louis Vuitton.
On Twitter, she promotes her official profile, tweets about her daily life and highlights various products she’s been using.
10. ROLA
Followers: 3.9M
Category: Model, Lifestyle, Fitness
This Japanese fashion model and talent has gained millions of fans with her unique sense of style and stunning beauty. Her refreshing positivity and optimistic outlook on life resonate with countless women in Japan. Her Twitter and Instagram accounts are immensely popular, featuring uplifting content such as fitness videos, that sets her apart from other accounts. After a decade of working in Japan, she moved to the United States in 2015 to expand her career but continues to actively contribute to the Japanese market, using her native language skills.
On her feed, she promotes her healthy living lifestyle with pictures and various inspirational quotes. She also promotes various things such as makeup, food and her Elle and Louis Vuitton high-end brand collaborations.
Conclusion
Japan has a diverse group of Twitter influencers and KOLs who have won over millions of people with their distinct characteristics, hobbies, and abilities. This group includes entrepreneurs, YouTubers, gamers, anime enthusiasts, cosplayers, J-Pop singers, and models. By sharing their insights, these influencers connect with audiences throughout Japan and beyond.
What we generally see is that accounts and brands with fresh and interesting content, smart hashtags, engaging bios and unique flair tend to be popular in Japan. Unlike Instagram, the key aspect of Twitter lies in the “words” themselves. This highlights the importance of content in driving success on the platform.
If you want to run successful Twitter advertising and marketing in Japan, it’s important to understand the culture, customs, and humour of the country. Knowing these things will help your brand and account be more attractive to followers and make a stronger connection with the Japanese audience. Brands can advertise on Twitter in Japan by promoting tweets, engaging with customers, running campaigns with hashtags and influencers, and conducting market research. Twitter can also provide an opportunity to build and engage with a Japanese audience through relevant and branded content.
Need help reaching Japanese audiences or launching an advertising campaign in Japan? We’re here to help you! With our expertise and in-depth understanding of Japanese influencer marketing trends, we can guide you through the process. Explore our guides as a starting point, or feel free to contact us to start your campaign.
