Who are the most famous and popular X (Twitter) influencers in Japan? In this article, we will be taking a deep dive into Twitter. In Japan, X.com 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.
Currently, there are around 69.3 million registered Twitter users in Japan, of which 66 million are monthly active users. This makes Japan the second-largest user base for X behind only the United States. X 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 X 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 X (Twitter) Influencers and KOL in Japan
- Yusaku Maezawa
- Hitoshi Matsumoto
- Hiroiki Ariyoshi
- Hikakin
- Hajime Syacho
- Kanna Hashimoto
- Kyary Pamyu Pamyu
- Yoko Ono
- Suzu Hirose
- ROLA
1. Yusaku Maezawa
Followers: 9.76M
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.
Maezawa has also drawn attention for his ventures in space. In 2021, he became the first private citizen to travel to space aboard SpaceX’s “Crew Dragon,” fulfilling his dream of civilian space travel. In 2023, he announced the “dearMoon project,” a plan to take creators and artists on a mission around the moon, demonstrating his passion for space and his unique vision.
Currently, Maezawa continues to expand his activities, with a strong focus on the space industry. He remains a prominent figure, actively engaging with his followers on social media and launching new business initiatives. His unconventional lifestyle and bold actions continue to have a strong influence on younger generations, ensuring he remains a highly visible and widely discussed figure in the media.
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: 9.7M
Category: Comedy, TV
Hitoshi Matsumoto is one of the most prominent figures in Japan’s comedy scene, widely known as a member of the legendary comedy duo, Downtown. He began his career in the late 1980s and, by the 1990s, Downtown had become a dominant force in Japanese television. Matsumoto played a key role in shaping Japan’s comedy landscape, especially through long-running shows like “Gaki no Tsukai” and “Matsumoto Hitoshi no Suberanai Hanashi” (Matsumoto’s Story That Never Falls Flat), which helped solidify his place as a comedic icon.
Matsumoto’s Twitter account reflects his unique personality and humor. His tweets often blend jokes and sarcasm, while occasionally delving into philosophical discussions on societal issues and the human condition. He is known for his bluntness, not hesitating to voice critical opinions, which makes his interactions with followers stand out. His Twitter presence maintains his status as an influential figure in the entertainment industry while also allowing him to connect with younger generations. Through his use of social media, Matsumoto continues to engage with fans in a way that complements his longstanding career in comedy and television. Following allegations published in The Shukan Bunshun, comedian Hitoshi Matsumoto will pause his career.
3. Hiroiki Ariyoshi
Followers: 7.6M
Category: Comedy, TV
Hiroiki Ariyoshi is a popular Japanese comedian and actor who has gained widespread recognition for his work in television and entertainment. He first gained attention in the 1990s as part of the comedy duo “Saruganseki,” and later transitioned to a successful solo career. Known for his sharp comebacks and biting humor, Ariyoshi has become a beloved figure in Japanese variety shows. 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.
Ariyoshi’s Twitter account reflects his unique sense of humor and straightforward communication style. His tweets often include jokes, sarcasm, and sharp opinions, sometimes delivered with a biting edge. He frequently engages in active interactions with his followers, offering self-deprecating comments and sharing thoughts on social issues, which highlights his down-to-earth personality and resonates with many fans.
4. Hikakin
Followers: 7.1M
Category: YouTuber, Comedy
Hikakin is a popular Japanese YouTuber known for a wide range of content, including music, gaming, and product reviews. He is a pioneer in Japan’s YouTube scene and has gained millions of followers through channels like “HIKAKIN TV” and “HikakinGames.”
Hikakin’s Twitter account reflects his approachable and positive personality. He actively engages with fans, sharing updates on his daily life, video releases, and promoting products or events. His tweets often include light-hearted jokes and expressions of gratitude, emphasizing his connection with his followers. He promotes his YouTube channel and various product placements. He also posts messages about food and video games.
5. Hajime Syacho
Followers: 5.3M
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. He is primarily known for creating experiment and challenge videos, and his YouTube channel “Hajime Shacho no Hata” has a large number of subscribers, captivating viewers with a wide range of content across various genres. Through his Twitter account, he keeps fans engaged by sharing updates on his career, latest YouTube content and behind-the-scenes information.
6. Kanna Hashimoto
Followers: 4.87M
Category: Singer, Lifestyle
Kanna Hashimoto is a popular Japanese actress and model known for her work in films and television dramas. She first gained attention as an idol, with her dance performance photos shared by fans on social media, which quickly went viral. Following this, she transitioned into acting and captivated audiences with her versatility in a wide range of roles, her acting skills, and her bright, cheerful smile. In addition to her acting career, she is also active as a model and has appeared in numerous commercials.
Hashimoto’s Twitter account reflects her down-to-earth and warm personality. She frequently shares photos from her daily life and work, expressing gratitude to her fans and keeping a close connection with them. She also actively engages with her followers, responding to comments and sometimes showing her cute, playful side. In 2024, Hashimoto gained international recognition for her role as Chihiro in the stage adaptation of Spirited Away, showcasing her talent on the global stage.
7. Kyary Pamyu Pamyu
Followers: 4.87M
Category: Artist, Lifestyle
As a Japanese singer and fashion model, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu has gained widespread acclaim for her striking 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.
8. Yoko Ono
Followers: 4.3M
Category: Actress, Musician
Yoko Ono is a Japanese artist, musician, and peace activist, internationally known as the wife of John Lennon. Together, they collaborated on numerous artistic projects during Lennon’s lifetime. After his death, she continued to thrive as an artist in New York. Ono began her career in the 1960s within the avant-garde art world, using music, visual art, and film to express social and political messages.
On her Twitter account, Yoko Ono frequently shares messages related to her ongoing work. Her posts focus on themes such as peace, love, environmental issues, and human rights, often using simple yet powerful language to address her global audience. She occasionally shares her own art, music projects, or memories of John Lennon. Her tweets are characterized by visual art and poetic language, conveying emotions directly to her followers.
9. Suzu Hirose
Followers: 4.2M
Category: Model, Lifestyle
Suzu Hirose, born in 1998 in Shizuoka City, is a Japanese actress and model known for her versatile roles in both films and TV dramas. She gained attention for her performances in movies such as Our Little Sister (海街diary), The Third Murder (三度目の殺人), and the TV drama School of Lock!, captivating audiences with her natural and bright acting skills. In addition to her acting career, she has collaborated with major brands like Shiseido and Louis Vuitton, establishing herself as a popular model.
On her social media, Suzu frequently shares updates about her daily life and work, often expressing gratitude to her fans. She is also active in responding to questions and comments, maintaining a warm and approachable connection with her followers. 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
Rola is a Japanese talent, model, and actress, widely recognized for her appearances in television shows and advertisements starting in the early 2010s. Born to a Bangladeshi and Jamaican heritage, Rola gained attention for her exotic looks and energetic, down-to-earth personality, which helped her build a large fan base both in Japan and internationally. 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 X Twitter influencers and KOLs who have won over millions of people with their unique 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 X (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.
