{"id":2555,"date":"2025-07-31T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-31T03:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dkgy1yki8xgbd.cloudfront.net\/?p=2555"},"modified":"2025-08-28T12:41:14","modified_gmt":"2025-08-28T03:41:14","slug":"an-interview-with-shishiro-botan-project-leader-the-passion-and-creative-collaboration-behind-shishiro-hai","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/en\/list\/2555","title":{"rendered":"An Interview with Shishiro Botan &amp; Project Leader &#8211; The Passion and Creative Collaboration Behind Shishiro Hai"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-16018d1d wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-vivid-cyan-blue-background-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/en\/list\/2502\"><strong>Read Part 1 here<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-16018d1d wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-vivid-green-cyan-background-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/en\/list\/2777\"><strong>Read Part 3 here<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_76 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">INDEX<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/en\/list\/2555\/#Profile\" >Profile<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/en\/list\/2555\/#Interview_with_Shishiro_Botan_%E2%80%93_The_Beginning_of_Shishiro_Hai\" >Interview with Shishiro Botan &#8211; The Beginning of Shishiro Hai<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/en\/list\/2555\/#_I_Hope_Everyone_is_Glad_to_be_a_Part_of_It\" >&nbsp;I Hope Everyone is Glad to be a Part of It<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/en\/list\/2555\/#The_Potential_of_Shishiro_Hai\" >The Potential of Shishiro Hai<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/en\/list\/2555\/#Interview_with_S_%E2%80%93_The_Motivations_Behind_Shishiro_Hai\" >Interview with S &#8211; The Motivations Behind Shishiro Hai<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/en\/list\/2555\/#Fulfilling_Talents_Wishes\" >Fulfilling Talents\u2019 Wishes<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/en\/list\/2555\/#The_Strength_of_Talent-Led_Events\" >The Strength of Talent-Led Events<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/en\/list\/2555\/#Co-Creation_with_Talent_That_Extends_Beyond_the_Company\" >Co-Creation with Talent That Extends Beyond the Company<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Profile\"><\/span><strong>Profile<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p><strong><span class=\"sme-font-size has-medium-font-size\">Host of Shishiro Hai: Shishiro Botan<\/span><\/strong><br>Contrary to her sporty appearance, she&#8217;s a white lion who prefers lazing around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite her typically hands-off attitude, once she has made up her mind she will always follow through to the end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Her favorite phrase is &#8220;Wealth isn&#8217;t measured with money.&#8221; Born in a rough neighborhood, she&#8217;s a bit of a gaming addict. She&#8217;s the type to set aside powerful heals even at the end game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Shishiro Botan\u2019s Youtube channel: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCUKD-uaobj9jiqB-VXt71mA\">https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCUKD-uaobj9jiqB-VXt71mA<br><\/a><br>Shishiro Botan\u2019s X account: <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/shishirobotan\">https:\/\/x.com\/shishirobotan<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/dkgy1yki8xgbd.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0032_\u7345\u767d\u307c\u305f\u3093_\u901a\u5e38\u5ba3\u6750v2_fix_1-768x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2542\" style=\"width:240px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0032_\u7345\u767d\u307c\u305f\u3093_\u901a\u5e38\u5ba3\u6750v2_fix_1-768x1024.png 768w, https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0032_\u7345\u767d\u307c\u305f\u3093_\u901a\u5e38\u5ba3\u6750v2_fix_1-225x300.png 225w, https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0032_\u7345\u767d\u307c\u305f\u3093_\u901a\u5e38\u5ba3\u6750v2_fix_1-1152x1536.png 1152w, https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0032_\u7345\u767d\u307c\u305f\u3093_\u901a\u5e38\u5ba3\u6750v2_fix_1-1536x2048.png 1536w, https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0032_\u7345\u767d\u307c\u305f\u3093_\u901a\u5e38\u5ba3\u6750v2_fix_1-scaled.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><span class=\"sme-font-size has-medium-font-size\">Shishiro Hai Project Leader: S<\/span><\/strong><br>Project Team Leader\/Business Growth Team Promotions Team Leader\/Talent Project Support Team Planning Director, Gaming Business Development Office<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Interview_with_Shishiro_Botan_%E2%80%93_The_Beginning_of_Shishiro_Hai\"><\/span>Interview with Shishiro Botan &#8211; The Beginning of Shishiro Hai<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"573\" src=\"https:\/\/dkgy1yki8xgbd.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-11-1024x573.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2539\" srcset=\"https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-11-1024x573.png 1024w, https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-11-300x168.png 300w, https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-11-768x430.png 768w, https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-11-1536x860.png 1536w, https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-11.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u2015I heard that the idea for Shishiro Hai first started taking shape around 2023. Could you tell us how it all came about?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-liquid-speech-balloon liquid-speech-balloon-wrap liquid-speech-balloon-49\"><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-avatar\"><\/div><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-text\"><p>I remember that in the latter half of 2023, I was invited by a company to attend a gaming event, and at the venue, I mentioned to S from COVER, who was showing me around at the time, that I\u2019d love to try hosting a fun event like this myself someday.<br><br>At that time, COVER was in a period of rapid growth, and even when I had ideas for new projects, it was often difficult to get them off the ground. I\u2019ve always loved coming up with new concepts and pitching fresh ideas, but for various reasons, none of them ever came to fruition, which was really frustrating.&nbsp;<br><br>When I shared all of this with S, he looked at me and with confidence said, \u201cLet\u2019s do it. We can make this happen.\u201d<\/p><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-arrow\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u2015How did things move forward after that?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-liquid-speech-balloon liquid-speech-balloon-wrap liquid-speech-balloon-49\"><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-avatar\"><\/div><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-text\"><p><em>STREET FIGHTER 6<\/em> was released in June 2023, which actually led to me having that conversation with S, because, before having those discussions, I had the rare opportunity of being invited to take part in a non-COVER-hosted tournament called CR CUP (Crazy Raccoon Cup (<a href=\"https:\/\/crcup.jp\/\">https:\/\/crcup.jp\/<\/a>)) that featured STREET FIGHTER 6 (or \u201cSF6\u201d for short).<br><sup>\u203breference\uff1a<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/live\/-YlLwsEt0Js?feature=shared\">https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/live\/-YlLwsEt0Js?feature=shared<\/a><\/sup><br><br>This event brought together all kinds of people, regardless of their affiliations, and opened my eyes to what kinds of tournaments are possible. It also got me completely hooked on SF6.&nbsp;<br><br>So, I\u2019d always thought that if I ever had the chance to host my own event, I would want it to be something I truly love, and it was at that point I knew it had to be SF6. So when I told S that I wanted to organize an SF6 tournament, that\u2019s when things started to happen. Initially after that conversation, there wasn\u2019t a lot of movement for a while, but eventually, S reached out to say that they were ready to start planning, and from there, we were able to have more detailed discussions.<\/p><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-arrow\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"_I_Hope_Everyone_is_Glad_to_be_a_Part_of_It\"><\/span>&nbsp;I Hope Everyone is Glad to be a Part of It<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u2015You have already held three editions of this tournament so far, but what\u2019s most important to you when organizing them?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-liquid-speech-balloon liquid-speech-balloon-wrap liquid-speech-balloon-49\"><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-avatar\"><\/div><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-text\"><p>Making sure both the viewers and the participants will have a good time. Entertaining the audience is something I have always cared about &#8211; so no different from my regular streams &#8211; but I\u2019m especially mindful of the competitors and the fact that they choose to spend their valuable time with me for this tournament. This is why I try to make it as fun for them as possible, like having them against other players they wouldn\u2019t normally get the chance to face.<\/p><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-arrow\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"578\" src=\"https:\/\/dkgy1yki8xgbd.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-10-1024x578.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2538\" srcset=\"https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-10-1024x578.png 1024w, https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-10-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-10-768x433.png 768w, https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-10-1536x867.png 1536w, https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-10.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"579\" src=\"https:\/\/dkgy1yki8xgbd.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-9-1024x579.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2537\" srcset=\"https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-9-1024x579.png 1024w, https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-9-300x170.png 300w, https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-9-768x434.png 768w, https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-9-1536x869.png 1536w, https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-9.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u2015How do you come up with ideas for content and plan these tournaments?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-liquid-speech-balloon liquid-speech-balloon-wrap liquid-speech-balloon-49\"><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-avatar\"><\/div><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-text\"><p>I make it a habit to go for a walk every day, and that\u2019s usually when I do my thinking. I\u2019ll find myself thinking about things like, \u201cWas what we talked about yesterday really the best way?\u201d &#8211; and while I\u2019m debating it in my mind, a new idea will suddenly pop up. Then once I get home, I\u2019ll message the team with something like, \u201cAbout what we were discussing, what if we added this? It could make it even more fun!\u201d I imagine it must be exhausting working with me. (lol)&nbsp;<br><br>Whenever I come up with a new idea at the last minute, S always finds a way to seamlessly work it into the existing plans. I kind of have this mindset of, \u201cIf it\u2019s before the deadline, I can still change a few things,\u201d so I end up refining things right up until the last minute.<\/p><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-arrow\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">&nbsp;\u2015One thing that really stands out about Shishiro Hai is how naturally balanced it is between the tense nature of the high-level tournament matches and the light-heartedness of the exhibition matches and other chat streams. The mix of \u201cserious\u201d and \u201cfun\u201d always feels spot-on.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-liquid-speech-balloon liquid-speech-balloon-wrap liquid-speech-balloon-49\"><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-avatar\"><\/div><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-text\"><p>To be honest, a lot of that just comes down to instinct though. I usually think that if we can prepare things up to a certain point, the rest of the fun should take care of itself on the day, but I definitely try to choose people who I feel will help maintain a fun energy and lively atmosphere when inviting players to compete in the tournament or exhibition matches.&nbsp;<\/p><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-arrow\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"574\" src=\"https:\/\/dkgy1yki8xgbd.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-8-1024x574.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2536\" srcset=\"https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-8-1024x574.png 1024w, https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-8-300x168.png 300w, https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-8-768x431.png 768w, https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-8-1536x861.png 1536w, https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-8.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"590\" src=\"https:\/\/dkgy1yki8xgbd.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-7-1024x590.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2535\" srcset=\"https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-7-1024x590.png 1024w, https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-7-300x173.png 300w, https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-7-768x443.png 768w, https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-7.png 1329w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"583\" src=\"https:\/\/dkgy1yki8xgbd.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-6-1024x583.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2534\" srcset=\"https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-6-1024x583.png 1024w, https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-6-300x171.png 300w, https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-6-768x437.png 768w, https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-6.png 1296w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u2015What challenges have you faced as the host of Shishiro Hai?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-liquid-speech-balloon liquid-speech-balloon-wrap liquid-speech-balloon-49\"><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-avatar\"><\/div><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-text\"><p>There are actually a lot of people involved in Shishiro Hai, from the performers and staff to the production team and affiliated sponsors, so I always want everyone to feel like they were glad to be a part of this tournament, but finding the right balance can be really challenging at times when you\u2019re trying to accommodate everyone.&nbsp;<br><br>For example, there&#8217;s a segment before matches begin where we introduce all of the sponsors and personally, I\u2019d love to give every company their own time in the spotlight, but if we did that for all of our sponsors, it would take nearly an hour. However, the viewers, of course, are eager to jump into the matches as quickly as possible so I want to keep the sponsor introductions brief for them &#8211; but when I think about all the companies that have generously supported us, I honestly wish I could have proper introduction and featured content for all of them. Finding that balance is something I still struggle with.<\/p><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-arrow\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Potential_of_Shishiro_Hai\"><\/span>The Potential of Shishiro Hai<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u2015What does Shishiro Hai mean to you personally?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-liquid-speech-balloon liquid-speech-balloon-wrap liquid-speech-balloon-49\"><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-avatar\"><\/div><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-text\"><p>I think the event itself has become a way for me to show people what Shishiro Botan is capable of and that in itself has made it all worth it. It\u2019s also become a great opportunity for more people to get to know me, so I would love to keep doing it for as long as I can.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-arrow\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u2015Finally, what is Shishiro Hai to you?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-liquid-speech-balloon liquid-speech-balloon-wrap liquid-speech-balloon-49\"><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-avatar\"><\/div><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-text\"><p>If I had to put it simply, I\u2019d say it\u2019s full of potential. I\u2019d love to explore new ways to collaborate with any interested potential partners through Shishiro Hai and this doesn\u2019t have to mean sponsoring a tournament, nor does it even have to be limited to SF6 either. While Shishiro Hai has begun as an SF6 tournament, I think it could take many forms that include different game titles, so long as it\u2019s something I genuinely love.<br><br>I really hope more people and companies get involved with Shishiro Hai, so <a href=\"https:\/\/cover-corp.com\/en\/contact\">if you\u2019re a company that\u2019s interested in working together, I\u2019d be more than happy to hear from you<\/a>!<\/p><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-arrow\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Interview_with_S_%E2%80%93_The_Motivations_Behind_Shishiro_Hai\"><\/span>Interview with S &#8211; The Motivations Behind Shishiro Hai<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">&nbsp;\u2015In the first half of this interview, Shishiro Botan mentioned that you helped get the ball rolling regarding Shishiro Hai after you assured her that it was possible. Could you share your side of that story?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-liquid-speech-balloon liquid-speech-balloon-wrap liquid-speech-balloon-51\"><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-avatar\"><\/div><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-text\"><p>In my previous job, I worked as a promotions planner, coming up with campaigns involving licensed IP from anime and video games. I was also lucky enough to be involved in launching an esports business, so going into this, I had a mix of experience in shaping content for promotional use along with a bit of a background in esports.<\/p><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-arrow\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u2015It sounds like your background was a perfect fit for supporting this kind of event.&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-liquid-speech-balloon liquid-speech-balloon-wrap liquid-speech-balloon-51\"><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-avatar\"><\/div><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-text\"><p>As for why I decided to join COVER, I had this feeling that I might be exposed to even more exciting opportunities if I switched to working for a company that produces and owns its own content, and looking back, I think I was really lucky that things worked out the way they did.<\/p><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-arrow\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u2015That said, bringing an idea like this to life must have required a fair amount of coordination within the company. How did you approach that?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-liquid-speech-balloon liquid-speech-balloon-wrap liquid-speech-balloon-51\"><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-avatar\"><\/div><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-text\"><p>There are around 90 talents affiliated with hololive production*. As a business, we naturally need to focus on driving revenue &#8211; but our resources aren\u2019t unlimited. And from the talent side, they each have projects they want to pursue too, while also managing their regular streams, preparing for anniversary events, and planning other special content. So they\u2019re constantly juggling a lot. Back in 2023, when Shishiro Hai was just getting off the ground, one of the biggest challenges was figuring out how the company could expand its support among the resources limitations that exist on both the company and talent sides.<br><sup>*As of June 2025<\/sup><br><br>So I approached my manager with a proposal: \u201cMaybe we can generate revenue in ways that go beyond the traditional model if we can turn the things our talents genuinely want to do into business opportunities.\u201d That way the talents get to pursue what they\u2019re passionate about, and the company can allocate resources accordingly if it\u2019s a viable revenue stream. It\u2019s a win-win for everyone. Shishiro Hai was a perfect example of this: it became a way to bring Shishiro Botan\u2019s passion to life, while also creating opportunities for sponsorship and monetization.<br><br>Fortunately, I happened to be in the sales department at that time, which allowed me to casually sound out a few trusted companies and get an early read on their interest. That helped me sketch out a rough budget plan and move forward with an internal proposal, which was officially approved on the condition that it would be monetized properly from the very first installment. In her interview, Shishiro Botan mentioned that \u201cthere wasn\u2019t a lot of movement\u201d after our initial discussions but the truth is that this was the time when I was working behind the scenes to try and get everyone on board! lol.<\/p><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-arrow\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u30fcHow did the company react after the first Shishiro Hai wrapped up?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-liquid-speech-balloon liquid-speech-balloon-wrap liquid-speech-balloon-51\"><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-avatar\"><\/div><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-text\"><p>Overall, the response was very positive. The event has brought together multiple partners to co-create something genuinely entertaining, while also delivering real value and allowing the talent to pursue something they genuinely wanted to do. I think it served as a great example of what\u2019s possible when creativity, collaboration, and business all come together in the right way.&nbsp;<\/p><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-arrow\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u30fcHow did the event impact viewer engagement?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-liquid-speech-balloon liquid-speech-balloon-wrap liquid-speech-balloon-51\"><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-avatar\"><\/div><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-text\"><p>What really surprised me was how warm and supportive Shishiro Botan\u2019s fans were &#8211; even announcements about sponsor partnerships were met with genuine excitement and enthusiasm.&nbsp;<br><br>We\u2019re always mindful of how we present our sponsors\u2019 products and initiatives because our goal is to not just simply promote a product, but to make sure we\u2019re genuinely entertaining our fans and viewers. The idea is to generate excitement in the lead-up to the tournament and ensure that promotional content remains fun and compelling even during the main event.&nbsp;<br><br>And judging by the warm reactions from viewers, it seems that this approach is resonating with them. Still, it\u2019s always a pleasant surprise to see just how positively and enthusiastically our audiences embrace it each time.<\/p><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-arrow\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Fulfilling_Talents_Wishes\"><\/span>Fulfilling Talents\u2019 Wishes<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">&nbsp;&nbsp;\u2015How do you divide responsibilities between Shishiro Botan and COVER when preparing for Shishiro Hai?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-liquid-speech-balloon liquid-speech-balloon-wrap liquid-speech-balloon-51\"><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-avatar\"><\/div><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-text\"><p>Simply put: Shishiro Botan handles the creative side, and COVER takes care of the rest. She shares whatever she\u2019d like to try, and the company figures out how to bring those ideas to life from a business perspective, including scheduling, production, and overall execution.&nbsp;<\/p><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-arrow\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u2015What was one of the more challenging ideas to pull off?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-liquid-speech-balloon liquid-speech-balloon-wrap liquid-speech-balloon-51\"><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-avatar\"><\/div><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-text\"><p>Starting from the second edition of the tournament, we introduced an exhibition segment that involves a \u201cpunishment\u201d for on-camera performers. Whenever real people are being filmed, there are always technical constraints &#8211; certain angles or elements that can and can\u2019t be shown, etc. &#8211; so getting the visual setup just right is always a bit tricky. On top of that, we also have to figure out how to keep things entertaining when props\/equipment for the punishment are being set up. These small but important details from the performers&#8217; side of things require careful planning every time.&nbsp;<br><br>For the third tournament, we also had a teaser. Initially, Shishiro Botan requested that the video be released immediately after the livestream announcing the final round of selected players from the open entry pool &#8211; ideally including the winners in real time. However, due to time constraints, that proved difficult, so instead, we proposed releasing it one week before the tournament as a final promotional push. Fortunately, everything came together just in time.<\/p><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-arrow\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"\u3010#\u7345\u767d\u676f3rd \/ Day1\u3011\u7345\u767d\u676f3rd STREET FIGHTER 6 powered by HP\u3010\u7345\u767d\u307c\u305f\u3093\/\u30db\u30ed\u30e9\u30a4\u30d6\u3011\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/KfMCaSYkzAU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-liquid-speech-balloon liquid-speech-balloon-wrap liquid-speech-balloon-51\"><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-avatar\"><\/div><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-text\"><p>Even if things don\u2019t go exactly as Shishiro Botan initially imagined, the goal is to find a middle ground everyone can work with and make it happen in some form. We always aim to present clear options by telling her how we can make something happen and whether or not she would like to go with that, making sure that the final decision always rests with her.&nbsp;<\/p><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-arrow\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u2015Shishiro Hai has continued at a steady pace of about one every six months, now reaching its third installment, but how has your working relationship with Shishiro Botan evolved over time?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-liquid-speech-balloon liquid-speech-balloon-wrap liquid-speech-balloon-51\"><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-avatar\"><\/div><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-text\"><p>Compared to the early days, there\u2019s less back and forth in our chats now, because I have more of an understanding of what kind of ideas Shishiro Botan is likely to go for. That has helped things move much faster overall.<br><br>What\u2019s more, with each new installment, Shishiro Botan has been bringing more and more ideas to the table, which I take as a positive sign that we\u2019ve built up a relationship over time where she feels comfortable sharing requests openly, because if we constantly rejected her proposals, it would naturally become harder to speak up. So the fact that those requests keep coming in hopefully means we\u2019ve been able to deliver on promises and there is an element of trust as a result.<\/p><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-arrow\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Strength_of_Talent-Led_Events\"><\/span>The Strength of Talent-Led Events<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u2015From a business perspective, what are your expectations for talent-led events like Shishiro Hai?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-liquid-speech-balloon liquid-speech-balloon-wrap liquid-speech-balloon-51\"><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-avatar\"><\/div><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-text\"><p>When companies collaborate with VTubers, the main value for them lies in leveraging the talent\u2019s influence to meaningfully engage with fans when promoting products or services. That said, the real key is how positive the reaction from fans is.&nbsp;<br><br>One key advantage for talent-led initiatives like Shishiro Hai, compared to standard PR streams, is that they allow partner brands to be positioned as supporters of the talent, rather than just sponsors. This creates a more welcoming environment for partner engagement from the perspective of fans, making it easier for them to feel positively about the companies involved.<\/p><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-arrow\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u2015What role do you see COVER playing in these kinds of collaborations?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-liquid-speech-balloon liquid-speech-balloon-wrap liquid-speech-balloon-51\"><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-avatar\"><\/div><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-text\"><p>If we can showcase closer and more collaborative relationships, whether it\u2019s between talents and sponsors, or between our company and the sponsors, I believe there\u2019s even greater potential for growth. When introducing products or content as part of a promotion, it\u2019s not just about fulfilling client requests, but it\u2019s up to us to create new and innovative ways to collaborate with partners that go beyond the conventional \u201cdo what the client asks\u201d approach.<br><br>As more companies show a growing interest in the ever-evolving VTuber culture, we hope to build win-win relationships with more and more business partners by producing streams that exceed expectations. By continuing to show that there\u2019s value in these collaborations, we believe more companies will see the impact that can be had by supporting a talent and consider approaching us.<br><br>One of the unique aspects of sponsorship, which can be both a strength and a challenge, is how easy it is to get started. All companies need to do is select the sponsorship package that suits them and they can quickly come on board as official partners. Even companies that may not be so familiar with VTubers can use events like Shishiro Hai as a gateway to potentially becoming long-term partners.<\/p><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-arrow\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u30fcIt would indeed be great if Shishiro Hai became a gateway for companies exploring VTuber collaborations. One final question &#8211; the same one we asked Shishiro Botan &#8211; What does Shishiro Hai mean to you?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-liquid-speech-balloon liquid-speech-balloon-wrap liquid-speech-balloon-51\"><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-avatar\"><\/div><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-text\"><p>To me, it\u2019s a space filled with everything Shishiro Botan wants to create. Every member of the team involved in Shishiro Hai &#8211; including myself &#8211; is fully dedicated to helping her ideas become a reality.&nbsp;<br><br>After Shishiro Hai, we don&#8217;t really reflect on what happened, because once an event wraps, preparations for the next one are already underway. Conversations naturally shift toward what we can implement for the next one: \u201cShould we take another shot at what we couldn\u2019t pull off last time?\u201d or \u201cHow can we set this next tournament apart from the last one?\u201d There\u2019s no time to dwell on the past &#8211; every experience feeds directly into what comes next.<br><br>Some ideas only came to fruition in the third installment, and there are many more that haven\u2019t taken shape yet, but likely will in the future. I\u2019m excited to see how Shishiro Hai will continue to evolve, led by Shishiro Botan\u2019s vision.&nbsp;<\/p><div class=\"liquid-speech-balloon-arrow\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"575\" src=\"https:\/\/dkgy1yki8xgbd.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-5-1024x575.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-5-1024x575.png 1024w, https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-5-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-5-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-5-1536x863.png 1536w, https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-5.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Co-Creation_with_Talent_That_Extends_Beyond_the_Company\"><\/span>Co-Creation with Talent That Extends Beyond the Company<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Thank you very much to Shishiro Botan, the creator and host of Shishiro Hai, and S, part of the team supporting the project from within COVER, who gave us a great insight into what makes Shishiro Hai such a unique and special tournament. However, Shishiro Hai would not be what it is today without the many partners who share and support Shishiro Botan\u2019s creative vision. In the third and final part of this special feature, we will be sharing messages and insights from partners who have helped make this tournament a reality.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-16018d1d wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-vivid-cyan-blue-background-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/en\/list\/2502\"><strong>Read Part 1 here<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-16018d1d wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-vivid-green-cyan-background-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/en\/list\/2777\"><strong>Read Part 3 here<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><sup>\u00a9CAPCOM<br>* All company names, product names, and service names mentioned on this page are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.<\/sup><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Profile Host of Shishiro Hai: Shishiro BotanContrary to her sporty appearance, she&#8217;s a white lion who prefers lazing around. Despite her typically hands-off attitude, once she has made up her mind she will always follow through to the end. Her favorite phrase is &#8220;Wealth isn&#8217;t measured with money.&#8221; Born in a rough neighborhood, she&#8217;s a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2541,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_locale":"en_US","_original_post":"https:\/\/dkgy1yki8xgbd.cloudfront.net\/?p=2532","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[167,105,101,14],"class_list":["post-2555","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-special","tag-167","tag-gaming-business-development","tag-event-planning","tag-interview","en-US"],"acf":[],"categories_info":[{"slug":"special","name":"Special"}],"tags_info":[{"slug":"%e7%8d%85%e7%99%bd%e6%9d%af","name":"SHISHIRO HAI"},{"slug":"gaming-business-development","name":"Gaming Business Development"},{"slug":"event-planning","name":"Event Planning"},{"slug":"interview","name":"Interview"}],"thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/vol2_0725.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2555","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2555"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2555\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2793,"href":"https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2555\/revisions\/2793"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2541"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2555"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2555"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coveredge.cover-corp.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2555"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}