Youko Maki Launches YouTube Channel Amid Kaneko Sashiireten Release

A showdown with former Plus-Minus member Iwahashi as well

Yoko Maki (42), who has often made headlines as a so-called controversial actress, appeared at the stage greeting for the film Kaneko Sashiireten.

Kaneko Sashiireten depicts a delivery shop that sends care packages on behalf of people to inmates in prisons and detention centers with strict rules. Maki plays the wife of the protagonist, portrayed by SUPER EIGHT’s Ryuhei Maruyama (41), who runs the shop.

The film seems to be earning favorable reviews, and according to film journalist Harumi Nakayama:

“She’s appeared in many good films before, so I think plenty of filmmakers would like to cast her. Her acting ability is excellent. In the drama SP: Security Police (Fuji TV), where she co-starred with Junichi Okada (44), she showcased impressive action scenes too. Actors with strong physical ability are naturally appealing. She’s passionate about acting and has a fearless actor’s spirit. People have called her unpredictable or eccentric, but I think that’s actually proof of her sensitivity and rich emotionality. All top-tier actors have unique qualities — they just don’t show them as openly.”

That said, from videos and stage appearances, she does appear to have filled out a little. Some wonder if it might affect her future role preparation, but Nakayama adds:

“Anyone naturally acquires new flavors with age, and the roles they play change too. There used to be this notion that actresses always had to remain beautiful, but that was simply a male-constructed ideal of women. Times have changed. I believe if she encounters roles that suit her current age and presence, she’ll carve out new paths for herself and perhaps has already found a more authentic way forward.”

Though Maki seems to be in full-fledged comeback mode as an actor, one can’t help but recall last year’s controversy.

In February of last year, former Plus-Minus comedian Yoshimasa Iwahashi accused her via social media of shooting him with an airsoft gun, sparking a battle between the two. Things escalated further when comedian Hollywood Zakoshisho uploaded an exaggerated impersonation of her on his YouTube channel, fueling the commotion even more.

 

“It seems the fact that she became the subject of a comedy skit was a considerable shock for Maki. She ended up falling ill and being hospitalized. Zakoshisho’s agency quickly issued an apology and took down the video. But Maki later revealed on her own Instagram that, after hearing about Zakoshisho’s exaggerated impersonation from a friend and seeing the comments on social media, she developed an eating disorder. She posted, ‘I’m writing this message from the hospital,’ and disclosed that she was receiving treatment there,” said a sports newspaper reporter.

Additionally, a person claiming to be Maki’s partner posted on her Instagram, attaching a photo of her lying in a hospital bed, with the message:

“Since she hasn’t regained consciousness, I, her partner, am informing you in her place.”

This post stirred further controversy.

Four months later, in June of last year, Maki declared her recovery on Instagram, posting cheerful photos of herself. However, those around her commented:

“She’s still not completely back to normal. There are quite a few unstable aspects to her situation,” said an entertainment industry insider.

In a conversation with her younger brother, who worked as staff at her personal agency

A year later, she had become a YouTuber. An employee at a film distribution company commented:

“I think she’s trying to show she’s made a full comeback. Over the past year since the controversy, she’s barely made the news, and there haven’t been many reports of her appearing in films either. I imagine a lot of fans didn’t even realize. Launching a YouTube channel could also help promote her films and acting work.”

The YouTube channel, which launched on April 28, has gained only about 800 subscribers after nearly a month. Most of the videos have under 2,000 views.

Despite being a well-known actress, it hasn’t drawn much attention. In fact, within the industry, the fact that it’s not being talked about has become a topic in itself.

A major reason seems to be the channel’s title: Kanamori Kyoudai (Kanamori Siblings).

Maki’s real name is Yoko Kanamori, and the videos mainly feature conversations between her and her younger brother, who once worked as staff at her personal agency. But with that title alone, few would immediately realize it’s Maki’s channel.

If she’d simply used “Yoko Maki” in the channel name, it would be much easier for fans to find — and view counts would surely rise.

That’s a shame, because the YouTube channel is genuinely entertaining. Maki appears in casual, almost loungewear-like outfits, seemingly without makeup. She’s still her typically animated self, but viewers get to enjoy the unfiltered “Yoko Maki” — a must-watch not just for fans but for anyone interested.

It feels wasteful that more people aren’t aware of it. There’s even a possibility Maki might move into producing her own creative projects in the future, and this YouTube venture could be laying the groundwork for that.

The future of this new Yoko Maki will be something to look forward to.