Top Youtubers, Hikakin, Haruna Kawaguchi, Kajisac, and Mikuru Asakura Share Thoughts on Work-Related Stress and Fatigue
The top YouTubers earn well over a billion dollars a year. However, as all YouTubers say, “Continuity is power. If there is even a short interval between shows, the top performer’s seat is quickly taken.” One executive at a mid-sized YouTube agency said,
“The hardest part is coming up with a plan day after day, twisting and turning. We are always trying to come up with a plan, including the behind-the-scenes staff, but there were times when we couldn’t come up with a good idea and we were silent for two hours. I shudder to think of running a marathon without a finish line for decades to come.”
He said, “There are no weekends or holidays, and it is common for the editing staff to stay up all night.” The health problems of YouTube users cannot be separated from those of the rest of the world.
The most recent news was the announcement by Haruna Kawaguchi, an actress with 1.53 million subscribers, that she is taking a leave of absence.
On June 12, she updated her YouTube channel and reported that she would be taking a month-long break from videos. The reason was the filming of a drama.
She said, “I’ve been a little busy. I’d like to take a little ‘Ha-chan Channel’ vacation.”
The filming of a drama series is condensed into a short period of time, and the main cast spends almost an entire day at a time.
“If I were to work on YouTube at the same time, I would have to cut back on my sleeping hours,” she said. “If that happens, it could interfere with the filming. My priority is my work as an actress.” It seems that she came to this conclusion after discussing it with her agency.
On May 22, Hikakin revealed in a video that he had received a two-day and one-night refreshment break to celebrate his birthday.
The video was running, but Hikakin, relaxing at a ryokan (Japanese inn), was grateful, saying, “First forced vacation in 11 years as a YouTuber!” He expressed his gratitude.
“Before this trip, I was so busy that I was taking two one-hour naps a day, so all the fatigue just flew away.” As a top runner, he had a sense of responsibility to show his juniors.
On the other hand, the one who went ahead and took a long holiday weekend was Yuta Kajiwara, a.k.a. “Kajisac,” from the comedy duo King Kong.
Last September, Kajiwara announced that he would take almost a month off from updating his main channel. He received a message from his wife, “Yomesack,” who is also known as Kajiwara’s wife, saying that she would rather “give the editor a break” than Kajiwara himself.
“If Kajisak doesn’t take a break, everyone else can’t.”
He was told that this was the reason for the decision. Kajiwara said,
“I am glad that I could take a day off this time because everyone has been coming to me without complaint.”
Kajiwara said, to which his fans responded with support.
“A month off is unusual. That’s why the Kajisac team is so united. Some malicious YouTubers impose unreasonable demands on the staff and threaten them or withhold their wages if they fail to do so.
Working conditions vary widely even in the YouTube industry, and staff members who are “losers” are often blindsided. The backstage staff often go down first or disappear.”
On a different note, a member of martial artist Mikuru Asakura‘s team, nicknamed “Oka-kun,” has left the team. According to a video released by Asakura on April 10, the cause was slanderous remarks from haters.
According to the video released by Asakura on April 10, the reason for the departure was the slander of the anti-team members, who called “Oka-kun” a “burden” and a “goldfish poo,” among other comments.
Asakura explained, “She didn’t seem to care about it, but it started to grow on her unnoticed, and she reached his limit.”
Asakura explained, “She didn’t seem to mind. When we recommended that she see a psychiatrist, she was diagnosed with an adjustment disorder and was treated by the doctor.”
“When people experience a negative impact on their mental well-being in a place of hard work, they break down.
Recently, there have been an increasing number of cases that go all the way to court against the defamers, but that takes a long time to reach a verdict. I think some measures need to be taken on the platform side.” (Entertainment industry insider)
Many YouTubers are suffering from work-related stress and fatigue. Rest is essential to avoid getting a burnout. It is important for fans to look at them with the mindset of “it’s okay to take a break” – and that’s what they should be doing.
Photo： Rodrigo Reyes Marin/Afro
