Following the hololive night event at Dodger Stadium and launch of COVER USA, Final Weapon had the opportunity to interview COVER Corporation CEO Motoaki Tanigo, affectionally known as YAGOO by hololive fans.
In our interview, Tanigo discussed his role with COVER USA, the company’s goals and strategy for the hololive brand going forward, how the company will bolster hololive English, and the creation of new content like anime and games.
Could you please introduce yourself and tell us about your background for our readers?
Motoaki Tanigo: I’m Tanigo, CEO of COVER Corporation, which operates the VTuber agency, hololive Production. I founded COVER Corporation in 2016, initially focusing on developing services in the VR/AR space.
As CEO of COVER Corporation, what is your role with the new COVER USA organization?
Tanigo: As the CEO of COVER’s headquarters, I support the growth and development of COVER USA.
What’s the most important goal you’d like to achieve with COVER USA?
Tanigo: Our main goal with COVER USA is to establish VTuber culture and the hololive brand in North America. We believe VTubers have the potential to resonate globally, crossing boundaries of race, age, or appearance, as long as there is talent. We want to establish VTubers and hololive as a recognized profession.
Virtual entertainment, including VTubers and hololive, has grown a large U.S. audience. How will COVER USA help strengthen hololive English?
Tanigo: One of COVER USA’s primary aims is to support hololive EN talent more effectively. We’ll be actively pursuing advertising and out-licensing opportunities to broaden hololive EN’s reach.
hololive VTubers from Japan still attract fans globally, even without subtitles or translations. How important is COVER USA in helping creators reach international audiences more directly?
Tanigo: COVER USA plays a critical role in bolstering hololive English, but I believe our expansion into North America will also help Japanese creators attract more fans worldwide.
Original content like holo no graffiti and music videos gains traction on platforms like X (Twitter) and YouTube. What advancements have COVER made to improve these animations and videos?
Tanigo: Currently, COVER USA does not plan to have in-house content creators. Instead, we’re interested in collaborating with North American creators and companies to produce music, animation, and games. We’ve evolved our content by partnering with outside creators, rather than relying solely on in-house production.
VTuber culture is increasingly popular among gaming and anime fans, and hololive has collaborated with games like Valkyrie Connect and Earth Defense Force 6. How does COVER USA plan to raise VTuber awareness through gaming, anime, and American pop culture?
Tanigo: One of our objectives is to collaborate with local companies. By working with North American gaming and anime studios, as well as brands like the LA Dodgers, we aim to reach a broader, mainstream audience—similar to our success in Japan.
What can hololive fans expect from COVER USA in 2025?
Tanigo: We look forward to collaborating with North American fans in ways they’ll truly enjoy. There are exciting things ahead, so please stay tuned!
Is there anything else you’d like to share with hololive fans?
Tanigo: As a Japanese company, we face unique challenges in North America, but we’re committed to overcoming these obstacles to establish VTuber and hololive culture here. Thank you for your ongoing support!
