Live Q&A Session #2: Smith Hioka — Creator of Akita NeruSmith Hioka !!LUvMAcwpNwSat, Feb 21, 2026, 08:00 PMNo.18678
Hello, 39chan. I’m Smith Hioka, the creator of Akita Neru. This will be my second live Q&A session on 39chan today. Thank you for having me again. If you missed the first one, please see the link below:
The first Akita Neru illustration was posted on November 1, 2007. She is a derivative “fanloid” character, inspired by Hatsune Miku and internet trolling, and I’m her creator. Please feel free to ask whatever you’d like to know. I’ll answer as much as I can.
How this will work: Just like last time, I’ll take questions in two blocks, Part 1 and Part 2, with a one-hour break in between. Please check the image for the schedule, and make sure you’re looking at the correct time zone for where you live.
The Q&A will be in English. Since I’m not a native speaker, I’ll be answering using AI translation (ChatGPT/Gemini). Thanks in advance for your patience if anything sounds a bit awkward.
A few requests for those asking questions: ◆As long as it doesn’t violate 39chan’s rules, most questions are welcome. That said, I may not be able to answer everything. ◆Please limit to one question per post. ◆If you can keep the question itself concise, it helps the session run more smoothly.
For questions that require a deeper answer, my response may be delayed. Thank you for your understanding. All right—ask away!
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Puzzle ## OwnerSat, Feb 21, 2026, 08:01 PMNo.18679
Welcome back
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figamin ## Admin Sat, Feb 21, 2026, 08:02 PMNo.18680
Hello Hioka-san! I didn’t have any questions to ask this time around, but just wanted to say thanks for doing these Q&A sessions. It’s very cool seeing your answers and the insight you provide. Also, I’ve been very happy with my Neru plushies~!
First of all, welcome back As you might know Neru has gained a bit of popularity this decade, so do you have any favorite songs featuring Neru that are recent?
in the western fanbase, there's a lot of discussion about what colour Hatsune Miku's hair is. does any of this happen on the japanese side? what colour do you associate with miku?
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Smith Hioka !!LUvMAcwpNwSat, Feb 21, 2026, 08:10 PMNo.18691
>>18682 One thing I’ve almost never mentioned in writing is that, even before I had any discussions with CFM, I once received a request to use Akita Neru commercially. For various reasons, it never materialized.
>>18678 Welcome back Hioka! I'm glad you've returned to us! I mean, I do see you in the threads anyway, but rather, I'm glad you're having another Q&A with us? Aha... Hmmm... I guess my question would be this! Does Neru have a favorite animal?
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Smith Hioka !!LUvMAcwpNwSat, Feb 21, 2026, 08:15 PMNo.18693
Good to see you! I was wondering, are there any future plans for a new Akita Neru plush preorder?
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Smith Hioka !!LUvMAcwpNwSat, Feb 21, 2026, 08:17 PMNo.18695
>>18685 Any of those interpretations are fine. There’s nothing definitive about Neru’s voice, and nothing has been decided. At least for now, that’s the approach I’m taking.
Apologies if this is a sensitive topic but how do you feel about bootlegged merch of Neru. I've seen counterfeit figures where I live. Original merch is quite hard to find here in fact, so a lot of people resort to buying it online via sites like Suruga-ya or Mercari.
Hioka, is Neru only allowed to be commercialized by japanese companies? Or can overseas companies commercialize it too? Are there any restrictions other then a possible language barrier?
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Smith Hioka !!LUvMAcwpNwSat, Feb 21, 2026, 08:29 PMNo.18704
Hallo there! Been watching you from afar ever since I first listened to Gocha Gocha Urusee (via Project Diva F2nd) few years ago and found you after some research on who's behind Neru at the time! I may possibly snag a Neru plushie someday...
I do not know if this post will go through because this question I'm about to ask may be a stretch...
Considering that every fandom in existence is inevitable to have "that" kind of corner on the internet: What are your honest thoughts on your beloved creation being drawn in suggestive, or even, in "spicy" situations? She most commonly appears in them alongside Miku or Teto or both...
Apologies if this edges you slightly. Curious people tend to be curious. Have a good day!
Do you plan on making Neru clothes? (T-shirts, hoodies, hats, etc). I don't believe you prohibit fan-merch (correct me if I'm wrong) but I'd rather support you, and besides I really like your art style.
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Smith Hioka !!LUvMAcwpNwSat, Feb 21, 2026, 08:38 PMNo.18713
>>18689 I’ve always pictured her in fairly casual clothes. Especially at home, I think she’d go for whatever feels most comfortable.
Smith Hioka !!LUvMAcwpNwSat, Feb 21, 2026, 08:47 PMNo.18718
>>18690 Yes, there’s a similar discussion in Japan too: “Is Miku’s hair green or blue?”
Personally, though, I don’t feel this is something that can be definitively settled. It depends a lot on which Miku works you first encountered, your viewing environment, and even individual differences in how people perceive color.
One clear example is how different PC displays were back in 2007 compared to today’s PCs and smartphones in 2026, especially in terms of color reproduction and brightness. And there are many other factors that can shape the impression, so I think it’s fine for each person to feel it in their own way.
>>18721 sorry, i had to move all of my stuff to a very high shelf due to no space in my room and it's all covered in dust. i hope my neru doesn't get sick!
Smith Hioka !!LUvMAcwpNwSat, Feb 21, 2026, 09:14 PMNo.18735
>>18697 I’ve met a few people over the years, and one easy example would be Mayo Oyamano (JP: 小山乃 舞世), who voices Kasane Teto. It was quite a long time ago.
>>18698 No, I think this is probably the first time I’ve heard about it.
>>18699 There are times when it does feel a bit like that. But if I truly thought of her as my real child, I don’t think I’d have the courage to release her into the electronic ocean that is the internet.
Since this isn’t something I can decide on my own, I can’t fully endorse the sale of bootlegs. However, I do understand how fans who live in regions where official merch isn’t easily available may want to have something close to them.
On the other hand, I’ve also seen fake storefronts where the product never arrives at all. It pains me to see people taking advantage of fans’ feelings and essentially stealing their money.
>>18703 As far as I know, there aren’t any special restrictions just because a request comes from outside Japan. In practice, CFM handles the discussions, and unless there are red flags, such as a company with an untrustworthy track record, I think it would still come to me for confirmation.
Speaking personally, I wouldn’t refuse something simply because of the company’s country or language. If the proposal itself were something extreme, I might hesitate, but in cases where CFM deems it acceptable, it’s very unlikely that I wouldn’t be able to agree.
Hi, I have a various questions about the blog that was taken down. Will you be reposting the drawings that were uploaded there? Will you be reposting some of the information that came out of it? I understand that you'll be reposting Neru's story, if I'm not mistaken. But a lot of information was lost; for example, I still remember that there are several Neru fans from years ago who know about "Akita Nezu" or characters you drew like Otaki Mee and Moi. I feel like several important things were lost that fans today might like to see, at least out of curiosity, including the old drawings... That's all, I hope you can answer me in time, thanks!
Smith Hioka !!LUvMAcwpNwSat, Feb 21, 2026, 11:08 PMNo.18780
I’m going to resume now.
>>18705 As someone who presents the fanwork guidelines, the first thing I hope is that people enjoy creating within the rules. That said, speaking purely from my personal perspective, when it comes to sexually suggestive or NSFW fan art, I think it’s basically impossible to prevent it from existing, whether it’s welcomed or not. Human history makes that pretty clear. That doesn’t change on the internet, and especially not on platforms like social media, where access is easy and things can spread globally. If people make an effort to keep proper boundaries between platforms and communities, trouble is less likely to happen, and I feel it can stay manageable. Since I’ve accepted that the existence of sensitive works is simply unavoidable, I don’t personally feel anger or a strong sense of disgust toward it. At the same time, I’m always aware that some people find it difficult to separate a character’s core identity from individual works. So even if there were a piece I personally liked, it would be extremely unlikely that I would share it around. That said, I should add this: deliberately posting explicit works as a form of harassment, or dragging someone else’s properly contained work into a different space just to criticize it, is an act that unfairly harms people’s wellbeing and their work. That is a completely separate issue from whether the work itself is acceptable. Well, I think that about covers it. Sorry if I missed what you were really asking. And I hope you’re able to get a Neru plushie!
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Smith Hioka !!LUvMAcwpNwSat, Feb 21, 2026, 11:11 PMNo.18781
>>18707 Yes, I’ve seen it in real life as well. People cosplay for different reasons, of course, but I think it’s usually driven by affection for the character, so I was honestly very happy to see it.
>>18711 For peedee-san’s Neru plushies, it’s as I said in >>18725. Also, a small prize plush is scheduled to be released soon. However, since it’s an amusement-arcade prize in Japan, it may be difficult to get outside Japan.
>>18781 >However, since it’s an amusement-arcade prize in Japan, it may be difficult to get outside Japan. I'm counting on the Teto claw machine guy from the Merch thread.
A bit of a fun question: Would Neru rather be stuck in a room for 24 hours with Miku, or be stuck in a room with Teto for 24 hours?
Your fortune: Reply hazy, try again
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Smith Hioka !!LUvMAcwpNwSat, Feb 21, 2026, 11:13 PMNo.18784
>>18712 Honestly, I’d love to make things like that, but I have a lot of other things I need to focus on, so I can’t really put enough time into it right now. I’d be happy if a company approached me with that kind of proposal, but realistically it would be difficult. As for fan-made clothing items under the Piapro Link framework, I’d need to look it up again to be sure how much is allowed and at what scale.
Welcome back! I noticed Neru's design is slightly different for her Nendoroid petite figurine. Did you decide those changes, or were outside your control.
hii hioka Tmw is my birthday! and do you think i could talk to you for abit would be awsome.if you dont mind!! but here my question btw! it would be the best gift of.my.life!
how can describe neru personality over all this is for a i am working on^^
Smith Hioka !!LUvMAcwpNwSat, Feb 21, 2026, 11:32 PMNo.18793
>>18727 Unfortunately, it’s not showing up for me...
>>18731 In terms of “weird,” there are a few coincidences involving numbers. For example, one of the things that influenced Akita Neru’s origin was a job listing from a certain company. It was recruiting people to post on message boards, and the hourly wage was 700 yen. In the end, the Neru-related incident and that company had nothing to do with each other, it was just a coincidence (a different company with the same name happened to trigger an IP trap that was set up to catch 2channel posting attempts). And by pure chance, the reply number of the very first post where I drew and uploaded Neru was also 700. Another one: I have a written memorandum with CFM regarding Akita Neru’s copyright. It’s a document where we confirm that Hatsune Miku is the original work and Neru is a derivative work. The date we finalized that agreement happened to be April 1, 2008, April Fools’ Day, which is also the day Kasane Teto was born. And lastly, my own birthday is August 31, the same as Hatsune Miku’s.
>>18793 will make sure that the next post ending in 700 here is also a neru post
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Smith Hioka !!LUvMAcwpNwSat, Feb 21, 2026, 11:45 PMNo.18795
>>18733 Yes. I’ve told my parents and my siblings. My younger sister is probably the one who understands it the most. Other relatives mostly just know about it in a general way. My paternal grandfather also knew when he was alive, and even though he didn’t really understand the details, he was happy for me. As for people I know in real life, only a very small number of friends know, and most of them aren’t people I’m in touch with anymore. My coworkers seem to know Neru exists, but they don’t know that I’m her creator.
>>18739 I do remember there being some early Neru songs about trains, but I don’t know the reason behind it.
I know it's late and this Q&A is about to end but I'm curious if you've ever made music, since Vocaloid is music-driven despite being more recognizable for its characters.
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Smith Hioka !!LUvMAcwpNwSun, Feb 22, 2026, 12:08 AMNo.18804
Unfortunately, we’ve reached the time limit, so I’d like to stop accepting new questions as of now. It may take me a little while, but from here on I’ll start answering the questions that have already been posted. Thank you everyone for staying with me late into the night, or all the way until early morning!
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Smith Hioka !!LUvMAcwpNwSun, Feb 22, 2026, 12:19 AMNo.18809
>>18743 No, I don’t think that necessarily has to be the case. It can leave a stronger impression on people, but at the same time it’s a double-edged sword that may hurt someone. I was lucky to be surrounded by kind people, but since that won’t be true in every case, I can’t recommend it.
Smith Hioka !!LUvMAcwpNwSun, Feb 22, 2026, 12:30 AMNo.18811
>>18746 If it leads to this kind of creativity, then maybe bootlegs aren’t nothing but bad. Even if it wasn’t the form I originally intended, she was “born” into this world as a figure, and in that way she’s contributing to people’s imagination and creative work. Turning something that’s often seen as negative into something positive through the power of creation, that’s one of the truly wonderful aspects of the creative chain.
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Smith Hioka !!LUvMAcwpNwSun, Feb 22, 2026, 01:00 AMNo.18816
>>18752 It would depend on the proposal. If they understood my basic stance so far, that I want people to be able to nurture their own imagined version of Neru, and if they were willing to explore a way to make a product without undermining that, then I think there could be room to consider it. But at the very least, it wouldn’t be as simple as just putting Neru on the package and hiring whatever voice actor they suggest.
>>18771 You mean the one by JMTA-project, right? I don’t usually comment much on tuning or fan-made voicebanks, but I was impressed by how well it captures the different sides and images of Neru.
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Smith Hioka !!LUvMAcwpNwSun, Feb 22, 2026, 01:43 AMNo.18822
>>18774 The data itself is safely preserved on the new host. It’s a bit complicated, though. Over the years, some blog entries and even some of the comments include wording that could be seen as problematic by today’s standards. In today’s online environment, where even old information can become a target for criticism, keeping everything publicly available exactly as it was comes with risks. Of course, I understand that long-time fans may want to see it all, and personally I would like to preserve it as historical material as much as possible. As a second-best approach, I’m planning to repost, bit by bit, the parts that I believe are safe to publish as an archive on the official site.
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Smith Hioka !!LUvMAcwpNwSun, Feb 22, 2026, 02:08 AMNo.18824
>>18783 In my imagination, if it’s just 24 hours, Neru would probably say she doesn’t really mind either one. If it were longer, she’d choose Teto. She’d refuel with a baguette, and then use Teto’s twindrills to drill a hole in the wall and try to escape.
>>18785 I was involved to some extent through supervision, but I’m not sure which specific parts you mean, so I can’t say whether those particular changes were my decision or not. Sorry.
>>18786 Happy birthday! 🎉 Since everyone has their own image of Akita Neru, please feel free to portray the Neru you enjoy creating, in whatever way feels right to you.
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Smith Hioka !!LUvMAcwpNwSun, Feb 22, 2026, 02:17 AMNo.18832
>>18787 I don’t have any plans to make figures myself. If you mean official products in general, I’d say there’s always a possibility, depending on the support and demand from fans.
>>18797 I’ve made a very basic MIDI track once, but it was back when I was around middle school, and it was only that one time.
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Smith Hioka !!LUvMAcwpNwSun, Feb 22, 2026, 02:21 AMNo.18836
I believe I’ve answered the questions, but I’m sorry if I missed anything. With that, I’d like to bring this second Q&A to a close. Thank you everyone!
