Akira Shikinagi is a member of the VTuber unit “VOLTACTION” from NIJISANJI.
While he is popular for his intellectual talk and persona, he has recently been viewed with a critical eye by viewers regarding his behavior and performance. In particular, his conduct during recent collaboration streams and the aggressiveness of his fanbase have become subjects of debate, highlighting a disconnect between his entertainment skills and his pride.
Abandoning Entertainment Because “It’s My Birthday”? High Pride Seen in Refusal to Bow Down
In recent collaboration streams, Akira Shikinagi’s behavior has been criticized as “unable to read the room” and “having too much pride.”
A particularly controversial moment occurred when the losing team in a game was expected to perform a dogeza (prostrate apology). While his peers and juniors performed exaggerated prostrations to hype up the scene, he alone repeated, “But it’s my birthday!?” and stubbornly refused to bow down. As a result, his gen-mate Kanato Fura covered for him by bowing even lower to provide a punchline, but Shikinagi interpreted this conveniently as “Thank you for doing it for me,” leaving viewers appalled.
In the context of variety show entertainment, playing the “loser role” or getting your hands dirty for a laugh is a crucial skill. However, he tends to prioritize his self-perception that “I should be treated with dignity,” making him unable to accept defeat as entertainment. Despite priding himself on being an “MC candidate” or “good at talking,” his inability to humble himself for a laugh when necessary—leading to a dynamic where those around him have to “babysit” the situation—has become the biggest factor in generating resentment among viewers who just want to enjoy the show.
The “Cynical” Stance and Discord Within the Group
Many point out his streaming style as being “cynical” or “contrarian.” There are frequent instances where, in the middle of a collaboration where other members are getting excited, he alone interjects with a cool tone or adopts a slanted attitude, dampening the heat of the moment. While he seems to perceive this as being a “cool character” or making “sharp retorts,” viewers simply see him as “someone with a bad vibe” or a “buzzkill,” leading to concerns that he disrupts the harmony of the group.
This stance can be analyzed as a manifestation of his own elitism, believing “I am in an intellectual position different from the others.” However, in VTuber group activities, a sense of solidarity—engaging in “pro-wrestling” (playful conflict) to build hype or going all-out on silly things together—is required. In his case, behavior that seems to look down on peers and juniors, or insensitive jokes calling others “money sources,” falls flat, leaving only an uncomfortable feeling rather than laughter. This has led to the harsh evaluation that “it’s more fun when he isn’t there.”
【Voices from the Net】
- He made a fuss saying “Dogeza on my birthday!?”, but it’s entertainment, so you should just go with the flow there. His pride is so high it’s painful to watch.
- It’s a dance and vocal unit, but even in his 4th year, he has a hunched back when dancing and his pitch is suspect. Asking for special treatment without putting in the effort is wrong.
- It’s really impossible to deal with Blue (Shikinagi) listeners using other members as tools to attack or sending complaints to management. And he encourages it too.
(Summarized from bulletin boards & SNS)
The Contradiction Between Lack of Skill and Appeals of “Mistreatment”
“VOLTACTION” is marketed as a dance and vocal unit, but evaluations of Akira Shikinagi’s performance, particularly his singing ability and dance skills, are not favorable. Specific criticisms such as “hunched back,” “no sense of rhythm,” and “pitchy vocals” are common on bulletin boards, where he is viewed strictly as a factor lowering the overall quality of the unit. Despite this, when he isn’t selected for anniversary lives or important events, he reveals his frustration, creating a pattern where fans attack management claiming he is being “given the cold shoulder.”
Fans lament that “his efforts aren’t being rewarded,” but looking objectively, there is a harsh reality that “he simply hasn’t reached the required professional standard.” In addition to irritation that no growth is visible despite being a 4-year veteran, the gap between reality and his high self-evaluation continues to widen. If skills are lacking, one should humbly polish them, but he and his fans have fallen into a mindset of blaming external factors (“it’s everyone else’s fault I’m not evaluated”), creating a vicious cycle that breeds more anti-fans.
Aggressive Fans and a “Co-dependent” Relationship
Noteworthy in the turmoil surrounding Akira Shikinagi is the existence of some extreme fans (known as “Blue Listeners”). If Shikinagi is teased even slightly or has less screen time, these fans immediately clamor about “bullying” or “unfair treatment,” expressing aggressive “complaints” to collaboration partners and management. Because they use his gen-mates as tools to attack others while defending him by blaming everyone else, they are detested by group fans who view them as “monster parents.”
Even more problematic is that Shikinagi himself, rather than admonishing this runaway behavior, appears to incite his fans’ aggression by exposing critical messages on stream to bash them together with listeners, or hinting at dissatisfaction to garner sympathy. A “co-dependent” relationship is being built where he portrays himself as a “pitiful victim” to strengthen fan unity. This lack of self-cleansing is the biggest factor turning him into a “taboo subject” (someone others have to walk on eggshells around) and hindering the construction of healthy relationships with external parties and other Livers.
- High Pride and Lack of Entertainment: His refusal to play the “loser” and defensive behavior are criticized as “unfunny” and “unable to read the room.”
- Gap Between Skill and Self-Evaluation: Appeals to effort and claims of unfair treatment precede actual skill in dance/singing, earning antipathy from merit-based viewers.
- Rampaging Fandom and Negligence: He does not stop aggressive fans from attacking other members or management, and his attitude of aligning with them accelerates his isolation as a “taboo” figure.