ENILIS Inc. was established in April 2023 as a subsidiary of Brave group, and has rapidly grown to over 200 affiliated talents in just two years. In April 2025, ENILIS integrated operations with MateReal Inc. and brossom Inc., and in May, reorganized its six existing VLiver labels into the ENILIS VLiver Project. Leveraging its strengths in both VLiver and VTuber domains, ENILIS is significantly expanding its business reach.

We sat down with Issey Sugeno, Director, and Yuki Oishi, Head of the 1st VTuber Business Division, to discuss ENILIS’s initiatives and future outlook.

── Mr. Sugeno, you originally joined Virtual Entertainment Inc., which operates VSPO!. How did you come to transfer to ENILIS?

Sugeno: Before joining Virtual Entertainment, I was running a company that handled overseas apparel e-commerce and wholesale distribution of imported food products. Through a connection, I ended up selling that company, and while looking for my next challenge, an acquaintance recommended the VTuber industry, which piqued my interest.

Among the options, I thought Brave group, being an unlisted company in a rapid growth phase, would be a place where I could leverage my experience. So, I applied to Virtual Entertainment, which was looking for someone to lead new business development, and had an interview with Kazuyoshi Hoshi, the Representative Director.

Sugeno: The ultimate deciding factor was how engaging my conversation with Mr. Hoshi was; I simply felt, “I want to work with this person.” On my very first day, Mr. Hoshi’s first words to me were, “I want you to calculate the PL for the VLiver business.” I then prepared and submitted a business plan. About one to two months later, it was decided that a new company would be established to officially commercialize the business. That’s how I transferred to ENILIS upon its establishment.

── That’s an incredible pace. Did you have prior knowledge about VLivers?

Sugeno: I knew about VTubers, but I didn’t have much understanding of the VLiver market. Mr. Hoshi didn’t give me detailed instructions on how to proceed, so I started by researching the market as I built the business plan.

In fact, during that time, I created several new business plans in addition to the VLiver business, but it was the VLiver business that quickly moved into commercialization. For a certain period after joining, I was constantly creating new business plans, which deepened my understanding of the market and business. Looking back now, I feel it was a very productive period.

── ENILIS was established in April 2023, and you announced the launch of the VLiver project HareVare. Then in July of the same year, you announced the concepts for VTuber projects Vlash and Uniraid!. Could you tell us about the background leading to these concepts?

Sugeno: HareVare was conceived with “debuting in Brave group’s VTuber projects” as a goal for VLiver activities. As we prepared for the launch, an opinion emerged: “Wouldn’t it be better to increase the possibility of debuting as a VTuber?”

Additionally, we wanted to expand options in line with the talents’ intentions, and at the time, Brave group didn’t have any VTuber projects that included male talents. So, we thought, “Then, let’s create a path for male and female VLivers to debut within ENILIS as well,” and decided to also engage in the VTuber business.

This led to the concepts for Vlash which operates on both virtual and real axes and Uniraid!, an Isekai VTuber project.

── Mr. Oishi, you joined shortly after the debut of Vlash 1st generation. Was there a particular reason for that timing?

Oishi: In my previous job, I was in charge of YouTuber management and channel operations. Being a fan of games and frequently watching VTuber and streamer broadcasts, I became involved as a site manager in a new VTuber project launched within the company. Although there were many challenges, engaging as an operator made me realize again how interesting VTubers are. I then started considering a career change, wanting to focus on the VTuber business on a larger scale.

── Brave group operates numerous VTuber projects both domestically and internationally. What made you decide to join ENILIS among them?

Oishi: After a casual interview, I spoke with Representative Director Mr. Hoshi. During our initial icebreaker, I shared details about my previous work and my approach to work. Surprisingly, early in the interview, he said, “I’m offering you a position” (laughs). I was surprised since we had only chatted briefly, but I found his immediate decision-making and speed of action incredibly interesting.

Furthermore, when I mentioned my career plan of gaining experience in launching new businesses and aiming to become a manager, he said, “We welcome people like that, and in fact, we want people with such goals.” So, I thought, “I definitely want to join!” and made my decision.

── After actually joining, were there any surprises or differences from what you expected?

Oishi: The speed of decision-making is truly fast, and the level of discretion and the speed of promotions are unlike any other environment I’ve experienced. I’m truly grateful to have been promoted to department head in about a year after joining as a staff member.

As for differences, or perhaps challenges, it was initially being assigned to the VLiver business rather than the VTuber business. At first, I had absolutely no knowledge of VLivers or live streaming platforms, so I struggled to understand the market and how to operate.

── Was there a reason for assigning you to the VLiver business?

Sugeno: Each member working at ENILIS has different characteristics. At the time, the person primarily in charge of the VLiver business had extensive experience in liver management and excellent initiative and quick responsiveness.

On the other hand, while Mr. Oishi had no experience with VLivers, he excelled at overseeing everything in detail and proceeding carefully with even small risks. So, I thought if they teamed up, it would create a good balance and run smoothly. In fact, he managed it well even without detailed instructions.

── That’s excellent management. Mr. Oishi, you were promoted to department head in about a year. What kind of skills and mindset are valued at ENILIS?

Sugeno: What applies to everyone’s evaluation, regardless of position, is “self-driving ability.” I believe we’ve been able to operate multiple projects across both VLiver and VTuber domains because each individual has continuously driven themselves, effectively distinguishing between what they can decide on their own and what needs to be decided by their superior.

For those in leadership positions and above, I believe even more overwhelming self-driving ability is required. Beyond just having self-driving ability, “the ability to involve others” is also incredibly important. Just driving yourself isn’t quite enough; I think being evaluated by those around you for your human qualities works well at ENILIS.

Sugeno: Personally, I recognized that my approach as a former self-employed individual and an employee of a company would differ. When I first joined, I had less self-driving ability than I do now; I would consult Mr. Hoshi and others even to create a single logo, and I couldn’t make minor decisions on my own. However, that inevitably slows down the decision-making process, which in turn slows down business progress. Speed is crucial for new businesses, and I strongly felt the desire to “advance the business faster.” So, I started making decisions and moving the business forward independently whenever possible.

Currently, with an increase in the number of businesses and employees, it’s become difficult for me to intervene in every detail. Therefore, as we entered this fiscal year, I told all members, “I want you to think, decide, and proceed independently. Always have your own opinion and discuss it with operations and talents.”

Since then, members have increasingly thought and discussed on their own, reporting with their own convictions, saying things like, “We want to go in this direction!” I feel that their ability to drive the business on their own has significantly improved.

── Regarding “involving others,” what do you keep in mind, Mr. Oishi?

Oishi: I try to manage while maintaining a balance with Mr. Sugeno. The members of ENILIS are genuinely close, and sometimes things can get a bit relaxed, but Mr. Sugeno always keeps us in line. So, I try to interact with the members as closely as possible. Of course, I can be quite particular and nitpicky, so they might think I’m annoying (laughs).

I strive to communicate closely with everyone on a daily basis, maintaining the same level of engagement for both casual conversations and serious discussions. By balancing these, I aim to involve each individual and foster a sense of unity and solidarity.

Sugeno: Not just at ENILIS, but in any business involving talents, I believe that individuals with high management abilities should be in management positions. Ultimately, I consider “management” to be the position responsible for “bearing the responsibility of talents and employees” when something happens. Therefore, being skilled at managing people is a significant strength and a crucial skill for career advancement.

── What are ENILIS’s future prospects?

Sugeno: With MateReal and brossom joining us, ENILIS now operates four projects across both VLiver and VTuber axes, making us feel like a more conglomerate organization. I consider it a kind of “mini Brave group,” and the next one to two years will be crucial for how much we can scale each business as an organization.

Successfully launching new businesses is inherently difficult, but by sharing the knowledge and individual skills from each company, our goal for the next fiscal year is to firmly generate sales and profits, and achieve organizational growth.

── As organizational strengthening is required, what are the current challenges and the type of talent you are looking for?

Oishi: I believe that ENILIS has a relatively small number of operational staff compared to the scale and number of projects, so we are constantly seeking immediate contributors. Furthermore, if the opportunity arises, we are eager to proactively challenge ourselves with new businesses. Therefore, we want to increasingly empower and entrust existing members and those who will join us.

Specifically, if someone with experience in launching a new business from scratch (0 to 1) or promoting it were to join us, I believe our organization and business could expand even further.

── Finally, could you share your personal aspirations?

Sugeno: Currently, the IP business leading Brave group is VSPO!, but I want to create a business at ENILIS that can follow suit. When we successfully grow new businesses and are able to generate sales and profits, the value of what ENILIS has done will be truly proven, both quantitatively and qualitatively. And that moment will be a moment of pride for the team members, a testament to “their achievements.” Creating that is my personal goal.

Oishi: I also want to create projects at ENILIS that come to mind when people think of Brave group. Personally, I hope to become someone who can be said, This was possible because Oishi was here. I also want to create a company and projects where not only the team members but also all our fans can proudly say, We worked hard!

This article’s content is based on interviews conducted in May 2025.

ENILIS Inc. Recruitment Information

ENILIS strives to broaden what entertainment!, creating and managing unique virtual talents. We provide extensive production support to allow each virtual talent to pursue their dreams and activities freely, challenging ourselves to expand entertainment culture, just like Japan’s proud manga and anime.
・HP：https://enilis.co.jp/

Recent Press Releases

・ENILIS, MateReal and brossom Merge their Business Operations (April 1, 2025)
・Brave group’s ENILIS merges with virtual talent production company brossom.(January 31, 2025)