本郷愛 (ai_hongo_)

In the fast-paced world of Japanese streaming, few creators have experienced as dramatic a rise to prominence as ai_hongo_ (本郷愛). What started as a relatively modest Twitch channel in March 2024 quickly evolved into something much more complex when personal drama thrust her into the spotlight alongside one of Japan's biggest variety streamers.

**Building a Following Through Chat and Games**

Hongo's streaming approach centers around the classic "zatsudan" format—casual chat streams mixed with gaming content. Her channel description simply reads "雑談・ゲーム配信など！フォローしてね" (Chat and game streaming, etc.! Please follow), reflecting the laid-back, conversational style that has attracted over 100,000 followers. Despite being relatively new to the platform, she's managed to achieve Twitch Partner status and has dabbled in 16 different games, showing the variety that keeps her audience engaged. Her peak viewership of nearly 9,500 concurrent viewers demonstrates she can draw significant attention when the moment calls for it.

**The Scandal That Changed Everything**

Things took a dramatic turn when Hongo became entangled in a high-profile cheating scandal involving Junichi Kato, better known as Unko-chan, Japan's most-watched variety streamer. The 24-year-old Tokyo native found herself at the center of controversy when she revealed through a lengthy YouTube vlog that she'd been in a romantic relationship with Kato. Her candid admission painted a picture of deception—Kato had allegedly told her he was divorced, a claim that later proved false.

**Personal Struggles in the Public Eye**

The emotional toll of the situation became painfully clear when Hongo shared that she had resorted to self-harm due to the anguish of being "tricked into the relationship." Her attempts to get Kato to either publicize their relationship or follow through on his promised divorce led to increasing tension. The breaking point came when she pushed for them to appear together publicly, ultimately resulting in the pair being photographed at Dodgers Stadium—the moment that blew their secret relationship wide open.

**Impact and Aftermath**

Ironically, the scandal that might have destroyed other creators only seemed to boost both their profiles. While Kato's subscriber count jumped 25% and his apology stream peaked at 139,000 viewers, Hongo also found herself with increased visibility in the streaming world. The controversy highlighted the intense scrutiny that Japanese content creators face, where personal relationships can become public spectacles overnight.

**A Complex Figure in Japanese Streaming**

Today, Hongo represents something of a contradiction in the streaming landscape—a creator whose gaming and chat content draws viewers, but whose personal story has become equally compelling. Her experience illustrates how quickly the line between private life and public persona can blur for content creators, especially when they become involved with other high-profile streamers. Despite the chaos surrounding her personal life, she continues to maintain her presence on the platform, showing a resilience that her followers seem to appreciate.