They sing and dance—but rarely show their faces. Meet VTubers

A GLOWING CUBE sits in the centre of Makuhari Messe, one of Japan’s largest convention centres. As the crowd roars with excitement, Hoshimachi Suisei (pictured) emerges from the box wearing a short, frilly skirt and her signature blue hair artfully tied up. She kicks off the show with her hit song “Stellar Stellar” before dozens of other performers take turns singing, dancing and bantering with the audience. The thousands of fans in attendance could not care less that Ms Hoshimachi and her cohort are digital avatars.