Photo/Illutration A website of Ryokan Tsuruya Intaku featuring its character “Denno Okami (cyber madam) Chizuru” (From a website of Ryokan Tsuruya Intaku)

YUFU, Oita Prefecture--Fans of a popular cyber character promoting a Japanese-style inn here are agonizing over the news that its creator was reported missing in torrential rains that hit the Kyushu region.

Kenta Watanabe, 28, the brains behind the virtual YouTuber character Chizuru, has been missing since the car he was in along with three family members was swept away in the flooding. 

Chizuru represents Ryokan Tsuruya Intaku, a popular accommodation in the Yunohira hot spring district in Yufu.

At around 9 p.m. on July 7, “Denno Okami (cyber madam) Chizuru” posted a message on its Twitter account with several photos of a flooded public bath and other locations.

“It’s been a terrible downpour since the predawn morning," the message said. "Our staff temporarily evacuated. But Yunohira onsen district is OK.”

Since then, no more updates have been posted.

On July 9, the Oita prefectural government confirmed the death of Toshimi Watanabe, 81, who manages the inn.

Her body was found in a wooded area along the Oitagawa river the day before. Authorities believe that Watanabe was in a car with her daughter, son-in-law and grandson Kenta when they were swept away.

The three are still missing.

At Kenta’s idea, Chizuru has actively sent out news and information about the inn and local sightseeing spots in an Oita dialect.

Sub-culture fans have flocked to the inn because of the charm of Chizuru.

During the pandemic, Chizuru teamed with other similar characters in the prefecture and started a campaign to re-energize local businesses in May.

She became so popular that a local actor was recently assigned to start doing her voice.

“I’ve gotten a voice and can finally speak to you. As a 'cyber-okami,' I will kick it up a notch and work even more to contribute to the area,” Chizuru once said in a post.

“I will think hard and come up with an event that will surprise you all,” she said in another.

Shoichi Yokoo, 63, who manages an inn next to Tsuruya Intaku, mourned the death of Watanabe, the real-life okami, who has managed the inn by herself after her husband passed away.

“She drank a lot and always laughed,” Yokoo recalled.

On the evening of July 7, Yokoo told Watanabe’s daughter to evacuate. But she responded, “It looks as if we are all right today,” according to Yokoo.

Later, however, raging floodwaters hit the area and swept away a bridge and a public bath.

Yokoo wonders if the family might have been “scared, rushed into a car and were on their way to evacuate.”

“I should have forced them to evacuate with me,” Yokoo said, choking up. 

Fans have posted their thoughts and prayers on social media.

(This article was written by Ryuta Kuratomi and Satoshi Juyanagi.)

Related News