Higashide Koki, the popular Japanese actor and internet personality, announced on February 28, 2025, via his YouTube channel director's X (formerly Twitter) account, his decision to pause all YouTube activities starting at the end of March. This decision follows growing concerns about his enjoyment and authenticity related to filming content for his channel.
Valued by his audience for sharing glimpses of his life, Higashide acknowledged the significance of his platform, stating, "私の生活の一風景が誰かの癒しや楽しみになるのなら、これ以上意義のある日常もないのではないか" ("If my daily life can bring someone peace or joy, then what could be more meaningful?"). He emphasized this reflection as he began to grapple with the disconnect between his public persona and personal passions.
Initially, Higashide embraced his YouTube channel as a way to share not only his life on screen but also his love for nature. Recently, he started feeling discontent with keeping up the content creation. He revealed, "動画を撮る、それを配信するという行為は、やはり外側にこっちの考え、意識を放出することであり、それが『私の好きな田舎暮らしと違うものになってきちゃったな〜』という実感に変わり、ここ最近は撮影が楽しくない状態にまでなってしまいました" ("The act of filming and distributing videos has become so different from my preferred lifestyle, and recently, I have even found shooting them to be unenjoyable.").
Higashide's struggle reveals the pressure some content creators face as their platforms evolve from hobbies to obligations. This shift can become disheartening, leading to creative burnout, as he expressed feeling less authentic and overly superficial during video shoots. "私は動植物が好きで、川や雨や星が好きで、だからもっと自然にまつわるあらゆることを勉強したいし、観察したいし、思考したいし、分かりたい" ("I love living things, rivers, rain, and stars, and I want to study, observe, think about, and understand everything related to nature") – underscoring his longing to return to the core of what he loves.
During his hiatus, he expressed optimism, saying, "休んじまえば、嫌いは進行しないし、もしかしたらポジティブが芽生えるきっかけはこの先にあるかも知れない" ("If I take this break, I can stop the dislike from growing, and perhaps it could be the catalyst for positive growth going forward."). This perspective reflects his desire to pursue personal growth and exploration without the pressures of content creation weighing on him.
Higashide concluded his statement with insights on broader societal challenges. He speculated about the future, sharing his thoughts on how our society may become increasingly difficult to navigate, stating, "これからの日本、人々の形成してきた社会は、もっと厳しく、貧しく、生きていくのが大変な世の中になるのでは無いだろうか" ("The society we have built may become much harsher and poorer, making life more challenging").
He pledged to focus on living independently, emphasizing the importance of self-sufficiency, saying, "できる限りお金に頼り過ぎない自主自立の暮らしを心掛けたく思っております" ("I want to strive for self-sufficient living without overly relying on money"). This reflects both his artistic struggle and personal passion for embracing life's simpler joys as he repositions himself after stepping back from his public persona.
With this hiatus, fans will await Higashide Koki’s return, potentially with fresh insights and renewed vigor, as he explores his love for nature and personal fulfillment away from the camera's lens.