Napi, from Concept Cafe "Vampire Side," Appointed Vice President of Game Production Company VampireK.K.! Talks About Her Current Feelings and Future Outlook

Before joining Vampire Side, my days were all about supporting my favorite artists. I worked multiple part-time jobs and concept cafes, pouring all my money into my faves. I also had various work experiences, like at convenience stores and office jobs. Instead of settling in one place, I was just focused on doing my best with whatever was in front of me, living each day to the fullest and enjoying myself.

At the time, my favorite band did a VR live performance, and VampireK.K. was the company that organized it. My first impression was, "This company is doing something interesting." After that, I started seeing Vampire's X posts several times, and I just had a gut feeling that "this might be my place." I've always lived hiding something, so in a way, I really resonated with it. Maybe I've been a vampire since birth (laughs).

Vampire Side opened on December 9, 2022, and it was truly a start from zero. We had manuals, but for the little details, we'd all discuss and decide on the spot. Every day something new would come up like, "How do we do this?" But I enjoyed that "unfinished feeling." With a regular part-time job, you just follow the path someone else laid out. But here, I felt like "we're building this place ourselves," and I remember how happy that made me.

Yes, at first, I thought of it as "just another side job," and honestly, I thought I could quit anytime. But gradually, I realized, "Wait. The time I spend here might be the most fun!" My feelings completely changed, especially when I started living alone. I naturally began to feel, "I want to really work hard here," and even though I used to commute from Kyoto, I decided to live in Osaka, closer to this place.

I was incredibly surprised. I mean, I was someone who was completely devoted to supporting my favorite artists, and before I knew it, I was thinking, "Vampire Side is the most important thing"! That was unthinkable for my old self. But it felt like the "desire to be serious" that I had inside was brought out by the environment.

First, I was surprised, like, "Wait, me... Vice President!?" When I became the Shizokucho-chan (store manager), I immediately said, "I'll do it!" But this felt like a completely different level of responsibility, so I couldn't give an immediate answer. I would be in a position to oversee both numbers and people, and I felt anxious, wondering, "Am I really good enough?" But after much deliberation, the feeling of "I want to achieve more with this company" ultimately won out.

I think it's because I understand the feelings of the staff on the ground. I became an employee in June 2023, but before that, I was a cast member all along. So, I hope that by embodying "you can get this far even from the ground up," I can give a little hope to my juniors. That dreams can really be achieved.

Numbers are definitely important. But what's even more important, I think, is that the cast feels "I'm glad I worked here." If you only look at sales, your heart won't follow, and the atmosphere on the ground is very delicate, so if you push too hard, it will definitely collapse. That's why my top priority is to make it "a place where people can continue for a long time."

I want to do more new things. For example, I want to collaborate with nail salons, food and beverage businesses, and other entertainment industries to expand diverse cultures. I think vampires are, in a sense, "unconventional" beings, so I want to create places where they can shine in various ways. I want to continue creating places where teenagers and people in their twenties today will think, "I want to work here!"

Setbacks are part of the experience. In fact, I've failed many times since becoming the Shizokucho-chan (store manager), and each time it's caused me a lot of headaches. But it's important to properly compensate for it yourself and take measures to prevent that failure from happening again. Even if you fail, don't stop at "I failed..." Instead, I want you to use it to move forward.

The first step is scary. But if you don't take risks, you won't get what you want, and your dreams won't come true. I want you to challenge yourself and not give up, thinking "I can't do it." Even I, who originally wanted to be an idol, almost gave up on my dream because I lacked confidence in my appearance and skills. But now, through an event called YAKAI, I've given shape to that dream and become someone who stands on stage.

Consistently achieving small, immediate goals can ultimately lead to great success. Even things that seem like detours will eventually become your strength as you gain experience. I hope you'll challenge yourself in various ways without giving up and thinking "I can't do it."

I am in a position where I was "given" a dream. That's why, next, as someone who "gives," I want to be a presence that moves someone else's life. I want to go see sights I've never seen before, together with my comrades. I believe that an even more interesting future awaits us beyond that.