In just 66 hours after her first stream on June 28, 2025, Sameko Saba, likely Gawr Gura’s new independent VTuber handle, smashed through 1 million YouTube subscribers. Her debut stream pulled in almost 200,000 live viewers, shaking up the VTuber scene and showing she’s still a huge deal.
A New Chapter for a VTuber Legend
Gawr Gura, who built a massive 4.7 million subscribers as Hololive’s top English-speaking VTuber, split from the agency on April 16, 2025, over management disagreements. Her “graduation” on May 1, 2025, left fans gutted but hopeful for a comeback. By June, buzz about Sameko Saba started, triggered by a fish emoji in Senzawa’s X bio (Gura’s pre-Hololive name) and Saba’s fish-themed look. When Saba announced her debut on June 22, 2025, fans went wild, sure that “Sameko” (meaning “shark child”) was Gura back in action.
Her debut stream, “[VTUBER DEBUT] yoho!”, was a massive hit, drawing 198,000 live viewers—one of the biggest VTuber debuts ever. The VoD racked up nearly 2.4 million views soon after. Her fans, the “Chumbuds,” went all in, getting her to 500,000 subscribers before the stream even kicked off and hitting 1 million in just 2 days and 17 hours, topping Hyakumantenbara Salome’s 2022 record.
A Viral Sensation and Community Support
Sameko Saba’s fast climb shows how much her fans adore her and how excited the VTuber community is. X was on fire with posts about her. VTuber @MistaBrandoVA said, “Her name’s trending with tons of memes and excitement. 200k live viewers, and YouTube chat crashed.” @LyssVT called her debut “massive” with a “wild number of viewers,” while @Headpats4All teased that big VTuber agencies are nervous, asking talents how they’ll match up to indie star Sameko Saba.
Her second stream on June 29, 2025, a karaoke session with songs like “Old Town Road,” kept the energy high, drawing huge crowds and flashing her classic charm. Her YouTube channel, launched on May 4, 2025, and X account exploded, hitting 554,000 subscribers before her debut and millions of views on her videos. VTubers like Dooby, Nimi Nightmare, and Shondo showed support, and fans are convinced Saba’s Gura going solo.
Why Sameko Saba’s Success Matters
Saba’s rise proves you don’t need a big agency to rule the VTuber world. Her debut under Incoming Next LLC, a Delaware company that trademarked “Sameko Saba” in May 2025, shows she’s got a solid plan for her indie career. Unlike her Hololive days, where management limited her, Saba’s free to do what she wants—think rhythm games, original music, and fan-focused content. Her merch sold out in minutes, proving indie VTubers can make bank with a dedicated fanbase.
Fans are nearly certain Saba’s Gura, citing her voice, fish-tailed design, and name (“Saba” means mackerel, a nod to Gura’s shark). Neither has confirmed it, but that’s typical in VTuber culture, where past personas stay quiet. Senzawa’s backing and other hints make it tough to argue otherwise.
A Bright Future for the Fishy VTuber
Sameko Saba’s crushing it, showing indie VTubers can compete with the big names. Reaching 1 million subscribers in under three days and hitting 200,000 live viewers proves her fans are super loyal. X posts, like @Alice_Asimov’s mention of her “2.5 million views” and “200k viewer peak,” show the excitement, though some talk about her design caused a bit of stir.
For fans missing Gawr Gura’s Hololive era, Sameko Saba’s a reason to cheer. Her indie path means morefreedom, new content, and the same fun charm that made her a star. The VTuber world’s watching to see what this “smol brave fish” does next.
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