A recent clip featuring Twitch streamer Matthew “Mizkif”has ignited controversy as he refers to Japanese individuals as NPCs, or non-playable characters. This remark was made while Mizkif was in Nishiazabu, Japan, traveling with his friend Shannon, who urged him to keep his voice down. In response, Mizkif dismissed her concern, stating, “no one cares.”
Since relocating to Japan in March 2025 after selling his house in Austin, Texas, Mizkif has found himself embroiled in several controversies. The latest incident arose from a clip where he made the disparaging comment:
“Shannon, I’m going to let you in on a secret. These people are NPCs, they’re not real. And when GTA 6 (Grand Theft Auto 6) comes out, they’ll look even more NPC. Who has come to Japan before and got into trouble for being loud? Nobody!”
Mizkif Addresses Past Behavior
Before the NPC comment, Mizkif faced backlash for doing pull-ups on a cherry blossom tree, a cultural symbol in Japan. In response to the uproar, he acknowledged his missteps and addressed his followers:
“I have been in Japan for the past few months and I have loved the Japanese culture. I have loved it so much I came back twice. I’ve grown a lot here as a person, I’ve made so many friends that I truly value and I have experienced so much of the Japanese culture that has changed my life for the better. I do not want to promote my actions as proper, they were wrong, and should be seen as such.”
Mizkif continued by urging tourists to respect local customs:
“To any viewers, or tourists coming to Japan, please understand these trees are sacred to Japan. Do NOT touch Cherry Blossoms. They are sacred to the Japanese culture and are extremely delicate. And to my viewers, please do not attack anyone for criticism of me in regards to the cherry blossom trees. I am ok with the criticism and understand it was wrong.”
A Shared Lesson in Cultural Sensitivity
Mizkif wasn’t the only influencer to face scrutiny for their behavior in Japan. Instagram influencers Kole and Swhite from the Tokyo Sims group also admitted to performing similar stunts on the cherry blossom trees, and they pledged to learn from the experience and respect local traditions moving forward.
Community Reactions and Developments
In a separate incident within the Twitch community, streamer Kai Cenat expressed dissatisfaction with his moderators after they banned a user, CaseOh, from his chat. Cenat threatened to remove moderator privileges entirely and consider streaming without any moderation.
The situation involving Mizkif underscores the importance of cultural awareness and sensitivity, especially when visiting foreign nations. It serves as a reminder to all social media influencers to respect local customs and contribute positively to the communities they engage with.