Matthew “Mizkif,”a prominent Twitch streamer, is currently engaged in streaming and recording vlogs during his visit to Japan. Recently, a controversy arose when videos emerged on April 4, showcasing Mizkif and his companion, Kole from the Tokyo Sims crew, performing pull-ups from the branches of a cherry blossom tree. Following the release of these now-deleted clips, content creator Kaho Shibuya voiced her disapproval of their actions.
Shibuya expressed her concerns over the group’s behavior, labeling their activities as “doing pull-ups and gymnastic tricks.”She criticized them for disturbing the cherry blossom tree, which holds a significant cultural value in Japan:
“I saw a video of content creators I’ve met before doing pull-ups and gymnastic tricks on a sakura tree’s branches, inevitably shaking cherry-blossom petals off.”
Shibuya articulated her disappointment, especially since the individuals involved were familiar to her, stating how disheartening it was to witness their disrespectful behavior:
“It just broke my heart to see someone I actually know doing such things in Japan; it’s always been unknown people on social media… Fortunately, the post was gone the next day, so they probably regretted and deleted it. But please, if you ever want to flex your muscles to show how much testosterone you’ve got… go touch your own wood.”
Her frustration was compounded by the fleeting nature of the cherry blossoms, which amplifies their cultural significance:
“Leave ephemeral cherry blossoms with flowers living for only 2 weeks alone.”
Kaho Shibuya Critiques Mizkif’s Actions, Drawing Parallels to “Kick Streamers”
During her Twitch livestream, Kaho Shibuya addressed the implications of Mizkif’s cherry blossom videos, discussing how actions similar to his contribute to a negative perception of streamers, particularly those associated with the Kick platform. Mizkif has previously criticized Kick, describing it as a “dying platform.”
Shibuya went further to compare Mizkif and his cohort to the controversial figures from the Kick platform, suggesting that their actions weaken any criticism they may have about those creators:
“You cannot really talk sh*t about kick streamers anymore after behaving like that. It’s just very disappointing.”
She reinforced the importance of cherry blossom trees in Japanese culture, emphasizing their revered status:
“No one really tries to mess with cherry blossoms; we all know the people who just adore and worship… it’s not just a tree; you shouldn’t ruin that for others.”
In an unsettling turn of events, Mizkif had also shared details in March 2025 regarding a stalking incident that involved both him and fellow streamer Emiru.