Neil Shibata, more commonly known as Japanesegrandpa, is 19 year old from Vancouver, BC. He is currently studying kinesiology at the University of British Columbia, but in his spare time he makes short form videos on Tik Tok. Since last May he has amassed over 700k followers and 14.7 million likes! In addition, he has grown over 100k followers on Instagram through posting a variety of aesthetic photos.
Why did you start posting on Tik Tok?
Originally, I was bored and thought it was funny. However, I quickly became addicted as I started getting success. My third Tik Tok got 2.2 million views which gave me initial motivation to keep making content. After 3 months I reached 100k followers. At this point I realized that there was an insane opportunity for growth on Tik Tok.
When did you first go viral?
I released a Tik Tok in September that gained over 19 million fews in just a few days. This Tik Tok was part 1 of a 2 part series, where I did a hairstyle experiment. Since I made it into a 2-part series, it gave people a reason to come back the next day to see the results. In order to do so, people had to take action (either by following or saving the Tik Tok). I did this on purpose to attract more traffic, and as a result I gained over 300k followers from this Tik Tok alone.
Why do you think you have had so much success on Tik Tok?
Being unapologetically you. I think some people on the platform put on a persona but people can see through it. Even before Tik Tok, I would send the same types of funny videos to friends. I think Tik Tok aligns well with my personality, but at the same time I got into it early on which allowed me to take advantage of its growth.
How do you monetize?
As of now, TIk Tok doesn’t pay but I make some money from using local smaller artists soundtracks in my videos. Recently I started a YouTube channel to make longer format videos in the future. I have had opportunities to do product ads on Tik Tok and Instagram but I don’t want to spam my followers. I am open to doing more subtle promotions but I want to keep my social media more authentic.
Are you considering pursuing it as a full-time career?
I’m not a fan of school. My current plan is to not go back next year, but instead work 3 days a week and focus on YouTube the rest of the week. I have definitely thought about moving to LA with some friends and working down there. However, I would need a working VISA since I’m a Canadian Citizen.
What’s your advice to people wanting to start Tik Tok?
Honestly, if you have a decent quality lighting and your put together, there is no reason why you shouldn’t have success over time. My advice would be to stick to a certain theme. For example, if you are cringe, be full send cringe in all of your Tik Toks. Also use the soundtracks to trending videos to but add your own spin on it. Something original I created was my DIY baking series Tik Toks. I would show a picture of a celebrity and bake a cake that resembled them. In a sea of people trying to go viral, you have to stand out and be unique.
Thank you Neil for taking the time to participate in this Interview.
To follow Neil on social media, check out the links below:
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