On May 31, 2024, ex-Pinoy Big Brother housemate and content creator Fumiya Sankai uploaded his final vlog, marking the end of an era for his YouTube Channel, FumiShun Base.

Fumiya, who began his vlogging journey in 2017, shared that he had created countless memories through his channel over the past seven years.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by FuMi (@fumiya.japan)

In the 42-minute video titled "My Last Vlog," Fumiya reminisced about his journey, starting from his humble beginnings in February 2017 when he moved to Manila. Before relocating, Fumiya worked as a bellboy in a Japanese hotel for two years, nurturing the dream of becoming an artist abroad. Upon arriving in Manila, he had no family or friends and initially stayed with his friend's Tito.

Fumiya recounted his early vlogging days, which began in 2018 when he decided to quit school and focus on content creation full-time. His perseverance paid off as he amassed over 100,000 subscribers, leading to his first meet and greet at Quezon Memorial Circle.

That same year, he auditioned for Pinoy Big Brother and finished as the 5th big placer, while Yamyam Gucong became the Big Winner of Pinoy Big Brother: Otso.

Throughout the vlog, Fumiya shared anecdotes of his travels between the Philippines and Japan, the opening of a café in Tokyo, and his eventual return to the Philippines with a team, aiming to launch his music career. He expressed his aspiration to release songs in both Japanese and Filipino, aiming to serve as a cultural bridge between the two nations.

Fumiya said he chose to close his YouTube channel because he wants to focus on his music career. He mentioned that he met with a few producers with a song he wanted to release. However, when a producer that his dreams were too big, Fumiya decided to pursue an independent music career with a new monicker Fumi.

His debut single, "Bang," is set to be released on June 12, coinciding with Philippine Independence Day, symbolizing his own journey towards independence as an artist.

In his farewell, Fumiya thanked his supporters: "Thank you so much for watching my last video. I have been able to continue this channel for 7 years. I just want to say thanks to everyone in the Philippines who has supported me."

Reflecting on his transformation from an ordinary office worker in Japan to a beloved vlogger, Fumiya emphasized his ongoing mission to bridge the Philippines and Japan through entertainment and music.

— By Samantha Prats