How to Support Japanese Creators From Abroad: Subscriptions, Tips and Messages

In Japan, the person you’re all-in on is your oshi (推し), and everything you do to cheer them on is oshikatsu (推し活). You don’t need to live in Japan or speak Japanese to join in. On MyFans, your support goes straight to the creator, and there are more ways to show it than just subscribing. Here’s how each one works from abroad.

Oshikatsu, explained in one minute

推し (oshi) comes from 推す, “to recommend”. The Digital Daijisen dictionary says it spread from 推しメン, the member you support most in an idol group, and it now means your favourite: the person you’d recommend to anyone. 推し活 (oshikatsu) is the general word for everything fans do to support that person.

The Kyodo News glossary links oshikatsu to a spending style where people are careful overall but happy to spend on what they love. That’s the spirit of supporting a creator on MyFans. Our oshi and oshikatsu guide has the full story.

1. Subscribe, and stay

A monthly plan is the backbone of support: it’s regular income for the creator, and on MyFans it goes directly to them. You’ll often see 応援 (ōen, “support”) in plan names, as in 応援プラン (support plan).

Staying pays off. Some plans use loyalty unlocks (継続特典): when you join you see this month’s and last month’s posts, and older months open up the longer you stay subscribed. And if a creator raises a plan’s price, existing subscribers keep renewing at their original price; the new price applies only if you cancel and join again.

Want creators who reward fans who stick around? Start with Japanese creators with loyalty unlocks and price locks. Plans renew on the same date you joined, so if you ever do stop, cancel by the day before.

2. Tips and super comments

A tip (チップ) is a straight “thank you” to the creator. A super comment (スーパーコメント) is a highlighted paid comment, so your message stands out under a post. Each can be ¥100 to ¥5,000, plus MyFans’ purchase fee.

From abroad, pay by Visa, Mastercard or JCB card; BitCash, atone and deferred payment don’t work for tips or super comments, and Paidy needs a Japanese phone number. MyFans’ help centre describes no refund for tips, so treat one as final once you send it.

Sending a tip or super comment also makes you one of that creator’s fans (ファン) on MyFans. Being a fan is part of your history with a creator, which MyFans says affects whether a message room opens for you, though it doesn’t publish the exact rule.

3. Single posts and paid DMs

Creators can sell individual posts outside their plans, from ¥100 to ¥50,000 each. A post you buy stays in your Purchased library even if the creator later deletes it.

Some creators also sell content only through messages (DM限定販売), with its own price and sometimes a buying deadline of up to three days. Check the price and the countdown before you tap 購入する (buy): MyFans says DM purchases are, in principle, not cancelled or refunded. Our tips, single posts and messages guide covers gacha and paid blogs too.

4. Messages: the personal touch

For many fans, a message is the best part of oshikatsu. On MyFans you write from Messages (メッセージ) → Creator (クリエイター), but only once the creator has opened a message room for you. MyFans says that depends on your history with the creator and their settings, and fans can’t open a room themselves.

Keep it short, warm and simple so it translates cleanly: a greeting, something specific you enjoyed, and one clear question if you have one. Many fans paste both the English and a translated Japanese version. Be patient with replies, since creators set their own pace and are often in a different time zone.

A good first line: 「はじめまして。海外に住んでいるファンです。」 (“Nice to meet you. I’m a fan who lives outside Japan.”) Our guide to messaging Japanese creators on MyFans has more, and our Japanese messages page has copy-ready phrases.

Supporting from abroad: the practical bits

MyFans says foreign users can register. You need to be 18 or over, a mobile number that can receive an SMS or voice call (your own non-Japanese number works), and a Visa, Mastercard or JCB card. Everything is priced in yen and your card company converts it, so any foreign transaction fee comes from your bank. To check what you’ve spent, go to Account → 購入・保存 (Purchased/Saved) → 購入履歴 (Purchase history).

Support only on myfans.jp. A creator may share a coupon code on X, but you enter it at checkout on myfans.jp, never anywhere else. New here? Start here or read using MyFans from abroad.

Find your oshi

Not sure who to support yet? Browse creators who reward loyal fans or every creator we list. On JapanCreatorFind, every creator is a Japan-based MyFans creator with an English profile, prices in yen and a link to their own MyFans page.

Most active creators we list

Sorted by new posts in the last 30 days on each public profile. Never ordered by commission. Profiles checked 10 October 2026 to 11 October 2026.

RenA real donor diary, from first consultation to the big day.21 new posts in 30 daysfrom ¥2,490/moYuriAn Ikebukuro otaku girl who dances, trains — and posts almost daily.21 new posts in 30 daysfrom ¥1,683/moSasukeReal meetups, zero script — one of MyFans’ busiest amateur channels.18 new posts in 30 daysfrom ¥2,296/mo

All creators by activity

Quick answers