It all started with a simple “Good morning” post on X on July 25th.
Araki Saori shared the greeting alongside a photo of herself in a gray suit, holding a laptop.
The photo was taken during her visit to Takeda’s design and manufacturing facility in Japan. At first glance, it looked ordinary. Yet within six days, it had amassed more than 77 million views, turning Araki into an overnight sensation.
🌟 More Than Just an “Ordinary Office Worker.”
Regular users of X quickly recognized Araki’s cheerful photo, where she smiled with puffed cheeks. Dubbed the “Japanese office lady,” many commented that she looked like a character straight out of an anime.
Her image was even compared to Western actress Sydney Sweeney. A viral post showing both side by side with the caption “Which would Western men choose?” gained over 37 million views and 3,000 comments. A follow-up poll asking whether a “sexy cowgirl supermodel” or an “ordinary Japanese office lady” would win saw Araki claim victory with 77.1% of the votes.
🎤 From Idol to Internet Sensation
On July 28, Araki introduced herself in English on X, explaining that while she works in an office, she is also active in modeling and acting. She revealed that until earlier this year, she was a member of the J-Pop idol group Tokyo Girls Bravo.
📺 Launching Her YouTube Channel
Before her viral post, Araki had just 7,000 followers on X. Today, she has surpassed 290,000. Riding this wave of attention, she launched her own YouTube channel.
In her first video, she introduced herself in English under the alias SAO, thanked viewers, and admitted that without the sudden surge of support, she “might have chosen to give up.”
🚀 Global Attention and Elon Musk’s Comment
Araki appears to be enjoying her newfound fame, especially after discovering that Elon Musk commented on her Grok Imagine video.
This unexpected recognition further boosted her visibility worldwide.
⚖️ Praise and Criticism
While most comments have been supportive, some critics have accused her of using beauty filters excessively. One user bluntly wrote: “Stop using beauty filters.” However, given her current joy in the spotlight, it seems unlikely she will pay much attention to such remarks.
