Hezumaryu (へずまりゅう), the former “meiwaku” (nuisance) YouTuber turned Nara city assembly member, has denied a rumor that he bought bottled water inside earthquake-stricken Kumamoto to hand out as disaster relief, after a photo of him holding bottles labeled “Aso Natural Water” went viral online.
The rumor took off after a magnitude-7 earthquake struck Kumamoto on July 28, 2026, prompting Hezumaryu, who has cultivated a public image around volunteer disaster relief since leaving his controversial YouTube career, to travel to the region. When he posted photos on July 31 of bottled water reading “Aso Natural Water,” some social media users accused him of scooping up supplies inside the disaster zone itself, arguing that doing so could deprive local residents of scarce resources.
Hezumaryu responded directly on X: “I’ve based my activities in Oita so as not to cause trouble for the people of Kumamoto. I bought the ‘Aso Natural Water’ at a supermarket in Oita and delivered it. I absolutely do not shop in Kumamoto.” He noted that water bottled under the Aso name is sold across many regions of Japan, not just near its source.
When pressed further to prove his claim, Hezumaryu posted a receipt on August 1 showing the purchase was made in Oita, saying he wanted to move on to posts that actually help disaster victims rather than keep defending himself.
Several users backed up his explanation, pointing out that “Aso Natural Water” is a widely distributed brand available in supermarkets well outside Kumamoto, including in Fukuoka and Wakayama prefectures. Reaction to the episode has been mixed: many commenters praised him for showing up despite the criticism, while others remained skeptical of his motives, suggesting the relief trips are aimed at boosting his online engagement.
Who is Hezumaryu?
Hezumaryu first rose to notoriety in Japan as a “meiwaku” YouTuber known for disruptive stunts in public spaces, including supermarkets and event venues, which led to multiple arrests. He later rebranded himself as a volunteer and social activist, and was elected to the Nara city assembly, where he continues to serve. Since then he has frequently traveled to disaster-hit areas across Japan to distribute supplies and document his volunteer work online, though his past continues to fuel public skepticism about his motives.
Author’s Comment
Look, I get it — the man built his early career on being a public nuisance, so nobody owes him the benefit of the doubt. But demanding a receipt to prove you didn’t loot a disaster zone for bottled water? Come on. Japan’s internet has this reflex where the second someone with a checkered past does something nice, out come the pitchforks demanding proof nobody else would ever be asked for. Whatever you think of his YouTube-era antics, a receipt from a supermarket three prefectures away isn’t exactly a smoking gun. Maybe just let the man hand out water in peace.
