114514 Coin Compared to Book by University of Tokyo YouTuber
On May 22, 2026, the 114514 Coin was cited on X (formerly Twitter) in a post mocking the price of an essay book by Tamura Kae, a University of Tokyo graduate and YouTuber whose channels together exceed 300,000 subscribers.
The Originating Post
A user posted that, rather than paying 2,000 yen (about $13) for Tamura's book, one would be better off putting the same amount toward a 114514 Coin. The post had recorded roughly 23,000 views and 205 likes as of May 28. The author did not recommend buying the coin, instead invoking it purely as a point of price comparison.
The YouTuber Cited
Tamura Kae graduated from the physics department of the University of Tokyo's Faculty of Science and built a following with talk-style daily vlogs. Across her two channels, "Tamura Kae" and "Tamura Kae 2," subscribers total around 370,000. The post thus juxtaposed a product from a high-profile creator with a meme-derived item.
Coin Cited as a "Unit of Price"
The notable element of the case is that the 114514 Coin was treated as a benchmark for measuring product value. Within some online communities, a binary phrasing — "buy A, or buy a 114514 Coin" — is becoming a fixed expression.
The company states these references reflect an internet-culture phenomenon and do not constitute a purchase recommendation.
Related Links