Sharmeleon

Early life and connection to Japan

Sharla Hinskens was born and raised in Victoria, British Columbia. Her family background is diverse, with Dutch heritage from her paternal grandparents, and Hungarian and English heritage from her maternal grandparents. She was brought up in a vegetarian household, though she occasionally ate meat at her grandparents' home, and her personal diet has varied over the years, including periods as a pescatarian and vegan. Her first deep connection to Japan began at age 17 when she participated in a student exchange program between the sister cities of Victoria and Morioka. This initial experience fostered a lasting fascination with the country, leading her to return to Tokyo at age 19 to work as an English teacher. After a brief return to Canada in 2010, the catastrophic 2011 Tōhoku earthquake prompted her to move back to Japan, driven by a desire to be closer to friends she had made there during a stressful time.

YouTube career and content evolution

Sharla began vlogging her daily life in Japan around the time of her return in 2011, initially sharing her experiences as a foreign resident. Her videos, which often discussed aspects of Japanese culture she enjoyed, quickly found an audience among international viewers curious about the country. Her channel name evolved to Sharmeleon in March 2020 upon reaching 500,000 subscribers, a playful evolution from a previous nickname, Sharmander. Her content portfolio has expanded significantly from simple vlogs to include high profile collaborative projects and professional translation work. She has participated in fellow YouTuber Chris Broad's travel series Journey Across Japan since 2018 and partnered with Japanese local governments to promote regional specialties. She also provided English subtitle translations for the films Shin Godzilla and Terra Formars, both released in 2016, and worked as a dialogue coach assistant on those projects.

Business ventures and culinary projects

Beyond content creation, Sharmeleon has launched entrepreneurial and culinary initiatives tied to her interests. In September 2020, she founded Neko Neko Post, a service that sells premium Japanese stationery to overseas customers, which she operates in collaboration with friends. Her passion for Japanese food culture has led her into more hands on culinary projects. She has participated in cooking battles, such as one focused on tempura where she trained with a former Iron Chef, an experience she described as amazing in a video from September 24 of an unspecified year. In another video project, she was challenged to cook like a professional Japanese chef alongside another creator. Her engagement with Japan's food scene continues to be a significant part of her public profile, intersecting with broader culinary events and tours in the country.

Personal life and relationships

Sharmeleon's personal life has been shared with her audience in measured detail. She was previously married to a Korean man, an alumnus of a Japanese university, after a seven year relationship. She announced the marriage on June 18, 2018, noting her spouse wished to remain anonymous on her channel. The couple moved to Seoul, South Korea, where Sharla continued to create vlog content, though she frequently visited Japan. By March 5, 2019, she announced their separation and subsequent divorce, citing difficulties adapting to life in a country where she did not speak the language well and a feeling that Canada was not where she wanted to be at that stage in her life. In August 2022, she and English YouTuber Chris Broad publicly announced their relationship in videos on their respective channels. Their engagement followed on February 14, 2023, after a proposal at Durdle Door in Dorset, England.

Collaborations and notable appearances

Collaboration has been a key element of Sharmeleon's growth and content diversity. Her most sustained partnership is with Chris Broad, with whom she appears in multi part travel series and shared life updates. Her collaborative work extends to other creators and professional projects within Japan, including partnerships with local governments for cultural promotion. She has also taken part in specific culinary challenges that blend entertainment with food education, such as a tempura cooking battle and a challenge to cook like a professional chef. These activities have allowed her to explore different formats and subjects, from in depth travelogues to focused culinary challenges, enriching her channel's offering.

• Regular participant in the 'Journey Across Japan' travel series (since 2018).
• Collaborated with local Japanese governments to promote regional food and products.
• Participated in a cooking battle focused on tempura after training with a former Iron Chef.
• Featured in a video challenge to cook like a pro Japanese chef with creator Ryotaro.
• Provided translation and dialogue coaching for the film 'Shin Godzilla' (2016).
• Provided translation and dialogue coaching for the film 'Terra Formars' (2016).

Sharmeleon's work within Japanese culture and media includes a wide range of collaborations. She has partnered with local governments and organizations to promote regional specialties. Since 2018, she has collaborated with fellow YouTuber Chris Broad and participated in his series Journey Across Japan. Her collaborations also extend to cooking challenges and experiences with chefs. These activities demonstrate her diverse engagement with Japanese media and cultural promotion.

Cultural impact and ongoing presence

For over a decade, Sharmeleon has built a reputation as a relatable and informed guide to Japan for an international, English speaking audience. Her longevity in the space and her evolution from a personal vlogger to a collaborator on major projects and a business owner demonstrate a sustained and varied career. Her work helps demystify aspects of Japanese daily life and culture, making it accessible to viewers who may be planning a visit, considering a move, or simply curious. The integration of her personal journey, including her relationships and business ventures, into her narrative has fostered a strong sense of community among her subscribers, who have followed her through various life chapters. Her ongoing presence in Japan and continued production of content ensures she remains a current and relevant voice for those interested in a Canadian perspective on life abroad.

Questions about Sharmeleon

What is Sharmeleon's real name?

Sharmeleon's real name is Sharla Katalin Hinskens. She was born on April 23, 1986, in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. The name Sharmeleon evolved from a previous nickname, Sharmander, which she changed upon reaching 500,000 YouTube subscribers in March 2020. In Japan, she is commonly known simply as Sharla.

Why did Sharmeleon move to Japan?

Sharmeleon first went to Japan at age 17 as an exchange student between Victoria and Morioka. She later returned to work as an English teacher in Tokyo at age 19. After briefly moving back to Canada, the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake prompted her to return to Japan permanently, as she felt stressed being away from her friends there. This move coincided with the start of her vlogging career.

Is Sharmeleon married?

Sharmeleon is currently engaged to fellow English YouTuber Chris Broad, not married. They publicly announced their relationship in August 2022 and their engagement on February 14, 2023, after he proposed at Durdle Door in England. She was previously married to a Korean man, announcing the marriage on June 18, 2018, after a seven year relationship. However, she announced her separation from that husband on March 5, 2019, and they eventually divorced, leading to her move back to Japan.

What is Neko Neko Post?

Neko Neko Post is a business service founded by Sharmeleon in September 2020. Its primary function is to sell fancy Japanese stationery to overseas customers. She started this venture in collaboration with friends. The business was created due to her own personal fandom and appreciation for Japanese stationery products, which she is a fan of herself.

Has Sharmeleon worked on any films?

Yes, Sharmeleon has worked on films in a translation and coaching capacity. She specifically translated the films 'Shin Godzilla' and 'Terra Formars', both released in 2016, for their English subtitles. In addition to this translation work, she also served as a dialogue coach assistant for these film projects. This demonstrates her professional work beyond her YouTube vlogging career.

What kind of content does Sharmeleon create on YouTube?

Sharmeleon creates vlog content primarily about her daily life and experiences in Japan, which she began around 2011. Her videos discuss topics like what she likes about Japan, appealing to foreign viewers interested in the country. Her content includes collaborations, such as participating in Chris Broad's 'Journey Across Japan' series since 2018. She also partners with local governments and organizations to promote regional specialties and shares aspects of her personal life and business ventures like Neko Neko Post.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Novello Desserts desk. Last updated 2026-10-26.