Mari Takahashi (internet personality)

{{Infobox YouTube personality

| name = Mari Takahashi

| image = Mari Takahashi 2021 (cropped).png

| caption = Takahashi in 2021

| birth_name = Mariko Takahashi

| birth_place = San Francisco, California, U.S.

| occupation = {{Flatlist|

}}

| spouse = {{Marriage|Peter Kitch|2018}}

| years_active = 2011–present

| other_names = AtomicMari

| website = {{URL|https://www.atomicmari.com/}}

| channel_handle = AtomicMari

| genre = {{flatlist|

Gaming

}}

| subscribers = 295 thousand

| views = 6.6 million

| stats_update = May 21, 2025

| silver_button = yes

| associated_acts = Smosh

}}

Mariko "Mari" Takahashi, also known as AtomicMari, is an American YouTuber, internet personality and entrepreneur. She was a cast member of the YouTube comedy channel Smosh, hosting the Smosh Pit Weekly series on their second channel and becoming an original member of the Smosh Games channel. She departed from Smosh in 2020 and became a co-owner of Spacestation Gaming in 2021. She also appeared as a contestant on the reality game show Survivor in 2016.

Life and career

Mariko Takahashi was born and raised in San Francisco, California and is Japanese-American.{{cite magazine|url=https://millennialmagazine.com/2015/06/08/mari-takahashi-trades-ballet-for-smosh-games/|title=Mari Takahashi Trades Ballet for Smosh Games|first=Britt|last=Hysen|magazine=Millennial Magazine|date=June 8, 2015|access-date=September 16, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807012648/https://millennialmagazine.com/2015/06/08/mari-takahashi-trades-ballet-for-smosh-games/|archive-date=August 7, 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XZEHEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Mari+Takahashi%22+smosh&pg=PA201|title=Fandom, Now In Color|editor=Rukmini Pande|page=201|publisher=University of Iowa Press|isbn=9781609387280|date=December 15, 2020|access-date=September 16, 2024}} Her father was an engineer and her mother was a ballerina, with the latter's occupation influencing Takahashi to pursue dancing and ballet in her adolescence. Takahashi also played video games as a child, such as Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter. She worked as a professional ballerina for ten years while working various jobs on the side.{{cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/culture/internet/from-ballerina-to-gamer-and-entrepreneur-the-mari-takahashi-origin-story/|title=From ballerina to gamer and entrepreneur: The Mari Takahashi origin story|first=Patrick|last=Holland|website=CNET|date=September 27, 2020|access-date=September 16, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240504090308/https://www.cnet.com/culture/internet/from-ballerina-to-gamer-and-entrepreneur-the-mari-takahashi-origin-story/|archive-date=May 4, 2024|url-status=live}}

In 2010, Takahashi applied for a job with the YouTube comedy channel Smosh, formed by Ian Hecox and Anthony Padilla.{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/how-smosh-star-mari-got-the-last-laugh-2015-12|title=When Smosh star Mari Takahashi started out, YouTube comments were so cruel they made her cry|first=Julie|last=Bort|website=Business Insider|date=December 9, 2015|access-date=September 16, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231018150851/https://www.businessinsider.com/how-smosh-star-mari-got-the-last-laugh-2015-12|archive-date=October 18, 2023|url-status=live}} At the time the channel had sought expansion of their content, and according to a Lifehacker interview, Takahashi claimed that they called for a Japanese speaker.{{cite web|url=https://lifehacker.com/im-smosh-games-host-mari-takahashi-and-this-is-how-i-w-1823628371|title=I'm Smosh Games Host Mari Takahashi, and This Is How I Work|first=Nick|last=Douglas|website=Lifehacker|date=April 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226191731/https://lifehacker.com/im-smosh-games-host-mari-takahashi-and-this-is-how-i-w-1823628371|archive-date=February 26, 2024|url-status=live}} She first became a host for their Smosh Pit Weekly series on their secondary channel, which detailed content from their Smosh Pit blog hosted on their individual website. Takahashi initially dealt with negative comments according to Smosh's then-boss Barry Blumberg, with Hecox and Padilla telling her to ignore them. The series initially lasted from 2011 to 2015 for over 200 episodes, before being revived in 2017 with Takahashi hosting once more.{{cite web|url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2017/04/18/smosh-pit-channel-summer/|title=Smosh To Rename Secondary Channel, Add Cast Members, Bring Back Competition Series|first=Sam|last=Gutelle|website=Tubefilter|date=April 18, 2017|access-date=September 16, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240221192021/https://www.tubefilter.com/2017/04/18/smosh-pit-channel-summer/|archive-date=February 21, 2024|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2017/08/14/smosh-pit-defy-media/|title=Smosh Announces Slate Of Seven Shows For Rebranded Smosh Pit Channel (Exclusive)|first=Sam|last=Gutelle|website=Tubefilter|date=August 14, 2017|access-date=September 16, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231008084327/https://www.tubefilter.com/2017/08/14/smosh-pit-defy-media/|archive-date=October 8, 2023|url-status=live}}

Takahashi joined Smosh Games – a collaborative venture between Smosh and members of ClevverGames – in 2012.{{cite web|url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2012/09/27/clevver-smosh-games-channel/|title=ClevverGames Teaming Up With Smosh For New Smosh Games Channel|first=Sam|last=Gutelle|website=Tubefilter|date=September 27, 2012|access-date=August 20, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929023707/https://www.tubefilter.com/2012/09/27/clevver-smosh-games-channel/|archive-date=September 29, 2012|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/2017/10/16/16475628/smosh-games-youtube-future|title=Smosh Games talks future of YouTube and gaming on the world's biggest network|first=Julia|last=Alexander|website=Polygon|date=October 16, 2017|access-date=August 20, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171016161154/https://www.polygon.com/2017/10/16/16475628/smosh-games-youtube-future|archive-date=October 16, 2017|url-status=live}} She hosted various series on the channel, including MariCraft, a Let's Play series where she played Minecraft with members of the Smosh Games crew.{{cite web|url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2016/09/19/mari-takahashi-smosh-games-survivor/|title=Mari Takahashi Of Smosh Games Uses 'Minecraft' To Promote Upcoming Role On 'Survivor'|first=Sam|last=Gutelle|website=Tubefilter|date=September 19, 2016|access-date=September 16, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921200000/https://www.tubefilter.com/2016/09/19/mari-takahashi-smosh-games-survivor/|archive-date=September 21, 2016|url-status=live}} She also partook in an Assassin's Creed Origins-based mini-series with member Joshua Ovenshire in 2017.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/smosh-games-teams-ubisoft-3-episode-assassins-creed-origins-series-1049709/|title=SMOSH Games Teams With Ubisoft for 3-Episode 'Assassin's Creed: Origins' Series|first=Patrick|last=Shanley|magazine=The Hollywood Reporter|date=October 19, 2017|access-date=August 20, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220425225746/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/smosh-games-teams-ubisoft-3-episode-assassins-creed-origins-series-1049709/|archive-date=April 25, 2022|url-status=live}} Takahashi has been noted for her transition from working as a ballerina in a female-dominated industry to gaming as a male-dominated industry.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/emilydrewry/2017/06/20/how-top-influencer-mari-takahashi-navigated-her-unlikely-career-path/|title=How Top Influencer Mari Takahashi Navigated Her Unlikely Career Path|first=Emily|last=Drewry|magazine=Forbes|date=June 20, 2017|access-date=September 16, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620191258/https://www.forbes.com/sites/emilydrewry/2017/06/20/how-top-influencer-mari-takahashi-navigated-her-unlikely-career-path/#2c5c1a4145de|archive-date=June 20, 2017|url-status=live}} She was the first female member of Smosh Games, until Ericka "Boze" Bozeman joined in 2017. With Smosh Games, she won two Streamy Awards, and was listed among Forbes magazine's 2017 "Top Influencers" in Gaming.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/09/smosh-mari-takahashi-co-owner-esports-spacestation-gaming-1234837901/|title=SMOSH Alum Mari Takahashi Named Co-Owner Of Esports Org Spacestation Gaming|first=Alexandra|last=del Rosario|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=September 23, 2021|access-date=September 16, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201234921/https://deadline.com/2021/09/smosh-mari-takahashi-co-owner-esports-spacestation-gaming-1234837901/|archive-date=December 1, 2022|url-status=live}}

File:Mari Takahashi.png

Outside of Smosh, Takahashi has pursued other ventures. In 2016, Takahashi was a contestant in the 33rd season of Survivor – Millennials vs. Gen X.{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2016/09/29/survivor-mari-millennials-gen-x/|title=Survivor: Mari says 'it hurts to see Hannah swayed in that way'|first=Dalton|last=Ross|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=September 29, 2016|access-date=September 16, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001065750/https://ew.com/article/2016/09/29/survivor-mari-millennials-gen-x/|archive-date=October 1, 2016|url-status=live}} In anticipation, she hosted MariCraft: Outsider as a Survivor-based version of the MariCraft series. Takahashi played for the Millennial tribe, but was the first contestant voted out of her team. After ten years, Takahashi departed from the Smosh brand in early 2020 to focus on her solo career.{{cite web|url=https://bleedingcool.com/games/mari-takahashi-named-co-owner-spacestation-gaming/|title=Mari Takahashi Named Co-Owner Spacestation Gaming|first=Gavin|last=Sheehan|website=Bleeding Cool|date=September 23, 2021|access-date=September 16, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923173712/https://bleedingcool.com/games/mari-takahashi-named-co-owner-spacestation-gaming/|archive-date=September 23, 2021|url-status=live}} The same year, she ventured into hosting as a correspondent for gaming website Polygon's Speedrun news series.{{cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/speedrun-quibi/2020/6/29/21306837/mari-takahashi-atomicmari-speedrun-polygon-quibi|title=Mari Takahashi is joining Speedrun by Polygon as a correspondent|first=Simone|last=de Rochefort|website=Polygon|date=June 29, 2020|access-date=September 16, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630150519/https://www.polygon.com/speedrun-quibi/2020/6/29/21306837/mari-takahashi-atomicmari-speedrun-polygon-quibi|archive-date=June 30, 2020|url-status=live}} Takahashi became a co-owner of the esports organization Spacestation Gaming in 2021.{{cite web|url=https://bleedingcool.com/games/mari-takahashi-named-co-owner-spacestation-gaming/|title=Mari Takahashi Named Co-Owner Spacestation Gaming|first=Gavin|last=Sheehan|website=Bleeding Cool|date=September 23, 2021|access-date=September 16, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923173712/https://bleedingcool.com/games/mari-takahashi-named-co-owner-spacestation-gaming/|archive-date=September 23, 2021|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/games/mari-atomicmari-takahashi-becomes-co-owner-of-esports-group-spacestation-gaming/|title=Mari 'AtomicMari' Takahashi becomes co-owner of esports group Spacestation Gaming|first=Dean|last=Takahashi|website=VentureBeat|date=September 23, 2021|access-date=September 16, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231230202303/https://venturebeat.com/games/mari-atomicmari-takahashi-becomes-co-owner-of-esports-group-spacestation-gaming/|archive-date=December 30, 2023|url-status=live}} She also worked with Lacoste for a Minecraft clothing collection in 2022,{{cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/style/a/steven-asarch/lacoste-minecraft-collaboration-exclusive|title=Exclusive: The New Lacoste x Minecraft Capsule Redefines Creative Collaboration|first1=Steven|last1=Asarch|first2=Isis|last2=Briones|website=Complex|date=March 11, 2022|access-date=September 16, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212043159/https://www.complex.com/style/a/steven-asarch/lacoste-minecraft-collaboration-exclusive|archive-date=February 12, 2023|url-status=live}} and in 2023, she hosted the FailArmy gaming web series 50 Vs. 50.{{cite web|url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2023/08/04/fail-army-trusted-media-brands-fast-50-vs-mari-takahashi/|title=FailArmy launches competition format '50 vs. 50' hosted by gamer Mari Takahashi|first=Sam|last=Gutelle|website=Tubefilter|date=August 4, 2023|access-date=September 16, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806110631/https://www.tubefilter.com/2023/08/04/fail-army-trusted-media-brands-fast-50-vs-mari-takahashi/|archive-date=August 6, 2023|url-status=live}}

=Personal life=

Mari has been in a relationship with photographer Peter Kitch since 2010. They met in January of that year at a rock climbing gym, where Mari had decided to officially take lessons after climbing Mount Kilimanjaro; Peter was her instructor.{{cite web|url=https://youtube.com/FqHZt4FxUYo?t=197|title=Q & A WITH MY TWIN|website=YouTube|date=February 8, 2019|access-date=May 28, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200829234427/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqHZt4FxUYo&gl=US&hl=en|archive-date=August 29, 2020|url-status=live}} They became engaged in April 2017 and kept it a secret for many months. They got married in Japan on April 5th, 2018, in a traditional Japanese ceremony.{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BhPt2SdBAVM/|website=Instagram|title=Pete and I are married! ⛩🌸🎎💓|date=7 April 2018|access-date=28 May 2025}}

Appearances

class="wikitable"

!Year

!Work

!Role

!Note(s)

!{{Abbr|Ref(s)|Reference(s)}}

2016

|MatPat's Game Lab

|Guest

|YouTube Original series

|{{cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/mari-takahashi/credits/3000600166/|title=Mari Takahashi|website=TV Guide|access-date=September 16, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240917031219/https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/mari-takahashi/3000600166/|archive-date=September 17, 2024|url-status=live}}

2016

|Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X

|Herself

|Reality Cast Member

2016

|Smosh Live!

|Choreographer

|Livestream

2017

|Home & Family

|Guest

2019

|Retro Tech

|Guest

|YouTube Original series

2021

|Could You Survive the Movies?

|Guest

|YouTube Original series

Awards and nominations

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" \|+ {{sronly\|Awards and nominations received by Mari Takahashi}}
scope="col" \| Award ! scope="col" \| Year ! scope="col" \| Category ! scope="col" \| Result ! scope="col" class="unsortable"\| {{abbr\|Ref.\|Reference(s)}}
scope="row" \| Forbes \| 2017 \| Top Influencers: Gaming \| {{won}} \| style="text-align: center;"\|
scope="row" \| Streamy Awards \| 2014 \| Gaming \| {{won}} (shared with Smosh Games) \| style="text-align: center;"\|
scope="row" \| Streamy Awards \| 2017 \| Gaming \| {{won}} (shared with Smosh Games) \| style="text-align: center;"\|

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

|+ {{sronly|Awards and nominations received by Mari Takahashi}}

scope="col" | Award

! scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Category

! scope="col" | Result

! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}}

scope="row" | Forbes

| 2017

| Top Influencers: Gaming

| {{won}}

| style="text-align: center;"|