Phongus

'NEON GENESIS EVANGELION' Asuka voice actress Yuko Miyamura reflects on how voice actors and anime fans were once treated on Japanese television: "Whenever we were invited to appear on popular TV variety shows, voice actors were treated like exotic animals. We were treated as novelty acts, spoken down to, and our otaku fans were mocked and treated discriminatorily. When I was invited to appear on a popular variety show, during the planning meeting, the director enthusiastically described a concept built around everyone mocking otaku and ridiculing my fans and the anime community, saying, 'That's entertaining television, isn't it?' I remember thinking, 'Wow... does the TV industry have a bully mentality?' I told them I couldn't participate if that was the concept, so they agreed to change it, and I said I'd participate if they did. But when I arrived for the recording, the concept hadn't changed at all. I felt completely tricked. It was so awful that I asked them not to air it. Back then, television was genuinely traumatic for me. But don't worry! These days, thanks to the growing number of celebrities and TV staff who openly say they love anime, voice actors have earned respect as professionals, and I've been fortunate to work in places where I'm treated with respect. I'm truly grateful. It really feels like we're living in a wonderful time, and I feel very fortunate."