SEIYUU LOUNGE

He’s known for being a chameleon voice actor, able to go from shouty, intense shounen roles to deeper, darker and twisted performances that make your jaw drop in awe. He’s a renowned voice actor in Japan and now even owner and CEO of his own Seiyuu talent agency, Racoon Dog. In this episode, we'll dive into the world of voice acting through the eyes of one of Japan's most renowned seiyuu, Nobuhiko...

Known as the most aggressive rocker - personality and sound - in the Dear Vocalist franchise, Judah ends up delivering the most romantic album in the franchise with "Display". This is character development at its best, proof that the Dear Vocalist franchise is one of the best around when it comes to committing to the characters, their stories, and their evolving sound that is influenced by their a...

Many veteran seiyuu, with decades of experience, have been criticized for participating in 2D music projects and performing on stage with younger seiyuu. At the same time, the industry is changing so much that Utaites are taking leading roles in projects that used to be exclusively for professional voice actors. What is happening right now? Why are fans complaining about veteran seiyuu and what is...

He’s one of the biggest stars in the seiyuu industry. He has a repertoire that many envy. He’s at the forefront when it comes to innovating and pushing forward what seiyuu can do. But not everything was the success and recognition Yuki Kaji now experiences. Early on he struggled to get roles, had tough competition within his agency, and it was hard for him. So in this episode, let’s talk a bit abo...

Owner of one of the coolest deep voices in the seiyuu industry, Katsuyuki Konishi has had a career of ups and downs from being a top, sought-after talent to almost disappearing and now rising from the ashes. But how did he make it in his 50s and become more popular than ever? Why does he say that “If I don't keep doing various roles, I'll be replaced.”? Video interview that inspired this episode:...

Soma Saito's "Fictions" offers a refreshing surprise by moving away from his usual overarching story format. Instead, it presents individual short stories in each track, focusing on themes of nostalgia, longing, and homesickness. Each song is a "fiction" ready for you to uncover. The album is more straightforward than his previous concept-driven works, making it accessible for new fans who can enj...

We're diving deep into the world of voice acting through the eyes of one of its most iconic and respected talents, Junichi Suwabe. We'll explore his journey into the industry, his perspectives on the craft, and his insights on the future of voice acting. By the end of this episode, you'll have a unique insider's view of the seiyuu industry from someone who has been at its forefront...

Time to pull back the curtain on a crucial but often overlooked role in the seiyuu industry: the voice actor manager. We'll explore their daily responsibilities, how they become managers, and the qualities that make them successful. By the end of this episode, you'll have a comprehensive understanding of these professionals' vital role in supporting and guiding seiyuu careers. And how...

The seiyuu industry is known for its competitiveness and the immense talent of its voice actors. At the heart of this industry lies the audition process, a critical step that can make or break a seiyuu's career. In this episode, we'll explore the intricacies of the audition process, the challenges seiyuu face, and the skills required to succeed in this competitive industry. By the end of t...

Seiyuu struggle for years to get supporting roles, they have a twisted and unfair ranking system that determines how much money they can charge and as such they are underpaid most of the time and now, the newest generations are joining the industry just with the focus of quickly branching out to being idols or artists or personalities instead of doing what seiyuu used to do: voice acting. With tha...

There is nothing like falling in love with the cast of an anime series, game, or drama CD and hoping that, when the time comes for an adaptation to a different medium, the cast remains the same. We’ve grown to love those voices, the actors suit the characters or make the characters larger than life but then… we notice that, for example, the cast of a drama CD was completely replaced by a whole new...

Welcome to SEIYUU LOUNGE, weekly podcast all about Japanese voice actors, seiyuu artists, and 2D groups. Here you will learn more about: What are seiyuu? The seiyuu ranking and earnings? Everything about auditions Voice tones and techniques The history of seiyuu units 2D groups/projects Seiyuu artists and their careers (including a look at their CD releases) Music reviews Recommendations List feat...

In this week's episode I've tried something a bit different: if I could erase 7 albums from my memory to experience them again for the first time, what albums would I choose? What about you? Let me know your own choices in the comments! Did you enjoy this episode? Consider ranking this podcast or leaving a review on your preferred podcast streaming platform! 👉 Want to go the extra mile in...

Sir Vanity's "Midnight Sun" made an instant impact in a music industry lacking quality and uniqueness in rock bands fronted by male seiyuu. With a unique focus on fashion and not bound to a music genre, Sir Vanity is, easily, one of the best bands of this decade, showcasing it with a lot of confidence in "Midnight Sun". In this video, we're dissecting the mini-album, ex...

Exciting news for VS AMBIVALENZ fans! The unique 2D idol music project is welcoming not just one, but TWO new groups: Fun4re and Illuvista! In this video, we'll be discussing everything we know about these new additions, including members, debut CDs, and what this means for the future of VS AMBIVALENZ. Are you hyped for Fun4re and Illuvista? Did you enjoy this episode? Consider ranking this po...

The world of 2D idols is full of talented singers and performers! But what makes someone stand out enough to get a solo debut? In this video, we're diving deep into the factors that influence who gets to go solo, from vocal and dance skills to stage presence and fan popularity. Do you think outstanding performances in a group guarantee a solo debut? Let me know your thoughts in the comments be...

2024 has been a surprising year for fans of male seiyuu artists and 2D groups, and with a couple of amazing albums already out, it's hard to keep track! In this video, we're diving into some of the absolute best albums that have dropped so far this year. From Shoya Chiba's impressive debut EP "Blessing" to Kent Ito's retro-futuristic "Sain" and the genre-bending...

The year is already flying by, but that means tons of new music is on the horizon! In this episode, I'm counting down my top 5 most anticipated album releases of 2024! We've got Shoya Chiba's 1st single "Contrail", KAGARIBI's "Fushichou", Anthos*'s "MORE", IDOLiSH7's 3rd album "LEADiNG TONE", and one more surprise album you won't...

DYNAMIC CHORD is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2024, and we're diving deep into all the exciting announcements! Get ready for new shuffle units, a Nintendo Switch port of the original - and awesome - visual novels, and a whole lot more! I'll break down the details, discuss what it means for the future of DYNAMIC CHORD, and share my reactions! Are you excited for DYNAMIC CHORD's r...

This is one of the most talked about topics in the voice acting industry in Japan. There is a genuine worry about how AI may completely mess up the industry, take jobs, and make it even harder for aspiring seiyuu to do what they love as a career. In this episode, let’s talk about some of the insights by Yuki Kaji in an interview for NHK early this year, Junichi Suwabe’s take on AI as well as the o...

Some look at AI as an opportunity to clone their favorite voice actor's voice, some Japanese voice actors worry about those possibilities and how dangerous it is for the voice acting industry. At the same time, some game studios have started using AI voices for NPCs instead of hiring professional voice actors. While all of this is happening, in 2024, superstar seiyuu and entrepreneur Yuki Kaji...

2 years after the releases of "My Beautiful Valentine" and "Yin/Yang", Soma Saito announced the release of new music! Let's talk about the first details on the 3rd album - currently untitled -, the first digital single "Sway" and the upcoming live tour, the first one in 3 years for Saito. Did you enjoy this episode? Consider ranking this podcast or leaving a revie...

Great news for Yumeiro Cast fans! After 5 years of silence, the Yumeiro Cast franchise has announced the release of a full game titled "Yumeiro Cast: TAKE A CURTAIN CALL." We break down the release date, the contents, and how it is going to differ from the original smartphone game as well as talk a bit about the troubled journey this franchise has gone through to this day. Get ready to r...

Male seiyuu are releasing photobooks in droves, but is this just a trend or a sign of changing times in the industry? And now even veterans are joining in the trend when the seiyuu industry is focusing heavily on "good" or "idol" looks, which is surprising. In this episode, you and I analyze the rise of seiyuu photobooks and explore if veteran voice actors are joining the movem...

It's finally here! The 200th episode of SEIYUU LOUNGE! This was a LIVE celebration packed with fun, behind-the-scenes stories, and most importantly, answering YOUR questions! I've been blown away by your continued support, and I want to use this live stream to connect with you directly. Watch as talk about AI and voice acting, paparazzi ruining the fun for seiyuu, fan behavior, awesome col...