It’s no secret that the voice acting industry in Japan is big. The country’s prolific publishing of animation and video games means there’s a never-ending flow of characters who need voices, and Japan also has a very healthy appetite for overseas movies and TV dramas, many of which get dubbed-into-Japanese versions too.
So that means there are a lot of voice actresses in Japan, and the number is getting bigger still. Voice actor magazine Seiyu Grand Prix periodically publishes the Voice Actress Directory, which it says is a comprehensive listing of working voice actresses in Japan. The newest directory, set to be included as part of Seiyu Grand Prix’s March issue (which goes on sale February 9), has profiles for over 1,030 voice actresses, the most ever since the directory started in 2001.
What’s even more startling than the number of voice actresses, though, is how quickly the number has grown.
● Number of listed performers in Voice Actress Directory
2001: 225
2004: 438
2008: 535
2014: 644
2016: 728
2018: 800
2019: 847
2020: 907
2021: 955
2022: 1,003
2023: Over 1,030
There’s also been a tremendous increase in the number of voice actors in Japan over the past 20 years. Seiyu Grand Prix’s most recent Voice Actor Directory, published in 2022, consists of a record-high 655 male vocal performers, compared to just 145 in the 2001 directory. Together, the combined number of voice actors and actresses has increased by roughly four and a half times since 2001.
More performers, though, may or may not be a sign that the industry is experiencing healthy growth. Tight budgets and severely short deadlines have largely come to be seen as the norm in the modern anime production world, and the proliferation of indie games, doujin animation projects, virtual YouTubing, and the like are creating more and more vocal roles to be filled, but usually aren’t flush with cash or offering much in the way of long-term stability, which has been reflected in online reactions to the directory’s record number of voice actresses.
“Can’t see this as anything other than market saturation.”
“No wonder I can’t remember all their names!”
“How many of those voice actresses can make ends meet without a side job?”
“I wonder how much the numbers would get cut down by if they were for the number that can earn a decent living only through voice acting.”
“There may be a lot of voice actresses, but the choice jobs are still concentrated among a small group of them.”
“Only a select few can make a good living. That’s why when they’re casting something high-profile like a new PreCure anime, they get tons of people who want to audition.”
For anyone thinking of pursuing a career in voice acting in Japan, it’s important to remember that it really is part of the show business industry. Much like being a live-action actress or actor, there’s always going to be a ton of competition for desirable and well-paying jobs. Only a few will make it to the top of the industry, and a whole lot are going to drop out of it and have to look for work elsewhere. For those who are prepared for the financial and mental challenges, though, Seiyu Grand Prix’s Voice Actress/Actor Directory numbers show that more people than ever before are willing to take their shot.
Sources: Oricon News via Yahoo! Japan News via Otakomu, Twitter
Read more stories from SoraNews24.
-- Japan has more anime/video game actresses than ever before, according to major seiyu magazine
-- Singing and dancing lessons, too!? An inside-look at a Tokyo voice acting academy
-- Do you know the actors behind your favorite cartoons and anime?
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- https://soranews24.com/2023/01/24/number-of-voice-actresses-in-japan-hits-record-high-but-is-that-a-good-thing/
15 Comments
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dagon
The show business ranks are full of the beneficiaries of nepotism.
Talent is about 10 percent though it can be developed (watch out for AI tools that can do it faster though).
The agencies in Japan which take a lion's share of gains make it a much steeper climb though
Politik Kills
Googles ‘Japanese people with microphone’. Finds karaoke images.
Close enough!
3RENSHO
My television is muted...
Abe234
Probably just a way to force lower wages on them.
friday2023
I think the best voice actor now in Japan is Vocaloid Hatsune Miku !
jelly
I have been watching a lot of anime lately. I have always felt that voice actors are more difficult to remember than actors because they perform only with their voices. However, I was convinced when I saw this article that not only that, but the number of voice actors has simply increased. However, I had the impression that popular voice actors were in every anime, so I figured that the difference in ability was more pronounced than with actors.
TokyoLiving
Voice actor is a great profession that requires a lot of preparation and talent, I hope that the guild of voice actors, manga and anime prosper and there are better working conditions for everyone..
Sorry, usually the vocaloid, like Miku, is not human, but Japan has very good voice talents..
starpunk
Cartoon series and movies allow for great voice acting. It's fun to pick out familiar voices in animated movies. And it allows the voice actor to do excellent imitations. For instance, the voice of Bart Simpson is from a woman. And in a few films like 'Brother Bear' and 'Balto', the voices are from the musician Phil Collins who due to spinal injuries can do nothing but vocal work like singing and voice acting now.
Nadrew
It seems to me that a lot of the overdubs for major movies are done by the same actors.
Thunderbird2
I was a big fan of Kotono Mitsuishi... a popular voice actress, great singing voice (I have her CDs... ), and very pretty (some nice photo books)... now I couldn't name one really popular voice actress.
Sven Asai
Why should it be bad? If there’s a market for such talents, why not? If it’s getting too much, it will soon after decrease. Then we know the average needed number, but not now when it’s still in hyper growth.
Ah_so
The number seems to be going up by about 50 a year - hardly overwhelming
Aaron J
Doesn’t seem like a lot considering the amount of animated content being created. The big Voice Actors still reign supreme and still make a ton of money (like actors).
Blattamexiguus
Mel Blanc.
starpunk
And don't forget Jim Henson, Frank Oz and others who voice act for several 'characters' who are represented by those famous Muppets. Some of those voice actors do the work for many Muppet characters. And Frank Oz does the 'voice' for Yoda too. Hmmm.