Voice acting in Japan has far greater prominence than in most other countries. Japan's large animation industry produces 60% of the animated series in the world.[1]
There are around 130 voice-acting schools in Japan.[4]
Magazines focusing specifically on voice acting are published in Japan, with Voice Animage being the longest running.
Besides acting as narrators and actors in radio plays, as well as performing voice-overs for non-Japanese movies and television programs, the voice actors are extensively employed as character actors in anime and video games.
Some voice actors — especially certain voice actresses — often have
devoted international fanclubs. Some fans may watch a show merely to
hear a particular voice actor.[2] Some Japanese voice actors have capitalized on their fame to become singers,[3] and many others have become live movie or television actors.
Voice acting has existed in Japan since the advent of radio. It was only
in the 1970s that the term seiyū entered popular usage because of the
anime Space Battleship Yamato.
According to a newspaper interview with a voice talent manager, "Since
the Yamato boom, the word 'seiyū' has become instantly recognized,
before that actors and actresses who introduced themselves as seiyū were
often asked, 'You mean you work for Seiyu supermarket?'"[4]
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