Seiyū: the art of voice acting - the Japanese voice acting industry and its relation to the anime market

摘要

Among the vast variety of cultural categories in Japan, there is one that has been growing in strength and popularity since the 1970s and is now one of the most sought-after professions among teenagers in Japan: seiyū (voice actors). Annually, hundreds of students apply for vocational schools and agencies to get training in order to become a voice actor. While the profession is highly romanticized, there are many problematic aspects to it as well. This research will focus on the structure of the Japanese voice acting industry, the educational properties, and the way it supports the anime market and vice versa.