Interest

Japan's Influenza Outbreak Strikes Voice Acting Industry

Cells at Work! is trying to take down influenza at the Laguna Ten Bosch theme park but the virus has already infiltrated the seiyū industry and much of Japan. Multiple voice actors cancelled events this week citing illness due to the current outbreak.

The Axl One talent agency announced on January 22 that voice actor and singer Takuma Terashima (Real Girl, Cute High Earth Defense Club LOVE!) would not appear during his scheduled live broadcast on January 23 due to contracting influenza. Fellow voice actor Toshiyuki Morikawa stepped in for him. Axl One updated fans that Terashima was still ill on January 25.

Voice actor Wataru Hatano (Fairy Tail, IDOLiSH7) wrote on his Twitter account on January 24 that he is also sick with the flu. Staff postponed the two-day release party for his second album Futuristic. Hatano was scheduled to appear Shinjuku on January 26 and Osaka on January 27.

Junichi Suwabe also announced that he was down with influenza on January 26. He wrote on his blog that he initially got checked for the disease on Wednesday and the results were negative but following a live broadcast session, his condition took a turn for the worst. He went to the hospital again the following morning on Thursday and was tested again. The results were positive for influenza. Suwabe had to cancel his appearance at the Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel II. lost butterfly stage greeting on January 25 while he recovers from his illness.

Terashima, Hatano, and Suwabe are just three of the most recent voice actors to come down with virus that has left over 2.1 million Japanese citizens sick. Since the new year began, voice actors Yūto Uemura, Chiharu Sawashiro, Yumiri Hanamori, Rikako Aida, Yoshino Nanjō, and Shiori Mikami have cancelled planned appearances due to an influenza diagnosis.

Source: Junichi Suwabe's blog, Wataru Hatano's official site, AGQR official site, NHK World Japan via Nijimen