"What the heck is a Seiyuu?!"





"Seiyuu" is the Japanese word for "voice actor"; it refers to the person whose work is lending his/her voice to a special character of a show. Instead of acting it, the seiyuu just "voices" it, saying the lines that are originally said in other idioms using his own mother language.

The seiyuus are a true and great institution in Japan, where they're usually known and recognized as mass idols. Many of them aren't only voice actors, but also singers and/or live action actors/actresses. You may know it from over-exposed (IMHO) Megumi Hayashibara, Hikaru Midorikawa, Takehito Koyasu, etc.
 
 

But here, I'll mostly talk about two of them. They are the two voice actresses who played the roles of Hokuto Sumeragi and Kotori Monou in the anime/radio drama versions of "Tokyo Babylon" and "X-1999".  All the info is from Hitoshi Doi's superb seiyuu page!!
 
 
 
 


MIKI ITOU
(Sumeragi Hokuto)

Miki was born on October 21st, 1962 in Tokyo. Her blood type is O. She is 152 cm tall and weighs 42 kg.  Her three sizes are 80-57-83. She works for Ohsawa Jimusho. 

Well..., Miki isn't a greatly-known seiyuu, as her roles are mostly back-up ones. One of the typic roles to which you listen and say 'Where did I hear her?'.  She mostly does the roles of rude girls, or women in their 20's/early 30's (see below). 
 

Some of Miki's roles have been...

* Dragon Ball Z: Volume nº 18.
* Hakkenden: Princess Fuse
* Project A-Ko: A-ko Magami
* Magical Sally (new): Karen, the Black Angel
* Rayearth: Nova
 

More Miki info? Here!!
 

 
 
JUNKO IWAO
(Monou Kotori)

Iwao Junko was born on February 18th,1970 in Beppu, Oita. Her blood type is AB. She is 153.5 cm tall and weighs 40 kg. She works for Starboard. She is a membress of the duo Osakana Penguin, along with her fellow seiyuu and friend Kikuko Inoue.

Well, Junko-san is much more a recognized voice actress than Miki-san, specially in the last years.  She has a wonderful sweet tone, and many of her roles are, also, of sweet girls. Mebbe her best known role is the mytic one of Battousai's deceased wife, Yukishiro Tomoe, in the Rurouni Kenshin OAV. I swear I cried in the ending... ;) 
 

Some other roles of Junko are...

* Ayashi no Ceres: Ceres
* Blue Seed: Valencia Tachibana
* Rurouni Kenshin OAV: Yukishiro Tomoe
* Devilman Lady: Jun Fudou/Devilman Lady
* Shinnseiki Evangelion: Hikari Horaki
* Mahoutsukai Tai!: Akane Aikawa
* Tenchi Muyo Manatsu no Eve: Mayuka Masaki
* Key the Metal Idol: Tokiko Mima, aka Key

For more Junko roles, click here!

 

 
Tomoyo -- the daughter...
  

NOW, THIS IS STRANGE... *LOL*

Junko and Miki, in Card Captor Sakura (which is also ANOTHER Clamp series... 0_0), were... DAUGHTER AND MOTHER!!! Yep, no joke! Junko played the role of Daidouji Tomoyo, Sakura's cousin and pal, and Miki did the one of Daidouji Sonomi, Tomoyo's mom! That's what I call a coincidence... * sigh*

 
-- And Sonomi, the Mommy! Thanks for the photo Ruby-chan!

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