This year's Seiyu Award ceremony was the first in-person one in three years, and it's also the first year that they made the awards completely gender-neutral which is a decision I can get behind. With each of the awards, I will be putting one notable role each from this past year or so, but I won't be putting any for some awards. I might put my thoughts under some, but I don't want to clog this post with too much uselessness.
Best Leading Voice Actor Award:
Chika Anzai
Takuya Eguchi
He also won the Most Valuable Seiyuu Award.
Atsumi Tanezaki
Best Supporting Voice Actor Award
Shuuichi Ikeda
Ryotaro Okiayu
Atsumi Tanezaki
Best Rookie Voice Actor Award
Shuuichiro Umeda
Hina Suguta
Anna Nagase
Minami Hinata
Shion Wakayama
Best Foreign Film / Drama Award
Shihori Kanjiya
Toshiyuki Morikawa
Note: He is the official dub-over for Tom Cruise. Top Gun: Maverick was really popular in America (even getting nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars)
Best Singer Award: Nijigasaki High School Idol Club
Influencer Award: Natsuki Hanae
His cats released a photobook.
Kei Tomiyama Award: Junichi Suwabe
Kids/Family Award: Ikue Otani & Rica Matsumoto
Considering that Matsumoto played Ash (Satoshi) in Pokemon, it is only fitting to give her and Otani (the voice of Pikachu) the best sendoff possible (although, Pikachu will remain in the cast).
Best Synergy Award: Jujutsu Kaisen
I totally thought this was going to go to Lycoris Recoil, but Jujutsu Kaisen is very popular. I still don't know if they're recasting Geto due to recent news though.
I have seen bits of the Hanako-kun radio show translated here and there, but never the entire episodes, so here’s to the people who wanted to know how the rest of them goes down. The whole thing is ridiculously funny.
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Ogata: Everyone... happy... New Year.
[Quiet chuckes]
Ogata: I’m the one who voices Hanako-kun from “Jibaku Shounen Hanako-kun”, Ogata Megumi.
Akarin: *giggles*
Ogata: I was—
Yuu-kun: What’d you say?
Everyone: *laughs*
Yuu-kun: Sorry, what’d you say??
Chikape: Cut it out, Handsome.
Ogata: You’re such a clown, huh! I’m sorry! I’m really sorry! I was put under a spell that took away my voice for today.
Akarin: A supernatural! A supernatural! It was a supernatural!
Ogata: I’ll leave the progress of things to Yashiro from now. Here. Counting on you, Yashiro!
Akarin: Yes!
Everyone: *laughs*
Akarin: Ah! Ogata-san has stood up from her seat. *laughs*
ChibaShou: If it was a supernatural’s fault, there’s just no helping it!
Akarin: It was a supernatural’s fault.
Yuu-kun: Hey, hey, go on!
Akarin: Yes! Anyway! Hello, all!
Everyone: Hello!
Akarin: I voice Yashiro Nene from “Jibaku Shounen Hanako-kun”. My name is Kitou Akari! Also, happy New Year! Cheers!
[Applause]
Akarin: Eh, the very popular original work by AidaIro-sensei, serialized in G Fantasy, “Jibaku Shounen Hanako-kun”, will finally have the first episode of its much-awaited anime adaptation broadcasting from next week onward, on January 9! For those who can’t wait for it to air, today, I, Kitou Akari, who play the role of Yashiro Nene, am intruding into the studio in the middle of the recording, to ask everyone in the cast about their passion for it! Yaaay!
[Cheering]
Akarin: It’s already clear that it’s pretty lively here, though!
Yuu-kun: Thanks!
Akarin: *laughs*
Staff: Aren’t you the same?
Akarin: True. That’s right. I’m the same. *laughs* Talki—Talking like that to your Senpai— *laughs* That’s true. It’s a bit—
Ogata: *whispers* Yashiro, take it seriously!
Akarin: *laughs*
Yuu-kun: She ain’t taking it seriously!
Satou: She is! Come on!
ChibaShou: It’s a supernatural! A supernatural just came by!
Satou: A supernatural is doing this!
Akarin: A supernatural passed us just now. *laughs* Okay, anyway. Well, let’s get right to it. Eh, then, first... I want to ask about the enthusiasm of Kou’s voice actor—
ChibaShou: YES!!!
Chikape: Whoa! He’s so eager!
Akarin: *laughs* Chiba Shouya-san!
ChibaShou: Yes!
Akarin: Chiba-san, how about it?
ChibaShou: Please stop playing around like I’m so cool when we’re at a stage where I haven’t said a single line yet!
Akarin: *laughs*
ChibaShou: That’s a pretty good retort! Hum—
Ogata: The one who played around was Mizushima Takahiro!
Akarin/ChibaShou: *laugh*
ChibaShou: That’s right. It was Mizushima-san. Hum, speaking of Mizushima-san, I’m Chiba Shouya!
Akarin: *laughs harder*
ChibaShou: Hum, I voice Minamoto Kou. My name is Chiba Shouya. Everyone, happy New Year!
Akarin: Cheers!
ChibaShou: Cheers. Man, seriously. This was such a long-awaited anime adaptation.
Akarin: Hm-hm!
ChibaShou: Ever since this work was announced, as expected, each of the viewers were like, “Ah! That thing’s gonna get animated!”, so it seems this series is truly loved by people of many age groups.
Akarin: Right?
ChibaShou: Anyhow, the more you read it, the more you become a captive of it! Hum, for me, this year is coming after a bad one...
Akari: Oh!
ChibaShou: Erm, things are going horribly...
Akari: “Horribly”... *giggles* Huh? That’s awful.
ChibaShou: Kou-kun has really been exorcising all of it this whole time.
Akari: Oooh.
ChibaShou: Because he says in the PV, “Hanako, I’ll exorcise you”.
Akarin: Hehe, true.
ChibaShou: So maybe he’s exorcising my bad year too.
Akarin: Whoa!
ChibaShou: That’s what I think.
Akarin: You said something kinda smart. *laughs*
Yuu-kun: *laughs* Aaaah...
Akarin: You said something smart.
Yuu-kun: He said something good.
Akarin: *giggles*
ChibaShou: Hum, I’m the first, so I’m just contemplating. Being the first in turn and all.
Akarin: *laughs*
ChibaShou: Hum, but anyway, for real, I want a lot of people to watch it.
Akarin: Yep!
ChibaShou: And we’re very... how should I put it? We’re recording a fun series with a fun atmosphere.
Akarin: Yep, yep!
ChibaShou: That’s why I kinda guess it’ll be a fun start of 2020 for the people watching. So please do look forward to the broadcast every week together with us! We’ll be in your care.
Akarin: All right!
ChibaShou: That’s it.
Akarin: Thank you very muuuch!
[Applause]
Akarin: Okay! Anyway! Then, next is... Uchida-saaan!
Yuu-kun: Yeees! Heeere! Hellooo!
Akarin: Welcooome! Hellooo!
Yuu-kun: ‘Ello, thanks!
Everyone: *laughs*
Yuu-kun: Ever since this thing started, my “little brother” has been kinda—my “little brother” has been kinda—
Akarin: *laughs*
Chikape: You’re stammering!
Yuu-kun: *laughs*
Chikape: Sorry!
Yuu-kun: Now the older brother—the older brother is here!
Akarin: Oh! Onii-chan!
Yuu-kun: Hello. I voice Minamoto Teru. My name is Uchida Yuuma.
Chikape: Onii-chaaan!
Akarin: Counting on you.
Yuu-kun: Yeees, I’m in your care~. There’s an (illustration of the) Onii-chan right behind me too~.
Daichuu: So handsome!
Akarin: Handsome!
Yuu-kun: Of course you’d bring that up!
Everyone: *laughs*
ChibaShou: We’d already been saying it since earlier!
Yuu-kun: Of course you’d bring that up! What kind of malice is this?
Akarin: It’s because the Onii-chan is indeed handsome!
Yuu-kun: Oh, yeah, yeah. The Onii-chan is really handsome.
Akarin: That’s right!
Yuu-kun: You see, in the Minamoto family, Kou is still quite a lively kid and he’s all over the place.
Akarin: Hm-hm!
Yuu-kun: So the brother watches over him gently, kind of as if cherishing him, and by God, he’s also student council president and can manage his studies well.
Akarin: Hm! He’s brilliant.
Chikape: Wow!
Yuu-kun: What a brilliant Onii-chan he is.
Daichuu: He’s gotta be popular!
Akarin: *laughs*
Yuu-kun: “Popular”! *wheezes* My bad!
Akarin: He’s definitely popular.
Yuu-kun: *villain voice* M-My bad!
Everyone: *laughs*
Yuu-kun: My bad, Kou! *evil laughter* Well, he’s not that kind of character, though! But, that’s right, he has quite some popularity amongst all the fans, so I keep thinking that it’ll be great if I can perform Teru-kun well. The pop-like and cute worldview of the series really does unravel in the anime too, so it’d make me happy if people could look forward to it! That’s what I think.
Akarin: Hm-hm!
Yuu-kun: Yes, I hope everyone will look forward to “Jibaku Shounen Hanako-kun”~~~!
Akarin: All right~.
Yuu-kun: Thank you very much!
Akarin: Thank you very much. *claps*
ChibaShou: *Kou voice* Onii-chan just said something nice!
Akarin: “Farewell”! *laughs* Farewell. Then, next is Satou-san!
Satou: Yes!
Akarin: Come over, come over!
[General cheering]
Satou: I’m in your care~.
Akarin: Please!
Satou: Yes. Erm, I play Akane Aoi-chan. My name is Satou Minako.
Akarin: It’s a pleasure!
Satou: Pleasure is mine.
Chikape: Eeeh, she’s so cute!
Akarin: Cute! *laughs*
Satou: Eh, hum—
Everyone: *laughs*
ChibaShou: Radio! It’s your first time on the radio, right?
Satou: Yeah, it’s my first time in a radio show—
Akarin: Ah!
Chikape: Ah! Eeeh!? Waaah! Yaaay!
Akarin: Amazing!
Satou: Yes! It’s amazing. My first!
[Commontion in the background]
Akarin: That’s so rare! Having your first time on the radio with a scene like this!
Satou: Yes. I’m super nervous!
Akarin: It’s not a sight you get to see everywhere.
Satou: Yes! I’m incredibly nervous.
Akarin: Hm!
Satou: Erm, “Hanako-kun” is my first participation in an anime—
Akarin: Oh!
Yuu-kun: Eeh??
Akarin: Waah!
Satou: Yes! I didn’t know left or right at the beginning, and even now—
Daichuu: You still don’t know?
Satou: I don’t! I don’t know where right or left is!
Akarin: Right is... Right is that way~.
ChibaShou: There’s only the right side in here!
Everyone: *laughs*
Satou: I get nervous even now, but I keep challenging the recordings while being helped by these Senpais and the people behind the production every time.
Akarin: Hm-hm!
Satou: The one I play, Akane Aoi-chan is the most super popular girl in the academy.
Akarin: She’s cute!
Satou: Very. And I—
Akarin: Both so popular!
Everyone: *laughs*
Satou: There’s both a popular girl and popular guy here. And she’s quite different from me, but—
Akarin: No, no!
Satou: —I want to do my best from now on too, so that I can keep performing Ao-chan with all my might!
Akarin: All right!
Satou: I’ll be in your care.
Akarin: Counting on you!
[Applause]
Akarin: Thank you so much! Then, next is Anzai-san!
Chikape: Yes!
Akarin: Please!
Daichuu: Ah. Cute.
Chikape: I voice Nanamine Sakur—you liar!
Akarin: “Cute”! *laughs*
Chikape: You liar! That was such a monotone!
ChibaShou: Hey, beauty!
Chikape: Liar!
Ogata: There are only supernaturals in this studio!
Everyone: *laughs*
Ogata: Only “supernaturals”!
T/N: This is a pun with the similar pronounciation of the words “supernatural” (kaii) and “cute” (kawaii).
Akarin: “Supernatural”~.
Yuu-kun: They called her a “supernatural”~.
Chikape: It’s full of “supernaturals” here~. I voice Nanamine Sakura. My name is Anzai~! Yay~!
[Cheering]
Akarin: Counting on you!
Chikape: Hum, today, Mizushima-san and I were revealed as part of the cast.
Akarin: Ah! That’s right.
Daichuu: Yeah.
Yuu-kun: Hm-hm!
Chikape: Right. Well, we can’t talk much about what kind of roles they will be. *chuckles*
Akarin: Hmmm, true.
Chikape: That’s right. We’re in charge of two mysterious figures!
Akarin: Yes! *laughs*
Chikape: I want to keep this up mysteriously!
Everyone: *laughs*
Akarin: That’s just like them!
ChibaShou: Can’t tell what’s on the inside!
Chikape: But really, she’s kind of occasionally here and there all of a sudden, and it just makes you go, “Uh, could she be...?”
Akarin: That’s true.
Chikape: So I hope people will eventually become a bit interested in her.
Akarin: Hm-hm.
Chikape: The recordings are fun. *laughs*
Akarin: *laughs* Right~?
Chikape: It’s fun. We always do it like this, don’t we? *laughs*
Akarin: Right~? *laughs*
Chikape: Is it enough yet?
Everyone: *laughs*
Akarin: Nothing else to say about your enthusiasm?
Chikape: None at all, none at all!
Akarin: “None at all”?
Chikape: From now on—
ChibaShou: What kind of year do you want this year to be?
Chikape: What kind of year I want this year to be? An olympic...
Everyone: *laughs*
Chikape: An olympic year??
T/N: This has to be the most ironic thing I’ve ever translated, omg.
ChibaShou: That’s got nothing to do with the series!
Chikape: Ah, the series? For the series, let’s see...
Daichuu: May it become a series worthy of a gold medal.
Chikape: Ah, that’s right!
Akarin: Aaah!
Chikape: *claps* As expected of you~~~!
Akarin: *claps* As expected of you!
Chikape: I hope we can convey this joy right now to everybody through the anime.
Akarin: That’s right!
Chikape: We’ll be in your care. Look forward to it! Wey!
Akarin: Thank you very muuuch!
[Applause]
Akarin: Now, Mizushima-san!
Chikape: Yay, yay!
Daichuu: Yes!
Akarin: Daichuu-san, counting on you!
Daichuu: I’ll be in your care. Haah~!
Chikape: Whoo! So cool!
Everyone: Cool~~~!
ChibaShou: Coo-coo!
Daichuu: For real?
Everyone: *laughs*
Daichuu: Do you think that from the bottom of your hearts? Do you?
ChibaShou: He seems pretty happy.
Daichuu: Then I am.
Akarin: Yes.
Everyone: *laughs*
Daichuu: Okay, eeeeeh... I play Hyuuga Natsuhiko. My name is Mizushima Takahiro!
Akarin: All right, counting on you!
Daichuu: Okaaay!
ChibaShou: Yay~!
Chikape: Whee~!
Daichuu: Man, it makes your heart race, doesn’t it? That the show will soon be running.
Akarin: Hm-hm!
Daichuu: And also the fact that we’re now here—we’re now here, in a situation like this.
Akarin: “In a situation like this”?! *laughs*
Daichuu: My heart’s racing right now.
Chikape: This isn’t some matchmaking date!
Daichuu: Eh, it’s not? I think this whole thing about being interviewed by Kitou-chan...
Akarin: *laughs*
Daichuu: ...is kind of... really nice.
Akarin: Ah, really?
Daichuu: Hm.
Akarin: What are your hobbies?
Daichuu: My hobby is—
Ogata: To create an air of misunderstandings.
Everyone: *laughs*
Daichuu: My hobby is Akari Kitou, I guess.
Akarin: Uh? Your hobby is me?
Chikape: Shouya, run.
Akarin: *laughs*
Chikape: Hurry and run away~.
Daichuu: No, this is my role! My role! I’m incorporating my role!
Akarin: “Incorporating your role”?
ChibaShou: Your role is already showing!
Akarin: Ah, you’re in your role?
Daichuu: Yeah, I incorporated it a bit too hard.
Akarin: You’re in your role, huh. I see.
Satou: We’re in a recording site, after all!
Daichuu: Erm, might kinda happen when I get in front of a microphone.
Akarin: Indeed.
Ogata: *whispers* Liar!
Daichuu: It’s part of me—
Akarin: “Liar”, she says!
Satou: “Liar”!?
ChibaShou: *laughs*
Akarin: Ogata-san is calling you a liar!
Ogata: *whispers lower* Liar!
Yuu-kun: *laughs*
Daichuu: Eh, Ogata-san, what was that?
Ogata: *gets close to the mic* Liaaaaaar!
Everyone: *laughs and claps*
Daichuu: Please just re—
Akarin: Daichuu-san.
Daichuu: Please—please rest. Please go rest.
Akarin: Please let her rest. *laughs*
Daichuu: That’s right. Okay, anyway. Well, the recordings are really like this—I mean, they’re not that messy, but they’re extremely fun.
Akarin: Hm-Hm!
Daichuu: And it’s almost like it leaks from the series. So the serious part of it is hoping that people will enjoy it like this, I guess.
Akarin: Hm-hm.
Daichuu: Also... what was it again? I’m... what again?
Akarin: *giggles*
Yuu-kun: You’re what?
Daichuu: Eeeh, anywaaay...
Akarin: What is it?
Daichuu: Anyway, I’m... thinking of chopping Chiba to shreds.
Chikape: What do you mean?!
Akarin: *laughs*
Daichuu: In a cool way.
ChibaShou: I’m gonna be chopped up!
Daichuu: I’m gonna chop you up.
Akarin: *laughing* “Chop you up”...
T/N: This is a joke with Chiba Shouya’s name and the term “chop up” (“chibachiba”).
Daichuu: *laughs* Really, none of the things I’m saying have substance!
Akarin/ChibaShou: *laugh*
Daichuu: But this is how it is! This is it.
Akarin: This is it!
Daichuu: Yes!
Chikape: We won’t lose!
Daichuu: That’s right!
Akarin: That’s true, indeed.
Daichuu: Story-wise, we’re still not there, I really want people to look forward to us.
Akarin: Hm-hm.
Daichuu: That’s how I want to conclude it.
Akarin: *laughs*
Daichuu: Anyway, I’ll... I’ll be gone.
Akarin: “I’ll”... *laughs*
Daichuu: Thank you very much!
Akarin: Ah, you’re leaving?
Chikape: Please don’t create a misunderstanding.
Daichuu: Yes! Well, we’ll be in your care~~~!
Akarin: So we will!
[Applause]
Staff: Now, the last is... Kitou-san.
Akarin: Ah! Is that okay?
Staff: Yes.
Ogata: Yashiro!
Akarin: Ah!
Ogata: Go, Yashiro!
Akarin: “Yashiro”...! Can Yashiro... Can Yashiro also speak? *laughs*
Staff: Please proceed straight to the point.
Akarin: *laughs* Okay. Well, I, Kitou Akari, want to talk about my excitement—
Daichuu: Waaah. Cute.
Akarin: *laughs*
Chikape: Sooo cute.
ChibaShou: AWESOME!!
Akarin: “Awesome”?
Chikape: That sense of transparency is extremely good.
Akarin: No, no!
ChibaShou: It’s like she’s the heroine!
Yuu-kun: So cute~!
Akarin: No, hum, I am, in a sense, playing the role of the heroine, Nene-chan. *laughs*
Daichuu: Behind you! Behind you!
Akarin: Ah, Ogata-san is behind me... *laughs*
Daichuu: You just can’t relax looking at that!
Everyone: *laughs*
Akarin: Well, about the anime “Jibaku Shounen Hanako-kun”, the staff transmits even to us when we’re recording that they made it with a lot of enthusiasm, and all of us, the actors, are performing with our very souls, so I think it’ll become a truly wonderful series when it broadcasts. Thus, I would be happy if everyone could watch and stick with it until the very end! We’ll be in your care!
[Applause]
Akarin: All right! Thank you very much! So, lastly, is it okay to have Ogata-san, who voices Hanako-kun, talk about her excitement with a bit of whisper voice?
Ogata: *whispers* It’s all right.
Everyone: *chuckles*
Akarin: “All right”, you say?
Ogata: Because everyone is doing this properly.
Akarin: *giggles*
Ogata: I think it will turn out to be a series that will stick to the viewer’s backs like this.
Akarin: *laughs*
Ogata: What an unpleasant series that would be!
Akarin: *laughs harder*
Ogata: All right, that being said, please support us. That’s it.
Akarin: Okay! Thank you very much!
[Applause]
Yuu-kun: Her attitude was incredible when she sat there.
Akarin: When she sat there?
Daichuu: It was a different atmosphere.
Akarin: *laughs* Okay, anyhow. *laughs* I think Ogata-san will soon be able to carry out this show in a better condition.
Daichuu: If not, I’ll do it.
Akarin: Ah, then, do that.
Ogata: I ain’t letting you! Buzz off!
ChibaShou: That’s the only thing she’ll do whatever it takes for!
Akarin: Okay, we’ll be in everyone’s care. Now, here’s some news! Chiba-kun, please!
ChibaShou: Ah, yes! I’ll do it!
Chikape: Choppily!
ChibaShou: “Choppily”?
Akarin: Choppily! Please do it choppily!
ChibaShou: Eh, let’s see. “Jibaku Shounen Hanako-kun” has... This isn’t working. Forget the “choppy” part, seriously.
Everyone: *laughs*
ChibaShou: The comic version of “Jibaku Shounen Hanako-kun”, from volume 1 to 12, plus volume 0, the artbook and the official spin-off comic, “Houkago Shounen Hanako-kun” are all on sale.
Akarin: Hm-hm!
ChibaShou: Eh, it turned into a end-of-year sale. Everyone, did you buy them? I did. Eh, please try reading them during New Years break!
Akarin: Please!
ChibaShou: Now, information about the TV anime. It starts airing on TBS, a Thursday, at 25:58 on January 9! And other than TBS, it airs on Friday, January 10, at 24:03 on Sun TV. On January 11, Saturday, at 26:03 on BS-TBS. On January 15, Wednesday, at 26:03 on CBC. It’ll be aired in sequence. Please look forward to it and wait for the broadcast!
Akarin: All right!
ChibaShou: Gonna be aired in lots of places, huh?
Akarin: Hm-hm!
ChibaShou: Also, “Hanako-kun” can be watched in the streaming sites of each. For the people who can’t watch it in real time, please check the official home page!
Akarin: Okay! Moreover, we—
ChibaShou: *sighs* I ended up talking seriously like normal.
Akarin: *laughs*
Daichuu: What the—Why are you saying that now?
Satou: He’s regretting it.
Akarin: He regretted it! He regretted it. Also, we have happy news from this After-School Radio too!
Chikape: What is it?
Akarin: From the next episode onward, guess what!
Chikape: “Guess what” what?
Akarin: We’ll stream it live~~~!
Chikape: Eeeeeh??
Daichuu: What the...!
[Applause]
Akarin: Amazing!
ChibaShou: Awesome!!
Akarin: Live!
ChibaShou: Live streaming!
Akarin: My, my!
Daichuu: We’ll be on live.
Akarin: So, the scheduled date for the next streaming is January 17, Friday!
Daichuu: That’s when it’ll stream?
Akarin: It’s the day just after the second episode.
Chikape: Oh! Amazing.
Akarin: People will get to hear everyone’s voices live, immediately after the anime’s broadcast!
Chikape: Amazing!
ChibaShou: Amazing!
[Applause]
Akarin: Whee, hooray!
Chikape: Amazing, amazing!
Daichuu: That’s so awesome...
Akarin: Yes! The details of the streaming will be publishd in the anime’s official Twitter, so please look forward and wait for the news flash!
[Background music starts playing]
Akarin: We’ve promoted the “Hanako-kun” anime right before the broadcast here in the radio! Everyone, let’s enjoy both the radio and the anime together!
Everyone: *laughs*
Ogata: Whether or not we managed to promote “Hanako-kun” will depend on each of the fans when it airs.
Akarin: *laughs*
Ogata: Soon enough, I want to be delivering more of our excitement to everyone live.
Akarin: Hm!
Ogata: Look forward to it~!
Akarin: Look forward to it!
Ogata: These have been Hanako-kun and everyone that will make an appearance in “Hanako-kun”~!
Akarin: *giggles* Bye-bye~!
Everyone: Bye-bye!
Chikape: Look forward to it!
Akarin: Look forward to it!
ChibaShou: Look forward to it. We’ll be in your care.
