Trick or Treat? (Part 7) A Fund Manager Studied Voice Actress
Tokyo Stock Exchange (Second Section) is boomed on Kadokawa Shoten's stocks during February 1999. The price was 10,990 yen on 02/09/99. On 11/28/98, the first price was 4,060 yen. As I formerly wrote, Kadokawa has copyright on a lot of anime titles in Japan. Especially several CLAMP works are published by the publisher. Kadokawa's comic magazine "Monthly Shounen Ace" has CLAMP's latest work "Angelic Layer." (CLAMP released only two stories of the title. Therefore I could not describe the story yet.) On 02/10/99, Kadokawa started a new comic magazine "Monthly Ace Next."
By the way, a fund manager who is interested in Kadokawa wrote to me. He read an article of Nikkei Newspaper (written in Japanese.) I also obtained the article...
An evening paper of Nikkei on 02/01/99 dealt with a voice actress, Motoko Kumai. I do not know her age. (She graduated from a university.)
She works for a production "81 Produce."
She has played the role of varius characters in a lot of anime titles in Japan. Especially her high rating character was Yamazaki from "Gakkyu-O Yamazaki" (TV-Tokyo). In the title she played the role of the hero. However the anime is made for little children. So-called anime fans hardly watch the title. Her another high rating character was Gorou from "Yat Anshin! Uchu Ryokou" (NHK). The program is also a title for little children. So-called anime fans hardly watch the title.
In the Nikkei article, the two characters were dealt with. She is at present famous for playing the role of hot-blooded boys.
It is said she gets popular day by day. However we can hardly hear her voice in anime titles.
As you know, most of comic magazines in Japan hold competitions and contests of cartoons. Such events usually find newcomer cartoonists. "Koro-Koro Comic" (Shogakukan) and "Monthly Shounen Gangan" (Enix) also look for newcomer cartoonists. Those are for little children. But their newcomers are 16-20 years old. Therefore 16-20 -year-old amateur cartoonists who want to draw on such magazines may watch programs for little children.
(I watch a lot of anime titles. But I do not want to see such titles. In fact I cannot understand such stories.)
So-called anime fans in Japan watched several titles which Motoko played at.
- Cyber Team in Akihabara (TBS)
- Stella-Buster Mito's Great Adventure (TV-Tokyo)
- Card Captor Sakura (NHK)
Especially "Cyber Team in Akihabara" and "Card Captor Sakura" have a lot of enthusiastic fans in Japan. They looks mad. They always make strange pages, strange Doujin-shi cartoon books and strange figure dolls. I cannot understand their messages. (Of course, few understand my messages.
;ToT;)
In Cyber Team in Akihabara, a junior high school student Tsugumi Higashijujou tuned a small electric robot Pata-Pi named "Tetsurou." Ms Yu Asakawa played the role of Tsugumi and Ms Motoko Kumai played the role of Tetsurou.
In Card Captor Sakura, a boy came from Hong Kong to catch Clow cards appeared. His name was Mr. Xiao-Lang Li. CLAMP's original cartoon did not make his partner. Nanase Oukawa's scenario made his partner Ms Mei-Ling Li. Ms Yukana Nogami played the role of Mei-Ling and Ms Motoko Kumai palyed the role of Xiao-Lang.
In Stella-Buster Mito's Great Adventure, Shin is a multiform and plastic female life. Sabu is a large female android. Both Shin and Sabu protect their master Stella-Buster Mito. Their names came from "Mito Koumon (Former Deputy Tokugawa-Shogun Mitsukuni Mito, a Panasonic real performance costume play)." The latest series are Part 26. The show is broadcast by TBS and sponsored by Panasonic. Usually Mitsukuni Mito have two followers "SukeSABUrou Sasaki" and "KakunoSHIN Atsumi." Mito's son was "Aoi Mitsukuni." Tokugawa Shogunate used "Aoi (geranium)" Mark.
The anime started from January 1999. TV-Tokyo broadcasts the title from 1:15 am. to 1:45 am. of every Tuesday. (not 1:15 pm.)
Such anime is called "Midnight Anime."
But the pictures of the title are simple, colorful and friendly. Sabu is a large aunt. She is very kind and good at cooking. Moreover she is very strong and protect Mito and her son Aoi.
Mr. Souichirou Hoshi plays the role of Aoi. Ms Tomoko Kawakami (As you know, she played the role of Utena Tenjou from "UTENA." The "Mito" also showed her third type voice.) plays the role of Mito. Ms Yu Asakawa played the role of Shin. And Ms Motoko Kumai played the role of Sabu.
By the way, the corner introduces voice actresses who speak Osaka-dialect.
Ms Motoko Kumai was born in Tokyo. She does not speak Osaka-dialect.
On 12/08/98, the 32nd story of Card Captor Sakura was broadcast. The title was "Sakura To Kero To Shaorin To. (Sakura and Cerberus and Xiao-Lang and ...)"
In the story, a Clow card "Change" appeared. Sakura caught the card skillfully. But just before she caught the card, Xiao-Lang and Cerberus touched the card at the same time.
What? Their bodies and souls are exchanged each other.
As you know, Ms Aya Hisakawa plays the role of Cerberus. Cerberus usually speaks Osaka-dialect. Therefore under "the Change" Cerberus had the body of Xiao-Lang. Then Ms Motoko Kumai had to speak Osaka-dialect as Cerberus.
Motoko Kumai spoke Osaka-dialect skillfully. It was a good job.
She has rather many fans in Japan. Moreover her enthusiastic fan makes her official fan page "GOING-KUMAI-WAY." She often writes in its BBS.
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Keywords:
Angelic Layer
Card Captor Sakura|Previous Column|Next Column
Cyber Team in Akihabara|Previous Column
Gakkyu-O Yamazaki
Stella-Buster Mito's Great Adventure|Next Column
UTENA|Previous Column
Yat Anshin! Uchu Ryokou
