Why Are Japanese Voice Actresses Taking Off Their Clothes?

Japanese voice actresses have recently been making a move that’s sparking heated discussions among anime fans in Japan. And the question people are asking is: “Why are voice actresses taking off their clothes?” And I mean that in almost the literal sense.

Why Are Japanese Voice Actresses Taking Off Their Clothes? Oversaturated Industry? AI Threat?

A growing number of Japanese voice actresses have been appearing in provocative photoshoots and releasing photobooks featuring bikini shots or suggestive poses. Many fans are shocked to see familiar voice actresses—ones they never imagined in that kind of content—putting out sexy photobooks.

Here are a few recent examples:

Nakashima Yuki, the voice of Ayase Saki from Gimai Seikatsu

Natsuyoshi Yuuko, who voices Sasha from Maou Gakuin

Isobe Karin, who played Kyan Hitamu in Futoku no Guild

And Emori Aya, the voice of Onitsuka Natsumi from Love Live Superstar

These photobooks often feature the voice actresses in swimsuits and seductive poses. While they’re not R18, some fans feel uncomfortable with the direction the industry is heading. Others, however, support them and eagerly buy their favorite seiyuu’s photobooks.

Let’s take a look at some of the online reactions:

• “Everyone’s taking their clothes off. Is this the end of real content?”

• “Why do voice actresses have to do this kind of thing?”

• “I don’t even watch anime anymore, so I don’t know these new seiyuu.”

• “Erotic content has become so saturated that this isn’t even shocking anymore.”

• “Actresses, talents, idols, voice actresses, streamers, normal people… there seems to be some kind of class system here.”

• “More and more seiyuu are showing up in magazines like Playboy.”

• “Has this even helped them gain more fans?”

• “Gravure idols are basically extinct. That role has been absorbed by idols and voice actresses now.”

• “So some creepy old guy probably said, ‘Wanna release a photobook?’ and convinced them.”

• “At this point, they’re just gravure idols who happen to voice anime.”

• “No point doing a sexy photobook unless you can outsell Iguchi (voice of Crusch in Re:Zero, who’s known for her provocative photos).”

• “Voice actresses lost ground to VTubers, so now they have to take off their clothes—they can’t earn a living with just their voices anymore.”

• “Why do voice actresses start stripping when they hit 30?”

• “Now they have to sing, dance, and get naked—or they won’t make it.”

• “It feels like their golden age—invading the territory of idols and TV personalities.”

• “If you don’t have talent, your only weapon is your body…”

• “People who criticize sexy seiyuu but constantly share their pictures are the height of hypocrisy.”

• “Let’s be real: voice acting alone doesn’t pay the bills. Photobooks are a guaranteed way to make money from fans.”

• “The guys who complain about this stuff are usually the ones secretly enjoying it.”

In the end, we know the voice acting industry in Japan is overcrowded. There simply aren’t enough roles for the number of aspiring seiyuu. I remember reading an article that said hundreds of new voice actresses debut every year, but there just isn’t work for all of them.

via Você Sabia Anime