Yes-Fly List

There are some seiyuu that I like. How and why I like a particular voice talent can vary a lot between any given two person. Some of them I like because of the characters they voice. Some because of the performances they put on in the shows or games they are in. I like some because of their TV/radio/Niconama/stage personality. I like some for their solo music artist careers. Some I like for their singing. I like some for their style/looks/presence. I like some for their background or personal story. Some of them are just really funny. Among other things. It really vary a lot, and it should not be a surprise that there are a plurality of reasons why I like the ones I most favor.

Some people make elaborate rankings, or lists, or whatever, to track who they like. It’s a basic nerd/otaku tendency, I suppose. I do too, usually in the form of guest request lists for conventions in NA. But that list also takes into account my estimation of the maturity of the seiyuu in their career (will they be able to open up to a crowd overseas), their affiliations (are they easy guests), and how they would handle a bunch of young Americans at an anime con (eg., what would they do when “Nico Nico Knee” comes up in a panel, etc). I’ve been meaning to write up some kind of mega-list at some point, for that purpose. The rationale behind it would be to make it easier for con organizers to know which seiyuu are good picks and worth going after. It would add considerations based on affiliated agency, the type of work they’re known for, among other things.

But, that’s work. Work I don’t quite have the time for. But maybe we can crowd-source it in the near future.

Next best list, I guess, is a list of seiyuu that I’d fly to see domestically. The reason is basically, I have some skin in this game–it’s not just lip service. Where your treasure is, your heart is also, I suppose? But it’s a lot more nuanced than that too. For example, some seiyuu I might not estimate much in my affections, but I would try to fly and see just as a matter of repping them, because they might not be all that popular with an oversea crowd. Sometimes a certain person’s coming to a country by itself is worth the trip. With sufficient amount of care, fans and nerds can build enough context, and meaning, of everything their cherished idols do.

By domestically in the last paragraph, I count Hawaii and Alaska in these I suppose. So, thus the list below. This is entirely a different list than just seiyuu I like, but I guess I do like all these to a degree? “Degree” enough to list? And in no particular order:

  • IDOLM@STER 765Pro AllStars+ – For franchise reasons. They can come in single or duos or whatever… (13)
    • Hirata Hiromi, Nakamura Eriko, Wakabayashi Hiromi, Nigo Mayako, Kugimiya Rie, Asakura Azumi, Numakura Manami, Imai Asami, and Takahashi Chiaki are probably more of a draw for me than Hara Yumi, Shimoda Asami and Hasegawa Akiko, since I got to see them at cons already. Still would seriously think about flying to see Asapon, even if it’s for the 4th time…
    • Yeah, I will try to see Takita Juri too, but she’s not likely to be an oversea con guest.
  • Hase Yurina or whatever name she goes by these days… naturally for reasons above.
  • Kuwashima Houko – One of my earliest Yes-Fly list items.
  • Kana Asumi – Late 00’s brightest in my opinion…
  • Hanazawa Kana – Still really cool for a con, especially now. Especially since I’ve yet to really see her anywhere.
  • Mizuki Nana – Just for the spectacle. How many people have her on their Yes-Fly list? Can’t just be me right? To me going to see Nana at a con is more for that fact, rather than going to see Nana, since her dome lives are not that hard to get into.
  • Mitsuishi Kotono – Not sure if she’s on my list anymore but why not. These Showa idol types are great to see in person and I would try to go see her again if I could.
  • Tamura Yukari – Oh man. But not really high on my list and other than nostalgia boosting her…
  • IDOLM@STER MILLION STARS – After missing Miina last year I’m definitely kind of hurting. So especially now with ML3rd under the belt I feel this is where I’m most vulnerable. (37)
    • Top tier: Pyon, Koro, Mochi, 10ch, Nansu, Aimin, Stef, Ueshama, Popotan, Yunkon, Miina, Suwa, Mikku, Maple, SEED, Suzie, Rieshon, Ibuibu, Kotorin, Keiko, Chouchou, Ashu, Bei, Machico, Rally, Aberika, and Rikanee
    • Almost top tier: Yuucha, Zekki, Yukke, Yuiton, Pirami, Kakku, Denchan, Chakichan, Hamasaki Nana, and Atsuhime
    • This is terrible in that I’d fly for all of them, the difference is how easy I can talk myself out of it.
  • Taketatsu Ayana – I like her, I don’t even know why. Definitely someone I want to see in person at least once (more).
  • Sphere – Especially Ayahi and Aki, but probably also Tomatsu and maybe even Minako?
  • Ohashi Ayaka – Why not, Red Leader of HoriPro.
  • M.A.O – Kaomoji jai nai yeah. All-around talent.
  • Cinderella Girls – These I like mainly because of their IM@S work, so rather not clutter the list…
    • Riccasama, Iida Yuko, Waki Azumi, Aoki Ruriko, Matsuzaki Rei, Yamamoto Nozomi, Igarashi Hiromi, Fukuhara Ayaka
  • Yoshimura Haruka – She’s kind of mysterious so I want to get a better look.
  • Ousaki Chiyo – Been rooting for her in a long while now, such adorable personality.
  • Uesaka Sumire – She’s kind of OP, so it’s worth visiting an event with her in it, especially in the States where fashion is a big deal.
  • Tsuda Minami – Slowly becoming my YRYR oshi.
  • Kurosawa Tomoyo – Kinda sad of not seeing her last year…regret?
  • Wake Up, Girls! – Insta-fly in this case actually, but I may be hard-pressed if it wasn’t the full team…or at least if no Myu.
  • Kayano Ai – Another long-time favorite I guess.
  • Sakura Taisen – At one point in my life it would be pretty close to Hanagumi, Pari-gumi and NY-gumi. But now it will take some careful consideration. I think Yokoyama Chisa might still be on the list just as the poster-girl for the franchise, but my connection to the lot of them has more to do with how much time has changed my mind and eroded my feelings for the characters. To keep it short, let’s just say 5-6.

PS. BONUS ROUND

  • Saki Fujita – Because I need to complete my Manabi Straight collection? And she’s great too.
  • Certain seiyuu at certain cons. North American cons are cool for various reasons, and these kind of events are found nowhere else. But even so not all cons are equal. For example Chihara Minori at NYAF was one thing, but she would be a draw for me at a different con if there was less competition and more access.
  • The people at Animazement. I would fly to see them if not for the conflict of various IM@S guests at Anime North. Or the fact that it’s in driving distance/and I can carpool, so flying is often not necessary…

 


15 Responses to “Yes-Fly List”

  • Chad

    So you DO you like Ayahi? I would think with how hard you are on her, that you wouldn’t like her at all.

  • Chad

    How is that fair though? You don’t give the other Sphere girls a hard time.

  • Chad

    I’m sorry to keep asking, but how is it fair that you give Ayahi a hard time but the other Sphere girls you let slide.

    • omo

      Hmm, assuming if I wanted to give even treatment to the Sphere girls (and I don’t–why would anyone do that?), here’s how I feel about my biases.
      1. Aki has a hard enough time already
      2. Tomato is what it is, there’s nothing to ‘adjust’
      3. I give Minako a harder time than Ayahi, believe me
      4. I’m not that hard on Ayahi, but there’s a perceived adjustment that I feel I should make to keep things even.

  • Chad

    “Tomato”? Don’t you mean Tomatsu?

    And I’m REALLY sorry that I keep asking. It’s just I REALLY REALLY like Ayahi. More than the other Sphere girls. And it pains me to see that she’s the least popular.

    • omo

      I don’t think she’s the least popular, or by any signficant margin anyway. If that helps you feel better to believe that then go for it

  • Chad

    But I bet none of the girls are as popular as Aki, right?

    • omo

      It used to be the case but nowadays it’s more even among sphere fans. If you talk to normal otaku though Aki has more recognition just because she’s persistently in a lot of anime and has a distinct voice. Plus the K-ON factor.

  • Chad

    So by order of popularity nowadays, how would you rank the girls?

    • omo

      I think among Sphere and seiyuu otaku it’ll be Haruka first, Aki and Ayahi second, and Minako a close fourth. Things have evened out a lot, especially now that Minako has given a lot more opportunity to showcase her talents than just a few years ago.

      But among general anime fans the ranks will change again.

  • Chad

    What about Ayahi? How have things worked out for her?

    • omo

      I think she’s doing OK. A lot of seiyuu struggle after 5-6 years from debut due to the way the industry works and how pay scales change for them, but so far Ayahi still has some big roles and known as a draw for good singing. It’ll be interesting to see how the Music Ray’n first generation turn out in the long run as they face more competition from newer seiyuu.

  • Chad

    I’m glad that people are finally starting to pay attention to Ayahi now.

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