Seiyuus in Japan report a large decrease in their income

The Union of Actors of Japan reported last Wednesday that, based on the responses of 293 voice actors in an applied questionnaire, more than 60% of the actors and seiyuus autonomous (freelance), expect to see their regular earnings reduced by more than half from May.

Among those surveyed, 43.3% of seiyuus anticipate receiving more than half of their regular income, and another 22.9% anticipated that they will have no income.

More than 90% of respondents reported having received fewer job offers. 34.8% reported a reduction in job offers even for future projects, while 57.3% reported not having received any offers at all. The questionnaire was opened to the public on May 12.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe officially confirmed the withdrawal of the state of emergency in 39 Japanese prefectures on May 13. Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, Saitama and Hokkaido still remain in a state of emergency, although the Japanese government has already declared plans to withdraw it in Tokyo next week.

© あさのますみ・畑健二郎／イヤホンズ応援団