The iconic
anime Sazae-san, known for being the longest-running anime on Japanese
television, announced a change of voices for three supporting characters in the
episode broadcast on Sunday, May 26. According to the series' official blog,
Ikura, Kaori, and Rika will now be voiced by new actresses.
New Voices
Joining the Cast
As of the
most recent episode, the following actors are replacing Reiko Katsura, who
voiced all three characters until now:
Sachie
Hirai as Ikura, the son of Sazae's cousin Norisuke.
Mana
Koshirakawa as Kaori, the classmate of Sazae's brother Katsuo.
Sayaka
Kitahara as Rika, the "girlfriend" of Sazae's son Tarao.
A legacy
that continues to be written
Sazae-san
is an adaptation of the family life manga created by Machiko Hasegawa and began
airing in October 1969. Since then, it has become a cultural phenomenon in
Japan, routinely being the most-watched animated program each week.
In 2013,
the anime was awarded the Guinness World Record for being the world's
longest-running animated series, a recognition that was updated again in 2019.
A
transition that respects tradition
Although
the changes in the voice cast may generate nostalgia among viewers, the team
behind Sazae-san remains committed to maintaining the show's essence. The
addition of new voices seeks to renew the series' dynamism without losing the
emotional connection the characters have built over more than half a century.
