Unfortunately,
the darker side of the internet is once again claiming a victim within the
Japanese industry. The Voice Kit agency confirmed that it has filed a formal
complaint with the police authorities after receiving a series of malicious
emails with chilling threats directed at the renowned voice actress Sumire
Uesaka.
The alarm
went off in mid-September, when the artist's representation revealed for the
first time that they were receiving hostile messages. The seriousness of the
matter escalated immediately when it was confirmed that the emails were not
only insults in the air, but explicit warnings of kidnapping and death setting
September 27 as the deadline. The aggressors claimed to know the exact location
of the seiyuu's home, threatening to kidnap her in the vicinity of her own
home.
Faced with
the danger of intimidation, the agency went without hesitation to the
corresponding police station to launch an official investigation. On September
24, Voice Kit issued an update confirming the delivery of the formal victim
report. In order not to hinder the work of the investigators or compromise the
digital evidence, the company asked followers to refrain from speculating on
networks or trying to track the accounts involved on their own.
As a
preventive measure to guarantee the physical and mental safety of the talented
performer, the decision was made to pause her personal activities on social
networks indefinitely. In addition, the artist had to cancel her scheduled
performances at the Kyoto International Manga Anime Fair 2026 event, where she
was listed as one of the main ambassadors of the festival.
Sumire
Uesaka is one of
the most beloved and prominent voice actresses and singers within the
entertainment industry in Japan. Throughout her brilliant career, the seiyuu
has lent her voice to hugely popular characters, most notably her starring role
as Hayase Nagatoro in the romantic comedy Don't Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro
(Ijiranaide, Nagatoro-san), as well as bringing to life characters in
major animation and video game franchises.
