Fairy Tail Voice Actor Aya Hirano Discusses Death Threats

Recently, anime has continued to grow in popularity the world over, with series and movies becoming just as big in the West as they are in Japan and in other countries. Anime itself wouldn’t be what it is if not for the hard work that voice actors have placed in the medium however and the cast responsible for Fairy Tail is no exception. Unfortunately, the actor Aya Hirano has shared that she has received death threats for the work she’s put in the series.

The update comes from Aya Hirano, one of the industry’s best talents. The actress took to Twitter to share her frustration over a recent slew of death threats, and sadly, her experience is far from singular in the industry.

“It’s been a while since I shifted my focus to the world of theater, but when I do work in anime, I still get death threats and other things that I should not. Recently, there were several incidents of this, and the police acted without incident. I just want to set a good example for future generations and help spread it overseas [despite] these radical fans,” she writes.

“I don’t think it’s very healthy to work while you feel your life is in danger. The feelings of being scared and not wanting to get involved in the world of anime crush my desire to put on a good performance for fans.”

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For those who don’t know Hirano by name, you will most definitely know her voice. The actress has been working since 1998, and she got her big break by voicing Haruhi Suzumiya. She has gone on to voice characters like Misa in Death Note as well as Lucy in Fairy Tail. But after 2010, the star shifted gears to live-action roles on TV and the stage. Still, Hirano does work in anime with her most recent work being Akiba Maid War.

The harassment Hirano faces is certainly hard to understand, but she is not alone in her suffering. Other VAs like Ishikawa Yui and Ito Ayumi have been sent death threats for their work. In the wake of a fan’s deadly attack on Kyoto Animation, these threats are taken more seriously than ever, so police were quick to respond to Hirano’s call. And in an ideal world, no other VA should have to deal with an attack like this. 

HT – Unseen Japan