Diary of A Voiceover Intern:
An Interview with Yukiko Fujimura
By Kayla Bowles, July 2, 2023
Hello everyone, and thank you for taking the time to check out my new column, Diary of A Voiceover Intern. Voice acting is a deep passion of my mine, and I can’t imagine a better place to intern than the Society of Voice Arts and Sciences (SOVAS) where everything related to voiceover passes through these hallowed halls and is often originated within them. With this new column, I intend to delve into the core basics of building and sustaining a thriving voiceover career that you love. I’ll do this through a series of interviews with voiceover professionals. I will engage SOVAS Ambassadors, previous winners of the Voice Arts® Awards, casting directors, talent agents, and others who are steeped in the culture of voice acting. Maybe I’ll even deliver a few scoops along the way.
So please welcome my very first guest, an award-winning voice actor, Voice Arts Award nominee, an extraordinary talent, and an international SOVAS Ambassador, all the way from Tokyo Japan, Yukiko Fujimura.
Kayla: Hi Yukiko. Thank you for being here.
Yukiko: Thank you for having me. It’s great to be here for the launch of your column. So, congratulations to you!
Kayla: Thank you so much. I’m very excited. My first question for you is: When and how were you introduced to voiceover?
Yukiko: I first ventured into voiceover about 25 years ago when I was working as a broadcaster at a TV station. As a broadcaster, I handled numerous voiceovers for news programs, entertainment shows, commercials, Voice of God, and more. After leaving the TV station, I focused on studio-based VO work. Then, around 15 years ago, when my daughter was born, I transitioned to working primarily from home. It was around this same time that I began venturing into the international VO market.
Kayla: When you were first starting out, who was your biggest voiceover inspirations? Do you have any now?
Yukiko: It’s impossible for me to narrow it down to just one. Whenever I hear a fantastic voiceover on TV or online, I repeatedly listen to it, practicing until I can replicate everything—the rhythm, pitch, speed, and even the breathing—exactly. Therefore, I can’t say that any one person influenced me, but rather, I’ve drawn influence from many wonderful voice talents I’ve encountered over the years.
Kayla: What steps did you take in order to pursue voiceover as a career?
Yukiko: In terms of breaking into the international market, I started with market research. I needed to understand where the opportunities for Japanese voice talents were and how I could secure these jobs. I first started with Freelancer.com, followed by auditioning on P2P sites. I connected with many people in the voiceover industry via LinkedIn, got invitations from agents to join them, and even received job referrals from fellow voiceover talents. I also actively attended voiceover conferences (despite the late hours due to the time difference) and built a network within the industry.
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Kayla: It’s so important to have a support system in this industry, whether that’s a coach, a mentor, or anyone who can help you develop your craft and seek out new opportunities. Did you have any mentors that helped or currently help you navigate the industry?
Yukiko: Yes, I was fortunate to have many wonderful voiceover talents and marketers from the US and the UK teach me about the industry. When I entered the international market, I knew very little. I owe much gratitude to the voiceover talents I met at voiceover conferences, and the superb lessons, webinars, workshops, and books provided by Jay Roberts, Marc Scott, Earl Hall, Tracy Lindley, and Celia Siegel. Thanks to an amazing and supportive VO community, I’ve been able to work joyfully in this industry.
Kayla: One of my biggest voiceover goals is to work in animation, particularly in anime dubbing. I know that anime voiceover is very popular but oftentimes difficult to break into. Do you have any tips or advice on how to get involved?
Yukiko: Actually, I don’t work much with anime. I mostly work on commercials, corporate videos, and E-learning. The field of anime voice work is very popular. If you’re interested in it, I would recommend watching the work of successful anime voice actors and attending their workshops. Learn not only their skills but also their thoughts, mind, and behaviors. Starting by following the methods of those who are already successful tends to yield faster results. Keep in mind that there’s much to do, from practicing voice acting to marketing. My advice would be to consistently do what needs to be done, when it needs to be done, regardless of your mood. I hope you can achieve your goal of working in anime.
Kayla: Thank you, that advice is tremendously helpful. I have attended several seminars and panels that discussed the skills needed for anime voice acting but never thought to actually study how to really think like a voice actor in that very specific area of the industry. Thank you again, Yukiko, for being here and talking with me. Do you have any final thoughts you’d like to share?
Yukiko: The world of voiceover is diverse and full of fascinating work. Not only in the domestic market, but the overseas market is also overflowing with opportunities. Since founding Voiceover Japan—an online training course for Japanese voice talents—I’ve seen many Japanese voice talents make their overseas debut. I often receive words of gratitude from them, saying their lives have changed and they’ve found a brighter path. If you’re an English-speaking voice actor, I recommend you to approach countries outside the English-speaking world. Many people in Japan consider English to be cool, and there is an incredibly high number of people studying the language. Bookstores are filled with English learning materials. Also, many companies wish to reach out to the world in English. Though I’m a Japanese voice talent, I even work in English. This is because production staff who cannot speak English prefer working with someone who understands Japanese. So, I hope to build bridges that enable foreign voice talents and Japanese production companies to work comfortably together. If I can repay the kindness of the wonderful voice actors who warmly welcomed me into this industry, I’d be truly fulfilled.
Kayla: Incredible. Thank you so much!
Check out Yukiko’s web site here!
Kayla Bowles is assistant to Rudy Gaskins and Joan Baker, founders of the Society of Voice Arts and Sciences (SOVAS), creators of That’s Voiceover! Career Expo, and the Voice Arts Awards. She currently studies the art of voice acting with Joan Baker, and has studied with Real Voice L.A., The Acting Studio, and Broadway Evolved. Though new to the voiceover business, Kayla has already booked a local TV commercial, a role in an indie animated series (in development), and lent her voice to various passion projects. She is currently an undergrad at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY.
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