Surprising winners, and a couple of changes to embrace inclusion and better celebrate voice acting mark the 17th edition of the Seiyuu Awards.
The Seiyuu Awards are here with a new batch of winners!
If you’re not familiar with the Seiyuu Awards, they recognize the achievements of voice actors within the Japanese seiyuu industry.
Fans were only able to vote to determine who is the MVS or Most Valuable Seiyu.
The voting was open from September 1st to October 31st, on Seiyuu Awards’ official website and Kadokawa’s official website. Fans could also vote through Twitter by using the relevant hashtags, doing so once a day.
A special committee decided the winners for all other categories in this year’s edition.
This year, in order to respect diversity and gender neutrality, the committee has decided to integrate the separate categories for lead actor, supporting actor, and newcomer, which were previously divided by gender.
They explained that this change will allow the focus to be on the voice actors themselves and their accomplishments, rather than on gender. The committee hopes that this change will contribute to the recognition and elevation of voice actors as a profession.
The awards ceremony took place on 11/03/2023 both on location as well as a broadcast on A&G+’s radio show.
Without further ado, the winners of the 17th Seiyuu Awards are the following:
Best Voice Actor Award
Takuya Eguchi (81 Produce)
Chika Anzai (Avex Pictures)
Atsumi Tanezaki (Haikyo)
Best Supporting Actor Award
Shuichi Ikeda (Haikyo)
Ryotaro Okiayu (Aoni Production)
Atsumi Tanezaki (Haikyo)
Best New Actor Award
Shuichiro Umeda (Ken Production)
Hina Suguta (Animo Produce)
Anna Nagase (81 Produce)
Minami Hinata (Axl One)
Shion Wakayama (Himawari Gekidan)
Most Valuable Seiyuu Award (MVS – fan-voted)
Takuya Eguchi (81 Produce)
The Most Valuable Seiyuu Award (MVS) is the only fan-voted category. Although focused on awarding the seiyuu that was the most active in the previous here, it has ended up being a popularity award.
Singing Award
Nijigasaki High School Idol Club
Best Personality Award
No winners
Kei Tomiyama Award
Junichi Suwabe (Haikyo)
The Kei Tomiyama award is awarded to seiyuu who are actively promoting the seiyuu profession in the media.
Kazue Takahashi Award
Maria Kawamura (freelance)
The Kazue Takahashi award is awarded to seiyuu who are actively promoting the seiyuu profession in the media.
Synergy Award
Jujutsu Kaisen
The Synergy Award is awarded to a work that showcases the appeal of the seiyuu profession.
Influencer Award
Natsuki Hanae (Across Entertainment)
The influencer award is awarded to the most influential seiyuu across various social media platforms.
Game Award
No winners
Foreign Film/Drama Award
Shihori Kanjiya (ABP inc.)
Toshiyuki Morikawa (Axl One)
The Foreign Film/Drama Award is awarded to seiyuu for excellence in dubbing foreign movies and drama CDs.
Kids/Family Award
Ikue Otani (Mausu Promotion)
Rica Matsumoto (Matsurica)
The Kids/Family award is voted by children from surveys submitted by elementary schools in Japan.
Merit Award
Chikako Akimoto (Ritrovo)
Yusaku Yara (Aoni Production)
Special Honor Award
[TO BE UPDATED]
Congratulations are in order to all winners!
Source: Seiyuu Awards official website / Seiyuu Awards official Twitter account
