We all know Japanese voice actors (seiyuu) dedicate themselves fully to their craft, but sometimes that passion crosses into the realm of the bizarre.
On the recent variety show Shukan Sanma to Matsuko, legendary seiyuu Kana Hanazawa left the audience speechless by revealing a shocking secret from her youth. Preparing for an audition over 15 years ago, she used an extreme and strange method that no one on set could believe.
An audition with a “printed ink” flavor
Back in 2010, Kana Hanazawa was auditioning for the lead role in the acclaimed anime film Bungaku Shoujo (Literature Girl). The main character, Amano Toko, is a high school girl with a very unusual habit: she doesn’t eat normal food but “devours” pages of novels to survive.
Eager to win this demanding role and deeply understand the character’s strange inner world, Hanazawa made a bold decision. While rehearsing backstage, she tore a piece from her audition script and stuffed it into her mouth, chewing it voraciously.
When immersive acting reaches its limits
Although this impromptu “meal” was a total failure, she had to spit it out immediately due to the salty and unpleasant taste of the paper, Hanazawa proudly shared that the brief moment helped her connect with the character’s feelings more authentically than anything else.
Veteran host Akashiya Sanma didn’t hesitate to call it the peak of “immersive acting” and praised her dedication warmly. Meanwhile, co-host Matsuko Deluxe was visibly shocked and jokingly asked if she was auditioning for a… goat.
In the end, this strange sacrifice paid off. Kana Hanazawa fully convinced the judges, winning the role of Amano Toko and marking a shining milestone early in her career.
This hilarious behind-the-scenes story not only brought laughter but also gave fans a fresh perspective on the fierce, crazy, and extraordinary effort behind the anime voices we love every day.