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It seems appropriate to me that I should write on my favourite branch of the anime world, seiyuus, and what better way to start with my favourite seiyuu of all time, Yui-sama? ^^

Yui Horie, or “Hocchan” to some of her fans, is one of the most successful seiyuus (voice over artist) in the past few years. Yui-sama made her start in the lesser-known Kurogane Communication as the lead Haruka, but as the anime was not widely-popular, she didn’t gain much fame at the time. In 1999, To Heart was released and her character, Multi, received a cult-like following and she was subsequently selected as the lead for Love Hina as Naru, which catapulted her into seiyuu stardom. She released her first personal album, “Mizutamari utsuru ni sekai” in the same year (I have the original CD and the first-press poster that came with it ^^).

In the following year in 2001, she became the voice of the immortal Tooru Honda in Fruits Basket (quite possibly the best 26-eps. anime series of all time, IMO), and the next year as Ayu in Kanon (ver.2002 and also in the 2006 remake, of course). Some of her many other notable roles include:

Mayura Daidoji in Matantei Loki Ragnarok (2003)
Ayu Tateishi in Ultra Maniac! (2003)
Tamami Chanohata in Mahoraba ~Heartful Days~ (2005)
Miyako Uehara in Paniponi Dash! (2005)
Yasuna Kamiizumi in Kashimashi: Girl meets Girl (2006)
Eri Sawachika in School Rumble 1/2 (2004-6)

and many others… these are the ones that she was in that I have actually watched that she played a major role in. She has also been active lately, being cast as the lead/major concurrently in 3 series (Shining Tears, Airantou, Xenoglossia) and having just led Manabi Straight! and Otome wa boku ni koi shiteru.

She has since released 5 more personal albums and 2 DVDs, of which I all own personally in first-press edition (except one of the DVD, I will have to complete my collection when I go to Japan this summer ^^). She is also the founder and leader of the five-member group Aice5, which is gaining popularity daily. The list below are my 5 favourite Yui-sama songs, but there are hundreds to choose from so this list was a difficult choice and many worthy songs had to be left off.

My Top 5 Yui Horie songs:

1. For Fruits Basket (Yui version)
2. A Girl in Love (in Rakuen)
3. Tsuki no kikyu (in Kuroneko to Tsuki Kikyū o Meguru Bōken)
4. Clover (in Rakuen)
5. Atarashii doa e (in Kuroneko to Tsuki Kikyū o Meguru Bōken)

Yui-sama may not have the flexibility of a Megumi Hayashibara or the singing voice of a Nana Mizuki (a seiyuu who concentrates more on singing), but her sweet voice and unique way to make listeners laugh and/or cry is something she is immensely gifted in. Her popularity is as great as ever and it doesn’t seem like anything will stop her in the near future. Ganbare, Yui-sama, zutto ouenshiyou ne!

P.S. I am going to take a couple pics of my Yui-sama collection. Check back in a couple days!

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Category: The Artists