Just because your face isn't on camera doesn't mean that the entertainment business and its followers aren't going to judge you on your age. Just look at anime's tendency to go young with its casting. Yūko Nagashima, a 46-year-old voice actress who had roles in the 90s like Magic Knight Rayearth's Caldina and Nadesico's Erina Won, plus more recently Hotaru's mom in Non Non Biyoru, game work like Dead or Alive's Tina Armstrong, and dubs for foreign media, notable in Sarah Jessica Parker roles like Sex and the City's Carrie, took to Twitter with her perspective on the subject.

最近感じるのが、

ネット上で 劣化 や BBAという言葉が乱用されてること。

年齢は皆重ねていくものなのに、特に女性に向けて。

日本…この業界は特に。



昔 お付き合いしてた同業者に

「君は旬を過ぎた声優だ」と言われたことも。

アニメ声優やってない＝旬すぎてること？

色々謎。 — 永島由子 (@yuppi0703) September 3, 2016

Otaku USA translates

“Something I’ve been feeling recently: Lately on the net, people have been throwing around phrases like 'degradation' or 'old hag.' Especially aimed at women, even though getting older is something that happens to everyone. In Japan… especially in this industry.

In the past, a co-worker I used to date told me, 'you’re past your prime as a voice actress.' Not doing anime voice acting = past your prime? I don’t get it.”

via Otaku USA



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Scott Green is editor and reporter for anime and manga at geek entertainment site Ain't It Cool News. Follow him on Twitter at @aicnanime.