Kujira Explains How Shigeru Chiba Gave Her the Name 'Kujira'
The interview provides a rare, firsthand account of how one of anime's most distinctive voice actresses adopted her memorable stage name, directly from the source.
Reporting from 1 sources: Anime Herald.
In an interview at Anime Boston, voice actress Kujira explained that Shigeru Chiba suggested the stage name 'Kujira' because it would stand out in credits, be easy for children to read, and carry a double meaning about whales traversing a tough world. She also described how her androgynous voice led to many offers, including dubbing Western films.
Kujira, the voice actress known for roles including Otose in Gintama, sat down with Anime Herald at Anime Boston to discuss her career origins. She credited Shigeru Chiba with both launching her voice acting career and giving her the stage name 'Kujira.' According to Kujira, Chiba told her the name-written in hiragana-would be easy to spot in credits and carry a double meaning: whales can traverse the brutal waves of the world, a fitting name for someone who could navigate a tough industry.
Kujira also noted that her androgynous voice led to frequent casting, as producers were curious about the person behind the name. The same quality made her sought after for dubbing Western films, where lower-pitched voices are common. She described her first visit to Boston, including a tour of Fenway Park where she learned about the Curse of the Bambino.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.
Sources
- Anime Herald Interviewing Kujira at Anime Boston