Japanese voice actress Kana Yuuki recently visited Surabaya, Indonesia, during Chibicon Surabaya, which took place from 27 to 28 June 2026 at Convention Hall Tunjungan Plaza 3.
Known for her roles across various anime and other media, Yuuki met Indonesian fans during the event and shared her experiences of visiting Indonesia for the first time, her approach to voice acting and character songs, and the support she has received from fans around the world.
In an interview with KAORI Nusantara, Yuuki also spoke about what motivated her to pursue a career as a voice actress and how seeing fans connect with the characters she portrays continues to encourage her in her work.
The interview has been edited without reducing the original meaning.
This is your first time visiting Indonesia. For many foreigners, Indonesia is known for its warm tropical climate and rich cultural diversity. How do you feel now that you have finally arrived? Have you experienced any interesting culture shock or pleasant surprises so far?
Kana Yuuki: This is my first time visiting Indonesia. The first thing I noticed when I stepped out of the airport was how incredibly hot it was.
This morning, when I woke up and opened the curtains, the weather was so beautiful and warm. Is it always this hot in Indonesia?
As for the food, I have been treated to so many different dishes, and I noticed that many of them use peanut sauce. Whether it is dipping meat into peanut sauce or using it as a salad dressing, I have come across it in many dishes.
I absolutely love peanut sauce, though, so everything has been delicious.
Throughout your career as a voice actress, you have achieved a great deal and touched the hearts of many people. Is there a particular achievement or memorable moment that stands out as especially fulfilling or rewarding?
In my opinion, a voice actress can only exist because of the characters. My role is simply to be allowed to provide the character’s voice.
That is why, whenever I act, I always hope that the character themselves will be the one who stands out. For me, it is important that the audience sees the character rather than simply seeing the voice actress behind them.
What was your initial motivation for choosing voice acting as your career?
I am naturally an otaku myself, so I think that feeling of love for the things I enjoyed was the biggest factor.
Another thing that makes me happy is being able to meet fans at events like this. When I realise that people have come to know a character through my performance, that makes me happier than anything else.
Since this is your first time staying in Surabaya, have you found any new inspiration from the city or experienced any local Indonesian cuisine?
I suppose the food itself has been an inspiration. When I have the opportunity to hold an event abroad like this and then return to Japan, I know that many people will ask me, “How was Indonesia?” or “How was Surabaya?”
I will be very happy to tell them about how delicious the food was while giving them souvenirs. I will tell them, ‘You should absolutely go there!’ and ‘It was so much fun!’
Coming here today was only possible because I have been trusted to perform in various works. Through that, I have realised that there are people in different places who know who I am, and that becomes a source of motivation for me. It makes me want to continue working hard.
You have had an extensive career as a voice actress, as well as experience performing as a singer. Is there a difference in your approach or mindset when voicing a character in the studio compared with performing on stage as a singer?
Of course. The voice I produce for a character is different from my own voice. For example, when singing ‘la la la’ in my natural voice, the approach changes when I am singing as a young girl character or an even younger girl. Rather than simply thinking about how the sound itself should come out, I focus more on how I channel the character’s emotions.
When I sing character songs, I am always careful to make sure that it does not sound like Kana Yuuki herself is singing. I want the song to sound as though it is being performed by the character.
Fans admire you for your versatility as a voice actress and your ability to bring characters with very different personalities to life. How do you feel when you receive such warm recognition from fans for your acting?
I think this applies to any kind of work, but when we feel tired or a little down, knowing that there are people who are happy because of what we do can lift our spirits and make us feel that we need to work harder.
It always reminds me of how much I love this job and makes me want to continue doing it. The voices and support of everyone who follows my work give me a tremendous amount of strength. Thank you very much.
You have just finished your short talk session and experienced the passion of Indonesian fans who came from various cities to meet you. As you prepare for the main meet-and-greet session, is there any message you would like to share with your supporters in Indonesia, Japan, and around the world?
Hello, everyone! I am voice actress Kana Yuuki! This time, I came to an event called ChibiCon in Surabaya, Indonesia. Even though this is my first time here, everyone has been so kind, and the food has been delicious. I am having a wonderful time.
I am so glad that I was able to come here, and I am very happy to meet all of you. Earlier, the staff also told me that the works I have appeared in are popular in Indonesia and that people here know the characters I have played. Hearing all of those lovely things made me feel very grateful to be doing this job and very grateful to be here.
I really love you all! Thank you!
Check the full interview on KAORI Nusantara YouTube channel:
The Indonesian Anime Times | Interview by Dean Astrada
