The path to becoming a voice actor in the anime industry, especially for women, is filled with hardships and challenges. Beyond enduring countless rejections before landing a breakthrough role, many also face sexual harassment in the workplace and public spaces due to their celebrity status.
Recently, 29-year-old voice actress Haruka Shiraishi, known for voicing several popular anime characters, opened up about a distressing experience during her daily train commute. She revealed that she was groped not once but twice within a month.
During Episode 230 of her Nippon Cultural Broadcasting A&G radio program, Haruka Shiraishi’s Poka Poka Time, which aired on February 23, the voice actress shared an emotional and sensitive moment with her fans. She broke down while recounting how she had been sexually assaulted twice in such a short span.
“I don’t really want to talk about something so heavy. I’m not sure if I should talk about it here, but I’d like to share it. Since the beginning of this month, I’ve had two unpleasant experiences on the train,” Haruka stated.
Through tears, she explained that both times she was assaulted, no one on the train stepped in to help or stop the perpetrators. Instead, she was met with cold indifference from those around her.
“Both times, I mustered up the courage to take action, but I was brushed off. After that, I was pushed away and left on the train. I was given such cold looks, as if to say, ‘Did I do something wrong?’ It hurt, but at the same time, I wasn’t necessarily looking for help—I just felt a deep sense of pain,” she added.
Haruka, who has played major roles in Golden Kamuy (Asirpa), Mushoku Tensei (Sara), Bokuben (Fumino), Danmachi (Horn), and iDOLM@STER (Chiyoko), broke down in tears while recounting her experience.
Unfortunately, the situation for women in Japan remains dire. A report published by The Japan Times revealed that nearly one in three women have faced sexual harassment at work, with almost 40% reporting unwanted touching or sexually inappropriate questions.
Many victims, like Haruka, do not report such incidents, often due to fear of inaction or societal indifference. However, the government is beginning to take notice, with the recent Fuji TV sex scandal shedding light on the urgent need for safer workplaces and public spaces for women.
Haruka ended her broadcast on a hopeful note, expressing her belief that many kind people still exist. She urged her fans to support those in distress, saying, “If someone feels like they need courage, I would be happy if you could support them in any way you can.”
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