UlasanAnime.com – During Otakon 2007, voice actress Mamiko Noto captivated attendees with her genuine and endearing presence, solidifying her status as a model seiyuu idol.
Anime News Network’s report from Otakon on Friday offered insights into Mamiko Noto’s Q&A session, though some details might have been missed. The article provided a good overview for those interested in learning more about her. Minor corrections were noted and shared in a discussion link, with further details and notes from the Saturday panel also available.
Noto-san’s appeal lies in her remarkable ability to embody the “seiyuu idol” persona without any trace of awkwardness or insincerity. She presented herself as incredibly positive, earnest, and modest, frequently expressing her affection and love for her work. Her demeanor was described as embodying the “yamato nadeshiko” ideal, a representation of traditional Japanese womanhood.
Throughout the panel, she repeatedly expressed a desire to explore stage acting. While her aptitude for it remains to be seen, her enthusiasm and pure positive energy suggest she would approach it with great dedication.
This piece isn’t intended as a comprehensive profile, so a deep dive into her background is omitted, partly due to a lack of extensive research. Noto-san’s career has seen a steady rise in prominence, largely attributed to her charming personality and distinctive voice. She progressed from minor roles to securing significant co-lead positions in various anime series. Notable among these are her roles in “Jigoku Shoujo” and “Girls Bravo,” though her career has had some unconventional turns.
Her voice is undoubtedly a major factor in her current spotlight, especially considering she didn’t have numerous high-profile roles for an extended period. Her striking appearance, including her composure in a black dress and clear complexion—evident in her promotional videos—also contributes to her appeal. However, these physical attributes were not the initial draw for fans like “JAL” (Japan Animation Lovers) who recognized her talent early on.
After reviewing notes from the panel, it seems more effective to present the information point by point rather than weaving a continuous narrative.
1. When asked about her personality archetype within anime (e.g., clumsy, level-headed, intelligent), Noto-san identified herself as a “notenki,” which loosely translates to someone carefree or absent-minded. This playful self-description led to speculation about her potential future endeavors, perhaps even authoring a book.
2. She adeptly sidestepped a question on Friday regarding her “affair” with fellow voice actress Hitomi Nabatame, whom she affectionately calls “Nabachi.” Noto-san managed this deflection smoothly, leaving little to report on that particular topic. This also sparked a humorous prediction about “Nabachi” potentially being the next big seiyuu guest at Otakon, following Ayako Kawasumi the previous year and Noto-san this year.
3. A particularly memorable moment for the author was when the “Marimite Kids” approached the stage during the Saturday panel. Their presence was described as “SOOOO CUUUTTE.” Unfortunately, the author’s position prevented them from capturing photos. The children asked simple questions, but one query about whether voice acting was a hobby or a job elicited a puzzled and somewhat sad reaction from Noto-san. She clarified that it is a professional, paid occupation, suggesting she might not yet fully embody the “onee-sama” (older sister) persona in all contexts.
3b. When given the hypothetical choice on Friday, she stated she would unequivocally choose to act as Sachiko. The author believes she would excel in such a role.
4. Noto-san expressed a fondness for poetry and mentioned reading the works of Kotaro Takamura. She indicated she would have recited from “Chiekosho” if a copy were available, but couldn’t recall any pieces from memory. This detail, possibly shared in a fan club context, was met with a positive fan response when a fan attempted to elicit more voice acting from her.
5. The connection with voice actor Tomokazu Seki was somewhat elusive unless attendees had seen both their panels. When asked about her impression of Seki and prompted to do an impression herself, Noto-san offered a respectful but non-committal opinion and admitted she couldn’t even imagine how to imitate him. In contrast, Seki apparently described her quite accurately and even performed an impression, which can be viewed in a linked YouTube video.
6. She confirmed her cooking abilities but seemed most confident with a dish involving daikon radish. Specific details about the dish were not recorded, leading to a self-deprecating apology from the author.
7. A recurring theme in the audience’s questions, which the author also explored, revolved around typecasting. Despite Noto’s fresh vocal delivery, the roles she is selected for often fall outside her control. When asked about her role acquisition process, Noto-san expressed a desire to take on more boisterous and obnoxious characters, perhaps inspired by her experience in “Ah My Goddess.” Her motivation stemmed not from increased confidence in her abilities, but from a drive to tackle more challenging roles that she finds difficult to connect with initially, aiming for personal growth and the opportunity to explore wider acting ranges. This pursuit might, in turn, boost her confidence.
Here are some additional, more concise details:
8. For her role in “Hit wo Nerae,” she strictly adhered to the script, with no real-life influences shaping her performance. This was met with a slightly disappointed “Drats :/” by the author.
9. She found portraying Yukinari challenging, particularly the aspect of a boy struggling to confess his feelings. A follow-up question about Kazuma from “FMP” led her to comment that playing a high school boy was much more “wild.”
10. Noto-san expressed a desire to start a family in the future.
11. Preparing for her radio show takes approximately 30 minutes.
12. Regarding her role as Masane, beyond the maternal aspect, she also portrayed a “sensual monster.” This was difficult as it was clearly not a natural persona for her.
13. She also voiced a desire to perform a more “lively” role on stage, should such an opportunity arise.
14. For her role in “Monster,” she read the manga and focused on blending with the ensemble cast.
Between this blog post and the ANN panel recording, overseas fans of Mamiko Noto should have ample material to contemplate. The experience of being near her, hearing her speak, and witnessing her engage was profoundly impactful. The author was so moved that they presented her with flowers during the autograph session on Saturday. Another fan reportedly gifted her sunflowers, underscoring her charismatic and captivating persona.
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The author concludes by extending gratitude to Otakon for hosting the event, to the fans who asked insightful questions and maintained a fun atmosphere, to Noto-san’s entourage for allowing her to grace attendees with her presence and participate in photo opportunities, and most importantly, to Mamiko Noto herself.
