Nakamura Kanna and Tokui Sora Q&A @ Otakon 2025

This is a loose transcript of the question and answer portion from Tokui Sora's and Nakamura Kanna's joint panel (Voice of Victory: Sora Tokui & Kanna Nakamura Live!) at Otakon 2025 in Washington, DC on August 9th at 8 PM EDT. This transcript was drafted live during the panel on my phone based on translations from the interpreter, then edited for comprehension when published here. Questions were fielded through a Google Forms link provided as a QR code. Everything contained in double quotes was said literally (i.e. English directly).

Q: Is there anything you would love to voice in?

Sora: There are so many... Tetsuwan Atom [1], for sure. I'm a big fan of Tezuka and he's the main reason I wanted to be a manga artist.

Kanna: When I was small, I wanted to be a magical girl, so Precure would be great.

Q: Is there anything in America you would like to do while you're here?

Sora: Visit theme parks. I want to go Disneyworld. Goofy's my favorite character.

Kanna: "Me too." I'm a big fan of Star Wars. We don't have Star Wars area in Japan's Disneyland. I heard you can make a lightsaber.

Q: What do you recommend Americans try in Japan?

Sora: It's hot in the summer, please come in the winter.

Kanna: I love spicy curry. It originated in Osaka, so I'd like you to try it.

Q: What has been your favorite part of being part of Umamusume?

Sora: The Road to the Top block in the Umamusume live concert after the movie came out.

Kanna: "Me too." Seeing all of my fans playing the game and coming to the concerts.

Q: What activity would you two like to do together on a day off?

Kanna: Onsen.

Sora: What do you eat at an onsen?

Kanna: Dango.

Sora: Do Americans use the Sauna? I love it.

[Few hands raised in the audience]

Kanna: I'd love to join you.

Sora: I'd love to join you in a curry dinner.

Q: Favorite Umamusume song?

Kanna: The Road to the Top ending [2]

Sora: That was a glorious moment. I think Kanna's really cool when she sings it.

Q: Have you seen the global attention for Umamusume? What has been your favorite part of voicing T.M. Opera O and Narita Brian?

Sora: These horsegirls were initially introduced in the game, but I'm glad that they've started appearing in the anime.

Kanna: Participating in Road to the Top. All of the episodes are available on YouTube now and I'm able to see fans globally watching it.

Sora: We read the comments on the YouTube videos and it gives us a boost of energy to see that.

Q: What techniques do you use to prepare your voice?

Kanna: I have strong vocal chords, so I don't do anything all that special. Getting into the "feeling" of a character is what's important for me.

Sora: I make sure to eat a good meal first.

Q: What anime are your favorite?

Kanna: Sailor Moon R.

Sora: Digimon Adventure: Our War Game!

Kanna: I chose mine because Usagi-chan is the coolest. I want to be a cool and awesome girl like her.

Sora: If I was ever an anime director, Digimon Adventure is the kind of thing I'd like to make.

Q: Any other cities in the US that you want to visit?

Sora: Where do you want us to go?

[Crowd shouts various cities]

Kanna: Food recommendations?

[Crowd shouts various things. Heard bread bowl, cheesesteaks, crab cakes]

Sora: I'd like to have some crab cakes.

Kanna: I'm getting the feeling that you love food.

Q: What are excited to see when you go sightseeing in DC?

Kanna: The museum with the impressionism exhibit [3].

Sora: I had some lobster rolls and I want to go eat some more.

Q: Family Mart, 7-11, NewDays, Lawson, or something else?

Kanna: 7-11 for food because they have regular curry campaigns.

Sora: You love curry that much?

Kanna: Lawson for sweets, probably.

Sora: Lawson has really good café au lait. 7-11 has better iced coffee.

Q: Have either of you gone horseback riding?

Kanna: "Oh no." I'd love to one day, though.

Sora: I've been on a horse for pictures, but I've never actually riden one.

Q: Do either of you play mobile games/soshage?

Kanna: Pokemon Sleep. I hear the average time asleep has gone up globally because of the game. Unfortunately, mine hasn't.

Sora: Granblue Fantasy and mahjong. "You like?"

[Raucous cheers from the audience]

Q: Have any of your roles inspired you to take up a hobby?

Sora: One of my characters likes croquette soba and it's my favorite now.

Kanna: Monster Meat has inspired me to collect new spices to cook with.

Sora: What are you cooking?

Kanna: Curry? Bruschetta?

Kanna: Delicious. "Yes."

Q: Any funny or memorable moments at Otakon so far?

Kanna: At autographs, I was glad I was able to understand my fans.

Sora: Seeing fans resonate with my performances despite the language barrier. There are so many cosplayers walking around it makes me want to cosplay too.

Kanna: Which cosplay?

Sora: Machu from Gquacks.

Q: Have you ever watched any real horseracing in Japan or the US?

Kanna: Yes, a G1 race, and my bet lost. I never realized how loud the thud of horses galloping and the cheers of the crowd were.

Sora: I've also been able to watch one up close.

Kanna: Who here has been to a horse race?

[Few hands go up]

Kanna: Do they have food there?

Q: What job or career would you have if you weren't a seiyuu?

Kanna: Fashion designer for idols. I love cute things and I used to wear a lot of lolita fashion.

Sora: I'd like to be an architect. I like looking at buildings and imagining the people that live there.

Q: What are your gacha rituals?

Sora: I like to roll in Umamusume when the girl is the cutest.

Kanna: Narita Brian is the only one I had to spark for. Maybe acting tsundere like "I don't really want you", because when you really want a banner, it never comes.

Q: This is Kanna's second time in DC. Does she have any recommendations for Sora?

Kanna: Since you like architecture, I'd recommend the National Library [4]. I don't know the style, but it was so beautiful everywhere I looked.

Q: Who is your favorite Digimon?

Kanna: [Starts frantically looking things up on her phone]

Sora: Patamon.

Kanna: Hanimon?

Q: Who is your favorite anime villain?

Kanna: Yagami Light.

Sora: That's difficult. Team Rocket?

Q: Favorite food or drinks?

Kanna: Sri Lankan curry. It uses a lot of seafood and bonito broth, so it's very similar to Japanese food. I used to be a barista at Starbucks and my go-to was a hot cappuccino.

Sora: Fried rice and iced coffee with nothing in it. Anything in the fried rice as long as it's tasty.

Q: How much training do you do before a concert?

Kanna: I train until I know I won't make mistakes. I don't want to be nervous come performance day.

Sora: We start practicing one or two months before a concert. I had a nightmare once about the ceiling being too low. Out of nowhere I also had a dream about being asked to perform a song I never have before. Has anyone dreamed of us before? What kind of dream have you had?

[Total silence]

Sora: Oh, so now you can't say?

[1]: Astro Boy

[2]: Not sure what's being referred to here, since Road to the Top doesn't have a traditional ED

[3]: Most likely the Phillips Collection

[4]: Presumably the Library of Congress, which is designed in the Beaux-Arts style