Tokui Sora Q&A @ Otakon 2025
This is a loose transcript of Tokui Sora's solo panel (Nico Nico Smile & Beyond: Sora Tokui's VA Journey) at Otakon 2025 in Washington, DC on August 9th at 1:45 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 by Sora (i.e. English directly).
Q: Who is your favorite character that you've voiced?
Don't force me to choose! I love them all. The people who tell me their favorites me make happy.
Q: How long did it take you to get into voice acting?
It took me five years from when I started until I first debuted. My first job was in college and it's been 15 years since then.
Q: What was your favorite moment when performing live with μ's?
Singing together and seeing the smiles of everyone in the audience.
Q: Have you eaten any good food while in DC?
"I ate just potato chips." What would you all recommend?
[Various things shouted from the audience, heard "Ethiopian food"]
I didn't know there was so much variety, thank you. We're looking for lobster rolls and crab cakes.
"Next!"
[Translator clarifies that her flight was delayed and she just got in the morning before this panel]
While going through customs, the officer asked me: "What anime did you work on?" I said Love Live, but his expression didn't change at all. He eventually asked me: "Anything else?" When I told him Jujutsu Kaisen, his eyes lit up: "Jujutsu Kaisen? REALLY? Which character?"
"Thank you, Jujustsu Kaisen."
I'm glad we have anime fans working in customs. Maybe I should make a shirt that says I voiced Akari in Jujutsu Kaisen.
Q: What is your favorite Love Live song?
Natsuiro Egao de 1,2,Jump!. I really like the cute and lively swimsuits everyone performs in.
Q: What is your favorite outfit that Nico wears either in the anime or on stage?
Her pink cardigan uniform.
Q: What is your favorite choreography from Love Live?
No Brand Girls. Who here has danced the choreography themselves?
[Lots of raised hands and cheers]
Q: What is your favorite part about voice acting?
Becoming a seiyuu allows you to become part of the anime world.
Q: Have you done any prepreation with the other Milkies for Anisama?
Two of us are out of Japan right now, so we need to practice when we're all back in the country. I want to get a souvenir for Mimorin while I'm here in DC.
Q: Can you tell us about the manga you created?
If it came out here in the States, that would be great. You guys might mistake it for Spongebob.
Q: What advice would you give to your younger self?
Do your best and graduate from college. I just barely made it.
Q: Did you have any other jobs before you became a seiyuu?
I was a waitress at a seafood restaurant. My job was to say: "It's done!" I grew up by the ocean [1], so I'm particular about the quality of seafood.
Q: When working on Love Live, what percent of time did you spend practicing acting versus singing?
I never really thought about it that way. I give it my all on everything.
Q: What is your favorite movie?
Evangelion, Doraemon, Digimon Adventure. [2]
Q: Can you do T.M. Opera O's laugh?
[She does the thing]
Come to my panel with Nakamura Kanna at 8 PM and you might hear more.
Q: Which is your favorite Umamusume?
T.M. Opera O, duh! She's so fun and full of energy that I feel she gives me a jolt of energy too.
Q: Do you use Umi's training regimen from the anime in real life?
Not at all. I don't go hiking either. I do squats every day while I brush my teeth, though, and it helps me not forget to do it!
Q: Please tell us about your dubbing work on My Little Pony.
After I got through customs, I did think about Applejack from My Little Pony. Applejack is a perfect role for me. When I come back to the US, I'll need to get more merch of her.
Q: What was your favorite part about My Little Pony?
Getting to say "Yeehaw!" All of the Applejack scenes with her family were touching to me. She also has a lot of great songs.
Q: Favorite food or snack?
"Potato chips." The American size bags are so big that I have to remind myself to not finish it all in one sitting.
"Cheetos!"
There are so many different flavors that make me want to take them all home. You can only get the really spicy ones here in the States.
Q: What would you do instead if you weren't a seiyuu?
"Otaku influencer." There are a lot of Japanese anitubers, but I haven't really heard about American ones. Are they a thing in the States as well?
[Some shouts from the audience]
If I become one in the US, maybe I'd actually be popular.
Q: How does it feel to have seen Nico grow internationally?
Nico is a truly international character now, so I feel like she is recognized all over. There's a scene in the movie where everyone goes overseas for a concert, so it's funny to see real life mirroring that.
Q: What idols from Love Live et al (beyond μ's) make you smile the most?
My fans make me smile the most, actually.
Q: What do you find most interesting about DJing?
As a DJ you get to pick songs you like and weave a whole setlist out of them. For me, it was fun incorporating Gochiusa songs. [3]
Q: Do you have any stories from when you first joined μ's?
We only heard and knew the songs at first, but then when we saw the first episode we went: "Wow." It was amazing how I could see the fandom begin to grow after every episode.
Q: Who is your favorite character in Orb?
That's a tough one... I haven't thought about it at all.
[Some shouts from the crowd]
Kenjiro, you know him?
Q: I love you so much!
... Thank you.
Q: Where else would you like to travel?
[Long think]
I've never been to Europe.
Q: Anywhere in particular?
Paris. I heard there are a lot of different anime events in Paris, so I'd like to meet the fans there. Maybe I can go to Mexico one more time. It's rewarding to know you have fans all over the world.
Q: Why is Nero the best Milky? [4]
Milky Holmes was my first main role, so it's a very special one from my career.
Q: Do you have a favorite moment from your career?
[Inaudible]
I'm sure we'll talk more about Umamusume and Granblue Fantasy at our 8 PM panel.
Q: Is there another seiyuu you look up to?
Asuka from Evangelion [5]. I love her soooo much. One time I got to work with her and she hit me with a genuine "Soramaru, are you stupid?" I was so glad I was a voice actress in that moment.
Q: Favorite ice cream flavor?
"No chocomint."
[Raucous applause]
"Just chocolate."
Q: What games do you like to play?
Umamusume, Granblue Fantasy, mahjong.
Q: What inspires your day-to-day fashion?
I try to choose cooler colors like blue because they feel refreshing. [6]
Q: Anything you've worked on that you wish more people had seen?
Milky Holmes. Two of us are actually learning English right now. Can we get a customs officer that likes Milky Holmes?
Q: What's your favorite part of visiting the US?
I get to eat a lot of clam chowder. When I went to Beijing, I had a lot of great Chinese food. I want to eat all the good food in DC.
Q: Is there a specific character typecast you prefer?
Characters that are energetic.
Q: Favorite line from any of your characters?
"Nico-nico-nii!" It's so iconic I can go anywhere in the world and have that line be recognized.
[1]: Minamiboso, Chiba
[2]: No specific titles mentioned, so unclear if she meant the Rebuilds or anything else
[3]: DJed as DJ兎猛者 for Tokyo Bon Dance Festival 2019 alongside PandaBoY. She also mixed a few tracks on GOCHIUSA DJ BLEND
[4]: Sent in by me as a goof, a family friendly twist on an old enchantment. Led into as "a good one" by the interpreter
[5]: Miyamura Yuko
[6]: She was dressed in a blue yutaka for this panel