Another seiyu gets into trouble with women
Japanese voice actor (seiyu) Junji Majima, known for his roles in popular anime series such as "My Hero Academia" and "Boruto: Naruto Next Generations," has offered a public apology after making insensitive comments about women on his social media account. The reception of the actor's statements has been divisive. According to Japanese news website Oricon, Majima posted a statement on her official Twitter account in response to controversial comments she made on June 20, 2024.
The now-deleted posts showed Majima complaining about women changing seats around her out of fear on an uncrowded train, expressing her confusion and believing that such actions also made men uncomfortable in such situations. However, many online users pointed out that Japan has an unfortunate history of harassing women on public transport, particularly on trains and subways. This problem led the Japanese government to introduce women-only wagons in the early 2000s to combat sexual assault attempts.
"I would like to sincerely apologize for causing inconvenience to the public and for the great inconvenience caused to everyone involved with my careless comments," Majima said in her statement. "As they have pointed out, it is true that some people feel uncomfortable sitting next to strangers, and it is very important to be careful on a daily basis to protect yourself. I am aware that I made a naïve, hasty and inconsiderate comment. From now on, I will change my way of thinking and put even more emphasis on how the people around me feel and think, and I will reflect to avoid repeating the same mistakes. Once again, I sincerely apologize for this inconvenience."
Although Majima has apologized for her words, fans seem divided in her responses. Some Japanese users have pointed out that Majima has made insensitive and childish comments about women in the past and believe that her apology seems more imposed by her agency than authentic.
Majima's controversial statements come shortly after legendary anime voice actor Toru Furuya admitted to having an extramarital affair with a fan, during which he physically assaulted her during an argument and pressured her to have an abortion. Furuya recently stepped down from her roles in "One Piece" and "Detective Conan (Case Closed)."
Majima has been in the anime dubbing industry for over twenty years. His most famous roles include Koku Hanabata in "My Hero Academia," Kankitsu Akitsuki in "Boruto: Naruto Next Generations," and Ryuji Takasu in "Toradora!" As of this writing, it has not been announced whether Majima's recent controversial statements and subsequent apology will have any significant impact on his voice acting career.
Source: Oricon News
