Yoshino

Lore & Background

Yoshino Aoyama voices Hitori Gotō in Bocchi the Rock!, a series that aired from October to December 2022 with 12 episodes. Animation producer Shouta Umehara noted that whenever the production team had differing opinions regarding voice actor selection, the input of original creator Aki Hamazi played a decisive role. The voice actor for Hitori Gotō was not finalized for a long time, and was ultimately chosen by Hamazi herself. Hamazi stated that Aoyama's performance made her burst into laughter on the spot. The series received widespread critical acclaim for its animation, writing, music, and exploration of social anxiety.

In Their Own Story

During the casting process for Bocchi the Rock!, the role of Hitori Gotō remained unfilled for an extended period. Animation producer Shouta Umehara recalled that whenever the production team had differing opinions regarding voice actor selection, the input of the original work's creator Aki Hamazi played a decisive role. When Hamazi finally heard Yoshino Aoyama's audition, the creator burst into laughter on the spot, immediately recognizing the perfect fit for the socially anxious protagonist whose expressions are often exaggerated to perceptibly disturbing extents, in contravention of moe conventions.

Reader's Guide

Yoshino Aoyama was cast as Hitori Gotō after original creator Aki Hamazi personally selected her following a prolonged casting process. The voice actor for Hitori Gotō was not finalized for a long time, and was ultimately chosen by Hamazi herself. Hamazi stated that Aoyama's performance made her burst into laughter on the spot, indicating that Aoyama captured the comedic and exaggerated aspects of Hitori's characterization that director Keiichirō Saitō emphasized—specifically that 'girls who are flawlessly beautiful aren't as cute as girls who are a little mysterious or sometimes make weird faces.'

Aoyama joins a cast that includes Sayumi Suzushiro as Nijika Ijichi, Saku Mizuno as Ryō Yamada, and Ikumi Hasegawa as Ikuyo Kita.

Did You Know?

• Yoshino Aoyama was personally selected for the role of Hitori Gotō by original manga creator Aki Hamazi after the voice actor had not been finalized for a long time.
• Hamazi stated that Aoyama's performance made her burst into laughter on the spot during the audition process.
• The role of Hitori Gotō required capturing both cute and heavily distorted expressions, with comedic effect prioritized over cuteness in exaggerated scenes.
• Aoyama voices a character whose basic facial expressions were intentionally limited, relying on slapstick exaggeration scenes to depict emotions.
• The series Bocchi the Rock! aired 12 episodes from October to December 2022 and received widespread critical acclaim.