Source: A scene from the animated movie "Hula Fulla Dance" (© BNP, FUJITV / Oshare Salon Natsunagi) | Courtesy of © JAPAN Forward

Dean Fujioka Takes the Challenge of Voice Acting for Fukushima, Tohoku Japan

Taking on voice acting for “Hula Fulla Dance” was compelling because of his connection to the region devastated by the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Ken Ishii, JAPAN Forward

“Hula Fulla Dance” directed by Seiji Mizushima is an animated film and part of Fuji TV’s project to support areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake.

It is also the film that moved forty-one year old voice actor Dean Fujioka to take up the challenge of dubbing a movie for the first time. He tells us why he thought “There is no excuse not to do this film.”

Actor Dean Fujioka | Courtesy of © JAPAN Forward

Fuji TV created three anime films ten years after the earthquake struck the Tohoku region of northeast Japan. There is one set in each of the affected prefectures of Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima, to help support the disaster stricken areas.

The project, called the “Long-term Support Project 2011+10” or Zutto Ouen Project 2011+10, is intended to help support tourism in the area in the long term by encouraging fans to make the pilgrimage to the setting of the films.

One of the films is “Hula Fulla Dance,” a coming-of-age story about Hiwa Natsunagi, a new member of a dance group at a hot spring facility in Fukushima Prefecture. Hiwa lost her sister, who had been a popular dancer, in the disaster. Fujioka plays Ryota Suzukake, a senior employee at the hot spring who is infatuated with Hiwa.

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