We all know Japanese voice actors take their profession extremely seriously, but sometimes that passion crosses into the truly unusual. During a recent broadcast of the variety show Shukan Sanma to Matsuko, legendary Kana Hanazawa left the panel of hosts speechless by revealing a disturbing secret from her youth. It turns out over fifteen years ago, the talented actress resorted to an extreme and unorthodox preparation method that no one at the TV studio could believe.

A Casting with Ink Flavor

This peculiar anecdote dates back to the audition phase for the acclaimed 2010 animated film Bungaku Shoujo. In this story, the character of Toko Amano has the peculiar trait of literally consuming and devouring novels to exist. In her intense desire to land the lead role and understand the girl’s strange mind, Hanazawa decided the best way to empathize with her was to replicate her unusual eating habits. Without hesitation, the actress took her own audition script, tore it into pieces, and put a piece of paper directly into her mouth during a rehearsal.

Acting Method Taken to the Extreme

Although the gastronomic experience was a complete failure—she immediately spit out the paper upon tasting an unpleasant salty flavor—the actress proudly admitted that that brief, uncomfortable moment was enough for her to understand what her character felt. Host Akashiya Sanma didn’t hesitate to label this bold technique as “method acting” and applauded her tremendous professional dedication, while charismatic Matsuko Deluxe was in awe, jokingly asking if she was auditioning to play a goat. In the end, the strange sacrifice paid off with the casting directors, as Hanazawa secured the role and marked a key point in the beginning of her successful career.

Discovering the madness that happens behind closed doors in selection processes always gives us a new perspective on the enormous effort behind our favorite anime. Knowing that performers are capable of truly eccentric things to perfectly embody a fictional character’s psychology, do you think voice actors should resort to method acting in their daily work, or do you consider chewing a script going too far to get a role in the industry?