Kyoto Animation Draws Minori Chihara for Her 20th Anniversary Concert – Interest

Twenty years ago on April 1, the world was graced with one of the more interesting martial arts series: Tenjo Tenge. Voicing the heroine was none other than a debuting Minori Chihara. Today, she is likely more fondly remembered for playing the Haruhi Suzumiya franchise‘s Yuki Nagato or Sound! Euphonium‘s Kaori Nakaseko. Chihara is now celebrating her 20th anniversary as a voice actor and singer with a two-day concert. And in a surprise to her fans, one of the concert’s key visuals was made by an animation studio with which she has deep ties, Kyoto Animation.

Chihara revealed the collaboration key visual for her concert on her X (formerly Twitter) account on July 8. Her staff’s X/Twitter account then gave more details on its creation by Kyoto Animation:

It’s not a total surprise that Kyoto Animation collaborated with Chihara for her 20th anniversary concert, since she has appeared in three franchises animated by the studio: the Haruhi Suzumiya franchise as Yuki Nagato, Lucky Star as Minami Iwasaki, and the Sound! Euphonium franchise as Kaori Nakaseko. Hopefully, this won’t be the last time the animation studio and Chihara work together, especially since Sound! Euphonium 3 has concluded.

The reveal of the key visual of the Minori Chihara 20th Anniversary Live Historical Parade also comes on the heels of the announcement of another 20th anniversary anime and manga franchise the voice actor has been a part of. This is of course the Minami-ke franchise, of which Chihara has portrayed the character Chiaki Minami. Unfortunately, it appears Minami-ke‘s author, Koharu Sakuraba, will not provide any art for Chihara’s 20th anniversary concert or celebrations. It’s a shame, as Chihara’s voice as Chiaki Minami is a wonderful foil as the straight man to Marina Inoue‘s boke performance as Kana Minami.

The Minori Chihara 20th Anniversary Live Historical Parade is Minori Chihara‘s slated for August 3 and 4. Tickets are 3,300 yen for B seats, 5,500 yen for A seats, 16,500 yen for S seats, 55,000 yen for SS seats, and 8,250 yen for wheelchair seats (about US$20, US$34, US$102, US$341, and US$51 respectively). Unfortunately, the SS seats are sold out. For those living in Japan, tickets are available through Ticket Pia, e+, and LAWSON Ticket. Wheelchair tickets are only available through LAWSON Ticket. Those living outside of Japan can purchase tickets through the Minori Chihara website’s English portal.

Sources: Minori Chihara‘s X/Twitter account, Minori Chihara Staff’s X/Twitter account via Otakomu, Minori Chihara‘s website (link 2)