OPALIS, a new talent discovery and development project from Ten Carat Music Ray'n, features actor Airu Kubozuka and voice actress Shiina Natsukawa.

What's important is taking on the challenge. Let's take that first step!

Actor Airu Kubozuka / Voice actress Shiina Natsukawa

OPALIS is a new talent discovery and development project jointly undertaken by Ten Carat and Music Ray'n. We spoke with actor Airu Kubozuka and voice actress Shiina Natsukawa about the appeal of this project, which allows people to take on challenges that transcend the boundaries between actors and voice actors, and about their attitudes toward pursuing their dreams, drawing on their own experiences.

■Please tell us your first impression of OPALIS and what you find appealing about it.

Natsukawa: When I first heard about this project, I was very surprised. Music Ray'n, the company I belong to, holds auditions regularly, so I was familiar with that concept. However, this time it was a joint event with Ten Carat, and I felt it would be an opportunity to meet different kinds of people than usual. I think the biggest feature of this project is that "after passing, you have the opportunity to perform in front of an audience immediately." Having regular opportunities to express yourself in front of an audience during this period when you're a newcomer and can absorb all sorts of things like a sponge will be an invaluable experience.

Kubozuka: Frankly, I thought it was a really great project. When I first started acting, the directors repeatedly taught me the importance of drilling the fundamentals into my body. It's because of that accumulation that I feel I'm finally able to do my own kind of acting now. After all, there are things you can only learn on set, so I think having a place where you can learn while being challenged by many people is a very valuable experience. I myself have had the opportunity to try voice acting, but there are many times when I don't feel like I'm making progress. There are many things you can't understand unless you are actually taught. That's why I think the opportunity to try both acting and voice acting is a unique charm of this project.

■ Are there aspects of each other's work that you respect?

Natsukawa: When I'm acting as a voice actor, I sometimes end up using my voice to compensate for things before my body moves. On the other hand, actors use a lot of information besides their lines, such as how they walk and how they move their hands, to express themselves. When I see them acting while doing something else, I'm really amazed.

Kubozuka: First, I try to express my feelings as much as I can when I act. Then the director often adjusts it for me, saying things like, "That's the right direction," or "I'd like you to do it this way." But I get the impression that voice actors don't just focus on expressing emotions, but rather on developing the ability to "restrain" and "contrast emotions." I was once told to "speak louder, as if you're trying to reach farther away," and that was really difficult. The microphone was right in front of me, but I had to be conscious of it being further away, and I realized anew the profound skill of expressing "distance."

■ Are there any ways to recover from failure?

Natsukawa: When I fail, it hurts, and sometimes I feel like giving up. But time heals all wounds, so I don't do anything special to deal with the pain. However, I do try not to forget the feelings of frustration and the feeling that I've lost to myself. It's easy to comfort myself by saying I'll move on to the next time or that it was just bad luck, but I feel like that wouldn't do me any good. It would be scary if the person I am now is worse than the person I was in the past, wouldn't it? That's why I value learning from my failures and accepting them.

Kubozuka: I also value accepting failure. When I'm feeling down, I make sure to let out all my emotions. But I don't blame anyone or make excuses. There was a time when I realized that I'm the type of person who loses my appetite when I'm sad. That's why I make sure to eat properly and motivate myself to "do my best." I think it's also necessary to know your own characteristics or patterns. Our work is rarely the same every time. That's why there are so many opportunities for growth that you wouldn't normally experience. I think it's important to find the joy in what you love and continue doing it, and then move forward with determination, thinking, "Now is the time to work hard."

■Please tell us about your future prospects.

Natsukawa: I was originally in the drama club, so I have a strong desire to challenge myself in stage acting. Also, I am involved in creative activities, so I would like to try writing my own script and performing a "one-person show" someday. I want to use all of my past experiences to become someone that people will think, "There are sights that they wouldn't have seen if they hadn't supported Natsukawa."

Kubozuka: I have experience in kendo, so I would like to try acting in a stage combat scene someday. Previously, even though I wanted to act, I didn't have any knowledge about stage combat... but I'm looking to increase my opportunities to learn and explore the possibility of using my kendo experience!

■Please give a message to those aspiring to become voice actors or actors, or to university students.

Natsukawa: In this world, there are so many things you won't know until you try. What's valued and what's considered right varies from place to place. Right now, you may not have any achievements and may only have dreams, but I think that fresh feeling is what's important. Even if it seems like a reckless challenge, it will never be in vain. I just want you to take on the challenge with all your might.

Kubozuka: I think it's natural to feel anxious and scared. It's also natural to lack confidence, and what you've cultivated over time will definitely catch up with you. Even if you're working hard and lack confidence, if you keep moving forward, I believe there will come a time when you can think of yourself as "cool." Your turn will definitely come. Don't give up on yourself, and I'm rooting for all of you to take that first step.

Student Newspaper Online, May 19, 2026 Interview with: Miki Makimura (1st year, Seijo University), Mio Ozawa (2nd year, Seijo University), Aoi Morikawa (2nd year, Hosei University), and Kenta Ito (3rd year, Waseda University)

About "OPALIS"

"OPALIS" is a talent discovery and development project that goes beyond simply discovering actors and voice actors, encompassing their entire career from nurturing to their eventual success. It is a collaboration between Ten Carat, an entertainment production company with a diverse roster of talented actors ranging from accomplished performers like Rena Tanaka, Arata Iura, Kengo Kora, and Ayami Nakajo to popular models, and Music Ray'n, a production company that has produced female voice actors such as Haruka Tomatsu, Aki Toyosaki, and Sora Amamiya, and has a long history of leading voice actor artists and units to success.
In addition to the global success of anime works, the expansion of the subscription market has led to an increase in actors who are achieving success by balancing both acting and voice acting careers. Furthermore, with Japanese films and dramas becoming more accessible to overseas audiences, and the main battleground for visual media expanding beyond television and movie theaters, the range of activities for actors continues to broaden in diverse ways.
In response to these significant societal changes, we aim to discover talent that can excel in a hybrid way, encompassing acting, voice acting, and even artistic activities—which are essential elements in each of these fields—and to help those talents and their presence flourish by mobilizing all the resources that Ten Carat and Music Ray'n have cultivated so far.

Second Discovery Project: Auditions
募集期間：2026年6月24日（水）10:00 ～ 2026年7月24日（金）17:00

"OPALIS"　https://opalis.jp
Ten Carat Co., Ltd.　https://tencarat.co.jp/
Music Ray'n Inc.　https://musicrayn.com/　

Ayuri Nakatsu (2nd year, Dokkyo University) / Yurie Watanabe (3rd year, Josai International University) / Michi Makimura (1st year, Seijo University) / Mio Ozawa (2nd year, Seijo University) / Aoi Morikawa (2nd year, Hosei University) / Kenta Ito (3rd year, Waseda University)