Japanese company uses underselling voice-actors from their agency as card-packers in their card game business, but it’s a good thing

The Japanese company Bushiroad has recently been gathering attention from users for their policy of having voice-actors signed under their agency work part-time at their card game production sites in periods when they don’t have enough work coming in. Though the voice-actors being recycled in the company’s other branch of business may not seem so great at first glance, the practice is actually viewed favorably for the benefits it brings to struggling artists. The fact caught the public’s interest after it was revealed by voice-actress Aimi in a talk-show and mentioned in a post from a Twitter user. 

Bushiroad is a Japanese entertainment company and producer of popular trading and collectible card games such as Cardfight!! Vanguard. Their subsidiary Bushiroad Move manages a voice acting agency called HiBiKi. Recently, singer and voice-actress Aimi, who is signed under the agency, revealed in her radio talk show that she used to work various part-time jobs in her past, one of which was preparing cards for delivery in a Bushiroad card game production site. She goes on to explain that since the work of voice-actors can be very unstable in terms of both income and schedule, the agency has had a system of ensuring struggling voice-actors can work part-time for Bushiroad, doing packing and other routine tasks.  

Aimi also adds that the system is still in place to this day, and that it’s available only to those who want it. The guest of the talk show, voice-actress Sumire Uesaka, jokingly asks her if that means there could be future superstars packing cards right now, to which she answers that it’s entirely possible. 

Japan is known for having a developed and thriving voice-acting industry, but this is also what makes it an intensely competitive field, meaning that novice aspiring voice-actors are more than likely to encounter a rocky start to their careers. Not having a fixed salary is the norm for the voice-acting industry, and some companies even decide remuneration based on seniority, meaning that beginners can’t make much even if they do receive a lot of work, let alone if they are struggling to acquire roles. 

With this context in mind, it’s normal for voice-actors to hold part-time jobs until their careers take off in order to be able to make a living. What caught the attention of the public in the case of Bushiroad was how they introduced a way to provide part-time to their voice-actors internally, in an environment they know is secure. 

Users expressed admiration for the system as it ensures that voice-actors struggling financially don’t stray into potentially dangerous side-gigs such as adult entertainment, cabaret clubs, compensated dating and similar. Another advantage is that as the part-time work is provided internally, it is not likely to cause voice-actors interference with their main work. 

At the same time, this kind of system is only possible because Bushiroad has multiple branches of businesses, and is not something independent agencies can easily implement. Nevertheless, Bushiroad is setting a good example for others in taking measures to improve conditions for their artists.