Yokoyama Chisa is best known for her role as Sasami in the many versions of TENCHI MUYO. But there is more to her than just the voice of a Jurai princess and sometimes magical girl. The following questions are highlights of those answered by Ms. Yokoyama at her press session at Anime Expo.

Do you prefer doing a comedy role or a drama type of role?

Yokoyama: I get more comedy type work, but I'm more interested in drama type work.

Do you get more comedy work because when companies think of comedy they think of you?

Yokoyama: (in English) "I don't know why." There are not many people that can do comedy type work and have success with having others not imagine you in those type of roles.

When did you decide that you wanted to become a voice actress?

Yokoyama: (In English) "When I was in Junior High School" I really loved the films of Lupin the 3rd, especially the film CASTLE OF CAGLIOSTRO and I wanted to meet "Lupin" myself.

In your characters, how much of your own personality comes through? Are you very different or similar to your characters?

Yokoyama: In the beginning it's a completely different character, as I am creating a new character from nothing. As I keep on acting with that character, I end up putting more and more of Yokoyama Chisa in the character.

Do have much time to practice before you have to record the dialogue?

Yokoyama: I get almost no time to practice. When I get a new character assigned it almost feel like the God of Characters giving me an order, and I accept that and do what's necessary.

You have worked with many Video Games firms such as Konami, where you performed the role of Maria in the Dracula X game for the Playstation. When did you start that project and how were you chosen?

Yokoyama: I got a phone call saying, "Can you do this [part]?" I got all the details about the character, including her age and what kind of character she was, the day before the recording.

How long was the project in total?

Yokoyama: The actual voice recording took place two years ago, but due to production issues the actual game didn't come out until a few months ago.

Do you play video games at all?

Yokoyama: (in English) "Mmhm, a lot!"

Do you prefer singing or voice acting?

Yokoyama: I prefer singing in the bathtub. If I had to choose between singing or voice acting, I would choose voice acting. Right now in Japan, when a job comes in for one particular character, it is always combined with singing as well. Singing as a character is fun, but singing as a character is also more difficult.

What do you personally do creatively? Do you imagine your career to be the same in the future as it is now?

Yokoyama: As a basic work I like to do voice acting, and that is being part of a large group of staff that work along with me. Also, on my own I do work on writing essays, which is a very one person type of job, and if I can keep a good balance between those two types of work I find it very satisfactory. For example, I don't have any plans to become a movie actress.

You've done voice acting for many different types of media: anime, video games, radio. Which media do you like best working for and why?

Yokoyama: Up until now, animation has been most of my work, but lately more and more game-related work has been coming in, and I find both very fun. I also dub voices for foreign movies coming to Japan. Recently I did two films voicing for Alicia Silverstone.

You said that you have written some essays. What subjects do you write about?

Yokoyama: My essays have been published as a collection in book form. One being "How I wanted to meet Lupin," which describes how I became a voice actress. Another one is called "Holiday Given by an Angel," which is about my travels in Australia when I was a student.

Do you write any poetry?

Yokoyama: "No" (chuckles)

What kind of training did you do to prepare yourself to become a voice actress?

Yokoyama: I went to a training school to learn how to voice act for an animation. And I also trained as an actress to learn how to use my whole body for acting. But to break into this field [voice acting], the only way is to audition, and I had to wait for that chance to come.

Do you have any others you look up to as a voice actress?

Yokoyama: Nozawa Masako, who was my instructor in voice acting school; not only as a voice actor but as a person as well. She's done many, many works, including Goku in DRAGONBALL.

What was the name of the training school you attended?

Yokoyama: Katsukawa Voice Acting school.

Do you have any final comments?

Yokoyama: As someone who helps creates animation, I believe that animation can cross international borders. Please let as many people as possible know about anime.