My Hero Academia’s Ayane Sakura Says She Once Had a “Gal Allergy,” Later Realized the Charm of Their Honesty

Ayane Sakura, the voice actress behind Ochaco Uraraka in My Hero Academia, appeared at a special screening event in Tokyo on the 16th for the TV anime’s “Character Matchup Best Episode” project. During the event, she revealed that she once had difficulty relating to “gal” culture and characters.

Speaking about Himiko Toga, voiced by Misato Fukuen, Sakura admitted that she initially struggled to understand the character.

“When Toga just seemed like a typical gal, Ochaco couldn’t understand what she was thinking, and honestly, neither could I,” Sakura said with a laugh.

She explained that she had little exposure to gal culture growing up.

“I never really encountered gals in my life. The moment I thought, ‘She’s a gal,’ I kind of assumed we were fundamentally incompatible, and I stopped emotionally connecting,” she confessed, describing it as having a “gal allergy.”

However, as she continued portraying Ochaco Uraraka, Sakura began to feel that perhaps mutual understanding between the characters was possible.

“But for characters who are supposed to fight each other, that kind of understanding becomes a huge obstacle,” she explained. “And it’s something that continues to torment Ochaco moving forward.”

Ayane Sakura Says She Now Appreciates the “Straightforward Nature” of Gals

Sakura added that in recent years, she has come to appreciate the sincerity and straightforward attitude often associated with gal culture.

“I realized how direct and honest they can be,” she said with a smile, adding that she has grown to genuinely like gals.

About My Hero Academia

My Hero Academia, based on the hit manga by Kohei Horikoshi, is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its anime adaptation this year. As part of the anniversary project, special screenings focusing on iconic character matchups from the TV series are being held, with this event serving as the first installment.

The story takes place in a world where roughly 80 percent of the population possesses supernatural abilities known as “Quirks.” Izuku Midoriya, also known as Deku, dreams of becoming a hero despite being born without powers. The series follows his growth, friendships, and battles alongside his classmates at the prestigious U.A. High School as he strives to become the world’s greatest hero.

Source : ORICON NEWS