Sumire Uesaka

Birthplace: Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan

Height: 1,60 cm (5'3")

Blood type: O

Sumire Uesaka is a voice actress currently affiliated with Voice Kit. Because of her interest in Russia, she is also affectionately known under the nickname Sumipe (すみぺ, the letter R resembles a P in Russia's Cyrillic alphabet). Other nicknames include Suminya (スミーニャ), because she likes to wear nekomimi accessories, and Gundanchou (軍団長, Corps Commander) because of her interest in military, especially tanks, and her radio show.

At the age of eight, Uesaka was scouted by Space Craft Junior Commercial Talent right when she was going home after an EIKEN Test in Practical English Proficiency. Afterwards, she appeared in a Japanese Vidal Sassoon commercial. In 2009, she took part in the "Web Radio@Dengeki Bunko" web radio show, where she became a regular between September 2009 and December 2011. During her time there, she wanted to breathe life into her work, which became one of her inspirations for becoming a voice actress. Her other inspiration was voice actress Haruko Momoi, whom she respects after she incidentally saw Nurse Witch Komugi-chan Magikarte when she was still a primary school student. Uesaka described the experience as shocking, but it was there that she heard Momoi for the first time and yearned to become a voice actress afterwards. In April 2011, she joined Space Craft Entertainment's anime section. Starting October 7, 2011, she became a radio personality on "A&G NEXT GENERATION Lady Go!!". Following an announcement on August 12 of the same year at the Summer Comic Market 80, it was announced that she had been cast in the 2012 TV anime series Papa no Iukoto wo Kikinasai!. In January 2012, she made her debut as a voice actress, lending her voice to the heroine Sora Takanashi. Later, Tomohiro Matsu, the original author, and Itsurou Kawasaki, the director, said that she was chosen at the audition despite technical flaws, because they couldn't picture anyone else as Sora. Following her first starring role, she became gradually busier during 2012.

Uesaka is an avid fan of Russia and its history, culture, military, literature, and art. This traces back to when she was in her first year of high school, when she heard, by chance, the Soviet Union national anthem. Henceforth, she began to develop an interest in Russia and devoted herself to studying Russian society and history on her own. She couldn't picture herself studying anything other than Russian at university. In April 2010, she entered the Faculty of Foreign Studies at Sophia University after a recommendation from Kamakura Women's University Junior & Senior High School, where she graduated. At Sophia University's Faculty of Foreign Studies, she majored in Russian Studies. Her graduation thesis was a study of the early history of the Red Army. On July 10, 2012, she received Sophia University's Studies Prize for Excellent Work.

In April 2012, she received her own radio show, "Sumire Uesaka's Armored Guards Infantry Regiment Broadcast", on Nico Nico Live. Because of her familiarity with Russia and interest in its military, she was cast as the Russian girl Nonna on the TV anime series Girls und Panzer in October 2012. She also sang two Russian insert songs during the show, "Cossack no Komoriuta" and "Katyusha", both covers of well-known folk songs. Her performance as a voice actress and singer received a lot of attention in Japan and overseas thereafter.

Uesaka likes to study languages and is, aside from Russian, proficient in English and Chinese as well, having passed several language proficiency tests. She also likes lolita fashion and, as such, became a model for the "Baby, The Stars Shine Bright" clothing brand. Photo shoots with her are published frequently in "Kera", "Gothic & Lolita Bible", and other well-known magazines. She likes to draw and often posts illustrations on her blog and pixiv accounts. Her favorite foods include lamb chops and Kinoko no Yama. Her favorite politician is Vyacheslav Molotov. Her favorite manga and anime characters are Chirico Cuvie, Duke Tougou, and Rudolf von Stroheim. Her favorite tank is the BT-5 produced by the Soviet Union. On May 26, 2012, she served as a captain of the Japanese naval ship, JS Yamayuki, at the Marine Fiesta in Funabashi for one day.

(Source: AniDB, edited)

Profile: Voice Kit

X: @uesaka_official

YouTube: @uesakasumire

Instagram: @uesaka_sumire

Blog (Defunct): Line Blog

pixiv: #1292886