Many members of the anime industry are tweeting messages of support in light of voice actor Yuichiro Umehara‘s hospitalization. Umehara was recently diagnosed with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, an autoimmune disease that affects the nervous system.
The official Twitter account for the Tsukipro franchise groups SolidS and QUELL did not directly reference Umehara’s condition. However, the account tweeted a scenario of the three other SolidS members going to meet Dai, who is voiced by Umehara. In the tweet, the three meet Dai after it rains, Rikka suggests having tea, and Dai chides them for using a person as an excuse to skip out on responsibilities.
Shortly before the SolidS tweet, voice actors Takuya Eguchi and Natsuki Hanae both seemed to reference Umehara in tweets. Eguchi and Hanae play Shiki and Rikka in SolidS, respectively.
Other voice actors who tweeted messages of support include Yoshihisa Kawahara, Tomohito Takatsuka, Shun Horie, Kensho Ono, Daiki Yamashita, and Taku Yashiro. Kawahara’s message reads, “I’m praying from my heart for your recovery,” and Ono’s tweet says, “Have a good rest. I’m waiting.”
ゆっくり休んでね。
待ってるよ。— 小野賢章 (@ono_kensho) May 10, 2018
In addition, animator Atsuko Takahashi and the official accounts of the Meiji Tokyo Renka~Haikara Date~ app game, Robomasters The Animated Series, and Sensil app game offered “get well” messages for Umehara. Takahashi’s message says, “Yuichiro Umehara, take your time and get proper treatment. I’m waiting for you to get well and return.”
梅原裕一郎さん、ゆっくりしっかり治療して、元気になって帰ってくるのをお待ちしております
— 高橋 敦子 (@yawarakamoon) May 10, 2018
The official Twitter account for the Toriumi Kōsuke Maeno Tomoaki no Otona no Torisetsu variety program wished Umehara well and noted that the program airing on May 16 will include Umehara’s narration because it was already recorded. Umehara’s Kōtarō to Yūichirō Hyorotto Danshi radio program also announced on Thursday that Yū Miyazaki and Fumiyoshi Shioya will serve as “pinch hitters” and substitute as hosts in Umehara’s absence on the May 13 and 20 episodes. The Tsukino Talent Production Staff stated that Umehara’s recovery is the first priority, and that the staff is discussing with Arts Vision about Umehara’s planned appearance at the Tsukipro Live 2018 Summer Carnival event on June 17.
Umehara is focusing on treatment and recovery, and will take an indefinite hiatus from work. Arts Vision will announce when Umehara will be able to return to work.
[Via Nijimen]
