Inori Minase has taken home the prestigious “Best Actress” award at the 10th annual Seiyu Awards. 2015 was a great year for Imori, she was one of the leads in the critically acclaimed film “The Anthem of the Heart“, and has a lead role in the popular anime series “School-Live!” 

In “The Anthem of the Heart” Inori plays the role of Jun Naruse, a girl who desperately wants to reveal her true feelings but ends up always hurting people with her words. After accepting a questionable deal with an egg fairy, he seals her words away so she can never speak again and never hurt people with her words. Her life changes when she enters high school and encounters friendship and music in a new light. Inori plays main character Yuki Takeya in “School-Live!”. Yuki is usually a bright and cheerful girl, but suffers a mental breakdown due to a zombie outbreak. Yuki creates a fantasy world for herself believing that her teachers and classmates are okay, and nothing out of the ordinary happened. Slowly she comes to terms with the reality of the situation.

While accepting the award Inori gave a sincere speech thanking the industry and her fans. An excerpt of it can be read under the cut!

 “When I was five, I had a small wish to be able to talk to (anime) characters, that grew  into a dream of becoming a professional voice actress. I never imagined that 15 years   later I would win this award. At the age of 20, I don’t see this award as the goal or the   peak of my career, and I want to keep improving and growing in the future. I hope   that I can someday become someone else’s dream and admiration, and will continue  to work hard to do so. ”

Inori also shared a personal message on her official facebook account.

Other winners at the Seiyu Awards include Yoshitsugu Matsuoka (Sword Art Online, Nijiiro Days) for Best Actor, idol group i☆Ris for best vocal, and Hiroshi Kamiya (Durarara!!, Attack on Titan, Angel Beats!) was voted into the hall of fame.