[Kaoru Chujo]

I like what Aaya is doing in this show, and I haven't heard anything like this from her before, but as I keep saying, if you haven't heard her as Layla in NANA, you haven't heard what she can do. It's not particularly naturalistic, but it is very strong as a characterization and in conveying emotion.

Try the first five minutes of episode 35 of NANA. Paku Romi is the first part, Hirano Aya the second. Paku's better, but Hirano's great in the fragile, emotional role of the famous singer Layla. And by the way, that show is like three times the show of anything starting this spring, for me. Just watching that bit again bowls me over.

In my opinion, Aaya is a better seiyuu than Gotuuza-sama (Gotou Yuuko), who does fabulous work in a range limited to comedy. Not that I think range is as important as how well one does the roles one has. But I see Aaya growing in every role, just as a young seiyuu should. I feel as if she is only now beginning to come into her own, at 19. Just FYI, she is now apparently doing some announcing, for an NHK educational show about the body.