The recent news of voice actors ">Kana Hanazawa and Kensho Ono's divorce after five years of marriage has sparked a buzz, with many wondering if their careers will take a hit. The couple cited differing work schedules as the reason for their split.
This kind of work-induced marital breakdown has Japanese netizens reminiscing about another high-profile industry marriage that faced similar challenges: that of Detective Conan creator Gosho Aoyama and the voice of Conan himself, Minami Takayama.
One X (formerly Twitter) user pointed out that while fans are concerned about Hanazawa and Ono's careers post-divorce, there's a precedent for voice actors continuing to star in their ex-spouse's work for years. Naturally, they were referring to Aoyama and Takayama.
The user then revisited Gosho Aoyama's insane schedule around the time of his divorce, marveling at the utterly wild lifestyle of a manga artist. According to a documentary, Aoyama would often wake up at night, dive straight into drawing manga, and then simply collapse and sleep wherever he was when exhaustion hit. Talk about an erratic routine!
Aoyama's demanding work meant he'd often stay at his studio until deadlines, rarely venturing out. Minami Takayama was equally swamped with her own projects. This led to them rarely seeing each other, and after years of this lifestyle, an irreparable rift formed between them. Unable to continue, their marriage lasted just two years (May 2005 to December 2007).
Many netizens chimed in, sharing similar stories about the grueling schedules common among manga artists. "Weekly manga artists almost all live like this, it's terrifying," one commented. Another added, "Even a veteran like Aoyama-sensei lives this way; weekly serialization is incredibly intense." Someone even mentioned a friend who worked as an assistant for Yoshiyuki Sadamoto, often sleeping on the floor – apparently, it's just "business as usual" in the manga industry.
Netizens also highlighted the massive impact incompatible schedules have on married life. "Couples are supposed to support each other, but with different routines, stress builds up, and coming home feels like living with a stranger. It's easier to live alone," one user mused. Others suggested that while separation might suffice in some cases, if both parties still care, divorce can be a way for them to find more suitable lifestyles.
Beyond the marriage talk, fans also expressed concern for Aoyama-sensei's health, urging him to "take care of his body" and "definitely improve his sleeping environment."
And get this: fans also noticed Aoyama-sensei's gaming habits! On top of his manga serialization and movie artwork, he still finds time for Kantai Collection and Animal Crossing. One user exclaimed, "Manga, movie art, and games? He's not even human!"
Despite their divorce, Minami Takayama continued to voice her iconic Detective Conan role, with no impact on her career.
These two divorce cases highlight that marital breakdowns aren't always about conflict, but often stem from vastly different schedules creating immense pressure on a relationship. It also shines a spotlight on the intense workloads of manga artists and voice actors, serving as a stark reminder of the importance of health and work-life balance.
via： togetter