You might not know her name. You probably wouldn’t recognize her face. But if Ikue Otani were to speak just one simple word, you’d immediately know who she is. “Pika-CHU!” That’s right; Otani is the voice of everyone’s favorite Pokemon character, Pikachu. As one of Japan’s most in-demand seiyuu, or voice actors, Otani has brought dozens of anime characters to life.

I’d been warned about the craziness that is the morning rush hour in Japan, but I definitely underestimated its severity.

Hello! My name is Elle Chu, and I’m interning with Manga University for this fall semester. As a native Californian, seasonal Boston inhabitant and current Japanese expat, I’ve been doing a lot of traveling lately. 

Manga University is the educational imprint of Japanime Company Ltd., a publishing company based in Kawaguchi, Japan, with offices in California. Our company motto, "Educating With Art," reflects our commitment to creating products that are wholesome, informative and fun. We love manga, and believe it can — and should —€ be used for more than just great entertainment.