Manar Elbaz
DUBAI: The Japanese voice actresses of Pokémon’s Ash Ketchum and Misty, Rica Matsumoto and Mayumi Iizuka, held a meet and greet in Dubai on June 1–2 as they celebrated the iconic anime throughout the two days with Middle Eastern fans.
The stars greeted fans at Times Square Center’s Speedy Comics and signed Pokémon-related items. Additionally, the store held cosplay and trading card game (TCG) competitions where the voice actresses announced and greeted the winners individually.
Matsumoto held her first meet and greet in Dubai in 2023. She told Arab News Japan that she was delighted to return and meet Pokémon enthusiasts once again.
“Though Dubai is far away, I feel like our hearts are close,” the voice actress shared. “Some kids (who came to see me last year) have grown up in one year. I’m glad I’m here again.”
On the other hand, this visit marks Iizuka’s first time in the UAE. “I wanted to come to this place so much. It is a pleasure to meet everyone. I’m very pleased,” the actress told Arab News Japan.
Pokémon gained popularity in the Middle East after being dubbed in Arabic in the 1990s, making it an essential part of Arab kids’ childhood. Iizuka believes the show resonates with Middle Eastern fans because of the way the anime perfectly captures people’s connections to each other.
“(Pokémon) is more about love and the idea of human connection,” she said. “The theme of this work (and its) foundation (is) in the hearts of everyone in this place. (The audience) all have love and are connected. I feel (the connection) so much here.”
Matsumoto, who has been voicing Ash Ketchum for more than two decades, believes that Pokémon’s theme speaks to the GCC audience.
“The people of Dubai (like) travelling and adventure, so that part of it is great. I think (that’s why they) loved it,” the voice actress told Arab News Japan.
Besides acting, Matsumoto is also a singer and has performed a variety of opening songs for Pokémon, such as ‘Mezase Pokemon Master,’ and ‘Yajirushi ni Natte!’.
She is currently focused on her musical career, as she is performing the ending song of the popular Japanese television show ‘Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger.’
“Even if the language and everything are different, music conveys so much,” she told Arab News Japan.
The two actresses told Arab News Japan that they look forward to returning to the GCC in the future and reunite with their Arab fans.
“I came to this place like this today (and received) your passionate thoughts and feelings. The fact that you can deliver it to us means that we can deliver it to you,” Iizuka told Arab News Japan. “I wish I could deliver my thoughts to all of you, (and) I would like to come back.”