A Spectacular Celebration: LaLa's 50th Anniversary Voice Comic Live Event Takes Center Stage

On February 8, 2026, Humax Entertainment hosted an extraordinary event in celebration of the 50th anniversary of LaLa, the beloved shojo manga magazine. The event, entitled "Tokimeki♡RomCom Festival," took place at Ikebukuro's HUMAX Cinemas. The day was marked by an unexpected mix of snowfall, yet the venue was nearly full, buzzing with excitement as fans anticipated this fresh form of entertainment.

A Unique Concept

What set this event apart from usual live readings was its concept of a "new voice acts recording studio visit." Attendees became part of the performance, sitting as "new voice actors" and not only observing but also participating in the recording of stories. This innovative, participatory experience greatly impressed audiences and introduced a new way to engage with live performances.

Stage Report: The Art of Live Voice Acting

The stage was designed to resemble a recording studio, showcasing the unique interactions and technical skills of the voice actors, from mic techniques to script managing. The showcase featured two works, Sore demo Otouto wa Koi Shitagaru (by Mika Hayase) and Shini Modori Reijou no Ruchetta (by Shino Amano). The skilled performances of the voice actors breathed life into the voice comic visuals projected on a giant screen.

W-Cast System: Different Interpretations Across Performances

One of the most notable features of this event was the 'W-Cast' system, where main cast members exchanged roles between the afternoon and evening performances. This provided audiences with varied interpretations of the same character, much to the delight of fans who attended both showings.

In Sore demo Otouto wa Koi Shitagaru, heroine Nana Inoue was voiced by Hana Shukai, with her brother, Nariito, portrayed by Yuuto Uemura in the afternoon and Junya Enoki in the evening. Audience feedback included praise about Uemura's interpretation, which encapsulated the essence of a big brother in early adolescence, while Enoki's performance highlighted the character's suppressed emotions.

Similarly, in Shini Modori Reijou no Ruchetta, protagonist Ruchetta (voiced by Kaede Hondo) and her fiancé Kyle (voiced by Junya Enoki in the afternoon and Takeshi Kajiwara in the evening) demonstrated the differences in their chemistry. Attendees remarked on how Enoki’s portrayal exuded a charming clumsiness, while Kajiwara presented an elegant yet tsundere character. This dynamic mix of comedic and romantic moments kept the audience engaged.

Audience Participation: An Immersive Experience

The feedback on the event's interactive format, where the audience was treated as "new voice actors," was predominantly positive, achieving a satisfaction score of 98 out of 100. During specific scenes, under direction from the sound supervisor, attendees participated and became part of the story’s world, creating an experience that stood apart from traditional viewing events.

Several audience members expressed their joy at feeling like contributors to the production, with comments such as, "Being part of creating the work instead of just viewing it was an amazing experience!" and "It felt like a dream to share the stage with my favorite voice actors!"

After the show, an after-talk session was organized in the style of a 'post-recording wrap party,' where attendees raised glasses with signature drinks and shared the event’s lingering atmosphere with the performers.

Highlights from Audience Feedback

A post-event survey (n=92) revealed exceptional satisfaction levels across all aspects:

- Overall Performance: 88
- Direction Contents: 98
- Voice Comic Visuals: 98
- Original Lineup: 96
- Food and Beverage Options: 90

In terms of direction content and visual quality, stellar scores reflected a high level of achievement in offering new forms of entertainment. Quotes from attendees included, "It felt like I was peeking into a recording session while being part of it too! I was deeply moved by the professional techniques I could see up close!" and "The cast's varied deliveries made even identical lines sound completely different; attending both shows was definitely worth it!"

Conclusion

This VOICE COMIC LIVE event, commemorating LaLa’s 50th anniversary, successfully transcended traditional reading shows by inviting the audience to become co-stars in an engaging and memorable experience. With the synchronization of visuals and performances fostering a strong sense of unity throughout the venue, it proved to be a rewarding event not only for the original work’s fans but also for voice actor enthusiasts. With another performance scheduled for March, hopes for continued excitement are high as feedback from this event reverberates in anticipation of what lies ahead.

Upcoming Event Information

For those who enjoyed the experience, stay tuned for more VOICE COMIC LIVE events coming in March, promising yet another thrilling opportunity to engage with your favorite stories and voice actors.

Event Cast List (February 8 Performance):
Sore demo Otouto wa Koi Shitagaru
- Nana Inoue: Hana Shukai
- Nariito Inoue: Yuuto Uemura (Afternoon) / Junya Enoki (Evening)
- Others: Daisuke Hirose, Mei Mochida, Yuuma Nanba, Yurin Fujiwara
Shini Modori Reijou no Ruchetta
- Ruchetta: Kaede Hondo
- Kyle: Junya Enoki (Afternoon) / Takeshi Kajiwara (Evening)
- Others: Daisuke Hirose, Kaede Kamiyama, Yuuma Nanba, Yurin Fujiwara

Company Overview:
Humax Entertainment, located at 3-20-2 Nishi-Shinjuku, Tokyo, led by CEO Mitsuo Akimoto, operates in various entertainment fields, from theater and live houses to media production and post-production services. Humax Entertainment Official Site.