It's "Kono," Not "Takano"! Voice Actress Marika Kono Explains Her Name Pronunciation in Response to JRA Trainer's Post

Voice actress Marika Kono updated her X account. She quoted and reposted a post by JRA trainer Kazuhiro Kato (Kazuhiro Kato Stable), commenting on the pronunciation of her own name, which has become a topic of conversation.

Kato is a former jockey affiliated with JRA Miho and currently a trainer running his stable at the same training center. In 1985, he rode Sirius Symboli, a character appearing in "Umamusume: Pretty Derby," and won the "Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby)."

In response to Kato's post that said "Isn't the voice actress for Silence Suzuka super beautiful?", Kono pretended to be a fan and agreed, saying "I know, right?" In addition to the cuteness of the character Silence Suzuka (CV: Marika Kono), she commented on the performer as well, saying "The consideration for the role seems to be reflected in her beauty." She also explained about her own name with humor, saying "It's not read as 'Takano,' but as 'Kono Marika.' I'd be happy if you could remember that."

The post was accompanied by an off-shot from her appearance on "Paka Live TV," the official live streaming program for "Umamusume: Pretty Derby." She wore a costume resembling the Tracen Academy uniform from "Umamusume: Pretty Derby," based on vivid blue and white colors, with green ear decorations attached to her head. The photo captured her adorable standing pose with both hands raised in a cat-like gesture and one leg lifted.

In response to this post, fans praised her with comments like "Marinka herself is incredibly, extremely, supremely cute," "Marinka's Suzuka costume suits her so well," and "Marinka's stance here is so strong." Additionally, comments expressing surprise at the direct response from the person herself, such as "Huh? Wait? Is this really her?????" were also posted.

"Umamusume: Pretty Derby" is a multimedia content where "Umamusume" (Horse Girls) with horse ears and tails, who inherit the names and souls of real racehorses, aim for victory in races. It has been developed across multiple platforms including games, anime, music, and manga adaptations, and particularly since the game version's release in 2021, it has gained support to the extent of causing a social phenomenon. The passionate drama woven by the uniquely characterized Umamusume continues to captivate fans.