"But You Have a Body, Don't You!"... Anime "The World Is Dancing" Episode 2: Showers of Praise for Legendary Voice Actress Miyuki Sawashiro's Soul-Stirring Performance

Episode 2 of the Noh-themed anime "The World Is Dancing" has been airing sequentially since July 9. Voice actress Miyuki Sawashiro is receiving immense praise for her performance in a scene where a Shirabyōshi, who does not even know if she will survive until tomorrow, pleads with the protagonist Oniyasha (CV: Yumiri Hanamori), saying, "Don't make me laugh by saying you have no talent. But you have a body, don't you!"

A Shirabyōshi refers to traditional female dancers who wore male attire and performed songs and dances that became popular from the late Heian period to the Kamakura period, or the dancers themselves. In Episode 2, "But You Have a Body, Don't You," Oniyasha, captivated by the dance of a Shirabyōshi living in a dilapidated barn, frequently visits her in an attempt to uncover her secret.

The Shirabyōshi is sickly and seems to barely survive by selling her body to obtain food. When Oniyasha laments, "I have no talent," the Shirabyōshi bursts into laughter, saying, "I've been listening to you, but what exactly do I have?" She then looks intently into Oniyasha's eyes and pleads, "Why do I dance? To live as a human being! Because that's the only path for entertainers like us!", followed by, "Don't make me laugh by saying you have no talent. But you have a body, don't you!"

Although the Shirabyōshi does not have a large amount of screen time in the story, she is a vital presence who prompts Oniyasha to ponder, "Why do people dance?" Regarding her role as the Shirabyōshi, voice actress Miyuki Sawashiro commented, "Living a comfortable life without ever worrying about food or shelter, I felt an overwhelming sense of doubt about how closely I could truly connect with her... yet, I was so captivated by the way her soul craves life that I found myself drawn to her." It appears that many viewers were deeply moved by her performance.

Online, a storm of praise erupted with comments such as, "Miyuki Sawashiro is simply the best...", "Miyuki Sawashiro's fierce and haunting portrayal of the Shirabyōshi was incredible," "With the animation already being visually perfect, adding Miyuki Sawashiro's voice acting is like giving a iron club to an ogre (making it invincible)," and "As expected, Miyuki Sawashiro's acting is just on a completely different level!!!!!!!!"