Concept of Soyogi Fractal
A multidimensional character project that brings together all of my experiences and that I am dedicating my life to— that is “Soyogi Fractal.”
The project aims to expand the creative community by producing music and videos centered on the character “Soyogi Soyogi,” through collaboration with creators connected to me, Yuki Kaji.
After going through the COVID-19 pandemic, I began to ask myself, “What kind of expression is possible precisely because I’m a voice actor?”
As I reflected on my age and career, I strongly felt a desire to leave something behind.
This project also stems from a desire to give back to the voice acting and anime industries that raised me.
And above all, I want to create a place where anyone—professional or amateur—can freely create what they love with like-minded people, without constraints.
I want to realize a space where everyone can enjoy creation and contribute to a culture that resonates globally.
Through regular music and illustration contests featuring Soyogi, we also hope to give opportunities to talented, undiscovered creators.
When “Soyogi Fractal” merges with your ideas—the possibilities become infinite.
Of course, it's not just about collaborating with famous creators.
If you’ve taken an interest in this project, we’d love to create something together—with you.
The term was born from an ideal of a creative unit: like a fractal geometric pattern, where creators who share the same vision come together, and the works they create—when viewed from a bird’s-eye perspective—form a completely new shape that has never existed before.
A fractal is defined by its “self-similarity.” Interpreted loosely, it means that the individual is part of the whole, and the whole is made up of individuals. In this way, it represents the dynamic energy of “expansion and contraction.”
From “Soyogi Soyogi” to creators.
From creators to society.
And from society back to “Soyogi Soyogi.”
I believe creative inspiration flows in a cycle, evolving into ever more unique and captivating expressions. Ripples, patterns—shapes that no single person could create alone. The collective that can produce them is what I call “Soyogi Fractal.” I believe such a community is essential in our digital age.
Another inspiration comes from the theory that my voice’s characteristic “1/f fluctuation” also belongs to the fractal family in terms of sound waveforms.
(“1/f fluctuation” refers to a frequency said to bring calm and comfort to the human brain and heart—like the sound of a crackling fire, candle flame, stream, or rustling leaves.)
In the long term, we envision expanding this project into multiple dimensions—possibly even into anime and games—to bring new life to the world of entertainment. The road ahead is long, and the goals are ambitious, but dreaming doesn’t cost a thing. I invite you to take a peek inside my imagination.
The ultimate goal of this project is to shape the world of “Soyogi Soyogi” together with all of you and to create a comprehensive platform where anyone can enjoy the act of creation.
Since the release of YAMAHA’s “VOCALOID” in 2004, the Japanese music scene has undergone several revolutions.
With the emergence of characters that can sing a song perfectly in your place if you hand them sheet music, it’s no exaggeration to say that a great deal of Japanese entertainment now begins with voice synthesis software.
As you may know, the most important element in voice synthesis is, of course, the ‘voice.’
So why wouldn’t a ‘voice actor’—someone who has trained and specialized in voice—be the one to make use of this incredible tool powered by voices?
I believe that by creating singing voice synthesis software with their own voice, voice actors can vastly expand the potential of this field.
I am fortunate to make a living as a voice actor, but with age, and each time I strain my throat through work, I become increasingly aware of changes in my vocal cords.
What if I could preserve my current voice in the form of a singing voice synthesizer?
What would happen in 10 or 20 years—or even in an era long after I’m gone?
There’s something endlessly romantic about that idea.
Perhaps a version of myself who no longer exists in this world could still participate in the creation of new works.
In other words, a kind of intangible—and everlasting—legacy.
While AI has made remarkable advances, it has also sparked heated debate across various fields. One major issue emerging from its rapid spread is the lack of protection surrounding voice rights. The internet is overflowing with unauthorized and illegal voice deepfakes. I myself have come across such videos more times than I’d like.
Characters brought to life by the blood, sweat, and tears of countless creators are being disrespected and distorted. That’s how I see it. It’s a clear lack of love and respect for the creators.
And perhaps more problematic than the videos themselves are the people who upload them without guilt—and those who consume them without question. This reveals a deep erosion of moral and ethical awareness. It’s not that AI itself is good or evil—it all depends on how humans use it.
That is precisely why I believe we must coexist with AI, not fight against it. When I asked myself, “What does it mean to engage with AI the right way?”—this voice AI project, ‘Soyogi Fractal,’ was born from my perspective as a voice actor.
If creators are given access to a high-quality, officially authorized voice software, protected by clear guidelines, they can use it freely in creative ways. Audiences, in turn, can enjoy those works freely, without guilt or hesitation.
As a voice actor—especially when performing in reading plays—I strongly feel the unique power of voice and sound as limited forms of expression. There is a kind of freedom in a world that doesn’t rely on visuals. With just a single word, you can bring peace—or intense anxiety. Just as the word “kotodama” (the spirit of words) suggests, I believe that voice carries an extraordinary power. And those who are trained to express with their voice—we call them ‘voice actors.’
That’s why I want to keep exploring the infinite possibilities of voice through “Soyogi Fractal,” and share this journey with people all over the world, transcending cultures and language barriers.
Today, we hear more and more discussions about how to approach AI. There are many issues we’ll have to resolve along the way. Still, I believe we should not oppose AI, but learn to coexist with it. AI itself isn’t inherently good or evil—it all depends on how we humans choose to use it. I hope that through this project, I can help address the chaotic situation around voice rights, and also contribute to establishing proper rules within the generative AI industry.
At the same time, while I am passionate about digital projects like these, I also want to fully embrace analog expressions as well. Especially in this era of rapid growth in new forms of entertainment, we must not neglect what we can learn from simple, direct content like reading performances. Only when both sides come together can we create truly compelling entertainment—that’s what I believe.