We discuss the 10 Best Japanese Voice Actors in Anime. Check out this comprehensive list discussing the absolute best in the industry.
Japanese voice actors, known as seiyus, bring characters to life with their unique talent and convincing voices. Anime characters have unique voices that allow fans to recognize them instantly.
Without their real identities being seen, Japanese voice actors help shape anime to be as popular as it is today, thanks to their impressive abilities.
Anime is aimed at adults as well as children. It has many different genres and exciting plot points for people of all ages to enjoy. Here are 10 of the best Japanese voice actors in anime.
10 Best Japanese Voice Actors in Anime
Mamoru Miyano
Mamoru Miyano began voice acting in 1990. He is best known for playing Light Yagami in the series Death Note. He is a recipient of multiple awards, such as “best musical performance” in the Sixth and Eighth Seiyu Awards.
His performance in Death Note earned him a nomination for Best Lead Actor and Best New Actor at the first Seiyu Awards in 2007. Miyano’s notable roles also include Rin Matsuoka in Free! and Osamu Dazai in Bungo Stray Dogs.
In addition to voice acting, Miyano is also a singer. In 2009, he released his debut album, “Break.”
Yuki Kaiji
Yuki Kaiji is a voice actor and singer. He is known for playing Eren Jaeger in Attack on Titan, a huge hit in the anime industry. Another notable role from Kaiji is Shoto Todoroki in My Hero Academia.
He has also appeared in Demon Slayer, Pokemon, and The Seven Deadly Sins the Movie: Prisoners of the Sky. Kaiji won the Best Rookie Actor Award at the 3rd Seiyu Awards and won the Best Voice Actor Award at both the 7th and 8th Seiyu Awards.
As a singer, Kaiji was part of the four-person singing group G.Addict, which was part of the Goulart Knights project.
Ikue Otani
Ikue Otani is known for playing cute, young characters. Her most notable role is the lovable Pikachu, Ash Ketchum’s companion in Pokémon. OLM, the Japanese animation studio responsible for animating Pokémon, was impressed with Otani’s voice work.
Originally, they hadn’t planned for the Pokemon to say their own names but were amazed by her ability to do so and make Pikachu come to life. Otani is also known for playing Konohamaru Sarutobi in Naruto.
Megumi Hayashibara
Megumi Hayashibara is a voice actress, singer, lyricist, and radio personality. She was one of Japan’s most famous voice actresses in the 1990s. She’s played some of the most well-known anime roles in the genre’s history. These include Rei Ayanami in Neon Genesis Evangelion and Faye Valentine in Cowboy Bebop.
Hayashibara also voiced many roles in Pokémon. These include Jessie of Team Rocket, Ash’s Pidgeotto and Pidgeot, and May’s Skitty.
Romi Park
Romi Park is a Korean-Japanese voice actress known for playing aggressive female and intelligent male characters. One of her most notable roles is Edward Elric in Fullmetal Alchemist. Other notable roles include Temari in Naruto, Ragyo Kiryuin in Kill la Kill, and Zoe Hange in Attack on Titan. In addition, Park has provided her voice for video game characters and Japanese dubs of popular media, including Guardians of the Galaxy and The Matrix Revolutions.
Yuichi Nakamura
Yuichi Nakamura is a voice actor, narrator, and YouTuber. He has acted in a variety of voice roles, most of which were male characters in their teens, 20s, and 30s. Nakamura is known for his calm and clear voice. He has extensive experience with narration.
However, he is also active in animation and dubbing in popular productions, such as Gray Fullbuster in Fairy Tail and Gai Tsutsugami in Guilty Crown.
His notable roles include Hawks in My Hero Academia, Gojo Satoru in Jujutsu Kaisen, Shigure Sohma in Fruits Basket, and Mumen Rider in One Punch Man.
Miyuki Sawashiro
Miyuki Sawashiro is the first and one of the only voice actors who has played the same role in both the Japanese and English versions of a show. She played Puchiko in Leave it to Piyoko. Other notable roles include Beelzebub in Beelzebub, Kurapika in Hunter x Hunter, and Sinon in Sword Art Online II.
Nana Mizuki
Nana Mizuki is a pop singer and a voice actor for video games and TV. She was trained as an enka singer and voices shy, timid female characters. Her most notable role is Hinata Hyuga in Naruto. Mizuki’s other roles include Saya Kisaragi in Blood-C and Wrath in Fullmetal Alchemist.
Mizuki released her first single, “Omoi” in 2000. A year later, she released her debut album, “Supersonic Girl.”
Maaya Sakamoto
Maaya Sakamoto is a prolific voice actor, singer, and theater actor. She is well-known for playing Eponine in the Japanese version of Les Miserables. Sakamoto has played many characters across genres, including Haruhi Fujioka in Ouran High School Host Club, Shinobu Oshino in Monogatari, and Hitomi Kanzaki in The Vision of Escaflowne.
Junichi Sawabe
Junichi Sawabe is an award-winning actor who gained recognition for his supporting roles in popular anime. He is known for playing Shoto Aizawa in My Hero Academia and Grimmjow in Bleach. Sawabe has also given his dubbing services to acclaimed Korean actor Gong Yoo, who starred in the Netflix series Squid Game and the 2016 horror film Train to Busan.
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