Not only in Japan but the “Anime Industry” has its remarkably dedicated fan base worldwide. This genre has such an impact over a wide age group of audience, whether it is young kids, teens or even grown-up adults. Be it for a wide variety of story genres, beautiful and amazing animations, to learn the Japanese language, or be it simply to have fun and entertainment, different anime audience has their own set of preferences and reasons for watching Anime.
Along with all the above-mentioned features, there’s one more feature about anime that makes it even more satisfactory, cool and fun to watch, i.e, their Characters’ Voices. According to a survey on MyAnimeList.com, millions of fans over the globe, despite the language barrier, choose to watch Japanese voice-dubbed anime over other language-dubbed versions. That’s because no other language than Japanese portrays the real and appropriate feelings of that very anime dialogue. But creating this huge fan base and maintaining the legacy isn’t that easy, all the credit goes to the Japanese Voice Artists.
In Japan, the voice actors are called “Seiyuu”. And being a Seiyuu is a full-fledged and utmost respectable job. They’re remarked as proper artists and also have the popularity like any other music artist in the USA. As it’s said, “With great power and acknowledgement, comes the great responsibility”. This applies to the Seiyuu profession as well, because they undergo a lot of training, direction, and pressure as well to give a proper voice to the character and do justice with it. Despite such huge pressure and expectations, there are many worldwide popular Seiyuu. And this article is all about them. Following are the Top 10 Japanese Voice Actors for Anime:
1. Hiroshi Kamiya
Being in the Seiyuu industry for more than two decades, Hiroshi Kamiya is one of the famous and popular Anime Voice Artists of Japan. He has given his voice in hundreds of anime. You can also find him in the cast list of almost every famous anime in the past 20 years. There are many awards, accolades, and recognition of his name. He was awarded the “Most Popular Seiyuu” for four consecutive years.
He is well known for his voice of Levi from Attack on Titan, Izaya Orihara from Durarara!!!, Akashi Seijuuro from Kuroko No Basket, Trafalgar from One Piece, Yato from Noragami, Natsume from Natsume’s Book of Friends.
2. Yuki Kaji
The winner of the “Best New Actor” and the “Best Male Lead Role” in his debutant year in 2009, and that too again for two consecutive years in 2013 and 2014, Yuki has owned his fan base in the Anime world. Yuki started his voice acting in the year 2004 from the Ouran High School Host Club. Along with anime, he also hosts many web radio and podcast shows.
He is well known for his voice of Eren Jaeger from Attack on Titan, Yukine from Noragami, Kozume Kenma from Haikyuu!, Yamasaki Walker from Durarara!!!, Ayato from Tokyo Ghoul, Todoroki Shoto from My Hero Academia.
3. Daisuke Ono
It’s said that this Japanese voice artist has one of the hottest and sexiest voices in the Anime industry. Daisuke Ono works for the Mausu Production. He, along with Hiroshi Kamiya, has won the “Best Voice Actor” in the 4th Seiyuu Award, and has also won the “Best Personality in Radio” in the year 2015.
He is well known for the voice of Erwin Smith from Attack on Titans, Shizuo Heiwajima from Durarara!!!, Midorima Shintaro from Kuroko no Basket, Sebastian Michaelis from Black Butler, Shukuro Tsukishima from Bleach.
4. Mamoru Miyano
Mamoru Miyano who started his career in 1990, is considered to be one of the best and most prominent Seiyuu of the past two decades. His remarkable work in much famous anime gave him a huge fan following and popularity in the Anime Industry. Many say that a lot of anime survived only because of his impactful and expressive voice. Miyano has achieved the “Best Voice Actor” award at the Tokyo International Anime Fair 2008.
He is well known for the voice of Light Yagami from Death Note, Rintaro Okabe from Steins Gate, Shuu Tsukiyama from Tokyo Ghoul, Rin Matsuoka from Free!, Tamaki Suoh from Ouran High School Host Club, Osamu Dazai from Bungo Stray Dogs.
5. Romi Park
Not only males but females have their legacy and fandom in the Anime Voice Acting profession. Romi Park is one of the most prominent and also a senior figure among the female voice artists community of the Anime industry. She is Korean-Japanese by ethnicity but was born in Tokyo, Japan. Not only female characters, but she also has given her voice to many famous male characters in Anime.
She is well known for the voice of Temari from Naruto, Edward Elric from Fullmetal Alchemist, Toshiro Hitsugaya from Bleach, Zoe Hange from Attack on Titan, Ragyo Kiryuin from Kill la Kill.
6. Rie Kugimiya
Being called the “Queen of Tsundere,” Rie Kugimiya is another prominent and senior female Seiyuu of Japan. Because of her many notable role works in the “tsundere” genre, she gained the previously mentioned nickname among her Anime followers. She has won the “Best Actress Award” in the Third Seiyuu Awards.
She is well known for the voice of Taiga Aisaka from Toradora, Alphonse Elric from Fullmetal Alchemist, 001 in Darling in the FranXX, Kagura from Gintama, Louise from The Familiar of Zero.
7. Kana Hanazawa
Kana Hanazawa is one of the most popular Seiyuu who rose to fame in the past decade. Because of her vocal versatility, she has done a variety of roles and did justice to it. That’s why she has a dedicated fan base in the Anime Industry. Along with Seiyuu, Kana is also a singer and does many live performances, which adds more followers to her fan base and popularity.
She is known for the voice of Akane Tsunemori from Psycho-Pass, Rize Kamishiro from Tokyo Ghoul, Kanade from Angel Beats!, Hina Kawamoto from March Comes in Like a Lion.
8. Ikue Otani
Almost every person on the Earth has heard her voice at least once, because she is the voice of one of the most popular anime character, Pikachu. By saying just one word, Pikachu, in various expressions, Ikue Otani has gained worldwide popularity and fan base. Not only that, she has given her voice to many popular anime as well.
She is familiar with her voice of Pikachu from Pokémon series, Tony Tony Chopper from One Piece, Konohamaru Sarutobi from Naruto, Mitsuhiko Tsubaraya from Detective Conan.
9. Kenichi Suzumura
Giving his voice for more than three decades, Kenichi Suzumura is one of the senior Seiyuu of Japan. He is famous as “Suzuki” among his fans and fellow seiyuu. His light, cheerful voiced characters are much popular among the anime community. He married one of his fellow seiyuu, Maaya Sakamoto.
He is well known for the voice of Mikoshiba Momotaro from Free! , Lavi from D-Gray Man, Murasakibara Atsushi from Kuroko no Basket, Okita from Gintama, Rogue from Fairy Tale.
10. Miyuki Sawashiro
Another female Seiyuu who rose to fame and popularity in the past decade is Miyuki Sawashiro. She is one of the well-liked and popular anime voice artists of Japan. She is the only voice artist who has done the same roles in the Japanese as well as English-dubbed version of the anime, i.e, Puchiko from Leave It to Piyoko. She has also received the Special Jury Prize for her debut work Di Gi Charat.
She is well known for the voice of Celty Sturluson from Durarara!!!, Kurapika from Hunter X Hunter, Puchiko from Leave it to Piyoko, Beelzebub from Beelzebub, Sinon from Sword Art Online II.
