Voice is the very emblem of any anime character. Even though anime portrays various expressions, voicing is essential for the character’s appearance. Voice acting can be important because lip-syncing is impossible while watching anime. Beautiful voice gives life to the anime characters by adding warm and positive characteristics. A solid or cute voice leaves us with a more significant impression than monotonous tones. That being the case, voice actors play a pivotal role in the success of an anime. Here are the top ten Japanese voice actors and actresses from the major anime of 2021-2022.
1. Natsuki Hanae
Topping the list of top ten Japanese voice actors, Natsuki Hanae, who voices Tanjiro Kamado from Demon Slayer, is a renowned voice actor for playing many young shonen protagonists like Kaneki Ken and 9s. The actor has played more than 140 characters in anime, movies, and video games. He won the Best Rookie Award in 2015 for his works on the character Inaho Kaizhua. Hanae earned the Best Lead Actor Award at the 14th Seiyuu Awards in 2020 for playing the role of Tanjiro. He has been active in the voice industry since 2011 and is still actively playing roles for upcoming anime.
2. Hiroshi Kamiya
Did you notice that Yato from Noragami and Levi Ackerman from Attack On Titan have the same voice? Hiroshi Kamiya has voiced protagonist roles like Saiki K, Ranpo, Ittetsu Takeda, etc. He is known for crediting 203 characters. Hiroshi Kamiya has won Best Personality, Best Lead Actor, and Best Supporting Actor awards in the 3rd and 2nd Seiyuu Awards, respectively. Not only is Hiroshi a voice actor, but also a singer and a narrator. Kamiya hosts many radio talk shows.
3. Atsumi Tanizaki
Are there anime fans who haven’t fallen for SPY x FAMILY’s Anya’s “Waku Waku”? Atsumi Tanizaki is one of the prominent voice actresses in the Japanese Voicing industry. Tanizaki has voiced a variety of anime, movies, and video games. Her other works include Tome Kurata from Mob Psycho, Emporio from JoJo Bizzare Adventures, and Sayuri Hanayori from Seraph of the End. The first anime character she voiced was Asako Natsume from ‘The Little Monsters.’ The actress was inspired by watching Sailor Moon and decided to take up acting. Now, she successfully runs as one of the top voice actors in Japan.
4. Konomi Kohara
Voice acting characters like the famous Chika Fujiwara from Kaguya Sama Love is War to one of Tanjiro’s younger sisters Hanako Kamado, Konomi Kohara is a looming voice actress. She has a credit of 40 roles and has taken up many more parts in the future. Also known for Chitose Kaginoji, the actress started her career in 2016 and began to get essential parts later. Being neither a singer nor a performer, Konomi went viral for the famous Chika Fujiwara’s dance Chikatto Chika Chika song from Love is War anime at the end of episode three. The anime tops the top ten list of best anime in 2022 so far.
5. Yuichi Nakamura
Are there any anime fans without knowing Gojo Satoru? Gojo from Jujutsu Kaisen, Gray Fullbuster from “Fairy Tail,” and Hawks from Boku no Hero Academia are some of the characters played by Yuichi Nakamura. He has contributed his voice for over 350 anime characters since 2001. Yuichi is an active voice actor with many awards, such as the Best Voice Actor and Voice Actor Of The Year honors in 2008 and 2016, respectively. He owns a Youtube Channel and does talk shows, gaming content, and live for paid memberships. Yuichi has also dubbed Hollywood movies like Avengers, Hunger Games, Game of Thrones, etc.
6. Oji Suzuka
Oji Suzuka is a young actor and an upcoming voice actor. His role as Miyamura in the Horimiya anime series is a popular hit for him, making the anime take place in the top ten anime lists of 2021. Natsu e no tunnel, Sayonara no Deguchi, an upcoming anime movie, the leading role of Kaoru Tono is voiced by Oji Suzuka. The film is to be released late in September 2022. Oji Suzuka has also acted in Japanese movies and dramas such as Roppongi Class, Close Tail: Detective Academy, and Dragon Sakura. A Japanese monthly men’s magazine, “Men’s Non-no,” has spotlighted Oji Suzuka as an exclusive model.
7. Kanata Aikawa
A dream come true of an 11-year-old girl who watched anime and dreamt of becoming a voice actor someday, Kanata Aikawa bloomed into the voice industry in 2017. The seventeen-year-old voice actress voices "Ai Ohto," the lead female protagonist from Wonder Egg Priority and the youngest voice actor in the anime’s cast. Kanata is also playing the role of Suzu Naumiya in the anime “Idoly Pride” from 2021. She likes to read, sing and speak English. Kanata stated that her favorite anime is Seven Deadly Sins.
8. Kenta Miyake
Kenta Miyake is a significant Pokemon voice actor. He has voiced both Pokemon and human characters in the anime. From Team Rocket Leader Giovanni to Ash’s Donphan, Miyake has played various roles in the Pokemon anime series. He has also dubbed for characters from major anime like All Might from Boku No Hero Academia, Shirogane Hiko from Bleach, Mohammed Avdol from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders, and Boro from Boruto: Next Generations. Kenta won the Best Supporting Actor award in the year 2019. Vector the Crocodile from Sonic the Hedgehog series is one of his famous works.
9. Kana Hanazawa
From a junior idol, Kana Hanazawa broke through her acting and captured hundreds of minds by entering the voice industry by voicing famous female lead and supporting characters like Mitsuri from Demon Slayer, Akane Tsunemori from Psycho-Pass, Chibori Urayasu from Goodbye DonGlees, and much more! She is married to another Japanese voice actor and singer Kensho Ono. Kana has won Best Voice Actress awards in the years 2010, 2015, and 2018 by various productions. Kana originally debuted as a child actress, and later, after graduating from college, she took up her voice acting career as a full-time job.
10. Nobuhiko Okamoto
Intimidating characters like Bakugo from Boku No Hero Academia, Karma Akabane from Assassination Classroom, and Genya Shinazugawa from Demon Slayer is voiced by Nobuhiko Okamoto, a voice actor and singer from Tokyo. Throughout his career, Nobuhiko has voiced 225 characters. He has won the Best New Actor and Best Supporting Actor awards in the third and fifth Seiyuu Awards, respectively. He has performed the ending song “14 to 1” of the anime Brothers Conflict and also played the role of Asahina Hikaru in the same anime. He has an agency, namely “Raccoon Dogs.” Nobuhiko and Ryohei Kimura together host a show named Dengeki Girl's Smile.
