In Japan, the anime industry is said to be one of the major pillars of the Japanese economy, and a strong representative of Japanese culture abroad. Among the many behind-the-scenes heroes in this industry, becoming a voice actor is a type of dream career similar to being an idol for those who are fans of Japanese animation. In the fiercely competitive voice actor industry, which emphasizes persistence and luck, what is the kind of person who can reach the top and gain great notoriety among fans? Today we will see some examples of the elite of Japan’s voice acting world.
How do Voice Actors Start Their Careers?
The essential career path for many Japanese voice actors, or seiyuu, includes going to specialized schools and/or courses, and then participating in as many interviews as possible for many different series during school and after graduation. Those who are lucky enough to be selected can take the first step to becoming a voice actor with dubbing jobs. At this point, many prospective voice actors will choose to join companies related to voice acting work, hoping to get more illustrious positions through these experiences. As new voice actors develop positive relationships with companies/people in the industry, they can then rely on these connections to expand their publicity and voice acting work prospects. As the number of completed jobs increases, the popularity of the voice actor should naturally increase as well.
The 5 Most Popular Voice Actors in Japan!
When thinking of well-known voice actors, It is almost certain that any of your friends who are Japanese anime experts have heard or at least seen the names of the following five voice actors. They are all immensely popular voice actors who have been active in the industry for a long time!
Hiroshi Kamiya
This male Japanese voice actor and singer affiliated with Aoni Production and the record company Kiramune. His personal favorite colors are red and purple. His work includes appearances in the masterpiece series Attack on Titan as Captain Levi, in Haikyu!! as Ittetsu Takeda, and in Natsume’s Book of Friends as the main protagonist Takashi Natsume, along with many other unforgettable roles.
Mamoru Miyano
Mamoru Miyano is a male Japanese voice actor, singer, and actor, represented by the Himawari Theatre Group agency, and King Records record company. He has appeared in the annual NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen singing event while concurrently working as a seiyuu, and stays active in the world of performing arts, such as in the opera industry. His roles include appearances in the well-known Yowamushi Pedal series as Shin Yoshimoto, Steins;Gate as Rintarou Okabe, and Chihayafuru as Taichi Majima.
Akira Ishida
A male voice actor who currently belongs to the agency Peerless Gerbera. In the recent hit series Demon Slayer he played the demon Akaza. Other roles include a part in the masterpiece series Mobile Suit Gundam SEED as Athrun Zala, and his role as Kaworu Nagisa in the eternally popular Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise.
Kana Hanazawa
A Japanese female voice actor, actor, and singer, who is represented by Office Osawa. She recently announced her marriage to fellow voice actor Kensho Ono back in 2020. Hanazawa is known for having played the role of Rize Kamishiro in Tokyo Ghoul, having appeared in Angel Beats! as Kanade Tachibana, and her work as Kosaki Onodera in the Nisekoi series.
Miyuki Sawashiro
A female voice actor who belongs to the Aoni Production talent agency. Her most notable works include appearing the popular Sword Art Online as Sinon, in the Hunter x Hunter series as Kurapika, and in the 2012 Evangelion series film Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo as the role of Sakura Suzuhara, with much too many other credits to her name to list here!
Of course, there are many other famous top-quality voice actors in the Japanese voice acting industry than those who we covered today! If you want to find goods related to the series that these Japanese voice actors have worked on, the Buyee website is the place to start your search!
