Akira Kamiya facts for kids

Akira Kamiya (神谷 明, Kamiya Akira), born on September 18, 1946, is a famous Japanese voice actor. He has given his voice to many well-known characters in Japanese anime and manga TV shows. Some of his most famous roles include Kenshiro in Fist of the North Star, Ryo Saeba in City Hunter, Shutaro Mendo in Urusei Yatsura, and Kogoro Mori in Detective Conan (from 1996 to 2009). In anime featuring giant robots, known as mecha anime, he voiced characters like Ryoma Nagare in Getter Robo and Roy Focker in The Super Dimension Fortress Macross.

Akira Kamiya's Life Story

Early Years and Dreams

Akira Kamiya was born in Yokohama, Japan. When he was young, his parents divorced, and his mother raised him and his brother. Because his mother had to find work, they moved often, and he attended many different schools.

During his school years, a friend invited him to join the drama club. His friend thought Akira had a "good voice." Even though becoming an actor was very difficult, Akira told his mother, "I want to be an actor. I will do my best because it's the path I chose myself." After finishing high school, he joined an amateur theater group in Yokohama.

Becoming a Voice Actor

Akira Kamiya started his career as an anime voice actor in 1970. His first role was Senkichi in the TV anime Mahō no Mako-chan. Soon after, he got his first regular role as Sasuke Yashima in Akakichi no Eleven. He became known for his powerful "scream" in the show Babel II.

He voiced many main characters in robot anime shows, like Ryoma Nagare in Getter Robo. People even called him "Screaming Kamiya" because of his famous shouts for special moves. He also appeared in TV commercials for the Super Robot Wars video game series.

In the 1980s, Akira Kamiya voiced characters in many popular anime series that came from Weekly Shōnen Jump comics. These included Kinnikuman, Fist of the North Star, and City Hunter. Many of these shows became very long-running, and the characters he voiced during this time are often seen as his most important work.

He has also narrated many commercials and TV shows. For example, he narrated hero show commercials for Tokyo Dome City Attractions for over 20 years. His talent has been recognized with awards, including the Animage's Grand Prix prize for Most Popular Voice Actor many times. In 2017, he was ranked 22nd in a TV Asahi special called "200 Popular Voice Actors Seriously Selected!"

Other Activities

Besides voice acting, Akira Kamiya was a bass player in a musical group called Slapstick in the 1970s and 80s. He also worked as a radio host for "All Night Nippon," being the first voice actor to have a regular show there. He even released a duet song with fellow voice actor Mitsuko Horie.

After the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in 1995, he helped form a charity group called "WITH YOU" to support those affected.

Voice Acting Roles

Akira Kamiya has voiced characters in hundreds of animated shows, movies, and video games. Here are some of his most famous roles:

Anime TV Shows

• 1970: Mahō no Mako-chan as Senkichi
• 1973: Babel II as Koichi Furumi (Babel II)
• 1974: Getter Robo as Ryoma Nagare
• 1975: Brave Raideen as Akira Hibiki
• 1976: Gaiking as Sanshirō Tsuwabuki
• 1978: Space Pirate Captain Harlock as Tadashi Daiba
• 1978: Tōshō Daimos as Kazuya Ryūzaki
• 1981: Beast King GoLion as Prince Sincline
• 1981–1986: Urusei Yatsura as Shutaro Mendo
• 1982: The Super Dimension Fortress Macross as Roy Focker
• 1983: Kinnikuman as Kinnikuman (Kinniku Suguru)
• 1984–1988: Hokuto no Ken as Kenshiro
• 1986–1988: Maison Ikkoku as Shun Mitaka
• 1987–1999: City Hunter series and specials as Ryo Saeba
• 1994: Sailor Moon S as Prof. Souichi Tomoe
• 1996–2009: Detective Conan as Kogoro Mori (Episodes 1-548)
• 2005–2006: Angel Heart as Ryo Saeba
• 2020: The Millionaire Detective Balance: Unlimited as Chōsuke Nakamoto

Anime Movies

• 1978: Ringing Bell as Chirin
• 1980: Toward the Terra as Seki Ray Shiroe
• 1984: Macross: Do You Remember Love? as Roy Focker
• 1986: Fist of the North Star as Kenshiro
• 1989: City Hunter: .357 Magnum as Ryo Saeba
• 1989: Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone as Garlic Jr.
• 1994: Pom Poko as Tamasaburo
• 1997–2009: Case Closed: The Time Bombed Skyscraper and other Detective Conan films as Kogoro Mori
• 2019: City Hunter the Movie: Shinjuku Private Eyes as Ryo Saeba
• 2021: Child of Kamiari Month as Ōkuninushi
• 2023: City Hunter The Movie: Angel Dust as Ryo Saeba

Video Games

• 1995–2000: Fist of the North Star games as Kenshiro
• 1996: Tobal No. 1 as Gren Kuts
• 1997–2003: Macross games as Roy Focker
• 1998–2007: Detective Conan games as Kogoro Mori
• 2002: Kingdom Hearts as Iago
• 2019: Jump Force as Ryo Saeba
• 2023: Master Detective Archives: Rain Code as Number One

Other Voice Work

Akira Kamiya has also dubbed many foreign films into Japanese. He voiced Iago in the Disney movie Aladdin and its sequels. He also voiced characters played by famous actors like Matthew Modine, Matthew Broderick, Mel Gibson, John Travolta, and Pierce Brosnan in their Japanese dubbed versions.

Awards and Recognition

Akira Kamiya has won the Anime Grand Prix: Most Popular Voice Actor of the Year award 11 times. This shows how much his work is loved by fans.

See also

In Spanish: Akira Kamiya para niños