is a Japanese actor, narrator and singer from Shiogama, Miyagi Prefecture. He graduated from Tohoku Gakuin University's economics school and is currently affiliated with Across Entertainment. Before that, he was affiliated with the Tokyo Actor's Consumer's Cooperative Society.
He is known for his roles in Cowboy Bebop (as Spike Spiegel), the Yakuza videogame series (as Shun Akiyama), Shōwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjū (as Sukeroku), Ghost in the Shell (as Togusa), Neon Genesis Evangelion (as Ryoji Kaji), Gintama (as Shoyo Yoshida / Utsuro), Ninja Scroll (as Jūbei Kibagami), Dragon Ball Super (as Beerus), Anpanman (as Cheese), Ranma ½ (as Ryōga Hibiki/P-chan and the Jusenkyō Guide), Space Battleship Yamato 2199 (as Aberdt Desler), Pretty Cure All Stars DX 3 (as Black Hole) and Lupin III (as the official voice of Koichi Zenigata since 2011).Alicia Keys Plays Free Show in Tokyo, Japan Entertainment News – November 30, 2007 He's been in every Pokémon film to date, though always in different roles, the exception being movie 22, in which he reprised his role as Mew from the first movie, of which movie 22 is a remake. He also voiced Mew in some collateral projects. For Disney, he is the official dubbed voice of Donald Duck, Genie and Sebastian (among others) in Japanese.
In the live action field, he is the official dub-over artist of Will Smith (Yamadera met Smith several times), Eddie Murphy and Jim Carrey. He is also known for voicing Chris Tucker, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Robin Williams, Mike Myers, Stephen Chow, Brad Pitt, Charlie Sheen, Michael Keaton, Michael J. Fox, Will Ferrell, Chris Pratt and Jon Hamm in the Japanese language releases of their respective films.
History Yamadera was the manager of the Tagajō Senior High School basketball team before he made a name for himself. His voice acting debut was the OVA Megazone 23 as the motorcycle-riding Shinji Nakagawa, while his television debut was the anime Bosco Adventure as the cowardly Otter. Yamadera's break-out role as a voice actor was the anime Ranma ½, in which he played the dual role of Hibiki Ryōga and the Jusenkyō Guide. In 1991, Yamadera joined forces with Toshihiko Seki and Noriko Hidaka to form the acting unit . In October 1997, Yamadera became a host on the TV Tokyo children's variety show Oha Suta. In March 2016, after almost two decades, he announced his retirement from it.
In 2011, Yamadera took over the role of Koichi Zenigata in Lupin III media from Gorō Naya.
In a 2012 article by Japan Times, it was mentioned that he didn't consider doing voice acting at first, and was interested in going into sales or being an onscreen actor.
Yamadera's also known for his versatile range, as shown in the video game Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony where he voiced all five Monokuma Kubs, including Monophanie (female). According to the Danganronpa V3 official blog, Yamadera is the first person who came to mind as "the same person voicing multiple characters at the same time". No one has as much "multiple characters" experience as him. He was able to take the individual quirks of each of the Monokuma Kubs and make all of them unique.
Other notable examples of multiple voice acting include the Kingdom Hearts series where he voiced Donald Duck, Genie (from Aladdin), Sebastian (from The Little Mermaid), Beast (from Beauty and the Beast), Mushu (from Mulan), and Jaq (from Cinderella) and the Japan Animator Expo series of 35 short films where Yamadera and Megumi Hayashibara voiced all characters.
Yamadera is known as "the man with the seven-colored voice". During casting he is also said to be called "When in doubt, Yamadera".
In 2011 and 2017, TV Asahi conducted a poll among Japanese voice actors and actresses on "who they thought was really the most amazing person in their profession". Yamadera ranked first both times. In 2017, Niconico conducted a survey on popular anime voice actors and actresses. Yamadera ranked first overall, third among female voters and first among male voters.
In 2018, he joined the cast of the American animated web series Gen:Lock starring Michael B. Jordan. According to the series showrunner Gray Haddock, "Yamadera-san gives Kazu a fantastic balance of attitude and strength, and as anime fans we're doing our best not to geek out that he's joined the cast".
In 2019, Will Smith came to Japan for a solo interview, and at Smith's request, Yamadera performed a live voiceover, which was highly praised by Smith. This was aired on NTV's "news every" and "Oha!4 NEWS LIVE" on June 5 and 11, respectively.
Personal life Yamadera has been married three times; first, on May 23, 1993, to fellow voice actress Mika Kanai. They divorced in 2006, although it wasn't publicized until 2007.
His second wife was voice actress Rie Tanaka, then 33-years-old, and he was 51. They married on June 17, 2012, with a ceremony held in Hawaii on January 3, 2013. In August 2018, they announced that they had filed for divorce.
On June 14, 2021, at age 60, he announced his marriage to radio personality Robin Shoko Okada, who is 31 years younger than him.
Filmography
Television animation 1986 Bosco Adventure (Otter) Mock & Sweet (Cookie, mole, man)
1987 Red Photon Zillion (Guardock (episodes 26, 28, 30 and 31), navigator #A (episode 13), Mash (episodes 15 and 16), Nōza soldier (episode 16), Nōza Army staff officer (episode 19), staff officer #A (episode 26)) Bikkuriman (Heikō-oni) City Hunter (Abe, hitman, skunk, Inspector Fukamachi, additional voices) Esper Mami (Subordinate #A, pupil #B, director, man #C, Kabi) Akakage (Tomizō Karakuri, Jōshū-man, Tenjiku Yami, ninja) Legend of the Century's End Savior: Fist of the North Star 2 (Villager) Machine Robo: Battle Hackers (Drill Crusher) Slippy Dandy (Slippy Dandy)
1988 Sonic Soldier Borgman (Dust Jead, Thunder) City Hunter 2 (Silver fox, Rubāto, Shirozaru, government person, Mosada, Misawa, Akira, Kazama, Master, Schmit, additional voices) Wowser (Officer Whistle) Ikinari Dagon (Pilot) Mashin Hero Wataru (Kurama Wataribe, Bibide Sēkima Tsū (episode 30), Umashika (episode 34), Niō Otōto (episode 36)) Meimon! Daisan Yukyūbu (Naoya Kyōmoto) Moeru! Onii-san (Teacher #A (episode 5)) Soreike! Anpanman (Cheese, Kabao-kun, Kabao-kun's father, Kamameshidon, Yuzujijiya, Tanuki-Oni, Jam Ojisan) Tsuide ni Tonchinkan (Imahishirō Furusawa) Moeru! Onii-san (Dakku Nicholson, Spartan X)
1989 Mobile Police Patlabor (Hiker #C) Madō King Granzort (Shaman) The Adventures of Peter Pan (Checco, Nana) Ranma ½ (Ryōga Hibiki/P-chan, Jusenkyō Guide) Legend of Heavenly Sphere Shurato (Dragon King Ryōma, narrator) Time Trouble Tondekeman! (Tutankhamun (episode 4))
1990 Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water (Ayerton) Idol Angel Yokoso Yoko (Kurabito (episode 5), Daiichi (episode 26), Cycle Jackson (episode 28)) Kyatto Ninden Teyandee (Karamaru, Tomekichi, Dung Beetle #5) Mashin Hero Wataru 2 (Kurama Wataribe) Brave Exkaiser (Osamu Tokuda, trader, Narrator)
1991 Dragon Ball Z (Tenshinhan (episodes 82 and 84))
1992 Ashita Free Kick (Ūgo (episode 29)) Crayon Shin-chan (Boss) Genki Bakuhatsu Ganbaruger (Bananān) O~i! Ryoma (Isami Kondō) Super Zugan (Shintarō Oda)
1993 Nekketsu Saikyō Go-Saurer (Supervision (episode 13))
1995 Neon Genesis Evangelion (Ryōji Kaji) Brave Police J-Decker (Miruamiigo, Uno, Osōjioba-san, giant) The Doraemons (Jaidora)
1997 City Hunter: Goodbye, My Sweetheart (Professor Takeaki Mutō) Gakkyū Ō Yamazaki (Yamadera)
1998 Cowboy Bebop (Spike Spiegel, Ein) Dokkiri Doctor (Doctor Haruka Nishikikōji, narrator) Lupin III: Honō no Kioku ~Tōkyō Crisis~ (Michael Suzuki, Gondō) Otoko wa Tsurai yo (Torajirō Kurama) Pokémon (Kamonegi (episode 49))
1999 Reign: The Conqueror (Darius III of Persia) Shūkan Storyland (Noro, Kentarō Hashimoto)
2000 Hidemari no Ki (Ryōan Tezuka)
2001 Dā! Dā! Dā! (Yuzuhiko (episode 51)) Parappa the Rapper (Luckily (–episode 16 and 18))
2002 Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (Togusa, The Laughing Man (Aoi), Baby Ruth, Watchdog Robot) Tsuribaka Nisshi (Densuke Hamasaki)
2003 Astro Boy: Mighty Atom (Memata (episode 21)) Di Gi Charat Nyo! (Yama-chan (episodes 15 and 16)) Galaxy Angel (Colonel Harry (episodes 39–40)) Fighting Spirit: Champion Road TV Special (Kazuki Sanada) Lupin III: Otakara Henkyaku Dai-sakusen!! (Ivan Krokovich (Rats)) Mermaid Saga (Yūta) Harlock Saga (Harlock)
2004 Kaiketsu Zorori (Zorori) Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG (Togusa) Samurai Champloo (Nagamitsu (episode 8))
2005 Agatha Christie's Great Detectives Poirot and Marple (Norman Gale (episodes 36–39)) Honey and Clover (Rōmaiya-senpai) Hajime ni Fumajime: Kaiketsu Zorori (Zorori) Detective Conan (Kyōsuke Haga (episodes 385–387)) Xenosaga: The Animation (Gaignun Kukai, Albedo Piazzolla)
2006 Ah! My Goddess (Troubador (episode 12)) Fist of the Blue Sky (Kenshirō Kasumi) Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex – Solid State Society (Togusa)
2007 Detective Conan (Masateru Hira (episode 449)) Oh! Edo Rocket (Ginjirō the Locksmith)
2008 Allison & Lillia (Carr Benedict) Inazuma Eleven (Noberu Raito (episode 9)) Michiko to Hatchin (Daniela (episode 11)) Stitch! (Stitch, Yūna's father (episode 1)) Yatterman (Narrator (Yama-chan), Yatter-Mechas, Odatebuta, Cockpit Mechas, Program chairman Tōku, Hideo Higashikokubaru, Moai, Kenichi Mikawa)
2009 Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (Isaac McDougall (episode 1)) Gin Tama (Shōyō Yoshida) Inazuma Eleven (Shūgo Nikaidō (episodes 20–21), Otomura Gakuya) Kawa no Hikari (Father) Pokémon Fushigi no Dungeon: Sora no Tankentai Toki no Yami wo Meguro Saigo no Bōken (Narrator) Stitch! ~Itazura Alien no Daibōken~ (Stitch, Yūna's father)
2010 Stitch! ~Zutto Saikō no Tomodachi~ (Stitch, Narration, Yūna's father)
2011 Appleseed XIII (Briareos) Lupin III: Blood Seal – Eternal Mermaid (Koichi Zenigata)
2012 Arashi no Yoru ni: Himitsu no Tomodachi (Giro) and (Barry) Hunter × Hunter (Second Series) (Silva Zoldyck) Lupin the Third: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine (Koichi Zenigata) Lupin III: Record of Observations of the East – Another Page (Koichi Zenigata) Sword Art Online (Heathcliff / Akihiko Kayaba)
2013 Space Battleship Yamato 2199 (Abelt Desler)
2014 Magica Wars (Takesuzume) Insufficient Direction (Kantoku-kun) Space Dandy (Ton Jravolta) Nobunaga Concerto (Yasuke) Cross Ange (Jurai Asuka Misurugi)
2015 Lupin the Third Part 4 (Koichi Zenigata) Chaos Dragon (Agito) Dragon Ball Super (Beerus) One Piece (Donquixote Rocinante/Corazon) Gin Tama (Shōyō Yoshida)
2016 Shōwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjū (Sukeroku) The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. (Kumagurou Saiki) Concrete Revolutio: Choujin Gensou – The Last Song (Washizu Yuusei (episode 1)) Lupin III: Italian Game (Koichi Zenigata)
2017 The Dragon Dentist (Godō) Onihei (Matataro (episode 13))
2018 Fist of the Blue Sky Re: Genesis (Kenshiro) Layton Mystery Detective Agency: Kat's Mystery-Solving Files (Professor Hershel Layton) Sword Art Online: Alicization (Akihiko Kayaba (episode 5,6,45)
2019 Carole & Tuesday (Desmond)
2020 My Hero Academia 4 (Gentle Criminal) Motto! Majime ni Fumajime Kaiketsu Zorori (Zorori) Genie Family 2020 (Hakushon Daimaō) Listeners (Kevin Valentine)
2021 Mars Red (Tokuichi Yamagami) Gloomy the Naughty Grizzly (Gloomy) Lupin the 3rd Part 6 (Koichi Zenigata)
2022 Detective Conan (Tsutomu Akai) Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War (Quilge Opie) Arknights: Prelude to Dawn (Wei Yenwu)
2023 My Home Hero (Shino) Go! Go! Vehicle Zoo (Gao-nii) Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Swordsmith Village Arc (Zohakuten)
2024 Ishura (Shalk the Sound Slicer) Mission: Yozakura Family (Momo Yozakura) My Hero Academia 7 (Gentle Criminal) Ranma ½ (Ryōga Hibiki)
2025 Your Forma (Kuprian Valentinovich Napolov) Miru: Paths to My Future (Yoshimura) Lazarus (Dr. Skinner) To Be Hero X (Ahu) Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX (Gihren Zabi)
2026 Jujutsu Kaisen (Miguel Oduol) Dr. Stone (Why-Man male voice)
Original net animation (ONA) 2023 Lupin the 3rd vs. Cat's Eye (Koichi Zenigata) Pluto (North No. 2)