Takaya Kuroda
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese voice actor
, narrator
, and actor
. He is affiliated with the Bungaku Company, formerly with Mausu Promotion
and Aoni Production
. He is currently a member of 81 Produce
.
He is best known for his astringent and amorous bass voice, which has usually seen him cast in villainous roles such as the voice of Yaiba in GoGo Sentai Boukenger
. He is best known to western audiences for providing the voice of Kazuma Kiryu, the protagonist of the Yakuza series
. Because of his vocal resemblance to the late Hirotaka Suzuoki
, he was chosen to replace Suzuoki as the voice of Starscream in Transformers: Cybertron
as Suzuoki's health deteriorated. On the other hand, he was not chosen to take over Suzuoki's role as Sakaki (known to Western audiences as Giovanni) of Pokémon, Kenta Miyake
taking over the role instead.
Seiyu
Voice acting in Japan has far greater prominence than in most other countries. Japan's large animation industry produces 60% of the animated series in the world; as a result, Japanese voice actors, or , are able to achieve fame on a national and international level.Besides acting as narrators and...
, narrator
Narrator
A narrator is, within any story , the fictional or non-fictional, personal or impersonal entity who tells the story to the audience. When the narrator is also a character within the story, he or she is sometimes known as the viewpoint character. The narrator is one of three entities responsible for...
, and actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
. He is affiliated with the Bungaku Company, formerly with Mausu Promotion
Mausu Promotion
, formerly known as Ezaki Productions, is a Japanese talent management agency representing a fair number of prolific voice actors.-Mausu Promotion-influenced works:*Boktai: The Sun is in Your Hand*Eureka Seven*Heartwork ~Symphony Of Destruction~...
and Aoni Production
Aoni Production
Aoni Production is a Japanese talent agency representing a fair number of voice actors and other Japanese entertainers.-Voice actors currently affiliated with Aoni:...
. He is currently a member of 81 Produce
81 Produce
is a voice talent management firm in Japan. The company's Director of Business Development, Rihoko Yoshida, is a former voice actress herself . A hybrid CD-ROM featuring voice talent data for members of 81 Produce was released on 19 October, 1997. The company is located Shibuya, Tokyo....
.
He is best known for his astringent and amorous bass voice, which has usually seen him cast in villainous roles such as the voice of Yaiba in GoGo Sentai Boukenger
GoGo Sentai Boukenger
is the 30th series in Toei's Super Sentai series, a franchise of Japanese tokusatsu television series. It is the first installment to be broadcast in HDTV. It premiered on February 19, 2006 at 7:30 a.m. on TV Asahi...
. He is best known to western audiences for providing the voice of Kazuma Kiryu, the protagonist of the Yakuza series
Yakuza (series)
Yakuza is a Fighting game video game franchise created by Amusement Vision and owned and published by Sega.The series has sold at least 3.2 million copies as of March 2009...
. Because of his vocal resemblance to the late Hirotaka Suzuoki
Hirotaka Suzuoki
was a Japanese voice actor and actor from Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture who graduated from Tokyo Keizai University.His best known roles include Mobile Suit Gundam , Captain Tsubasa , Saint Seiya , Dragon Ball Z , The Transformers , Ranma ½ , Rurouni Kenshin , Pokémon...
, he was chosen to replace Suzuoki as the voice of Starscream in Transformers: Cybertron
Transformers: Cybertron
Transformers: Cybertron, known in Japan originally as , is the 2005-2007 Transformers toy line and animated series, another co-production between Hasbro and Takara...
as Suzuoki's health deteriorated. On the other hand, he was not chosen to take over Suzuoki's role as Sakaki (known to Western audiences as Giovanni) of Pokémon, Kenta Miyake
Kenta Miyake
is a Japanese voice actor who is affiliated with 81 Produce.He is known for his unusually low voice .After the death of Hirotaka Suzuoki in 2006, Kenta took over the role of Giovanni during Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. He has since expanded this role into the new series, Pokemon Best Wishes...
taking over the role instead.
Television animation
- AkagiAkagi (manga)is a mahjong centric Japanese manga, written by Nobuyuki Fukumoto and first published in 1992. It is featured in the weekly magazine Modern Mahjong, and is a prequel to the author's previous work Ten, in which Akagi's titular character also appears...
(Kawashima) - Angel Heart (Man)
- Ayakashi AyashiAyakashi Ayashiis a Japanese anime series, created and written by Shō Aikawa and produced by Bones. Directed by Hiroshi Nishikiori, it featured character designs by Toshihiro Kawamoto and premiered across Japan on October 7, 2006 on TBS's 6:00 pm doroku timeslot, which has previously occupied other noted anime...
(Nobori's father) - Black Blood BrothersBlack Blood Brothers, also known as , is a light novel series written by Kōhei Azano and illustrated by Yuuya Kusaka. In 2006, Studio Live and Group TAC produced an anime based on the series. It is directed by Hiroaki Yoshikawa...
(August Waiker) - Black CatBlack Cat (manga)is a Japanese Shōnen manga series written and illustrated by Kentaro Yabuki. It was originally serialized in Japan in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump. It was later collected in twenty tankōbon volumes from January 11, 2001 to October 9, 2004. The series was adapted into a twenty-four episode anime...
(David Pepper) - BleachBleach (manga)is a Japanese shōnen manga series written and illustrated by Noriaki "Tite" Kubo. Bleach follows the adventures of Ichigo Kurosaki after he obtains the powers of a —a death personification similar to the Grim Reaper—from another Soul Reaper, Rukia Kuchiki...
(Baura) - Blood+Blood+Blood+, pronounced as "Blood Plus", is an anime series produced by Production I.G and Aniplex and directed by Junichi Fujisaku. The series premiered in Japan on Sony's anime satellite channel, Animax, as well as on terrestrial networks such as MBS, TBS, and RKB on October 8, 2005. The final episode...
(Rodgers) - Bobobo-bo Bo-boboBobobo-bo Bo-bobois a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yoshio Sawai, published by Shueisha, and serialized in the Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine...
(Hāgen) - Burst AngelBurst Angelis a Japanese animated television series directed by Koichi Ohata, from a screenplay by Fumihiko Shimo. It was produced by the Gonzo animation studio....
(Mafia boss) - Case ClosedCase ClosedCase Closed, known as in Japan, is a Japanese detective manga series written and illustrated by Gosho Aoyama. The series is serialized in Shogakukan's Weekly Shōnen Sunday since February 2, 1994, and has been collected in 73 tankōbon volumes as of September 2011...
(Kōji Wanibuchi, man - Chocotto SisterChocotto Sisteris a manga series written by Go Zappa and illustrated by Sakura Takeuchi. It is published by Hakusensha in the magazine Young Animal and collected in 8 tankōbon volumes. The series has been adapted as an 24-episode anime by Nomad, airing in 2006 and released on 8 DVDs...
(Master) - Cromartie High SchoolCromartie High Schoolby Eiji Nonaka, is a Japanese comedy manga, which was subsequently adapted into an anime and a 2005 live-action movie titled Cromartie High - The Movie directed by Yūdai Yamaguchi. It follows the everyday life of Takashi Kamiyama and his odd classmates at Cromartie High School, an infamous school...
(Masked Takenouchi) - Dragon DriveDragon Drive, a Japanese manga by Kenichi Sakura, was published by Shueisha and serialized in the manga magazine Monthly Shōnen Jump. Publication ended on January 5, 2006, with a total of 14 volumes...
(Agent S) - Durarara!!Durarara!!, often romanized as DRRR!! in Japan, is a Japanese light novel series written by Ryohgo Narita, with illustrations by Suzuhito Yasuda, that has also been adapted in to a Japanese anime series. As of February 2011, nine volumes have been published by ASCII Media Works under their Dengeki Bunko...
(Simon Brezhnev) - Full Metal Panic? FumoffuFull Metal Panic? Fumoffuis a companion series to the anime series Full Metal Panic! by Kyoto Animation, and takes place between the first season and The Second Raid....
(Maron) - Hajime no Ippo (Arnie Gregory)
- Highschool of the DeadHighschool of the Deadis a manga series written by Daisuke Satō and illustrated by Shōji Satō. The story follows a group of high school students caught in the middle of a zombie apocalypse...
(Yoshioka) - Jinki:EXTENDJinki:EXTENDis a 13-episode mecha anime series that aired on TV Asahi in 2005 as well as a currently running manga series. It takes place in two parts, in Venezuela during 1988 , and in Tokyo, Japan in 1991 The story revolves around two girls who end up piloting giant humanoid robots called "Jinki" and the...
(J. Harn) - Kure-naiKure-naiis a Japanese light novel series by Kentarō Katayama, with illustrations by Yamato Yamamoto. A manga adaptation started serialization in the first issue of Jump Square magazine...
- MadlaxMADLAXis a 26-episode Japanese anime television series produced in 2004 by the Bee Train animation studio. Kōichi Mashimo directed Madlax and the soundtrack was composed by Yuki Kajiura...
(Sergeant) - NanaNana (manga)is a Japanese shōjo manga series written and illustrated by Ai Yazawa, serialized in Cookie published by Shueisha. The manga derives its title from the name of the two main characters, both of whom are called Nana. Nana Komatsu is a small town girl who goes to Tokyo to follow her boyfriend and...
(Yamagishi) - Natsume Yūjin ChōNatsume Yujin Chois a Japanese fantasy manga series by Yuki Midorikawa. It began serialization by Hakusensha in the shōjo manga magazine LaLa DX in 2005, before switching to LaLa in 2008. Chapters have been collected in nine bound volumes...
(Misuzu) - Nurarihyon no MagoNurarihyon no MagoNura: Rise of the Yokai Clan, known in Japan as is a manga series written and illustrated by Hiroshi Shiibashi. The series was first published in Shueisha as a oneshot in 2007. The manga has been continuously serialized in the Japanese manga anthology Weekly Shōnen Jump since March 2008 and has...
(Kidomaru) - Otogi-Jūshi AkazukinOtogi-Jushi Akazukinis an anime OVA as well as an anime television series.-Story:Long, long ago, there existed a world of magic and science. But having both powers was making people conceited and lazy. So God split the world in to the world of science, Elde, and the world of magic, Phandavale. One day in Fandavale, a...
(Basterai) - Rainbow: Nisha Rokubou no Shichinin (Tadayoshi Tōyama)
- Red GardenRed Gardenis a Japanese animated television program produced by Gonzo studios and broadcast in Japan on TV Asahi since October 3, 2006. The plot revolves around four girls who become involved in a series of supernatural murders happening throughout the vicinity of a fictional depiction of New York City...
(Claire's father) - Rocket GirlsRocket Girlsis a light novel written by Hōsuke Nojiri. Set in the Solomon Islands, it follows the exploits of high-school girl Yukari Morita, who is pressed into service as an astronaut by the Solomon Space Association when it is unable to build a rocket that can lift the weight of an adult male.Rocket Girls...
(Kazuya Kinoshita) - R.O.D the TVR.O.D the TVR.O.D -THE TV- is a 26-episode TV anime series, animated by J.C.Staff and produced by Aniplex, directed by Koji Masunari and scripted by Hideyuki Kurata, about the adventures of three paper-manipulating sisters, Michelle, Maggie and Anita, who become the bodyguards of Nenene Sumiregawa, a famous...
(Sonny "The Recycler" Wong) - Shakugan no ShanaShakugan no Shana, also known simply as Shana, is a Japanese light novel series written by Yashichiro Takahashi, with illustrations by Noizi Ito. The series includes 25 novels released between November 2002 and October 2011 published by ASCII Media Works under their Dengeki Bunko imprint...
(Sabrac, Kaijin) - Starship OperatorsStarship Operatorsis an anime series based upon science fiction novels written by Ryo Mizuno. The series, animated by J.C.Staff, was aired on TV Tokyo in Japan. Starship Operators is licensed in English in the United States by Geneon....
(Lee Young Sook) - The Tower of Druaga (anime) (Black KnightBlack KnightThe black knight is a literary stock character, often contrasted with the white knight. The character famously appeared in Arthurian literature and has been adapted and adopted by various authors, in cinema and popular culture...
) - Transformers: CybertronTransformers: CybertronTransformers: Cybertron, known in Japan originally as , is the 2005-2007 Transformers toy line and animated series, another co-production between Hasbro and Takara...
(Starscream, Fire captain) - Wolf's RainWolf's Rainis an anime series created by writer and story editor Keiko Nobumoto and produced by Bones Studio. The series was directed by Tensai Okamura and featured character designs by Toshihiro Kawamoto with a soundtrack produced and arranged by Yoko Kanno. It focuses on the journey of four lone wolves...
(Darcia)
Video games
- Crash Tag Team RacingCrash Tag Team RacingCrash Tag Team Racing is a racing video game published by Sierra Entertainment and developed by Vancouver-based Radical Entertainment for the PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, Xbox and PlayStation Portable. A Nintendo DS version, which was to be developed by Sensory Sweep Studios rather than...
(Park Drone) - Fatal Frame III: The TormentedFatal Frame III: The TormentedFatal Frame III, known in Japan as and in Europe as Project Zero III: The Tormented, is the third installment in the Fatal Frame video game series...
(Yuu Asou) - The King of Fighters 2000The King of Fighters 2000The King of Fighters 2000 is a competitive fighting game produced by SNK for the Neo Geo arcade and home platforms. It is the seventh installment in The King of Fighters series for the Neo Geo, as well as the final one produced by SNK before the bankruptcy. The game was ported to the Sega...
(Lin) - The King of Fighters 2001The King of Fighters 2001The King of Fighters 2001 is a competitive fighting game produced by Eolith for the Neo Geo. It is the eighth game in The King of Fighters series and the first game produced following the closure of the original SNK. The game was produced by the Korean-based company Eolith and developed by...
(Lin) - Magna Carta: Crimson StigmataMagna Carta: Crimson StigmataMagna Carta: Crimson Stigmata is a PlayStation 2 RPG released in 2004 in South Korea by Softmax, and in Japan by Banpresto. It is the sequel to the 2001 CRPG, Magna Carta: The Phantom of Avalanche, and the second installment in the Magna Carta series...
(Orha Duren) - Ryū ga Gotoku (Yakuza)Yakuza (video game)Yakuza, originally released in Japan as is an action-adventure fighter video game developed and published by Sega in 2005 for the Sony PlayStation 2...
(Kazuma Kiryu) - Yakuza 2 (Kazuma Kiryu)
- Ryū ga Gotoku Kenzan! (Musashi Miyamoto/Kazumanosuke Kiryu)
- Yakuza 3Yakuza 3Yakuza 3 is a PlayStation 3 video game, originally released in Japan as , the sequel to Yakuza 2 and the fourth installment in the Yakuza series. It is developed by Sega Japan's CS1 Team and published by Sega...
(Kazuma Kiryu) - Yakuza 4Yakuza 4, is a video game developed and published by Sega exclusively for the PlayStation 3. The game was announced on July 24, 2009. A promotion video was presented at the 2009 Tokyo Game Show and a preview presenting the main story was released on January 13, 2010....
(Kazuma Kiryu) - Ryū ga Gotoku Of the EndRyū ga Gotoku Of the Endis an action-adventure video game, developed and published by Sega exclusively for the PlayStation 3. The game is the sixth installment in the Yakuza series. The game's concept and keyword is "destruction"; a promotional image for the game showed the series' main locale, Kamurocho, in ruins...
(Kazuma Kiryu) - Samurai WarriorsSamurai Warriorsis the first title in the series of video games created by Koei's Omega Force team based loosely around the Sengoku period of Japanese history and it is a spinoff of the Dynasty Warriors series...
series (Hattori HanzōHattori Hanzo, also known as , was a famous samurai and ninja master of the Sengoku era, credited with saving the life of Tokugawa Ieyasu and then helping him to become the ruler of united Japan. Today, he is often a subject of modern popular culture.-Biography:...
) - Super Robot Wars GCSuper Robot Wars GCis the first and only Nintendo GameCube Super Robot Wars title. The basic premise of the game is that the plot, settings, characters, and other mechanics consist of essentially mixing and combining the like of Gundam, Mazinger, Getter Robo, Zettai Muteki Raijin-Oh, and many other mecha-based anime...
(Vōt Nicolaus) - Tales of SymphoniaTales of Symphoniais a video game first released for the Nintendo GameCube and later for the PlayStation 2 in Japan. It debuted in Japan on August 29, 2003, selling 953,000 copies, in Canada and the United States on July 13, 2004, and in Europe on November 19, 2004. The game received a Japanese-only PlayStation 2...
(Botta, Shadow) - Warriors OrochiWarriors Orochi, is a PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360 hack and slash video game developed by Koei and Omega Force. It is a crossover of two of Koei's popular video game series, Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors...
(Hattori HanzōHattori Hanzo, also known as , was a famous samurai and ninja master of the Sengoku era, credited with saving the life of Tokugawa Ieyasu and then helping him to become the ruler of united Japan. Today, he is often a subject of modern popular culture.-Biography:...
) - Ninety-Nine Nights IINinety-Nine Nights IIN3II: Ninety-Nine Nights, is a role-playing video game with hack and slash game mechanics set in a high fantasy game universe...
(Galen)
Tokusatsu
- Tokusou Sentai DekarangerTokusou Sentai Dekarangeris the twenty-eighth production of the Super Sentai television series produced by Toei. The action footage from the show was used for the American series Power Rangers S.P.D..The opening catchphrase of the series is .-Story:...
(Goldom) - GoGo Sentai BoukengerGoGo Sentai Boukengeris the 30th series in Toei's Super Sentai series, a franchise of Japanese tokusatsu television series. It is the first installment to be broadcast in HDTV. It premiered on February 19, 2006 at 7:30 a.m. on TV Asahi...
(Yaiba of Darkness) - Kamen Rider Den-OKamen Rider Den-Ois the seventeenth installment in the popular Kamen Rider Series of tokusatsu programs. It is a joint collaboration between Ishimori Productions and Toei. It premiered January 28, 2007 on TV Asahi, and concluded airing on January 20, 2008...
(Owl ImaginImaginThe are a fictional race that serve as the antagonists in the Kamen Rider Series Kamen Rider Den-O. The name "Imagin" comes from several words in the English, Japanese, and even Arabic languages: , , and ....
, Albinoleo Imagin) - Kamen Rider DecadeKamen Rider Decadeis the title of the first of the 2009 editions of the long-running Kamen Rider Series of tokusatsu dramas. Decade, as its title suggests, is the tenth of the Heisei Rider Series, having begun with Kamen Rider Kuuga in 2000...
(Dogga)
External links
- Aoni Production (Japanese)