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Akira Kamiya

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Akira Kamiya (神谷 明, Kamiya Akira, born September 18, 1946) is a veteran seiyū who was born in Kanagawa Prefecture, Yokohama. His most famous roles have been in the Super Robot anime genre in which his distinctive voice has earned him the beloved moniker "Mr. Super Robot" from fans. He has been represented by Theater Echo, Aoni Production, and others.

Contents

Career

Japanese names listed family name first.

Kamiya made his debut on Mahou no Mako-chan in 1970 while working for Theater Echo. He went on to have a regular role on Akaki chi no Eleven as Yatsume Sasuke and later co-starred with Tomiyama Kei in Fushigi na Merumo. In 1972 he played fighter-pilot captain Katou Saburou on the legendary Space Battleship Yamato.

In 1973 he played the title character in Babel II and preceded to play the lead role in many Super Robot animes, such as Nagare Ryou in Getter Robo, Hibiki Akira in Yuusha Raideen, Jimmy Orion as Mechander Robo, and Ichimonji Takuma in Wakusei Danguard Ace. Because of his tendency to shout dramatically, for awhile he had the nickname Sakebi no Kamiya (叫びの神谷, Screaming Kamiya).

Kamiya has also played many playboy lady-killer types, including pretty-boy pitcher Satonaka Satoshi in Dokaben, Godai's tennis-coach rival Mitaka Shun in Maison Ikkoku, and the rich and arrogant Kazamatsuri Shinnosuke in Yawara!. In addition to this he has also played goofier roles, like Tosaka-senpai in Kyuukyoku Choujin R and Nyarome in Mouretsu Atarou. Currently, he is playing the lazy, washed-up private detective Mouri Kogorou in the long running Detective Conan anime.

The 1980s would see a string of memorable performance from Kamiya, including Mendou Shuutarou in Urusei Yatsura, Kinniku Suguru in Kinnikuman, Kenshirou in Hokuto no Ken, Ryo Focker in Super Dimensional Fortress Macross and (Kamiya's personal favorite role) Saeba Ryo in City Hunter.

Apart from anime, Kamiya has done some dub work, most notably dubbing Pierce Brosnan in Remington Steele and 2 James Bond movies (Goldeneye and Tomorrow Never Dies).

In recent years, he has lectured at the Nihon Kogakuin Vocational School. Some of his students include Toyoguchi Megumi, Shintani Ryoko, and Shimizu Ai.

The Kinnikuman Incident

After reprising the role of Saeba Ryo for the City Hunter movie series and Kenshirou for the Hokuto no Ken video games, Kamiya reprised the role of Kinniku Suguru for the initial Kinnikuman Nisei movie and the Game Cube game Kinnikuman Nisei: Legend Choujins vs. New Generation Choujins. However, he was replaced by Toshio Furukawa for the Nisei TV series and the expaned version of the video game (Kinnikuman Generations, PS2). No official reason has been given for this cast change and Kamiya himself claimed in an interview that he was never even asked offered the roles. Most fans were upset by the change and confused about why it was done.

As of the second expansion of the video game (Kinnikuman Muscle Generations, PSP), Kamiya has resumed the role of Kinniku Suguru.

Notable voice roles

Japanese characters listed family name first.

TV

Games

Dub Work

Pachinko

Live TV

Live Action Film

  • Purinpurin Monogatari (Bon-Bon, Zerozerozebun Hennakibun)
  • Benikujaku (Kotemoku)

Radio

Internet Radio

  • Kamiya Akira Returns (AII Radio) May 9, 2005
  • Kamiya Akira Hot Beat Party (Saeba Shouji) May 3, 2005~

CD

Other

  • Kinnikuman: Choujin Daizenshu [Soundtrack] (Kinniku Suguru
  • Cyborg 009 1979 Radio Drama (Shimamura Joe/009)
  • Ore-tachi Hyoutekin Zoku (Hyoutekin Star Tanjou Shikai)
  • Sengoku Jieitai (2006 Narrator)
  • Hey! Spring of Trivia (Asking trivia questions as Kenshirou [2004-12-8] Onsei Tajuu Housou Narrator [2006-5-3])
  • Denki Groove [Cafe de Oni (Kao to Kagaku)] (Narration)
  • Tadaki Muscle! (Chuugyou TV) Heavenly Voice (Narration)

Music


External Links

 

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