Wrapping up the voice actor section are short comments from various other members of the cast. This is the final entry in this series (for now!). For the full list, click here.
Norio Wakamoto (若本規夫)
Role: Oskar von Reuenthal
A long time ago I was selected to play the role of Reuenthal in the OVA series, which when I think back, paved the way for my future as a voice actor. It was an irreplaceable work for me, and it was a precious and memorable experience. I am grateful.
PROFILE
Norio Wakamoto | Born October 18th. Has narrated many TV programs, including Hitoshi Matsumoto no Suberanai Hanashi. His major animation roles include Sazae-san (Anago), Aim for the Top! [Gunbuster] (Koichiro Ōta), Dragon Ball Z (Cell), and Detective Conan (Gorō Ōtaki).
Katsuji Mori (森功至)
Role: Wolfgang Mittermeyer
When the anime Legend of the Galactic Heroes started, I remember being told, “This is going to be a long series. Please take good care of your health.” Tanaka-sensei’s works have many characters, and each character’s personality is described in detail. Their names are written in katakana and are so long that it’s hard to remember them all. I always wondered what was going on in Tanaka-sensei’s mind as he wrote such characters so vividly in his works. Recording was done scene by scene, so there were many times where it was just me and Wakamoto-kun, who played Reuenthal, and I remember it was difficult to keep up with the flow of the story.
PROFILE
Katsuji Mori | Born July 10th. His major animation roles include Speed Racer (Gou Mifune), Gatchaman (Ken the Eagle), Haikara-san ga Tooru (Shinobu Ijuuin), Mobile Suit Gundam (Garma Zabi), Ganbare Genki (Kenji Seki), and Fist of the North Star (Shuu), among many others.
Takaya Hashi (土師孝也)
Role: Ernest Mecklinger
It must have been about 35 years ago, but I remember receiving a lot of fan mail even though I didn’t appear in many episodes of the anime. I don’t think they were complimenting my acting, but rather complimenting the character of Mecklinger (laughs).
PROFILE
Takaya Hashi | Born September 8th. His major animation roles include Mobile Police Patlabor (Kurosaki), Fist of the North Star (Amiba, Toki), and Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These – Encounter (Gerlach). He has also done voice-over work for many foreign films, including the Harry Potter series (Severus Snape).
Hozumi Gōda (郷田ほづみ)
Role: Yang Wen-li (Gaiden)
I appeared in A Hundred Billion Stars, a Hundred Billion Lights and Spiral Labyrinth. I was a fan of Kei Tomiyama-san’s character Yang, and since I took over from a respected senpai, every time I had to fight a strange feeling within myself. However, there were several times during the recording when I thought Tomiyama-san was with me. It’s just a feeling I had, so I can’t really say for sure, but I remember something like that. If I have the opportunity, I would love to play the role again.
PROFILE
Hozumi Gōda | Born August 22nd. In addition to being a voice actor and actor, he also works as a sound director. His main animation roles include Armored Trooper Votoms (Chirico Cuvie), Hunter x Hunter (Leorio), and The Prince of Tennis (Mamoru Inoue). He has also dubbed many foreign films, including the Harry Potter series (Remus Lupin).
Nozomu Sasaki (佐々木望)
Role: Julian Mintz
During the recording of the Alliance side, when Yang Toyama Kei-san and the other senpais stood in front of the microphone, the studio was filled with their lines and affectionate exchanges. I will never forget the comfort of that close-knit atmosphere that I felt with my whole body as Julian.
PROFILE
Nozomu Sasaki | Born January 25th. His major animation roles include AKIRA (Tetsuo), Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack (Hathaway Noa), Yu Yu Hakusho (Yūsuke Urameshi ), Captain Tsubasa J (Tsubasa Ōzora), Samurai Champloo (Yukimaru), and MONSTER (Johan Liebert), among many others.
Keaton Yamada (キートン山田)
Role: Alex Cazellnu
I laughed to myself when I acted out the scene where Cazellnu’s wife Hortense scolds and gives orders to him. Men in this world may talk big in public, but it doesn’t work in front of their wives. I think that’s good. I like how human he is.
PROFILE
Keaton Yamada | Born October 25th. His major animation roles include Ikkyu-san (Yoshimitsu Ashikaga), Cyborg 009 (Albert Heinrich), The Rose of Versailles (Alain de Soisson), MASTER Keaton (narration), and Chibi Maruko-chan (narration), among others.
Keiko Han (潘恵子)
Role: Annerose von Grünewald
I have been supported and cared for by many people since I first got involved in the anime series. Throughout this long-running work, I have felt the kindness and open-mindedness of Annerose, and I feel like I have grown as a person. I am truly grateful to Legend of the Galactic Heroes!
PROFILE
Keiko Han | Born April 5th. Her major animation roles include Alps Monogatari: Watashi no Annette (Annette), Mobile Suit Gundam (Icelina Eschonbach, Lalah Sune), Ganbare Genki (Tomoko Ishida), Saint Seiya (Saori Kido/Athena), and TYTANIA (narration), among many others.
Show Hayami (速水奨)
Role: Adalbert von Fahrenheit
Anyway, I recorded with many of my senpais. While I felt nervous, it was a good experience to perform with everyone gathered around a single microphone. I will never forget the kind smile on Director Ishiguro’s face when we finished recording Fahrenheit’s last scene.
PROFILE
Show Hayami | Born August 2nd. His major animation roles include Super Dimension Fortress Macross (Maximilian Jenius), Super Dimension Century Orguss (Kei Katsuragi), Dragon Ball Z (Zarbon), Super Heavy God Gravion (Klein Sandman), Gintama (Umibouzu), and Sengoku BASARA (Mitsuhide Akechi), among many others.
Keiichi Noda (野田圭一)
Role: Fritz Joseph Bittenfeld
I was surprised by the grand scale of this show and the super luxurious voice cast. The character I played, Bittenfeld, is a simple-minded, high energy guy, but in battle, a man like this is indispensable! It was an exhausting role to play. The Bittenfeld family has a motto: “To the passionate fans, I proclaim loudly, and to those not so passionate, I proclaim even louder, let’s go to the theater!”
PROFILE
Keiichi Noda | Born September 16th. His major animation roles include Babel II (Rodem), Great Mazinger (Tetsuya Tsurugi), Ikkyu-san (Shinemon Ninagawa), and Kariage-kun (Chief Kimura), among others.
Mami Koyama (小山茉美)
Role: Jessica Edwards
Jessica Edwards is a strong, down-to-earth woman in a grand historical drama. I remember being nervous as I approached the microphone, as I had played many young girl roles up until then, but now I was trying to portray someone my own age. It was scary, difficult, and delightful.
PROFILE
Mami Koyama | Born January 17th. Her major animation roles include Mobile Suit Gundam (Kycilia Zabi), The Wonderful Adventures of Nils (Nils), Dr. Slump: Arale-chan (Arale Norimaki), Fairy Princess Minky Momo (Minky Momo), City Hunter (Miki), Kiteretsu Encyclopedia (Korosuke), AKIRA (Kei), and Millennium Actress (Chiyoko Fujiwara), among many others.
Michio Hazama (羽佐間道夫)
Role: Walter von Schönkopf
I remember watching from the world of voice acting as Tokuma was founded and took the so-called comic and anime worlds by storm, leading the industry. It’s been over 40 years already! When the Ishiguro version of “Legend of the Galactic Heroes” was born, it was produced as a work that transcended media. I can’t forget the bright eyes of Ishiguro-san and Aketagawa-san at that time, which seemed to convey the tense enthusiasm of the staff.
PROFILE
Michio Hazama / Born October 7th. His main animation roles include Star of the Giants (Joji Hayami), Anne of Green Gables (narration), Super Dimension Fortress Macross (Bruno J Global), and MONSTER (Schuwald). He has also done narration and dubbing for many foreign films, including the Rocky (Rocky Balboa) series.
Tōru Furuya (古谷徹)
Role: Andrew Falk
For me, who has played a lot of heroes, Commodore Andrew Falk was a difficult role that I could not empathize with at all. However, in order to respond to the wishes of the staff who offered me the role, I worked hard and thought hard, which broadened my range and I think it lives on in my current acting. I am very happy to know that there are many fans of Commodore Falk, even now.
PROFILE
Tōru Furuya | Born July 31st. His major animation roles include Mobile Suit Gundam (Amuro Ray), Dragon Ball (Yamcha), Saint Seiya (Pegasus Seiya), Kimagure Orange Road (Kyōsuke Kasuga), Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon (Mamoru Chiba/Tuxedo Mask), Detective Conan (Tōru Amuro), ONE PIECE (Sabo), and many more.
Hidekatsu Shibata (柴田秀勝)
Role: Gregor von Mückenberger
Even now, regulars at my small bar talk enthusiastically about Legend of the Galactic Heroes. They say the scene in the anime where he [Mückenberger] says “That blonde brat!” is memorable, and I still remember the time when it was recorded. For the series that was even called the “Legend of the Galactic Voice Actors” during the recording of Gaiden, it was an honor to be able to take part in this timeless masterpiece in the world of anime, which all the voice actors participated in. Mückenberger is also one of the most representative characters I have played… thank you.
Hidekatsu Shibata | Born March 25th. His major animation roles include Tiger Mask (Mr. X), Space Battleship Yamato (Geidel), Fullmetal Alchemist (King Bradley), NARUTO (Third Hokage), and Space Pirate Captain Harlock (narration). He has also narrated many TV shows, including Ōoka Echizen and Mito Kōmon.
Ken’yû Horiuchi (堀内賢雄)
Role: Wyn, Anton Ferner
I’m happy to have had the opportunity to take part in a production that has been loved for so long. Just being able to watch my senpais perform in the studio with such a stellar cast made me feel happy. Even now, the tension I remember in that studio is a guide for me when I act. It was truly a battle in front of the microphone. It was very impressive.
PROFILE
Ken’yû Horiuchi | Born July 30th. His major animation roles include TYTANIA (Lee Zhang-Chen), Kingdom (Jian Wang), and Golden Kamuy (Special Sergeant Major Kikuta). He has also done voice-over work for many foreign films, including dubbing for Brad Pitt.
Masami Kikuchi (菊池正美)
Role: Louis Helm
At the time, I had only been in this field for about five years, and I still remember being in awe of the famous voice actors I saw on set. I felt very honored to be included among them.
PROFILE
Masami Kikuchi | Born April 24th. His major animation roles include Ninja Senshi Tobikage (Mike Coil), Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (Iino Abbav), Panzer World Galient: Crest of Iron (Jordi), Kiko Senki Dragonar (Kaine Wakaba), Chibi Maruko-chan (Hanawa-kun), Grappler Baki (Hanma Baki), and many more.
Banjō Ginga (銀河万丈)
Role: De Villiers
“Yes. That scheme, that conspiracy, it was all my doing. Hehe, the darkness that cannot be separated from politics and religion — what a visionary I am. Legend of the Galactic Heroes is a masterpiece that will never fade even after many years. Truly, truly wonderful! A word of congratulations. Hehe, De Villiers.”
PROFILE
Banjō Ginga | Born November 12th. His major animation roles include Mobile Suit Gundam (Gihren Zabi) and Fist of the North Star (Souther). He has also narrated many TV shows, including Kaiun! Nandemo Kanteidan, Crazy Journey and Pre-Batt!!.
Akio Otsuka (大塚明夫)
Role: Chung Wu-Cheng
Yutaka Mizushima-san, who played Müller, played the lead role in the first dubbing project I ever participated in. I was just starting out at the time, and I remember feeling very reassured to be able to work with Yutaka Mizushima-san. I hope that this work will continue to be loved by fans and talked about for a long time to come.
PROFILE
Akio Otsuka | Born November 24th. His main animation roles include the Black Jack series (Black Jack) and One Piece (Blackbeard), and his video game roles include Metal Gear Solid (Solid Snake). He has also done voice-over work for many foreign films, including dubbing for Steven Seagal and Nicolas Cage.
Yūsaku Yara (屋良有作)
Role: Narrator, Kurt, Erlache
I always narrated while imagining the characters and the voice actors’ faces. There were many attractive characters, and I thought during the recording that it would be more fun to play their roles! (laughs) Looking back now, as a narrator, I have been a part of many different stories and various situations. Many people remember me for the phrase “Another page in the history of the galaxy…”. This work is like a treasure to me, as it has supported me for many years and created many good relationships.
PROFILE
Yūsaku Yara | Born March 15th. His major animation roles include Chibi Maruko-chan (Hiroshi) and GeGeGe no Kitarō (Nurikabe), and he has also done narration for many television programs.