'Akira Kamiya' (神谷 明, ''Kamiya Akira'', born
September 18,
1946) is a veteran
seiyū who was born in
Kanagawa Prefecture,
Yokohama. He has been represented by
Theater Echo,
Aoni Production, and others. He is currently represented by
Saeba Shoji.
Career
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 Sasuke Yatsume and later co-starred with
Kei Tomiyama in
Fushigi na Merumo.
In
1973 he played the title character in
Babel II, and then went on to play the lead role in many
Super Robot anime, such as Nagare Ryou in
Getter Robo, Akira Hibiki in
Yuusha Raideen, Jimmy Orion in
Mechander Robo, and Takuma Ichimonji in
Wakusei Danguard Ace. Because of his tendency to shout dramatically, he earned 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 Satoru Satonaka in
Dokaben, Godai's tennis-coach rival Shun Mitaka in
Maison Ikkoku, and the rich and arrogant Shinnosuke Kazamatsuri 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 Kogoro Mori (
Richard Moore) in the long running
Detective Conan anime.
The
1980s would see a string of memorable performance from Kamiya, including
Shutaro Mendou in
Urusei Yatsura,
Suguru Kinniku in
Kinnikuman,
Kenshirou in Hokuto no Ken (
Fist of the North Star),
Roy Focker in Super Dimensional Fortress
Macross and Ryo Saeba 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
Megumi Toyoguchi,
Ryoko Shintani, and
Ai Shimizu.
The Kinnikuman Incident
After reprising the role of Ryo Saeba for the
City Hunter movie series and
Kenshiro for the ''Hokuto no Ken'' (''
Fist of the North Star'') video games, Kamiya reprised the role of
Kinniku Suguru for the initial
Kinnikuman Nisei movie and the
Game Cube game 'Kinnikuman Nisei: Legend Chojins vs. New Generation Chojins'. However, he was replaced by
Toshio Furukawa for the Nisei (
Ultimate Muscle) TV series and the expanded version of the video game ('Kinnikuman Generations',
PS2). No official reason had been given for this cast change and Kamiya himself claimed in an interview on '
Waratte Iitomo' that he was never even offered the roles. Most fans were upset by the change and confused about why it was done. During a
February 3,
2007 guest appearance on
Seishun Radimenia, Kamiya said that he was unable to play Kinnikuman on those occasions because of the
production budget.
As of the second expansion of the video game ('Kinnikuman Muscle Generations',
PSP), Kamiya has resumed the role of
Kinniku Suguru.
Notable voice roles
Lead roles in 'bold'
TV Anime
★
Ashita e Attack! (Ichirou)
★
Animation Kikou Marco Polo no Boken (Chapandu)
★
Three Musketeers (Athos)
★
Iga no Kabamaru (Mejiro)
★
Inakappe Taishou (Classmate, Pupil, Sightseer, Hiroshi, Mike, Ichirou, Masami)
★
Space Pirate Captain Harlock (Tadashi Daiba)
★
Space Battleship Yamato (Saburou Katou)
★
Space Battleship Yamato III (Shirou Katou)
★
Urusei Yatsura (
Shuutarou Mendou)
★
Angel Heart (Ryo Saeba)
★ ('
Arthur')
★
Oyo Neko Būnyan ('Oyoyo Neko')
★
Gatchaman (Romina)
★
Mechander Robo ('Jimmy Orion')
★
Karate Baka Ichidai (Ariake Shougo)
★
Cutey Honey Flash (Professor Kisaragi)
★
Kinnikuman ('
Suguru Kinniku (Kinnikuman)', Tatsunori Kinniku)
★ ('
Suguru Kinniku')
★
Getter Robo ('Ryouma Nagare')
★
Getter Robo G ('Ryouma Nagare')
★
Gera-Gera Boos Monogatari ('Boos')
★
Kouya no Shonen Isamu ('Isamu')
★
City Hunter ('Ryo Saeba')
★
Saint Seiya (
Perseus Algol,
Dubhe Alpha Siegfried)
★
Zero Tester ('Shin Fubuki')
★
Daikumaryu Gaiking ('Sanshirou Tsuwabuki')
★
Taimu Tora Buru Tondekeman! (Prince Dandarn)
★
Time Bokan ''Series''
★
★
Time Bokan (Prince, Isotchi)
★
★
Yatterman (Sasuke)
★
★
Zenderman (
Theseus)
★
★
Yatodetaman (
Michelangelo)
★
Treasure Island (Papy)
★
Earth Defence Family (Mamoru Daichi)
★
The Super Dimension Fortress Macross (
Roy Focker)
★
Toushou Daimos ('Kazuya Ryuuzaki')
★
Dokaben (Satoru Satonaka)
★
Nine (Kentarou Yamanaka)
★
Nine 2 (Kentarou Yamanaka)
★
Great Dangaiou (Dangaiou Ur)
★
Babel II ('Babel II')
★
All Purpose Cultural Cat Girl Nuku Nuku (Kyusaku Natsume)
★
Sailor Moon (
Suichi Tomoe)
★
Golion (Prince Sinkline; ("Prince Lotor" in
Voltron))
★
Hyoga Senshi Gaislugger (Mito Kaya)
★
Hokuto no Ken/Hokuto no Ken 2 ('
Kenshirou')
★
Midnight Submarine (Claude)
★
Miracle Girl Limit-chan (Jun)
★
Detective Conan (Kogoro Mori (
Richard Moore))
★
Maison Ikkoku (Shun Mitaka)
★
Mouretsu Atarou ''1990'' (Nyarome)
★
Yawara! A Fashionable Judo Girl (Shinnosuke Kazamatsuri)
★
Yuusha Raideen ('Akira Hibiki')
★
Grendizer (Ainsu)
★
Wakusei Robo Danguard A ('Takuma Ichimonji')
OVA
★
Urusei Yatsura ''Series'' (
Shuutarou Mendou)
★
Outlanders (Nao)
★
Starship Troopers (Zim)
★
Legend of the Galactic Heroes (Bagdash)
★ (Narrator)
★
Kyuukyoku Choujin R (Tosaka-senpai)
★
Twilight of the Dark Master (Huang Long)
★
Sukeban Deka (Jin Kyouichirou)
★
Nayuta (Kiro)
★
Nekketsu Koukou Dodgeball-bu Soccer-hen ('Kunio')
★
Dangaioh (Roll Kran)
★
All Purpose Cultural Cat Girl Nuku Nuku (Kyuusaku Natsume)
★
All Purpose Cultural Cat Girl Nuku Nuku DASH (Kyuusaku Natsume)
★
Macross Zero (
Roy Focker)
★
Detective Conan
★
★ Conan vs. Yaiba vs. Kid (Kogoro Mouri)
★
★ The 16 Suspects (Kogoro Mouri)
★
★ The Target is Kogoro Mouri!! (Kogoro Mouri)
★
Record of Lodoss War (Ashram)
★
Yagami-kun no Katei no Jijou (Akira Yokkaichi)
★
Yamato 2520 (Richard)
Anime Movies
★
Space Battleship Yamato (Saburou Katou)
★
Farewell Space Battleship Yamato (Saburou Katou)
★
Be Forever Yamato (Shirou Katou)
★
Space Battleship Yamato Final Chapter (Shirou Katou)
★
Urusei Yatsura ''Series'' (
Shuutarou Mendou)
★
Kinnikuman ''Series'' ('
Kinniku Suguru')
★
Kinnikuman Nisei ('
Kinniku Suguru')
★
The Doraemons: Mysterious Thief Dorapan (Dorapan)
★
City Hunter ''Series'' ('Ryou Saeba')
★
Saint Seiya: Legend of the Crimson Boy (Atlas)
★
Slayers Gorgeous (Lord Culvert)
★
Dr. Slump and Arale-chan: N'cha! Penguin Mura yori Ai wo Komete (Dr. Mashirito)
★
Toushou Daimos ('Kazuya Ryuuzaki')
★
They Were 11 ('Tadatos Lane')
★
Hokuto no Ken ('
Kenshirou')
★
Toward the Terra (Seki Leigh Shiroei)
★ (
Roy Focker)
★
Dragon Ball Z: Return My Gohan (
Garlic Jr.)
★
Tooi Umi Kara Kita Coo (Tony Bottoms)
★
Ninja Hattori-kun and
Pāman: The Psychic Wars (Psychoman)
★
Slayers Gorgeous (Lord Calvert)
★
Pom Poko (Tamasanrou)
★
Detective Conan ''Series'' (
Kogorou Mouri)
★
Maison Ikkoku: Final Chapter (Shun Mitaka)
★
Wakusei Robo Danguard A vs. The Insect Robot Army ('Takuma Ichimonji')
Games
★
Space Battleship Yamato (Saburou Katou)
★
Farewell Space Battleship Yamato (Saburou Katou)
★
Kingdom Hearts (
Iago)
★
Kinnikuman Nisei: New Generation vs. Legends (
Kinniku Suguru)
★
Kinnikuman Muscle Generations (
Kinniku Suguru)
★
Kinnikuman Muscle Grand Prix ''Series'' (
Kinniku Suguru)
★
Sakura Wars 2 (Kyougoku Keigo)
★
Super Robot Wars (Ryouma Nagare, Tsuwabuki Sanshirou, Kazuya Ryuuzaki, Akira Hibiki,
Roy Focker, Roll Kran)
★
Popful Mail (Blacky)
★
Far East of Eden (Sangue)
★
Tobal No. 1 (Gren Cuts)
★
Hokuto no Ken ''Series'' (
Kenshirou)
★
Super Dimensional Fortress Macross (
Roy Focker)
★ (
Roy Focker)
★
Red Alert (Guy Kazama)
★
Unison (Dance Instructor)
Dub Work
★
Aladdin ''Series'' (
Iago)
★
Goldeneye (
Pierce Brosnan:
James Bond)
★
Tomorrow Never Dies (
Pierce Brosnan:
James Bond)
★
Remington Steele (
Pierce Brosnan: Remington Steele)
★
Face/Off (
John Travolta: Sean Archer)
★
Hokuto no Ken ~ Fist of the North Star (
Gary Daniels:
Kenshirou)
Pachinko
★
Sammy:
Hokuto no Ken (
Kenshirou)
===
Tokusatsu===
★
Chouriki Sentai Ohranger (Ganmajin)
★
Ganbare!! Robokon (Robo-Deki)
★
Akumaizaa 3 (Basukaru)
★
Voiceslugger (Ganmaa)
Puppet Show
★
Purinpurin Monogatari (Bon-Bon, Zerozerozebun Hennakibun)
★
Benikujaku (Kotemoku)
Radio
★
A Megumi no Dream Dream Party (
Nippon Cultural Broadcasting)
★
XYZ Ryo's Bar (
FM NACK5)
★
All Night Nippon [Thursday Evenings] (
Nippon Broadcasting System)
★
Konnichiwa Kamiya Akira desu (
TBS Radio)
★
Shougakusei Challenge Housoukyoku (
TBS Radio)
Internet Radio
★
Kamiya Akira Returns (AII Radio)
May 9,
2005
★
Kamiya Akira Hot Beat Party (
Saeba Shouji)
May 3,
2005~
CD
★
Condition Green (Phillip Emitt)
★
Rockman: Kiki Ippatsu (Narrator)
===
Commercials===
★
Sega Mega Drive (
Gun Star Heroes) (Narration)
★
Super Robot Wars F (
PlayStation version) (Instructor Kamiya)
★ Super Robot Wars α
★
Yamagata Bank (Narration)
Other
★
Kinnikuman: Choujin Daizenshu [Soundtrack] (
Kinniku Suguru)
★
Cyborg 009 1979 Radio Drama (Joe Shimamura/009)
★
Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen-mae Hashutsujo:
1985 Jump Festival
Anime (Keiichi Nakagawa)
★
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
★ Performed Endings 2-4 on
Kinnikuman
★ Performed the Opening to
Oyo Neko Būnyan
★ Performed on the
Urusei Yatsura,
Hokuto no Ken,
Kinnikuman, and
City Hunter soundtracks
★ Played
bass in a band called 'Slapstick' with fellow
seiyuus
Toshio Furukawa,
Toru Furuya, and
Kazuyuki Sogabe.
Trivia
★ Blood Type: A
★ Hobbies:
Photography, Driving,
Computers.
★ His favorite role he's played is 'Ryo Saeba' from
City Hunter, saying in interviews that the character reminds him of himself. His own personal voice acting firm, 'Saeba Shoji', is named after him. He reprises this role in
Angel Heart.
★ He has frequently co-starred with
Hideyuki Tanaka, often playing characters who are connected with each other in some way.
★
★ In
Dokaben they play teammates Tarou Yamada (Tanaka) and Satoru Satonaka (Kamiya); in
Kinnikuman they play best friends and tag team partners
Kinniku Suguru (Kamiya) and
Terryman (Tanaka); in
City Hunter/
Angel Heart they play business partners Ryo Saeba (Kamiya) and Hideyuki Makimura (Tanaka); in
Hokuto no Ken 2 they play
Kenshirou (Kamiya) and Falco (Tanaka), whom consider each other equals as fighters and decide to travel together; in they play foster brothers
Arthur (Kamiya) and
Kay (Tanaka); in
They Were 11 Kamiya plays the main character Tadatos Lane while Tanaka plays Maya Baceska, whom considers himself the leader of the crew.
★
★ Other smaller connections exist between their characters in anime like
Record of Lodoss War,
Detective Conan,
Saint Seiya, and
Maison Ikkoku.
External links
★
Tokyo Saeba (Japanese)
★
Kamiya Akira Fanclub - AKKIE CLUB (Japanese)
★
Akira Kamiya at Anime News Network
★
Akira Kamiya at Internet Movie Database