Japanese writing

Kanji

Kana

• Hiragana
• Katakana
• Hentaigana
• Man'yōgana
• Sogana

Uses

• Furigana
• Okurigana

Rōmaji

• Hepburn (colloquial)
• Kunrei (ISO)
• Nihon (ISO translit.)
• JSL (transliteration)
• Wāpuro (keyboard)

Punctuation

• v
• t
• e

Furigana (振り仮名^?) is a Japanese reading aid, consisting of smaller kana, or syllabic characters, printed next to a kanji (ideographic character) or other character to indicate its pronunciation. It is typically used to clarify rare, nonstandard or ambiguous readings, or in children's or learners' materials. It is most often written in hiragana, though katakana is used in certain special cases explained later in the article. In horizontal text, yokogaki, the furigana is placed above the line of text, while in vertical text, tategaki, it is placed to the right of the line of text, as illustrated below. It is one type of ruby text. Furigana is also known as yomigana (読み仮名^?) or rubi (ルビ^?) in Japanese.

These examples spell the word kanji, which is made up of two kanji characters: 漢 (kan, written in hiragana as かん), and 字 (ji, written in hiragana as じ).

Appearance[link]

Furigana may be added by character, in which case the furigana characters that correspond to a kanji are centered over that kanji; or by word or phrase, in which case the entire furigana word is centered over several kanji characters, even if the kanji do not represent equal shares of the kana needed to write them. The latter method is more common, especially since some words in Japanese have unique pronunciations (jukujikun) that are not related to readings of any of the characters the word is written with.

Furigana fonts are generally sized so that two kana characters fit naturally over one kanji; when more kana are required, this is resolved either by adjusting the furigana by using a condensed font (narrowing the kana), or by adjusting the kanji by intercharacter spacing (adding spaces around the kanji). In case an isolated kanji character has a long reading—for example 〜に携わる (where 携 reads たずさ, tazusa)—the furigana may instead spill over into the space next to the neighboring kana characters, without condensing or changing spacing. Three-kana readings are not uncommon, particularly due to yōon with a long vowel, such as ryō (りょう^?), and five kana are required for kokorozashi (志、こころざし^?) and uketamawaru (承る、うけたまわる^?), the longest of any characters in the Joyo kanji. Very long readings also occur for certain kanji or symbols which have a gairaigo reading; the word "centimeter" is generally written as "cm" (with two half-width characters, so occupying one space) and has the seven-kana reading センチメートル (it can also be written as the kanji 糎, though this is very rare); another common example is '%' (the percent sign), which has the five kana reading パーセント. These cause severe spacing problems due to length and these words being used as units (hence closely associated to the preceding figure).

When it is necessary to distinguish between native Japanese kun'yomi and Chinese-derived on'yomi pronunciations, for example in Kanji dictionaries, the Japanese pronunciations are written in hiragana, and the Chinese ones are written in katakana. However, this distinction is really only important in dictionaries and other reference works. In ordinary prose, the script chosen will usually be hiragana. The one general exception to this is modern Chinese place names, personal names, and (occasionally) food names—these will often be written with kanji, and katakana used for the furigana; in more casual writing these are simply written in katakana, as borrowed words.

The distinction between regular kana and the smaller character forms, which are used in regular orthography to mark such things as gemination and palatalization, is often not made in furigana: for example, the usual hiragana spelling of the word 却下 (kyakka) is きゃっか, but in furigana it might be written きやつか. This was especially common in old-fashioned movable type printing when smaller fonts were not available. Nowadays, with computer-based printing systems, this occurs less frequently.

Usage[link]

On this sign, furigana indicate the pronunciation of the Latin letters "JR" and the kanji for "Namba Station."

Furigana are most commonly used in works for children, who may not have sufficiently advanced reading skills to recognize the kanji, but can understand the word when written phonetically in hiragana. Because children learn hiragana before katakana, in books for very young children, there are hiragana furigana next to the katakana characters. It is common to use furigana on all kanji characters in works for young children. This is called sōrubi (総ルビ^?) in Japanese.

Many children's and shōnen manga use furigana. There are also books with a phonetic guide (mainly in hiragana but sometimes in romaji) for Japanese learners, which may be bilingual or Japanese only. These are popular with foreigners wishing to master Japanese faster and enjoy reading Japanese short stories, novels or articles.

Some websites and tools exist which provide a phonetic guide for Japanese web pages (in hiragana, romaji or kiriji); these are popular with both Japanese children and foreign Japanese learners.

In works aimed at adult Japanese speakers, furigana may be used on a word written in uncommon kanji; in the mass media, they are generally used on words containing non-Jōyō kanji.

Furigana commonly appear alongside kanji names and their romanizations on signs for railway stations, even if the pronunciation of the kanji is commonly known. Furigana also appear often on maps to show the pronunciation of unusual place names.

In Japan, by law, newspapers using kanji outside the jōyō kanji list must annotate them with furigana.^[1]

Names[link]

Japanese names are usually written in kanji. Because there are many possible readings for kanji names, including special name-only readings called nanori, furigana are often used to give the readings of names. On Japanese official forms, where the name is to be written, there is always an adjacent column for the name to be written in furigana. Usually katakana is preferred.

Furigana may also be used for foreign names written in kanji. Chinese and Korean names are the most common examples: Chinese names are usually pronounced with Japanese readings and the pronunciation written in hiragana, while Korean names are usually pronounced with Korean readings and the pronunciation written in katakana. Furigana may also be necessary in the rare case where names are transliterated into kanji from other languages (e.g. soccer star Ruy Ramos and politician Marutei Tsurunen.)

Language learning[link]

Kanji and kanji compounds are often presented with furigana in Japanese language textbooks for non-native speakers.

Furigana are also often used in foreign language textbooks for Japanese learners to indicate pronunciation. The words are written in the original foreign script, such as hangul for Korean, and furigana is used to indicate the pronunciation. In English teaching, the use of Japanese furigana should be avoided due to the differences in pronunciation between English and Japanese. For instance, the word "birthdate" might be written as 「バースデイト」(or BAASUDEITO). ^{[2] [3]}

Punning and double meaning[link]

Some writers use furigana to represent slang pronunciations, particularly those that would become hard to understand without the kanji to provide their meaning.

Another use is to write the kanji for something which had been previously referenced, but write furigana for sore (それ) or are (あれ), meaning "that". This means that the actual word used was "that", but the kanji clarify for the reader what "that" refers to.

In karaoke it is extremely common for furigana to be placed on the song lyrics. The song lyrics are often written in kanji pronounced quite differently from the furigana. The furigana version is used for pronunciation.

Also, because the kanji represent meaning while the furigana represent sound, one can combine the two to create puns or indicate meanings of foreign words. One might write the kanji for "blue", but use katakana to write the pronunciation of the English word "blue"; this may be done, for example, in Japanese subtitles on foreign films, where it can help associate the written Japanese with the sounds actually being spoken by the actors, or it may be used in a translation of a work of fiction to enable the translator to preserve the original sound of a proper name (such as "Firebolt" in the Harry Potter series) in furigana, while simultaneously indicating its meaning with kanji. A similar practice is used in native fiction to clarify extended meanings. For example, in a work of science fiction, some astronaut could use the word ふるさと, furusato, meaning "my hometown", when referring to planet Earth. To clarify that for the reader, the word furusato (hometown) might be written in hiragana over the kanji for chikyuu (Earth).

Other Japanese reading aids[link]

Okurigana[link]

Okurigana are kana that appear inline at normal size following kanji stems, typically to complete and to inflect adjectives and verbs. In this use they may also help to disambiguate kanji with multiple readings; for example, 上がる (あがる, agaru) vs. 上る (のぼる, noboru). Unlike furigana, the use of okurigana is a mandatory part of the written language.

Kunten[link]

In the written style known as kanbun, which is the Japanese approximation of Classical Chinese, small marks called kunten are sometimes added as reading aids. Unlike furigana, which indicate pronunciation, kunten indicate Japanese grammatical structures absent from the kanbun, as well as showing how words should be reordered to fit Japanese sentence structure.

Furikanji[link]

Furigana are sometimes also used to indicate meaning, rather than pronunciation. Over the foreign text, smaller sized Japanese words, in kana or kanji, corresponding to the meaning of the foreign words, effectively translate it in place. While rare now, some late 19th–early 20th century authors used kanji as furigana for loanwords written in katakana. This usage is called furikanji (振り漢字^?) in Japanese, since furigana implies the use of kana.

See also[link]

• Kanji
• Okurigana
• Ruby character
• Zhuyin

Notes[link]

1. ^ http://www.omniglot.com/writing/japanese_hiragana.htm
2. ^ Lena Ginsburg et al (07/2005). "Speaking/Pronunciation". Gifu Prefectural Board of Education. http://www.gifu-net.ed.jp/kyoka/eigo/CommunicativeEnglish/05-11cSpeaking.htm. Retrieved 3 May 2012. 
3. ^ Richard Graham. "No Katakana!!". http://genkienglish.net/katakana.htm. Retrieved 3 May 2012. 

References[link]

• Mangajin's Basic Japanese Through Comics [Part I] New York: Weatherhill, 1998: 48–49
• J Paul Warnick, Review of Nihon o Hanasoo in The Journal of the Association of Teachers of Japanese, Vol. 32, No. 2 (Oct., 1998), pp. 80–83

External links[link]

• Add Ruby automatically for Japanese Web site—Multi-language phonetic reading site that can add phonetic reading to any site or texts in five different alphabets, hiragana, katakana, Roman, hangul, Devanagari, and Cyrillic letters for Japanese.
• The Furiganizer is a convenient online reading aid for all kinds of Japanese text. It automatically adds Furigana, offers easy access to the EDICT dictionary, and learns interactively which kanji the user already knows. Furiganized results can be printed or exported to Microsoft Word.

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (January 2011)

Kazuhiko Inoue (井上和彦, Inoue Kazuhiko^?, born March 26, 1954) is a veteran voice actor from Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.^[1]

Biography[link]

Since his debut in 1973, Kazuhiko Inoue has become one of Japan's most well established voice actors. His early roles from the 1970s include Anthony in Candy Candy, and later as Joe in the 1979 remake of Cyborg 009. In the 1980s, Inoue's work ranged from the adult-oriented Oishinbo (The Gourmet) to the popular Legend of Heavenly Sphere Shurato for the younger generation.

More recently, Inoue is known internationally for roles such as Kakashi Hatake in Naruto, Eiri Yuki in Gravitation, Aion in Chrono Crusade, Hatori Sohma in Fruits Basket, and Nyanko-sensei/Madara in Natsume Yūjin Chō. Inoue's voice performance is often described as natural and relaxed.

This wide and versatile vocal range allows Kazuhiko Inoue to voice roles of varying personality types: hot-blooded, righteous main characters such as Joe in Cyborg 009, Akira Kogane in Golion, and Kusanagi in Blue Seed; cold and indifferent Eiri Yuki; always fussing, hilarious, yet truly powerful mazoku (demon), Guenter in Kyo Kara Maoh!; dangerously seductive Aion; and sexy Chi no Byakko, Tachibana no Tomomasa in Harukanaru Toki no Naka de Hachiyō Shō. Inoue is also well known for more unusual roles such as the transvestite Nagisa Sawa in Haru wo Daiteita, and Shiron the Windragon in Legendz, who spends half his time as a screeching hamster.

Kazuhiko Inoue not only voices for anime, but also lends his voice to video games, drama CDs, Japanese-dubbed movies, and audio books. He has put out many LP and CD albums and has sung in various anime character albums. His most well-known songs are the ones related to the Harukanaru Toki no Naka de Hachiyō Shō series, which he performs live on stage at the annual NeoRomance voice acting events in Japan. In recent years, Inoue has also tried his hand in backstage work such as sound directing. He has set up his own voice acting agency and school, B-Box, to teach the next generation voice talents.

Being a "Hibakusha Nisei" (Second-generation of A-Bomb Survivors), Kazuhiko Inoue feels strongly against wars. In his autobiographical piece, "Ai ni Tsuite", (爱について About Love, from his CD album Ai, 2003) Inoue expresses his longings for world peace and his love and respect for the ocean and Mother Earth. Similar thoughts can often be seen in the entries he writes in his Kazufan Blog.

He was also a close friend of the late fellow voice actor Daisuke Gori.

Recently, Inoue won as "Best Supporting Actor" in the Third Seiyu Awards for his role as Nyanko-sensei in Natsume Yūjin Chō.

Anime roles[link]

• Ace wo Nerae! 2 (OVA) as Takayuki Todou
• Ace wo Nerae! Final Stage (OVA) as Takayuki Todou
• Adventures of Puss-in-Boots (TV) as Torusen
• Akai Hayate (OVA) as Hayate
• Angel's Feather (OVA) as Reiya Wakabayashi
• Anne of Green Gables (TV) as Gilbert
• Anime Sanjushi (TV) as Prince Bakkingamu
• Antique Bakery as Jean Baptiste Hevens
• Arrow Emblem Grand Prix no Taka (TV) as Speed; Antonio
• Ashita Tenki ni Nare! (TV) as Otaguro
• Bagi, the Monster of Mighty Nature (movie) as Ryo
• Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto (TV) as Sotetsu Ibaragi
• Banner of the Stars (TV) as Néreis; Néfée
• Banner of the Stars II (TV) as Nereis-Nefee
• Bats and Terry (movie) as Batsu
• Battle Athletes Victory (TV) as Eric Roberts
• Battle Royal High School (OVA) as Yuuki Toshihiro
• Biohunter (OVA) as Kamagaya
• Blue Comet SPT Layzner (TV) as Null Alberto/Eiji Asuka
• Blue Seed (TV) as Mamoru Kusanagi
• Blue Seed 1.5.2 Kasanagi Special (OVA) as Mamoru Kusanagi
• Blue Seed Beyond (OVA) as Mamoru Kusanagi
• Bomberman Bidaman Bakugaiden (TV) as Sasuraibon (Episode 16)
• Borgman (TV) as Chuck
• Candy Candy (TV) as Anthony
• Captain Future (TV) as Ken Scott
• Captain Future Kareinaru Taiyokei Race (special) as Mechaman No. 44
• Captain Tsubasa (TV) as Carlos Santana
• Case Closed (TV) as Inspector Shiratori; Date (Episode 55)
• Children Who Chase Lost Voices from Deep Below as Ryūji Morisaki
• Chogattai Majutsu Robot Ginguiser (TV) as Goro Shirogane
• Chrono Crusade (TV) as Aion
• City Hunter (TV) as Shin'ichi Yotsui (Episode 22)
• Cosmo Police Justy as Just Kaizard
• Cowboy Bebop: The Movie as Ghadkins/Shadkins
• Cyborg 009 (TV 2) as Shimamura Joe/009
• Cyborg 009 gekijô ban: chô ginga densetsu (movie) as Shimamura Joe/009
• Daimajuu Gekitou Hagane no Oni (OVA) as Haruka Alford
• Dangaioh (OVA) as Burst (Episode 3)
• Darker than Black (TV) as November11
• Descendants of Darkness (TV) as Mibu Oriya (Episodes 10, 11, 13)
• Detective Conan: 16 Suspects (OVA) as Inspector Shiratori
• Detective Conan: Captured in Her Eyes (movie) as Kyosuke Kazato
• Detective Conan: Countdown to Heaven (movie) as Inspector Shiratori
• Detective Conan: Crossroad in the Ancient Capital (movie) as Inspector Shiratori
• Detective Conan: Magician of the Silver Sky (movie) as Inspector Shiratori
• Detective Conan: Strategy Above the Depths (movie) as Inspector Shiratori
• Detective Conan: The Phantom of Baker Street (movie) as Inspector Shiratori
• Detective Conan: The Private Eyes' Requiem (movie 10) as Inspector Shiratori
• Doraemon-1979 (TV) as Nobita's teacher (2nd)
• Doraemon: Nobita's Dinosaur (movie) as T/P Squad
• Doraemon: Nobita's Genesis Diary (movie) as Yoshihide
• Doraemon: What Am I for Momotaro (movie)
• Dream Dimension Hunter Fandora (OVA) as Sorto
• Earthian (OVA) as Kagetsuya
• Elementalors (movie) as Shiki
• Ergo Proxy (TV) as Kazukisu (Episode 9)
• Excel Saga (TV) as Dick; Shioji Gojo
• Fang of the Sun DOUGRAM (TV) as Krin
• Fairy Tail (TV) as Gildarts Clive
• Five Star Stories (OVA) as Colus III
• Fruits Basket (TV) as Hatori Sohma
• Fuma no Kojirou: Yasha-hen (OVA) as Kousuke Mibu
• Fushigi Yuugi (OVA 2) as Rokou (Episode 3)
• Galaxy Angel (TV) as Dr. Minami Asagaya
• Gall Force: Earth Chapter (OVA) as Bauer
• Glass no Kamen (TV)
• Golion (TV) as Akira Kogane ("Keith"; see also Voltron)
• Gravitation (TV) as Eiri Yuki
• Gravitation: Lyrics of Love (OVA) as Eiri Yuki
• Grey : Digital Target (movie) as Grey
• Guilty Crown as Shuuichiro Keido
• Hana no Ko (TV) as flower farmer (Episode 1), Joe (Episode 2), and various random characters
• Handsome Girl (OVA) as Okita
• Haou Taikei Ryuu Knight (TV) as Larser
• Haré+Guu (TV) as Reiji-sensei
• Haru wo Daiteita (Embracing Love) (OVA) as Nagisa Sawa
• Harukanaru Toki no Naka de Hachiyō Shō (TV) as Tachibana no Tomomasa
• Harukanaru Toki no Naka de ~Ajisai Yumegatari~ (OVA) as Tachibana no Tomomasa
• Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 2 ~Shiroki Ryuu no Miko~ (OVA) as Hisui
• Harukanaru Toki no Naka de ~Maihitoyo~ (movie) as Tachibana no Tomomasa
• Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 4 ~Kurenai no Tsuki~ (OVA) as Kajiwara Kagetoki
• Here is Greenwood (OVA) as Kazuhiro Hasukawa
• High School Aurabuster (OVA) as Suguro the Raishou
• Hotori - Tada Saiwai wo Koinegau (special) as Professor Shimizu
• Humanoid Monster Bem (TV 2) as Bem
• Hyakujitsu no Bara (Maiden Rose)(OVA) as Klaus
• Idol Tenshi Youkoso Yoko (TV) as Mikkii
• Igano Kabamaru as Kinshirou
• Ikkyu-san (TV) as Tetsusai
• Inu Yasha (TV) as Ryukotsusei
• Iriya no Sora, UFO no Natsu (OVA) as Enomoto
• Jungle wa itsumo Hale nochi Guu Deluxe (OVA) as Reji
• Junjou Romantica as You Miyagi
• Junk Boy (OVA) as Manai Tetsu
• Justy (OVA) as Justy Kaizard
• Karakuri Kiden Hiwou Senki (TV) as Ryouma Sakamoto
• Katekyō Hitman Reborn! (TV) Gamma
• Katri, Girl of the Meadows (TV) as Akki
• Kikaider (OVA) as Kikaider 00/Rei
• Kimi to Boku as Azuma Kouichi
• Kino's Journey (TV) as the original Kino (Episode 4)
• Koutetsu Sangokushi (TV) as Ryousou Kouketsu (Episodes 1-4)
• Kujibiki Unbalance (OVA) as Yuya Kaburaki
• Kusatta Kyoushi no Houteishiki (OVA) as Masayoshi Shibata
• Kyo Kara Maoh! (TV) as Lord Gunter von Christ
• Legend of Basara (TV) as Shuri
• Legend of Heavenly Sphere Shurato (TV) as Karura Oh Reiga
• Legend of the Galactic Heroes (OVA) as Dusty Attemborough
• Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Overture to a New War (movie) as Attenborough
• Legendz: Yomigaeru Ryuuou Densetsu (TV) as Shiron the Windragon; Ranshiin
• Leina: Wolf Sword Legend (OVA) as Rom Stol; Sonoda
• Let's Dance With Papa (TV) as Shigure Amachi
• Lucy of the Southern Rainbow (TV) as John
• Luna Varga (OVA) as Gilbert
• Lunn Flies into the Wind (OVA) as Akira Toyoda
• Machine Robo: Revenge of Cronos (TV) as Rom Stol
• Mahou no Tenshi Creamy Mami (TV) as Shingo Tachibana
• Mahou no Yousei Persia (TV) as Kenji Sawaki
• Master of Epic: The Animation Age (TV) as male Cognite (Rono, Phillip-taiin)
• Megazone 23 Part II (OVA) as Garam
• Magical Angel Creamy Mami as Shingo Tachibana
• Mister Ajikko (TV) as Takao Ajiyoshi (second)
• Mobile Suit Gundam AGE (TV) as Flit Asuno (Adult)
• Mobile Suit Gundam Seed MSV Astray (OVA Promo) as Gai Murakumo (BLUE FRAME)
• Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam (TV) as Jerid Messa
• Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam: A New Translation (movie) as Jerid Messa
• Mon Colle Knights (TV) as Count Collection (Prince Eccentro)
• Moonlight Mile (TV) as Goro Saruwatari
• Natsume Yūjin Chō (TV) as Nyanko-sensei/Madara
• Naruto as Hatake Kakashi
• Naruto Shippuden as Hatake Kakashi, Denka and Hatake Kakashi (Young) (Kakashi Gaiden)
• Ninja Senshi Tobikage (TV) as Jō Maya
• Oishinbo (The Gourmet) (TV) as Shirou Yamaoka
• Omishi Magical Theater Risky Safety (TV) as Bezetto Serges
• Once Upon a Time (Windaria) (movie) as Jiru
• Oroshitate Musical Nerima Daikon Brothers (TV) as Korean Pachinko Parlor Owner (Episode. 2)
• Otohime Connection (OVA) as Michio Hirano
• Ouran High School Host Club (TV) as Yuzuru Suoh (Episodes 25 & 26)
• Parasite Dolls (OVA) as Buzz
• Princess Nine (TV) as Hidehiko Hayakawa
• Ranma ½ (TV) as Mikado Sanzenin
• Ranma ½: Big Trouble in Nekonron, China (movie) as Bishamonten; Mikado Sanzenin
• Rhea Gall Force (OVA) as Bauer
• Romeo x Juliet as William
• Rurouni Kenshin (movie) as Shigure
• The Sacred Blacksmith as Hugo Housman
• SaiKano (TV) as Shuuji's Father
• Saint Seiya (TV) as Ohko(Ouko) (Episodes 33-34)
• Saint Tail (TV) as Gen'ichirou Haneoka
• Salamander (OVA)
• Samurai Deeper Kyo (TV) as Muramasa
• Samurai X: The Motion Picture as Takimi Shigure
• Samurai: Hunt for the Sword (OVA) as Torai Nanban
• Sanctuary (Manga DVD)
• School Rumble (TV) as Eri's Father (Episode 8)
• Sei Jushi Bismarck (TV) as Bill Wilcox ("Colt"; see also Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs)
• Seikimatsu Darling (OVA) as Yoichuroh Takasugi
• Sekushi Commando Gaiden: Sugoiyo! Masaru-san (TV) as Tanaka "Susan" Fumiko/school principal
• Seraphim Call (TV) as father (Episode 11)
• Serial Experiments Lain (TV) as Man's voice
• Shinshaku Sengoku Eiyuu Densetsu Sanada Jyuu Yuushi The Animation (Special) as Jinpachi Nezu
• Shinshaku Sengoku Eiyuu Densetsu Sanada Jyuu Yuushi The Animation (TV) as Nezu Jinpachi
• Showa ahozoshi akanuke ichiban! (TV) as Koujirou
• Shrine of the Morning Mist (TV) as Tadaaki Amatsu
• Soreike! Anpanman (TV) as Katsubushiman (2nd)
• Space Battleship Yamato as Akira Yamamoto
• Space Pirate Mito (TV) as Mitsukuni Kagerou
• Space Warrior Baldios movie as David
• Spiral: Suiri no Kizuna (TV) as Kiyotaka Narumi
• Spirit Warrior (OVA) as Kou Kaihou (Episode 2)
• Starship Troopers (OVA) as Smith
• Super Atragon (OVA) as Storner
• Super Dimensional Cavalry Southern Cross (TV) as Alan
• Sword for Truth (movie) as Shurannosuke Sakaki
• Tactics (TV) as Watanabe
• Takegami - Guardian of Darkness (OVA) as Koichi
• Tales of Phantasia (OVA) as Klarth F. Lester
• The Galaxy Railways (TV) as Yuuki Wataru
• The Heroic Legend of Arslan (OVA) as Daryuun
• The Ideon: A Contact (movie) as Hatari Naburu
• The Ideon: Be Invoked (movie) as Hatari Naburu
• The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (TV) as Keiichi Tamaru (Episodes 6,8)
• The Phoenix: Chapter of Yamato (OVA) as Oguna
• The Place Promised in Our Early Days (movie) as Tomizawa
• The Samurai (OVA) as Torai
• Tobira o Akete (OVA) as Saiki Haruka
• Tokimeki Tonight as Rocky (Episode 27)
• Tondemo Senshi Muteking (TV) as Muteking
• Touch (TV) as Akio Nitta
• Touch: Are kara, Kimi wa... - Miss Lonely Yesterday - (special) as Akio Nitta
• Touch: Cross Road - Kaze no Yukue (special) as Bob
• Urban Square (OVA) as Ryo Matsumoto
• Urusei Yatsura (TV) as Tsubame Ozuno
• Vampire Princess Miyu (OVA) as Pazusu
• Versailles no Bara (movie) as Hans Axel von Fersen
• Vie Durant (OVA) as Shiriizu
• Wrath of the Ninja as Hayate no Sakon
• X (movie) as Yuuto Kigai
• Yajikita Gakuen Douchuuki: Maboroshi no Sumeragi Ichizoku-hen (OVA)
• Yoroshiku Mechadock (TV) as Nachi Wataru
• Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters GX as DD
• Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal as the Voice of the Door
• Zillion (TV) as Champ
• Zillion: Burning Night (special) as Champ

Video Game Roles[link]

• ANUBIS ~Z.O.E~ as Dingo Egret
• Battle Stadium D.O.N as Kakashi Hatake
• BS Fire Emblem: Akaneia Senki as Kamiyu and Frost
• Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII as Angeal Hewley
• Fragrance Tale
• Hana Ki Sou as Kurotaka
• Harukanaru Toki no Naka de as Tachibana no Tomomasa
• Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 2 as Hisui
• Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 3 as Kagetoki Kajiwara
• Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 3: Izayoi-ki as Kagetoki Kajiwara
• Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 3: Unmei no Labyrinth as Kagetoki Kajiwara
• Harukanaru Toki no Naka de, Maihitoyo as Tachibana no Tomomasa
• Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 4 as Kazahaya
• Heroes Phantasia as November 11
• Hoshi no Oujo
• Hoshi no Oujo 2
• Hoshi no Oujo 3 as Amaterasu (God of Light)
• Kingdom Hearts II as Prince Eric
• Langrisser I & II as Lance
• Mana Khemia: Alchemists of Al-Revis as Seppl Kleiber
• Mizu no Senritsu as Kirihara Kijin (桐原貴人^?)
• Mizu no Senritsu 2 〜緋の記憶〜 as Kirihara Kijin (桐原貴人^?)
• Mugen no Frontier: Super Robot Wars OG Saga as Reiji Arisu
• Namco x Capcom as Reiji Arisu
• Naruto: Narutimate Hero as Kakashi Hatake
• Naruto: Narutimate Hero 2 as Kakashi Hatake
• Naruto: Narutimate Hero 3 as Kakashi Hatake
• Naruto Shippuuden: Narutimate Accel as Kakashi Hatake
• Naruto Shippuuden: Narutimate Accel 2 as Kakashi Hatake
• Puyo Puyo (PC-Engine Version) as Schezo Wegey
• R's Study: Act II (Rの書斎〜第二幕〜, R no Shosai ~Daini Maku~^?)
• Resistance Retribution as James Greyson
• Silver Chaos
• Silver Chaos 2
• Star Ocean: Fantastic Space Odyssey as Ashlay Barnbernt
• Super Robot Wars series as Hwang Yan Long
• Tales of Phantasia as Klarth F. Lester
• Tenchu Z as Shigi
• Bleach: The 3rd Phantom as Seigen Suzunami

Drama CD roles[link]

Please refer to Audio Wiki.

Japanese-dubbed TV series/film roles[link]

• Mechanical Violator Hakaider (Japan)
• Zeiram 2 (Japan) as Bob
• Atomic Betty (Japan) as Atomic Roger
• Batman (1966)
• The Bible (1966)
• Urban Cowboy (1980)
• A Nightmare on Elm Street as Glen Lantz (1984)
• The Natural (1984)
• Cocoon as Jack Bonner (1985)
• Stand By Me (1986)
• Beverly Hills Cop II Det. William 'Billy' Rosewood (1987)
• Dragnet (1987)
• Big (1988)
• Cocoon: The Return as Jack Bonner (1988)
• Look Who's Talking as James Ubriacco (1989)
• The Little Mermaid as Prince Eric (1989)
• When Harry Met Sally as Harry (1989)
• Look Who's Talking Too as James Ubriacco (1990)
• Nikita (1990)
• Backdraft (1991)
• Look Who's Talking Now as James Ubriacco (1993)
• Beverly Hills Cop III as Det. William 'Billy' Rosewood (1994)
• Black Beauty as Black Beauty (1994)
• Get Shorty as Chili Palmer (1995)
• Sabrina as Linus Larrabee (1995)
• DNA as Dr. Ash Mattley (1997)
• The MatchMaker as Sean Kelley (1997)
• A Civil Action as Jan Schlichtmann (1998)
• Air America as Henry Stanley (1998)
• Blade Squad as Tarkenton
• The Faculty as Willis (1998)
• You've Got Mail as Joe Fox (1998)
• Wild Things as Sgt. Ray Duquette (1998)
• Law & Order: Corruption Empire as Detective Rey Curtis (1999) (Japanese title: Dangerous Woman)
• Notting Hill (1999)
• The General's Daughter as Warr. Off. Paul Brenner (1999)
• Wild Wild West as U.S. Marshal Artemus Gordon (1999)
• Beethoven's 3rd as Richard Newton (2000)
• Cast Away as Chuck Noland (2000)
• Double Tap (Hong Kong) as Rick Pang (2000)
• Lucky Numbers as Russ Richards (2000)
• Mission to Mars as Nicholas Willis (2000)
• Okinawa Rendez-vous (Hong Kong) as Jimmy Tong (2000)
• The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea as Prince Eric (2000)
• Under Pressure as Crowley (2000)
• 15 Minutes (TV Version) as Jordy Warsaw (2001)
• A.I. as Henry Swinton (2001)
• Beethoven's 4th as Richard Newton (2001)
• Domestic Disturbance as Frank Morrison (2001)
• Ally McBeal (Season 5) (2002)
• Enough (TV Version) as Mitch Hiller (2002)
• Secretary as E. Edward Grey (2002)
• Spun as the Cook (2002)
• The One as Jet Li (2002)
• The Transporter as Frank Martin (2002)
• 24 as Max (2003)
• Raising Helen as Pastor Dan (2003)
• The Order as Alex (2003)
• Timeline as Lord Oliver (2003)
• Art Heist (2004)
• LOST as Jack Shephard (2004, dubbed in 2006)
• Be Cool as Chili Palmer (2005)
• Herbie Fully Loaded as Ray Peyton Sr. (2005)
• House of Wax (2005)
• Zathura (2005)
• Flags of Our Fathers as James Bradley (2006)
• Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends (Japan) as Flying Scotsman
• Meet the Robinsons as Cornelius Robinson (2007)
• Predators (film) as Royce (2010)

Music albums and songs[link]

CD

• Ai (愛) (2003/6)
• Aurora Curtain (オーロラのカーテン)
• Bokura no Sora (僕らの空 Chiguhagu)
• Bokura no Sora II (僕らの空 II)
• Have a Good Dream
• Koi (恋) (2003/3)
• Long Time No See (1992)
• Monjya de Chiguhagu (MONJYA!de ちぐはぐ)
• Ohayou-Oyasumi (おはようおやすみ) VOL.1
• 海人 ハミハミハ島の伝説
• 海人 ハミハミハ島の伝説イメージソング (Image Song)
• White Land

EP or LP

• P.S. I Love You (P.S.アイ・ラブ・ユー) (1980 Debut album)
• あいつは噂のバイシクル
• Omoide no Natsu/Inoue Kazuhiko II (想い出の夏/井上和彦II) (1981)
• 21エモン
• 王様の耳はファンタジー
• First Present (ファースト・プレゼント) (1981)
• 彗星物語 (Comet Story) (1982)
• Morning Breeze (モーニングブリーズ) (1984)

• 夢みるお年頃
• ポセイドンの伝説
• ペアペア アニメージュ
• CHOKI!
• バオバブ･パーティー
• バオバブパーティー 2
• バオバブ・シンガーズ
• ムテキングとんでもジョッキー

References[link]

1. ^ Doi, Hitoshi. "Inoue Kazuhiko". Seiyuu Database. January 11, 2011. Retrieved January 12, 2011. Archived 12 January 2011 at WebCite

External links[link]

• Inoue Kazuhiko Official Fan Club (Kazufan)
• Inoue Kazuhiko Private Support Group (井上和彦私設応援団)
• Kazuhiko Inoue at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
• Kazuhiko Inoue at Usagi
• Kazuhiko Inoue's Seiyū roles
• Inoue Kazuhiko audio drama roles at Audio Wiki.
• B-Box profile

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (September 2008)

Toshihiko Seki (関 俊彦, Seki Toshihiko^?, born June 11, 1962 in Tochigi^{[disambiguation needed ]}) is a Japanese voice actor and member of 81 Produce.^[1] Apart from voice actor work, Seki sometimes does live action drama stage work. He is sometimes mistaken for another voice actor, Tomokazu Seki,^{[citation needed]} sharing the same last name but are unrelated.

Person/Career[link]

According to the Anime News Network as of early August 2007, Seki Toshihiko is one of the more prolific male voice actors with 215 roles credited to his name. He is tied with voice actors Tomomichi Nishimura and Nobuo Tobita.

In June 2004, Toshihiko was honored by the readers of Animage Magazine in the 26th Annual Reader's Poll, where he was ranked the 9th favorite voice actors currently working in Japan, largely in recognition of his performance as Rau Le Creuset from Mobile Suit Gundam SEED.^[2]

Toshihiko tends to mostly voice characters who are very serious or easily agitated, e.g. Ougi Takaya in Mirage of Blaze, Sanzo in Saiyuki, Jōtarō and Bleed Kaga in Future GPX Cyber Formula, Duo Maxwell in Mobile Suit Gundam Wing, Iruka Umino in Naruto, Kaien Shiba in Bleach and Momotaros in Kamen Rider Den-O. However, he has also played those who are composed and pleasant (Luva, Ru Baraba Dom). On some occasions, he has also played charming sociopaths: (Legato Bluesummers, Rau Le Creuset).

Associations[link]

• Toshihiko has worked alongside Soichiro Hoshi a few times whereby their characters have strong interactions: In Gundam SEED, Kira Yamato (Hoshi) was the one who killed Rau le Creuset (Seki), who had long regarded Kira as a main threat; in Saiyuki, Goku (Hoshi) was rescued by Sanzo (Seki), who often abuses him with a paper fan as well; in the drama CD version of D.N Angel, Soichiro voices Niwa Daisuke while Toshihiko voices his father, Kosuke. In Higurashi When They Cry, Hoshi's character Keiichi Maebara confesses to a murder to the town doctor, Irie (Seki). In Dissidia -Final Fantasy- Warrior of Light (Seki) is one of the warriors of the goddess Cosmos, along with Butz Klauser (Hoshi), but their interactions are minimal.

• Also, he has voiced characters alongside Ai Orikasa whereby they were close friends.
  • In Gundam Wing, with Toshihiko as Duo and Ai as Quatre.
  • In the Kami-kaze drama CDs, the two voiced a couple (with Toshihiko as Higa and Ai as Kaede).

• Toshihiko has voiced four characters who were also voiced by American voice actor Richard Cansino: Legato Bluesummers in Trigun (Credited as Richard Cansino), Takaya Ohgi or Kagetora Uesugi in Mirage of Blaze (Cansino credited as Edward Villa), and Yurimaru in Ninja Scroll, and Kall-su in Bastard!.

Notable voice roles[link]

Television animation[link]

• Akai Koudan Zillion - J.J.
• Angelique - Luva
• Alexander Senki - Alexander
• Baby Feriko Chitcha na Nakama - Felix
• Bastard!! - Lord Kall-Su
• Bleach - Kaien Shiba, Aaroniero Arruruerie
• Bomberman B-Daman Bakugaiden - Kurobon
• Bomberman B-Daman Bakugaiden Victory - Kurobon
• Final Fantasy: Unlimited - Cid
• Fullmetal Alchemist - Vercio
• Groove Adventure Rave - Shuda
• Future GPX Cyber Formula - Bleed Kaga
• Gunslinger Girl - Nino
• Higurashi When They Cry - Irie Kyousuke
• Hunter X Hunter (2011) - Wing
• I Can Hear the Sea - Yutaka Matsuno
• Kaiketsu Zorro - Zorro/Don Diego de la Vega
• Kamen Rider Den-O: Imagin Anime - Momotaros
• Kamen Rider Den-O + Shin-O - Momotaros/Kamen Rider Den-O Sword Form
• Katanagatari - Umigame Maniwa
• Konjiki no Gash Bell!! - Apollo
• Kousetsu Hyaku Monogatari - Momosuke
• Legend of Heavenly Sphere Shurato - Shurato
• MÄR - Danna
• Meine Liebe - "Ludwig"
• Mirage of Blaze - Takaya Ohgi
• Mobile Suit Gundam SEED - Rau Le Creuset
• Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny - Rey Za Burrel
• Mobile Suit Gundam Wing - Duo Maxwell
• My-HiME - Kanzaki Reito
• My-Otome - Rado
• Nintama Rantarō - Doi-sensei
• Nagasarete Airantou - Kiyomasa and Benyasha
• Naruto - Iruka Umino
• One Piece - Duval
• Oscar's Oasis - Roco
• Outlaw Star - Fred Luo, Ark Manaf
• Paranoia Agent - Mitsuhiro Maniwa
• Please Save My Earth - Mikuro Yakushimaru
• Sgt. Frog - Urere
• RahXephon - Makoto Isshiki
• Ranma ½ - Mousse
• Rave Master - Shuda
• Saint Seiya - Milo
• Saiyuki Series: Gensomaden Saiyuki, Saiyuki Reload and Saiyuki RELOAD Gunlock - Genjo Sanzo
• Saiunkoku Monogatari - Rio Hyo, Sr.
• Samurai Deeper Kyo - Benitora
• Silent Möbius (TV) - Genvara
• Spider Riders - Bagus
• Tenku Senki Shurato - Shura-Oh Shurato/Hidaka Shurato
• Toaru Majutsu no Index - Aleister Crowley
• Trigun - Legato Bluesummers
• Twilight of the Dark Master - Tsunami Shijo
• Yami no Matsuei - Watari Yutaka
• Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's - Professor Frank

OVA[link]

• Ai no Kusabi - Riki
• Blue Submarine 6 - Katsuma Nonaka
• Dogs: Bullets & Carnage - Bishop
• Dragon Century - Carmine
• Future GPX Cyber Formula series - Bleed Kaga
• Gakuen Tokusou Hikaruon - Hikaru Shihodo
• Here is Greenwood - Shinobu Tezuka
• Pet Shop of Horrors - Count D
• Please Save My Earth - Mikuro
• Saint Seiya: Hades - Scorpio Milo
• Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas - Pope Sage
• Seikimatsu Darling - Todoroki Kouhei
• Tenshi Nanka Ja Nai - Bunta Kouno
• Violinist of Hamelin the Movie - Raiel
• Zeorymer - Masato Akitsu
• Call Me Tonight

Theater animation[link]

• Ninja Scroll - Yurimaru
• Ryokohunohara Labyrinth

Video Games[link]

• Another Century's Episode 2 - Duo Maxwell
• Aisle Lord - Rōru
• Bleach: Heat the Soul 5 - Aaroniero Arruruerie (Kaien Shiba)
• Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia - Albus
• Future GPX Cyber Formula series - Bleed Kaga
• Dissidia: Final Fantasy,Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy - Warrior of Light
• La Pucelle: Tactics - Croix
• Tales of Destiny 2 - Loni Dunamis
• Naruto games - Iruka Umino
• Super Robot Wars series - Duo Maxwell. Rau Le Creuset, Rey Za Burrel
• Samurai Deeper Kyô- Benitora
• Virtua Fighter 5- Goh Hinogami
• Kamen Rider: Climax Heroes series- Kamen Rider Den-O Sword Form, Kamen Rider Den-O Super Climax Form
• SD Gundam G Generation World- Duo Maxwell, Rau Le Creuset, Rey Za Burrel, Def Stallion

CD Dramas[link]

• Ai no Kusabi - Riki The Dark
• Anatolia Story Sound Theater 5 Ramses
• Angelique - Luva
• Crashers
• D.N.Angel - Kosuke Niwa in the Wink drama CDs
• Dr Hayami S.S.D.S.
• Dragon Quest I - Alef (hero)
• Eden 205
• Fushigi Yuugi - Tamahome
• Future GPX Cyber Formula series - Bleed Kaga
• getsurei 15 - fuonbunshi teisuu
• Honō no Mirāju (Mirage of Blaze) - Takaya Ohgi/Uesugi Kagetora
• Jazz me Blue
• Kairyuu Gakuen Twins
• Koisuru Boukun - Taichirou Isogai
• Love Mode - Aoe Kiichi
• Meine Liebe - Ludwig Herzog von Mohn nahe Liechtenstein
• Otona no Mondai
• Pandora Hearts - Xerxes Break
• Saiyuki^{[disambiguation needed ]} - Genjo Sanzo
• Samurai Deeper Kyo Onmyouden no Tobira - Benitora
• Seikimatsu Darling - Todoroki Kouhei
• Shinjuku Guardian
• Shōnen Onmyouji Series - Yukinari Fujiwara
• Sweet Dragon Series
• Wild Adapter - Sekiya Jun
• Yami no Matsuei (Descendants of Darkness) - Yutaka Watari

Tokusatsu[link]

• Denji Sentai Megaranger - Chameleon Nejire
• Kamen Rider Den-O, Kamen Rider Den-O: I'm Born!, Kamen Rider Den-O & Kiva: Climax Deka, Saraba Kamen Rider Den-O: Final Countdown, Kamen Rider Decade (14-15, 18), Cho Kamen Rider Den-O & Decade Neo Generations: The Onigashima Warship, Kamen Rider Decade: All Riders vs. Dai-Shocker, Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider W & Decade: Movie War 2010, Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider The Movie: Cho-Den-O Trilogy, OOO, Den-O, All Riders: Let's Go Kamen Riders - Momotaros/Kamen Rider Den-O Sword Form
• Ultraman: Super Fighter Legend - Ultra Seven and Ultraman Leo
• Kamen Rider Kiva: King of the Castle in the Demon World - Penetentiary Officer Sanjō/Zebra Fangire (Cameo Role)

Dubbing Roles (Japanese)[link]

• Batman Begins - Jonathan Crane/The Scarecrow (Cillian Murphy)
• Doctor Who - Tenth Doctor (David Tennant)
• The Fly (1986 film) - Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum)
• Gremlins - Billy Peltzer (Zack Galligan)
• X-Men (TV Tokyo edition) - Iceman/Bobby Drake
• Transformers: Prime (Cliffjumper)

CD albums/Character Songs[link]

• Kicks on the Way
• BANANA SENSATION
• Double-Action
• Climax Jump DENLINER FORM
• Double-Action Climax Form
• Climax Jump Sword Form
• Cho Climax Jump (超 Climax Jump, Chō Kuraimakkusu Janpu^?)

Commercials[link]

Inu-Yasha in the Shōnen Sunday commercial for Inu-Yasha

References[link]

External links[link]

• Toshihiko Seki at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
• Toshihiko Seki at the Internet Movie Database