Anime Voice Actors With the Most Credits, Ranked

Some Japanese voice actors—seiyū—have worked so extensively that their résumés read like a guided tour through anime history. These are the performers you hear in long-running shōnen hits, prestige sci-fi, heart-tugging dramas, and even game and dubbing work—often all at once.

Below is a countdown of 15 prolific Japanese voice actors with towering bodies of work. For each entry, you’ll find a quick career snapshot, a sample of famous roles, and the number of known roles on record from a reliable database.

15. Megumi Hayashibara

From heroine leads to sly anti-heroes, Megumi Hayashibara spans generations of anime. Listeners know her as Rei Ayanami in ‘Neon Genesis Evangelion’, Faye Valentine in ‘Cowboy Bebop’, Lina Inverse in ‘Slayers’, and the female/child form of Ranma in ‘Ranma ½’. She’s also Ai Haibara in ‘Detective Conan’ and Jessie (Musashi) in ‘Pokémon’. Known roles: 361.

A singer, lyricist, and radio personality as well as a seiyū, Hayashibara helped define the 1990s anime soundscape while continuing to headline modern revivals like ‘Shaman King’ and major films and games. She’s frequently cast as smart, cool-headed women, but her range stretches from deadpan to chaotic comedy.

14. Norio Wakamoto

Norio Wakamoto’s trademark bass shows up everywhere from anime to narration. He’s widely recognized as Perfect Cell in ‘Dragon Ball Z’, Johnny in ‘Gungrave’, Charles zi Britannia in ‘Code Geass’, and Chiyo’s father’s “voice” gag in ‘Azumanga Daioh’. Known roles: 417.

Wakamoto is also a go-to voice for games and dubs, turning up as M. Bison in multiple ‘Street Fighter’ projects and lending theatrical flair to villain roles across franchises. His narration and commercial work are similarly ubiquitous in Japan.

13. Hikaru Midorikawa

Hikaru Midorikawa brings crisp, noble energy to leads and rivals alike, from Heero Yuy in ‘Mobile Suit Gundam Wing’ and Marth across the ‘Fire Emblem’ series to Zelgadis in ‘Slayers’ and Garou in ‘One-Punch Man’. Known roles: 423.

He’s been a mainstay since the late 1980s, shifting smoothly between cool heroes, stoic strategists, and airy comedic turns. In games, Midorikawa’s performances as Akihiko Sanada (‘Persona 3’) and Lancer (‘Fate/Zero’) are fan favorites.

12. Tomokazu Seki

Tomokazu Seki’s resume runs from hot-blooded mecha pilots to deadpan schemers. Highlights include Domon Kasshu in ‘G Gundam’, Van Fanel in ‘The Vision of Escaflowne’, Toya Kinomoto in ‘Cardcaptor Sakura’, Gilgamesh in ‘Fate/stay night’, and Shinya Kogami in ‘Psycho-Pass’. Known roles: 457.

Seki also voices Rob Lucci in ‘One Piece’, Toji Suzuhara in ‘Neon Genesis Evangelion’, and Suneo in ‘Doraemon’, and he’s heavily active in games (‘Viewtiful Joe’, ‘Persona 4’). His range covers heroic leads, eccentric comedians, and icy antagonists.

11. Junichi Suwabe

Junichi Suwabe’s smooth baritone made Archer in ‘Fate/stay night’, Aizawa (Eraser Head) in ‘My Hero Academia’, and Ryomen Sukuna in ‘Jujutsu Kaisen’ instantly recognizable. Known roles: 463.

He’s equally at home as the aloof cool guy or the urbane villain, with memorable turns in ‘Prince of Tennis’ (Atobe Keigo), ‘Bleach’ (Grimmjow via games), and ‘Black Clover’. Suwabe’s dubbing work also spans major Hollywood roles.

10. Yūichi Nakamura

Yūichi Nakamura has become a modern mainstay with roles like Satoru Gojo in ‘Jujutsu Kaisen’, Bruno Bucciarati in ‘JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind’, Tomoya Okazaki in ‘Clannad’, and Alto Saotome in ‘Macross Frontier’. Known roles: 475.

He toggles between soft-spoken leads and sly mentors, with key parts in ‘Fruits Basket’ (Shigure), ‘The Irregular at Magic High School’ (Tatsuya), and ‘World Trigger’ (Jin). His game credits include ‘Final Fantasy’, ‘Genshin Impact’, and more.

9. Akira Ishida

Akira Ishida is synonymous with complex characters: Kaworu Nagisa in ‘Neon Genesis Evangelion’, Gaara in ‘Naruto’, Kotaro Katsura in ‘Gintama’, and Zeref in ‘Fairy Tail’. Known roles: 487.

Ishida excels at calm, otherworldly figures and morally gray anti-heroes, from ‘Natsume’s Book of Friends’ to ‘Fruits Basket’ and ‘Mobile Suit Gundam SEED’. His film and game work mirrors that breadth.

8. Kōichi Yamadera

Kōichi Yamadera’s versatility spans anime icons and major dub roles: Spike Spiegel in ‘Cowboy Bebop’, Togusa in ‘Ghost in the Shell’, Beerus in ‘Dragon Ball’, and the Japanese voices of Donald Duck and Stitch across Disney properties. Known roles: 518.

Nicknamed the “voice chameleon,” he covers suave leads, manic mascots, and gravelly veterans. You’ll hear him in ‘Lupin III’, ‘Anpanman’, ‘Bleach’, and countless game/anime crossovers.

7. Tomokazu Sugita

Tomokazu Sugita’s breakout as Gintoki Sakata in ‘Gintama’ led to a torrent of roles, including Kyon in ‘The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya’, Joseph Joestar (young) in ‘JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’, and Yusuke Kitagawa in ‘Persona 5’. Known roles: 525.

He’s also cast as Ragna the Bloodedge (‘BlazBlue’), Escanor (‘The Seven Deadly Sins’), and Taro Sakamoto in ‘Sakamoto Days’. Sugita’s comedic timing and ad-lib chops are widely celebrated in dramas, radio, and variety projects.

6. Tesshō Genda

Tesshō Genda brings heavyweight presence to roles like Kaido in ‘One Piece’, Kurama (Nine-Tails) in ‘Naruto’, and Optimus Prime in multiple ‘Transformers’ projects. Known roles: 560.

A pillar of deep-voiced casting since the 1970s, he anchors classic series and blockbuster dubs alike, and frequently serves as the Japanese voice for action legends in live-action localization.

5. Toshiyuki Morikawa

Toshiyuki Morikawa moves easily between elegant villains and dignified heroes: Sephiroth in ‘Final Fantasy’ media, Yoshikage Kira in ‘JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’, and Minato Namikaze in ‘Naruto’. Known roles: 564.

He’s also Kurosaki in ‘Bleach’ (various media), Naraku in ‘Inuyasha’ (games/anime appearances), and a prolific dubbing performer. Morikawa founded Agency Axl One and mentors many younger talents.

4. Shin’ichiro Miki

Shinichiro Miki’s silky tenor powers Roy Mustang in ‘Fullmetal Alchemist’, Kisuke Urahara in ‘Bleach’, and James (Kojirō) in ‘Pokémon’. Known roles: 568.

Beyond suave strategists and tricksters, he’s also iconic in ‘Mobile Suit Gundam Wing’ (Zechs in games/anime appearances) and ‘Initial D’, with extensive game credits and drama CDs rounding out an enormous portfolio.

3. Takahiro Sakurai

Takahiro Sakurai is the voice behind Cloud Strife in ‘Final Fantasy’ media, Suzaku Kururugi in ‘Code Geass’, and Rohan Kishibe in ‘JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’. Known roles: 568.

Recent standouts include Suguru Geto in ‘Jujutsu Kaisen’, Giyu Tomioka in ‘Demon Slayer’, and Reigen’s deadpan foil roles across ‘Mob Psycho 100’. Sakurai’s work stretches from measured mentors to chilling antagonists.

2. Miyuki Sawashiro

Miyuki Sawashiro’s range covers cool tacticians and fierce heroines: Kurapika in ‘Hunter x Hunter’, Celty in ‘Durarara!!’, Sinon in ‘Sword Art Online II’, and Jolyne Cujoh in ‘JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean’. Known roles: 576.

She also headlines ‘Monogatari’, ‘No Game, No Life’, and ‘Go! Princess Precure’, and is one of the rare Japanese performers to reprise a role in English, reflecting broad linguistic versatility.

1. Takehito Koyasu

Takehito Koyasu tops the list with era-defining performances like Dio Brando in ‘JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’, Zeke Jaeger in ‘Attack on Titan’, Roswaal L. Mathers in ‘Re:Zero’, and Zechs Merquise in ‘Mobile Suit Gundam Wing’. Known roles: 652.

From ‘Sgt. Frog’ (Kururu) and ‘Initial D’ (Takahashi Keisuke) to ‘One Piece’ (Kuzan/Aokiji) and ‘Gintama’ (Takasugi Shinsuke), Koyasu’s voice turns up across marquee franchises, plus vast game and drama CD work.

Share which seiyū you think has the most unforgettable range—and the roles you first heard them in—in the comments!