Japanese anime voice actor – Norio Wakamoto
Have you ever wondered who is the person behind the voice of the anime characters that you have been watching? Most of them don’t even sound like life at all. It was as if we lived in a fancy word because in real life, none of us speak this way.
Voice acting is another art form and it is not as easy as it seemed and these voice actors deserve much more credibility outside of Japan.
Have you ever watched an anime, and when listening to a particular character speak, you suddenly feel 10,000 times more manly after hearing him say just a few sentences? It is likely that you have had the grace of the vocal presence of perhaps one of the most ‘macho’ seiyuu (Japanese voice actor) currently in the industry: Norio Wakamoto!
Born in Yamaguchi and raised in Osaka, Wakamoto initially began working as a riot police officer for the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department before becoming a seiyuu. Judging from his huge list of voice credits to his name, it’s safe to bet there is no going back for him for now!
Easily recognized for his loud, cheeky and harsh voice and yet noble and smooth at the same time, it’s no wonder that Wakamoto has been cast in a variety of different roles for both video games and anime. While he’s voiced wacky characters like Ninnin Ga Shinobuden’s Onsokumaru and Azumanga Daioh’s Chiyo-chichi, Wakamoto’s main draw is easily his portfolio of big baddies like Cell from the Dragonball series, Dracula from the Castlevania series, and most recently Vega. / M Street Fighter 4 Bison!
Despite the wide variety of personalities he has adopted, what is undeniable is the noble, old-school tone that Wakamoto’s voice has in every performance. Somehow managing to sound refined and appropriate, but incredibly enthusiastic and enthusiastic at the same time gives each and every character that makes a certain ‘samurai’ flavor to their personality. Extremely appropriate for a man who has truly voiced a samurai, Sengoku Basara’s Oda Nobunaga, and has a 3-dan in Kendo!
Capable of being comical and quirky, yet dramatic and commanding, all with the same instantly recognizable voice, it’s no wonder Wakamoto has become very popular with anime fans! Where will it reappear? We can only guess, but one thing’s for sure: it could be where we least expect it!