Kenichi Suzumura
Japanese voice actor and singer (born 1974)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kenichi Suzumura (鈴村 健一, Suzumura Ken'ichi; born September 12, 1974) is a Japanese voice actor, narrator, and singer who is affiliated with and a representative of INTENTION, a voice acting company he founded in March 2012.[6] He voiced Morley in Macross 7, Hikaru Hitachiin in Ouran High School Host Club, Zack Fair in the Final Fantasy VII metaseries, Masato Hijirikawa in Uta no Prince-sama, Sandalphon in Granblue Fantasy, Kyoichi Kanzaki in BOYS BE, Shiki Tohno in Tsukihime, Mikiya Kokuto in The Garden of Sinners, Tsubaki Asahina in Brothers Conflict, Yuya Aso in Super Gals!, Atsushi Murasakibara in Kuroko's Basketball, Momotaro Mikoshiba in Free!, Shinn Asuka in Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny & Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom, Leo Stenbuck in Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner, Sōgo Okita in Gintama, Rogue Cheney in Fairy Tail, Lavi in D.Gray-man, Obanai Iguro in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Ryutaros in Kamen Rider Den-O and Rakushun in The Twelve Kingdoms. He is part of the group Nazo no Shin Unit STA☆MEN (謎の新ユニットＳＴＡ☆ＭＥＮ) with Junichi Suwabe, Daisuke Kishio, Hiroki Takahashi, Hiroyuki Yoshino, Makoto Yasumura, and Kohsuke Toriumi. His younger brother is stunt coordinator, stuntman and actor Masaki Suzumura.
- Voice actor
- narrator
- singer
Kenichi Suzumura | |
|---|---|
鈴村 健一 | |
| Born | September 12, 1974 Niigata Prefecture,[1] Japan |
| Other names | Suzu (スズ)[2] Suzuken (スズケン)[2] |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Agent | INTENTION |
| Spouse | [3] |
| Children | 1[4] |
| Relatives | Masaki Suzumura (brother)[5] |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | J-pop |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 2008–present |
| Label | Lantis |
Career
Suzumura was born in Niigata Prefecture.[1][7] Having grown up in a family with many job transfers, he has lived in Okayama in Okayama Prefecture and Moji-ku, Kitakyūshū in Fukuoka Prefecture, in addition to Niigata Prefecture. Later, from the age of 15 to 19, he lived in Toyonaka, Osaka Prefecture,[7] where he entered and graduated from Senri Seiun High School after attending Daini Junior High School from the third year of junior high school. The reason why he decided to become a voice actor was because he initially wanted to be a chef[8] and had even ordered an application form to go to a Japanese culinary school, but a friend of Suzumura's brought him a newspaper clipping that asked if he wanted to be a voice actor, so they went to an audition together and Suzumura passed.[9]
After studying at Yoyogi Animation Academy[10] and the Japan Narration Actor Institute,[11] Suzumura made his debut in 1994 as Morley in the TV anime series Macross 7.[12] Since then, he has been active in a variety of fields including animation, games, radio and music.
In 2008, he won the Best Personality award and the Synergy Award (for Kamen Rider Den-O) at the 2nd Seiyu Awards.[13] On October 8 of the same year, he made his major label debut with Lantis.[14]
On August 13, 2011, he reported on his official blog that he and fellow voice actress, actress and singer Maaya Sakamoto got married on August 8, 2011.[3] In the same year, he won the second prize at the first Music Jacket Awards 2011 (for his album CHRONICLE to the future).[15]
In 2012, Suzumura won the Best Musical Performance as part of ST☆RISH at the 6th Seiyu Awards.[16] In April of the same year, he left Arts Vision, to which he had belonged for many years, and on May 1 of the following month, he reported that he had launched Intention Inc. with Atsushi Kuwahara, his manager from Arts Vision.[6]
In 2016, he won the double award for Best Actor in Supporting Role and Personality Award at the 10th Seiyu Awards.[17] In the same year, he won a special award at the sixth Music Jacket Awards 2016 (for his album Tsuki to Taiyou no Uta).[18]
A national survey on the popularity of voice actors conducted in March 2010 revealed Suzumura and Mamoru Miyano as the most famous voice actors.[19] In the following year, 2011, TBS Rank Ōkoku listed Suzumura as 3rd of the five most popular voice actors.[20]
Suzumura's favorite motto is, "Life is what you make of it."[21]
On December 27, 2021, Suzumura and Sakamoto announced that they were expecting their first child.[22] On April 21, 2022, the couple announced the birth of their first child.[4]
On May 16, 2024, it was announced that Suzumura would be taking a break due to his poor health, and that his agency would announce his return at a later date.[23] On July 31, 2024, it was announced that he planned to gradually return to his career while taking his health into consideration.[24]
Filmography
Television animation
Original video animation
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002-2004 | Macross Zero | Shin Kudo | |
| 2005 | Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children | Zack Fair | [25] |
| Last Order Final Fantasy VII | |||
| 2019 | Hi Score Girl: Extra Stage | Sagat Takadanobaba | [51] |
Theatrical animation
Live-action film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Ajin: Demi-Human | Cameo appearance |
Live-action television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Tokusatsu GaGaGa | Narrator and Emer Jason (voice) |
Video games
Drama CDs
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Tokyo Junk 2 | You Yoshikawa | |
| 1999 | D.N.Angel Wink Series | Keiji Saga | |
| 2000 | Kiraini Naranai dene | Taishi Kishima | |
| 2002 | Aka no Shinmon | Wataru Kurumiya | |
| Munasawagi series | Hazuki Nishio | ||
| Amai Tsumi no Kakera | Tomoyuki Tachibana | ||
| Ourin Gakuen series 3: Sekushi Boizu de Sasayaide | Ryou Hourenge | ||
| Saint Beast | Fuga no Maya | ||
| Sakurazawa vs Hakuhou series 2: Houkengo no Nayameru Kankei | Kazuhiro Okamoto | ||
| Denkou Sekka Boys | Nanao Ogasagawa | ||
| Wagamama Prisoner | Makoto Ikusawa | ||
| Wagamama Prisoner/My Master is My Classmate section | Ryou Asakura | ||
| Yasashikute Toge ga Aru | |||
| Close the Last Door | Nagai Atsushi | ||
| 2003 | Into Your Heart through the Door | ||
| Closet de Ubaitai | Natsuki Yamaguchi | ||
| Bara no Sabaku | Kai Toujou | ||
| Mayonaka ni Oai Shimashou | Kon Kaidouji | ||
| Mix Mix Chocolate | Mera Osaka | ||
| Only the Ring Finger Knows | Fujii Wataru | ||
| Ouran High School Host Club | Hikaru Hitachiin, Kaoru Hitachiin | ||
| Renai Trap | Tsuji Shinobu | ||
| Aisaresugite Kodoku series 1: Aisaresugite Kodoku | Chihiro Oozawa | ||
| Saredo Futeki na Yatsura | Wataru Nakahara | ||
| Yurigaoka Gakuen series 2: Kimidake no Prince ni Naritai | Kureha Yanase | ||
| 2003-2007 | Shiawase ni Dekiru series 1, 2 & 5 | Tamotsu Kagami | |
| 2004 | Shiro Ari | Alice | |
| Sekai no Subete ga Teki Datoshitemo | Chihiro Monma | ||
| Cherry Boy Sakuzen | Matsuoka Akira | ||
| Himitsu no Kateikyoushi | Takafumi Inoue | ||
| Eigoku Yoidan | Yuri Fordum | ||
| Aisaresugite Kodoku series 2: Itoshisugita Shifuku | Chihiro Oozawa | ||
| Parfait Tic! | Daiya Shinpo | ||
| Renai à la Carte! | Shogo Izumi | ||
| Milk Crown no Tameiki | Nozomi Yukishita | ||
| Yuiga Dokuson na Otoko | Kyouya Ikuura | ||
| Zombie Loan | Akatsuki Chika | ||
| 2005 | Nessa no Ou | Yoshiya | |
| Ambassador wa Yoru ni Sasayaku | Ikuo Mori | ||
| Fruits Basket HCD | Kakeru Manabe | ||
| Fusatsugi | Tokura Hijiri, Kidōmaru, Shiten Hōji | ||
| 2005-2010 | Yuuwaku Recipe | Ueda | |
| 2006 | Balettstar | Endō Akira | |
| Kimi to Boku | Tsukahara Kaname | ||
| Shōnen Onmyōji | Suzaku | ||
| Toriko ni Saseru Kisu wo Shiyou | Touya Sugisaki | ||
| 2007 | Me & My Brothers | Tsuyoshi Miyashita | |
| Special A | Kei Takishima | ||
| 2008 | Bus Gamer | Mishiba Toki | |
| Cafe Latte Rhapsody | Hajime Serizawa | ||
| Dolls | Shouta Mikoshiba | ||
| Genso Suikoden | Tir McDohl | ||
| Gin Tama | Sōgo Okita | ||
| Hana to Akuma | Klaus | ||
| Hanayoi Romanesque | Hōshō Sumire | ||
| Iro Otoko | Suou Ishikawa | ||
| Iro Otoko: Kyodai Hen | |||
| Tenki Yohou no Koibito | Amasawa Chitose | ||
| 2008-2009 | Amatsuki | Ginshu | |
| 2009 | Shōnen Bride | Matsūra Shinobu | |
| Hitorijime Theory | Tachibana | ||
| 2010 | Akuma no Himitsu | Priest | |
| 2012 | Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun | Haru Yoshida | |
| Endou-kun no Kansetsu Nikki | Kanzaki | ||
| 2013 | Gundam SEED Destiny | Shinn Asuka | |
| 2014 | Gate | Minamiyama Shigeru |
Tokusatsu
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Kamen Rider Den-O | Ryutaros/R Ryoutarou/Kamen Rider Den-O Gun Form/Climax Form (eps. 13 - 49), Gecko Imagin (ep. 40) | [67] |
| Kamen Rider Den-O: I'm Born! | Ryutaros/R Ryoutarou/Kamen Rider Den-O Gun Form, Gecko Imagin | ||
| 2008 | Kamen Rider Den-O & Kiva: Climax Deka | Ryutaros/R Ryoutarou/Kamen Rider Den-O Gun Form/Climax Form | |
| Kamen Rider Kiva: King of the Castle in the Demon World | Soccer Player (Actor) | ||
| Saraba Kamen Rider Den-O: Final Countdown | Ryutaros/Kamen Rider Den-O Gun Form/Climax Form | ||
| 2009 | Kamen Rider Decade | Ryutaros/Kamen Rider Den-O Gun Form | Ep. 14-15 |
| Cho Kamen Rider Den-O & Decade Neo Generations: The Onigashima Warship | Ryutaros/Kamen Rider Den-O Gun Form/Cho Climax Form/R Lamon/Kamen Rider Ouja (Ryutaros) | ||
| Kamen Rider Decade: All Riders vs. Dai-Shocker | Kamen Rider X, Garagaranda | ||
| 2010 | Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider The Movie: Cho-Den-O Trilogy | Ryutaros/Kamen Rider Den-O Gun Form/Climax Form | |
| 2011 | OOO, Den-O, All Riders: Let's Go Kamen Riders | Ryutaros, Garagaranda | |
| 2012 | Kamen Rider × Super Sentai: Super Hero Taisen | Ryutaros/Kamen Rider Den-O Gun Form, Kamen Rider W | |
| Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters | Filmloid | Ep. 20 | |
| 2014 | Space Sheriff Shaider Next Generation | Fushigi Beast Pitapita | |
| Heisei Rider vs. Shōwa Rider: Kamen Rider Taisen feat. Super Sentai | Kamen Rider Fourze, Kamen Rider Black RX, Yamaarashi-Roid | ||
| 2018 | Kamen Rider Heisei Generations Forever | Ryutaros/Kamen Rider Den-O Gun Form | |
| 2019 | Kamen Rider Zi-O | Ryutaros/Kamen Rider Den-O Climax Form | Ep. 39-40 |
| 2020-2021 | Mashin Sentai Kiramager | Mashin Fire | |
| 2022 | Kamen Rider Revice | Himself | Ep 30, on-screen appearance |
| 2026 | No.1 Sentai Gozyuger | Lex | Ep. 46-48 |
Commercials
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | The Way of the Househusband | Masa | [68] |
Dubbing
Live-action
| Original year | Title | Role | Original actor | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | The Third Man | Harry Lime | Orson Welles | New Era Movies edition[69] |
| 1960 | Purple Noon | Philippe Greenleaf | Maurice Ronet | 2016 Star Channel edition[70][71] |
| 2001 | The Fast and the Furious | Johnny Tran | Rick Yune | 2024 The Cinema edition[72] |
| 2014 | If I Stay | Adam Wilde | Jamie Blackley | |
| 2017 | Genius | Maurice Solovine | Alexander Vlahos | [73] |
| 2022 | Litvinenko | Alexander Litvinenko | David Tennant | [74] |
| 2012-2022 | Staged | Tom | Ben Schwartz | [75] |
| 2026 | Send Help | Bradley Preston | Dylan O'Brien | [76] |
Animation
| Original year | Title | Role | Original actor | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron | Little Creek | Daniel Studi | |
| 2005-2008 | Thomas and Friends | Mighty | ||
| 2018 | Incredibles 2 | Tony Rydinger | Michael Bird | [77] |
| 2022 | DC League of Super-Pets | Keith | Thomas Middleditch | [78] |
| 2023 | Migration | Googoo | David Mitchell | [79] |
Music
In addition to performing many different character songs throughout his voice acting career, Suzumura is also a singer signed to the Lantis label. As a solo artist, he writes all his songs. In 2008, the debut year of his music career, Suzumura became one of the main hosts of the annual live music event Original Entertainment Paradise (OrePara), along with Lantis artists Showtaro Morikubo, Daisuke Ono, and Mitsuo Iwata.[80]
In January, 2010, he gave his first solo concert tour in Osaka (January 10), Nagoya (January 11), Yokohama (January 23) and Tokyo (January 30).[81] His second live tour, in 2011, was held in the same stops, Osaka (April 9), Nagoya (April 10), Tokyo (April 17) and Yokohama (May 1). Part of the proceeds from the concert were donated to help the victims of the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. As a result of a power shortage, the concert was simple to save power and Suzumura performed acoustic versions of songs.[82][83]
In 2012, a poll on singing ability placed Suzumura as the third best voice actor singer, behind Kishō Taniyama (1st) and Mamoru Miyano (2nd).[84]
Singles
| Release date | Title | Notes | Chart position |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 8, 2008 | "Intention" | Debut single | 14[85] |
| February 4, 2009 | "Atarashii Neiro" | 13[86] | |
| June 24, 2009 | "Mitochondria" | 20[87] | |
| January 27, 2010 | "And Becoming" | Special release | 23 |
| July 7, 2010 | "In My Space" | 24[88] | |
| November 24, 2010 | "Tsuki to Sutobu" | 36[89] | |
| August 24, 2011 | "Asunaro" | Ending theme song of the anime Heaven's Memo Pad | 22[90] |
| May 16, 2012 | "Messenger" | 24[91] | |
| October 17, 2012 | "Shiroi Karasu" | Ending theme song of the anime Code:Breaker | 16[92] |
| October 30, 2013 | "All Right" | 20[93] | |
| May 13, 2015 | "Tsuki to Taiyou no Uta" | 33[94] | |
| May 18, 2016 | "brand new" | 23[95] | |
| August 31, 2016 | "HIDE-AND-SEEK" | Ending theme song of the anime Handa-kun | 27[96] |
| March 6, 2024[97] | "Ba-Bang to Suisan! Bang Bravern" | Opening theme song of the anime Brave Bang Bravern! | |
Albums
| Release date | Album | Notes | Chart position |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 7, 2009 | Becoming | 14[98] | |
| March 9, 2011 | Chronicle to the Future | 21[99] | |
| August 22, 2012 | Go | Mini-album | 20[100] |
| May 15, 2014 | Vessel | 10[101] | |
| January 25, 2017 | Naked Man | Mini-album | 33[102] |
| May 9, 2018 | Going My Rail | 10th Anniversary Best Album | 12[103] |
| November 24, 2021 | Bright | 31[104] | |
| May 24, 2023 | Roots | Mini-album | 24[105] |
CONNECT
Since 2009, Suzumura is part of the first Kiramune unit, CONNECT, with Mitsuo Iwata. They occasionally released singles and albums and participated the annual concert Kiramune Music Festival until 2014.[106]
| Release date | Title | Chart position | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 24, 2009 | Connect | 36 | 1st album |
| February 24, 2010 | Fighting Spirits | 34 | 1st single |
| September 29, 2010 | Rasterizer | 50 | Mini-album |
| March 7, 2012 | Jusensha Men | 45 | Mini-album |
| January 30, 2013 | Connect no Tanoshii Ongaku | 38 | Mini-album |
| November 19, 2014 | Ningen! Jetta Ningen | 32 | Mini-album |
Other non-anime related releases
| Release date | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| October 22, 2003[107] | "Shizumanai Taiyō" | Collaboration single with Takahiro Sakurai (as R-16) |
| March 26, 2004[108] | "Separate Way" | Collaboration single with Takahiro Sakurai (as R-16) |
| December 17, 2005[109] | Box Universe | Mini-album |
| February 29, 2012[110] | Kizuna: Go-Busters! | "Single of Stamen", ending theme for Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters |
