Rika Hayashi

Rika Hayashi, a native of Hashimoto, Wakayama,^[2] was born on 1 June.^[1] Her mother was a former caddie.^[3] While she was a young child, she would visit a driving range her parents took her to every week after getting a golf club as a gift, and at least once she curiously made a ball roll down an uneven surface there.^[4] However, Hayashi recalled that she rarely played golf and was unfamiliar with the sport's terminology.^[5][6]

Inspired to go into voice acting after being hospitalized as a youth,^[6] she was educated at the Japan Narration Acting Institute.^[1] She made her voice acting debut during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, later recalling the first few years of her career as "being concurrent with COVID".^[a][7] In 2024, she had minor roles in Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian, Magilumiere Magical Girls Inc., and Terminator Zero.^[8]

In 2024, she made her first starring role as Tonbo Ōi in the golf-themed anime Tonbo!;^[3] this was the first work she passed through an audition.^[9] At the beginning of recording she would bring a golf club to the studio.^[9] She also sang the anime's ending theme "Let's Swing" alongside Tokyo Groove Jyoshi.^[10] In 2025, she won the Seiyu Award for Best Rookie Actor at the 19th Seiyu Awards.^[11]

Hayashi once practiced classical ballet and collected recorded albums, particularly orchestral music.^[4]

Television animation

More information Year, Title ...

Year	Title	Role	Ref.
2024	Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian	Soccer team manager	[8]
2024	Magilumiere Magical Girls Inc.	Miyakodo employee	[8]
2024	Terminator Zero	Children at playground	[8]
2024	Tonbo!	Tonbo Ōi	[3]

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