Takaya Hashi

Takaya Hashi, a native of Tokyo, was born on 8 September 1952.^[2] He graduated from Musashi Institute of Technology High School [ja] and Toho Gakuen College of Drama and Music Department of Arts, where he was a theatre major.^[3]

Hashi was originally a member of the Seinenza Theater Company,^[4] joining in April 1974 and having major roles in some of their plays.^[3] Hashi also appeared in television dramas, appearing in Aoi, Chūgakusei Nikki, Shinjitsu Ichiro  [ja], Tengoku made no Hyaku Mile  [ja], and Yumemiru Budō  [ja].^[2]

After voicing some characters in the 1983 anime Aura Battler Dunbine and Galactic Whirlwind Sasuraiger,^[5] Hashi voiced Toki, a major character in the Fist of the North Star anime,^[4] before voicing Ernest Mecklinger in Legend of the Galactic Heroes, Kurosaki in Patlabor: The TV Series, and Jubei Yagyu in Yaiba.^[6] He subsequently voiced Kakuzu in Naruto, James Black in Case Closed, Pharaoh 90 in Sailor Moon Crystal, Donovan Desmond in Spy × Family, and Vearn in Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai (2020–2022).^[4][7]

In video games, he voiced Skull Face in Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes (2014) and Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015), Slayer in Guilty Gear Xrd -REVELATOR- (2015) and Guilty Gear Strive (2021) (until Season 4), Yoseph Calvert in Astral Chain (2019), Fugen in Monster Hunter Rise (2021), and Triton in Xenoblade Chronicles 3 (2022). He also made posthumous appearances as Takeda Shingen in Nioh 3 (2026) and Doctor Doom in Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls (2026) ^[8] He also dubbed several characters portrayed by Alec Baldwin and Alan Rickman, including Severus Snape in the Harry Potter film series.^[9][7]

Despite his advanced age, Hashi remained in voice acting during his senior years,^[10] and his voice acting career lasted several decades.^[7] Joshua Fox of Screen Rant called Hashi a "true anime legend", citing his deep voice and ability to improve even at an advanced age.^[10] Robert Ito of The New York Times called Hashi "[one] of Japan's top voice actors".^[11]

Hashi served as representative director for talent agency Apte Pro [ja] until his death.^[9]

Hashi died from a heart attack on 27 August 2025, at the age of 72.^[4]

Television animation

• Aura Battler Dunbine (1983), Shunka Zama, Admiral Scott^[8]
• Fist of the North Star (1985), Toki^[4][7]
• Crying Freeman (1988), Ryuji Hanayama^[8]
• Patlabor: The TV Series (1989), Kurosaki^[6]
• Moomin (1990–1991), Police Inspector^[5]
• Yaiba (1993), Jubei Yagyu^[6]
• Case Closed (1996), James Black,^[4][7] Jun Omura, Sotaro Goshi^[8]
• Trigun (1998), Sheriff^[8]
• Outlaw Star (1998), Gilliam^[8]
• Cowboy Bebop (????), Teddy Bomber^[4]
• One Piece, Dogstorm^[4][7]
• Human Crossing (2003), Aizawa^[8]
• Fullmetal Alchemist (2003), Majhal^[8]
• Tide-Line Blue (2005), Cpt. Gould^[8]
• Black Lagoon (2006), Vice President^[8]
• Naruto (2008), Kakuzu^[7]
• Fafner in the Azure, Kyōhei Mizoguchi^[4]
• Sailor Moon Crystal (2014–2016), Pharaoh 90^[4]
• Descending Stories: Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju (2016), Head Boss^[8]
• Onihei (2017), Shugoro Hakabi/Kawagoe^[8]
• Princess Principal (2017), Duke of Normandy^[8]
• Beastars (2019), Chief Lion^[8]
• Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma (2020), Heigoro Tokiyama^[8]
• Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai (2020–2022), Vearn^[7]
• Our Last Crusade or the Rise of a New World (2020), Great Apostles^[8]
• Yashahime (2020), Bokusen-Oh^[8]
• Suppose a Kid from the Last Dungeon Boonies Moved to a Starter Town (2021), Sou^[8]
• Getter Robo Arc (2021), Komei^[8]
• Golden Kamuy, Shirosuke Inudō^[4]
• Overlord IV (2022), Fluder Paradyne^[8]
• Spy × Family, Donovan Desmond^[4][7]
• Edens Zero, Poseidon Nero^[12]
• Four Knights of the Apocalypse (2023), Gowther (Elder Disguise)^[8]
• Tales of Wedding Rings (2024), Emperor^[8]
• Tower of God (2024), Madoraco^[8]
• New Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt (2025), Stocking (New Gaddessified)^[8]

Original video animation

• Legend of the Galactic Heroes (1988), Ernest Mecklinger^[6]
• Patlabor: The New Files (1990), Kurosaki^[8]
• Doomed Megalopolis (1991), Noritsugu Hayakawa^[8]
• Mighty Space Miners (1994), Noda^[8]
• Sanctuary (1996), Tokai^[8]
• Hajime no Ippo: Mashiba vs. Kimura (2003), Kimura's father^[8]
• New Fist of the North Star (2003), Roushi^[8]

Original net animation

• Spirit of Wonder (2001), Gordon Lindoverberg^[8]
• Baki Hanma (2021), Gerry Strydum^[4]
• Fate/Grand Carnival (2021), James Moriarty^[4]
• Pluto (2023), Superintendent Tawashi^[8]

Theatrical animation

• Sekiro: No Defeat (2026), Owl^[13]

Video games

• Drakengard 2 (2005), General Oror^[8]
• Fist of the North Star: Twin Blue Stars of Judgment (2007), Toki^[8]
• Bravely Default (2012), Argent Heinkel^[8]
• Dragon's Dogma (2012), Daimon^[8]
• Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes (2014), Skull Face^[8]
• The Evil Within (2014), Marcelo Jimenez^[8]
• Guilty Gear Xrd -REVELATOR- (2015), Slayer^[8]
• Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015), Skull Face^[8]
• Uncharted 4: A Thief's End (2016), Gabriel Roman^[8]
• Fate/Grand Order (2017), James Moriarty
• Dragon Quest Rivals (2017), Baramos^[8]
• Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age (2017), Auroral Serpent^[8]
• Zero Escape: The Nonary Games (2017), Ace^[8]
• Gintama Rumble (2018), Sadasada Tokugawa^[8]
• Astral Chain (2019), Yoseph Calvert^[8]
• Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (2019), Owl^[8]
• Guilty Gear Strive (2021), Slayer (until Season 4)^[8]
• Monster Hunter Rise (2021), Fugen^[8]
• Tactics Ogre: Reborn (2022), Warren Omon^[8]
• Xenoblade Chronicles 3 (2022), Triton^[8]
• Infinity Strash: Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai (2023), Vearn^[8]
• Octopath Traveler II (2023), Roque^[8]
• Disney: Twisted Wonderland (2023), Neji
• Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (2024), Gi Nattak^[8]
• Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls (2026), Doctor Doom (posthumous)^[14]

Live-action television

• Aoi (2000)^[2]
• Chūgakusei Nikki (????)^[2]
• Shinjitsu Ichiro  [ja] (????)^[2]
• Tengoku made no Hyaku Mile  [ja] (2001)^[2]
• Yumemiru Budō  [ja] (2005)^[2]