Koichi Yamadera

Koichi Yamadera
山寺 宏一
Born (1961-06-17) June 17, 1961 (age 61)
Other namesYama (やまちゃん, Yama-chan)
Bazooka Yamadera (バズーカ山寺)
Occupation
Years active1985–present
AgentAcross Entertainment
Height176 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Spouse(s)
  • (m. 1993; div. 2006)
  • (m. 2012; div. 2018)
  • Robin Shoko Okada
    (m. 2021)

Koichi Yamadera (山寺 宏一, Yamadera Kōichi, born June 17, 1961) is a Japanese actor, voice actor, narrator and singer from Shiogama, Miyagi Prefecture. He graduated from Tohoku Gakuin University's economics school and is currently affiliated with Across Entertainment. Before that, he was affiliated with the Tokyo Actor's Consumer's Cooperative Society.

He is known for his roles in Gintama (as Utsuro), Cowboy Bebop (as Spike Spiegel), the Yakuza videogame series (as Shun Akiyama), Shōwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjū (as Sukeroku), Ghost in the Shell (as Togusa), Neon Genesis Evangelion (as Ryoji Kaji), Ninja Scroll (as Jūbei Kibagami), Dragon Ball Super (as Beerus), Anpanman (as Cheese), Ranma ½ (as Ryōga Hibiki/P-chan and the Jusenkyō Guide), Space Battleship Yamato 2199 (as Aberdt Desler) and the second generation voice of Koichi Zenigata (Lupin III). In the live action field, he is the official dub-over artist of Will Smith (Yamadera met Smith several times) and Jim Carrey. He is also known for voicing Eddie Murphy, Stephen Chow, Robin Williams, Chris Tucker, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Brad Pitt, Charlie Sheen, Michael J. Fox, Michael Keaton, Will Ferrell, Jon Hamm and Mike Myers in the Japanese language releases of their respective films. For Disney, he is the official dubbed voice of Donald Duck and Stitch (among others) in Japanese. He also voiced Batman in the Japanese version of the film Batman Ninja. He's also been in every Pokémon film to date.

History

Yamadera was the manager of the Tagajō Senior High School basketball team before he made a name for himself. His voice acting debut was the OVA Megazone 23 as the motorcycle-riding Shinji Nakagawa, while his television debut was the anime Bosco Adventure as the cowardly Otter. Yamadera's break-out role as a voice actor was the anime Ranma ½, in which he played the dual role of Hibiki Ryōga and the Jusenkyō Guide. In 1991, Yamadera joined forces with Toshihiko Seki and Noriko Hidaka to form the acting unit Banana Fritters (バナナフリッターズ, Banana Furittāzu). In October 1997, Yamadera became a host on the TV Tokyo children's variety show Oha Suta. In March 2016, after almost two decades, he announced his retirement from it.

In 2011, Yamadera took over the role of Koichi Zenigata in Lupin III media from Gorō Naya.

In a 2012 article by Japan Times, it was mentioned that he didn't consider doing voice acting at first, and was interested in going into sales or being an onscreen actor.

Yamadera's also known for his versatile range, as shown in the video game Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony where he voiced all five Monokuma Kubs, including Monophanie (female). According to the Danganronpa V3 official blog, Yamadera is the first person who came to mind as "the same person voicing multiple characters at the same time". No one has as much "multiple characters" experience as him. He was able to take the individual quirks of each of the Monokuma Kubs and make all of them unique.

Other notable examples of multiple voice acting include the Kingdom Hearts series where he voiced Donald Duck, Genie (from Aladdin), Sebastian (from The Little Mermaid), Beast (from Beauty and the Beast), Mushu (from Mulan), Jaq (from Cinderella) and Stitch (from Lilo & Stitch), and the Japan Animator Expo series of 35 short films where Yamadera and Megumi Hayashibara voiced all characters.

Yamadera is known as "the man with the seven-colored voice". During casting he is also said to be called "When in doubt, Yamadera".

In 2011 and 2017, TV Asahi conducted a poll among Japanese voice actors and actresses on "who they thought was really the most amazing person in their profession". Yamadera ranked first both times. In 2017, Niconico conducted a survey on popular anime voice actors and actresses. Yamadera ranked first overall, third among female voters and first among male voters.

In 2018, he joined the cast of the American animated web series Gen:Lock starring Michael B. Jordan. According to the series showrunner Gray Haddock, "Yamadera-san gives Kazu a fantastic balance of attitude and strength, and as anime fans we're doing our best not to geek out that he's joined the cast".

In 2019, Will Smith came to Japan for a solo interview, and at Smith's request, Yamadera performed a live voiceover, which was highly praised by Smith. This was aired on NTV's "news every" and "Oha!4 NEWS LIVE" on June 5 and June 11, respectively.

Personal life

Yamadera married fellow voice actress Mika Kanai on May 23, 1993. They divorced in 2006, although it wasn't publicized until 2007. He then married Japanese voice actress Rie Tanaka on June 17, 2012, with a ceremony held in Hawaii on January 3, 2013. In August 2018, they announced that they had filed for divorce. On June 14, 2021, his marriage to radio personality Robin Shoko Okada was announced.

Filmography

Television animation

1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1995
1997
  • City Hunter: Goodbye, My Sweetheart (Professor Takeaki Mutō)
  • Gakkyū Ō Yamazaki (Yamadera)
1998
1999
2000
  • Hidemari no Ki (Ryōan Tezuka)
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
  • Detective Conan (Masateru Hira (episode 449))
  • Oh! Edo Rocket (Ginjirō the Locksmith)
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022

Sources:

Original video animation (OVA)

1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
  • The Hakkenden (Dōsetsu Inuyama)
  • Nineteen 19 (Kazuya Kawara)
  • Ranma ½: Hot Song Contest (Ryoga/P-chan, Jusenkyō Guide)
  • Goddamn (Gen Todoroki)
  • Shiawase no Katachi (Koitsu)
  • Mashin Eiyūden Wataru: Sōkaizan Eiyū Densetsu (Kurama Wataribe)
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2007
2008
  • Ranma ½: Nightmare! Incense of Spring Sleep (Ryoga/P-chan, Jusenkyō Guide)
2015
2017
  • The Ultraman: Jackal Vs Ultraman (Melos, King Jackal)

Sources:

Film animation

1986
1988
1989
1990
1991
  • Gekkō no Piasu: Yumemi to Gin no Bara Kishi Dan (Devil King Child)
  • Ranma 12: Chūgoku Nu Kunlun Dai Kessen! Okite Yaburi no Gekitō Hen (Ryōga Hibiki)
  • Soreike! Anpanman: Tobe! Chibigon (Cheese, Kabaotto)
1992
  • Hashire Melos! (Melos)
  • Ranma 12: Kessen Momo Maboroshi Kyō! Hanayome wo Datsu Rimodose!! (Ryōga Hibiki)
  • Silent Möbius: The Motion Picture 2 (Nachi Aida)
  • Soreike! Anpanman: Tsumiki Jō no Himitsu (Cheese, Kamameshidon, Kabaotto, Cabinet Minister Garangara)
1993
  • Ninja Scroll (Jūbee Kibagami)
  • Soreike! Anpanman: Kyōryū Nosshī no Daibōken (Cheese, Kamameshidon, Kabaotto)
1994
  • Darkside Blues (Hochi)
  • Ranma 12: Chō Musabetsu Kessen! Ranma Team vs. Densetsu no Hō-Ō (Ryōga Hibiki)
  • Soreike! Anpanman: Ririkaru Magical Mahō no Gakkō (Cheese, Kamameshidon)
1995
1996
  • Apo Apo World: Giant Baba 90 Fun Ipponshōbu (Giant Baba)
  • Soreike! Anpanman: Kara Tobu Ehon to Glass no Kutsu (Cheese, Kamameshidon, Kabaotto)
  • Soreike! Anpanman: Baikinman to 3 Baipanshi (Akakinman)
  • X (Sorata Arisugawa)
1997
  • Chokin Senshi Cashman (Chapitt (Cashman))
  • Gekijōban: Cutie Honey F: Densetsu no Chō Nishinobiyoru Ma no Te! Ai to Seigi no Ken de Tatakae, Honey!! (Robalt)
  • Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth (Ryōji Kaji)
  • Soreike! Anpanman: Niji no Pyramid (Cheese, Kamameshidon, Kabaotto)
  • The End of Evangelion (Ryōji Kaji)
1998
1999
  • The Doraemons: Okashinao Kashina Okashinana? (Jaidora)
  • Pokémon: The Movie 2000 (Lugia)
  • Soreike! Anpanman: Yūki no Hana Gahirakutoki (Cheese, Kabaotto)
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022

Sources:

Web animation

2006
2008
2014
2019
2020
2021

Video games

1993
  • Tengai Makyō: Fūun Kabukiden (Mangetsu no Ungie, Priest Mōsufīl)
1994
1995
1996
  • Valkyrie no Densetsu Gaiden: Rosa no Bōken (Narration)
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2016–2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
TBA

Sources:

Dubbing roles

Live-action

Television

Animation

Puppetry

Television drama

Unknown date

  • Doyō Drama: Shanhai Typhoon
  • The Fantastic Deer-Man (Deer (voice))
  • Hanbun, Aoi (Doctor)
  • Hikeshi Ya Komachi (Higashi Mama)
  • Jyoshiana Icchokusen!
  • Kiteretsu Daihyakka (Kiteretsu's father)
  • Koeharu! (Genmai Odawara)
  • Koinu no Waltz (Katsuyuki Imai)
  • Kuitan ?
  • Psycho Doctor (Chikaraishi)
  • The Way of the Househusband (Narrator (episode 9))
  • Yoishyo no Otoko (Shinya Matsunaga, Narrator)

Sources:

Live-action films

Sources:

Tokusatsu

Sources:

Variety shows

Sources:

Radio

CDs

  • Breath
  • Gap System Menthol
  • Gap System Super Light
  • Glay ("Giant Strong Faust Super Star") (Doctor Moog)

Drama CDs

Singles

  • GLORY DAYS, (1992)
  • Tsukareta, (1996)
  • Jabba Jabba Morning/OHA OHA Starter (with Raymond), (1998)
  • Tensai Bakabon no Kuku ha Korediinoda!!, (1999)
  • Utau, (2000)
  • Hustle (Kaiketsu Zorori Opening Theme), (2004)
  • Ajyapā (with Rikako Aikawa and Motoko Kumai) (Majime ni Fumajime Kaiketsu Zorori First Opening Theme), (2005)
  • Zekkōchō, (Majime ni Fumajime Kaiketsu Zorori Second Opening Theme), (2006)
  • Sākuru Obu raifu (The Lion King Opening Theme)

Other

  • December 17, 1993 Aladdin Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Japanese Version)
    "Friend Like Me"
    "Ali Ōji no Tōri"
  • March 18, 2000 Ashita Ninattara... (Donkey Kong Country opening and ending)
    "Ashita Ninattara..." (Donkey (Kōichi Yamadera) and Diddy (Megumi Hayashibara))
    "Banana Tengoku" (Donkey (Kōichi Yamadera) and Diddy (Megumi Hayashibara))
  • March 10, 2004 Tōkyō Disneyland: Feel the Magic
    "Friend Like Me"
    "Hitoribocchi no Bansankai"
  • March 24, 2004 Hustle (Kaiketsu Zorori opening)
    Hustle
  • January 25, 2006 Kingdom Hearts II Original Soundtrack
    "Swim This Way" (Disc 2, Track 3)
    "Under the Sea" (Disc 2, Track 5)
    "A New Day is Dawning" (Disc 2, Track 7)

Sources:

Commercials

Sources:

Other


This page was last updated at 2022-08-23 23:36 UTC. Update now. View original page.

All our content comes from Wikipedia and under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.


Top

If mathematical, chemical, physical and other formulas are not displayed correctly on this page, please useFirefox or Safari