Riki Kitazawa

Riki Kitazawa’s journey into voice acting came about in a rather unconventional way.

While working various part-time jobs, he stumbled upon a job ad promising a high daily wage for voice actors.

Initially enticed by the salary, he sent his resume and later received information about a voice acting training school.

At first disappointed, he did some research and soon found himself captivated by the possibility of being a voice actor—a passion he could no longer resist.

He then entered a voice acting school, paving the way for his dynamic career.

Originally, Kitazawa went by a different stage name (Riki Kitazawa, in kanji slightly different) before settling on his current name.

He previously belonged to Voice On before joining his current agency.

Kitazawa boasts an extensive career in voice acting across television anime, live-action TV dramas, films, video games, and narration.

He’s taken on a wide range of anime roles—sometimes as quirky, comedic side characters, and other times as bold, memorable leads.

Among his most notable roles are King (Yohei Sakaguchi) in "Run with the Wind," Yui’s Father in "K-On!," and Hori in "SHIROBAKO."

He’s a regular in the "Battle Spirits" anime franchise, voicing recurring characters like Card-sensei and MCs.

Kitazawa is also known for roles in “Cells at Work!” (Pseudomonas aeruginosa/Green Pus Bacteria) and the charming detective Bartah in “Butt Detective.”

He frequently lands roles as unique or comical characters, adapting his vocal style effortlessly.

He also voices characters for video games, including Cancil in "Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII," Nero tol Scaeva and Gilgamesh in "Final Fantasy XIV," Harold in "Fire Emblem Fates" and "Fire Emblem Heroes," and Jophiel in "Star Ocean: The Second Story R."

His portfolio features work across renowned game franchises such as "SD Gundam," "Soul Calibur," "Chocobo GP,” and even “Monster Strike.”

Beyond anime and games, he’s a go-to narrator for Japanese TV shows, variety programs, and documentaries, offering commentary and dramatic readings for both lighthearted and serious topics.

He’s lent his voice to live-action series, including narration for “Mop Girl,” “JK wa Yuki Onna,” and even making voice cameos in dramas like “HERO.”

Kitazawa provides dubbing for foreign films and TV series, voicing characters in "Ugly Betty," "13th Friday," "The Godfather Part II" (remastered edition), "Desperate Housewives," "Bones," and "CSI," among others.

He’s also the Japanese voice for characters in animated series like "Fraggle Rock" (Apple TV+).

He has contributed to puppet shows and radio dramas, demonstrating a creative range that spans all corners of Japanese entertainment.

Kitazawa is an enthusiastic baseball fan, passionately supporting the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.

He has some cool talents too, like playing the guitar.

His hobbies include playing the traditional Okinawan instrument called the sanshin and keeping tropical fish.

• Riki Kitazawa’s initial interest in voice acting was sparked more by the salary than the art itself, but genuine passion quickly took over once he learned more about the profession.
• Known for his versatility, Kitazawa can deliver everything from boisterous and comedic performance to nuanced, dramatic reading.
• He has a distinctive voice that often lands him the roles of quirky or oddball characters, much to the delight of fans.
• Kitazawa actively maintains his ties with his agency and regularly shares updates about his new projects.

For more updates, you can check Kitazawa’s official agency profile on the Tokyo Actor’s Consumer’s Cooperative Society website.