Norio Wakamoto

Norio Wakamoto
若本 規夫
Born Norio Wakamoto
October 18, 1945
Shimonoseki, Japan
Nationality Japanese
Occupation Voice actor, narrator
Years active 1972-present
Notable credit(s) Sazae-san
as Anago-san
Dragon Ball Z
as Cell
Kingdom Hearts
as Xemnas
Legend of the Galactic Heroes
as Oskar von Reuenthal
Ninja Nonsense
as Onsokumaru
Yoshinaga-san Chi no Gargoyle
as Gargoyle
Street Fighter
as M. Bison (Vega in Japan)
Religion Shinto

Norio Wakamoto (若本 規夫 Wakamoto Norio, born October 18, 1945) is a Japanese voice actor and budō expert affiliated with the Sigma Seven Talent Agency. He was born in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, and was raised in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture. He graduated from Waseda University.

Overview

Norio Wakamoto at Desucon Frostbite 2013, Finland

After graduation from Waseda University, Wakamoto initially found employment as a police officer assigned to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's Anti-Riot Squad division before becoming a voice actor.

The quality of Wakamoto's voice is known for uniting astringency and sharpness, usually leading him to villain roles in dubbing work and games. Examples include Oskar von Reuenthal in Legend of the Galactic Heroes, Johnny in the Guilty Gear series, Barbatos Goetia in Tales of Destiny 2, Charles zi Britannia in Code Geass, Black Shadow in F-Zero GP Legend, Xemnas in the Kingdom Hearts series, Oda Nobunaga in Sengoku Basara, Cell in Dragon Ball Z, Count Dracula in the Castlevania series, M. Bison (Vega in the Japanese releases) in the Street Fighter series, Igniz and Omega Rugal in The King of Fighters series and many others. On adult animation titles and dating sims he goes by the alias "Hiruma Kyounosuke".

He holds the rank of 3-dan in both Shorinji Kempo and Kendo.[1]

Voice roles

Anime television series

OVA

Drama CDs

Theater animation

Video games

Dubbing roles

Tokusatsu

Video/DVD

Credited as Hiruma Kyonosuke

References

  1. Wakamoto Norio
  2. "Hellsing Ultimate III". Hellsing Ultimate. Episode 3. October 4, 2014. Closing credits. Adult Swim.

2. http://www.siliconera.com/2010/03/09/ubisoft-dubbing-splinter-cell-conviction-for-japan/

External links