Aya Hirano

Career Acting career In 1998, Hirano joined the Tokyo Child Theatrical Group division of the company. After starting her acting career, Hirano began to appear in commercials and received her first role as a voice actress at 14 years old in the 2001 anime series Angel Tales. In 2002, when she was 15, she voiced co-lead character Lumiere in Kiddy Grade.

After graduating from high school, Hirano began seriously pursuing her voice acting and solo singing career. Her big break came in 2006, when she was cast as the voice of Haruhi Suzumiya, the title character and heroine of the anime series The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. This success was followed by her voicing Reira Serizawa in Nana and Misa Amane in Death Note. the same role also won her a nomination as "Best Main Character (female)". At the same awards, she was also nominated for "Best Supporting Character (female)", and earned two nominations for "Best Single" (one of which was for a solo, "Bōken Desho Desho?"; the other was a group nomination for the single "Hare Hare Yukai"). She also won in the Voice Acting category at the 2007 Tokyo Anime Awards for her role as the lead character in The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya.

Hirano performed at the Animelo Summer Live concerts between 2006 and 2008, as well as the Suzumiya Haruhi no Gekisō concert on March 18, 2007. She was a guest at Anime Expo 2007, along with other cast members from The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Minori Chihara and Yūko Gotō. In 2007, she continued to enjoy great success in her career, landing the role of Konata Izumi in the anime version of Lucky Star.

In April 2011, Hirano announced that she had been prohibited from taking on new voice acting roles since the previous year. She still continued voicing characters for anime that received additional seasons or extended runs. Citing a need for a new agency that was more ideal for her career wishes, she announced on August 12, 2011, that she had left Space Craft Entertainment. On August 21, Hirano moved to the voice acting agency Grick. Days later, on August 27, she posted a message on her Twitter account, confirming that she had resumed new voice acting roles in anime.

In 2016, after a stint in the musical The Mystery of Edwin Drood in Tokyo, Hirano spent four months studying English and voice in New York.

Music career Hirano's music career began as part of the band SpringS, which was active from 2002 to 2003. She then released two character image songs in 2005: , which was used as an ending theme to the original video animation Itsudatte My Santa!, and , which was an image song for her character Mamori Anezaki in the anime series Eyeshield 21.

Hirano's first solo single under the record label Lantis was "Breakthrough", which was released on March 8, 2006; the title track was used as the opening theme of the visual novel Finalist. Her next single was , which was released on April 26, 2006; the title track is used as the opening theme of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. The CD sold out in Japan the very day it was released. This was followed by the release of an image song single for her character Haruhi Suzumiya on July 5, 2006, which contained the songs and . Her third single was released on September 6, 2006.

Hirano released her fourth single "Love Gun" on October 10, 2007. This was followed by her fifth single "Neophilia" which was released on November 7, 2007, and her sixth single "MonStAR" which was released on December 5, 2007.

Hirano released her seventh single "Unnamed World" on April 23, 2008; the title track was used as the ending theme to the anime series Nijū Mensō no Musume. This was followed by the release of her first solo album Riot Girl on July 16, 2008.

Hirano released her eighth single "Set me free / Sing a song!" on April 29, 2009. She then released her ninth single "Super Driver" on July 22, 2009; the title track is used as the opening theme of the second season of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. Her second album was released on November 18, 2009. To promote the single, she created a Twitter account which was originally intended to be only used for one day;

In May 2011, Hirano released a compilation album titled Aya Museum. On August 2, 2011, Japanese magazine Bubka confirmed that she was dismissed by Lantis due to her sleeping with several band members. She then returned to music in 2012 and was signed to the record label Universal Sigma. Her first release on the label was the mini album Fragments on May 23, 2012. This was followed by the song which was released on August 15, 2012; the title track is used as the ending theme to the anime film Fairy Tail the Movie: Phoenix Priestess.

In 2013, Hirano released two singles: "TOxxxIC" which was released on February 20, and "Promise" which was released on October 9; "Promise" was used as an insert song in the documentary film Kitakitsune Monogatari: Ashita e. She released her fourth album Vivid on February 19, 2014.

In 2018, Hirano performed the song "Pride", which was used as a character song to the mobile game Granblue Fantasy.

On April 24, 2020, Hirano posted a video of herself dancing and teaching the choreography of "Hare Hare Yukai" on her social media accounts to motivate others during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, sparking the hashtag . This created a trend of cover dances of "Hare Hare Yukai" posted to the hashtag, participants of which included Tomokazu Sugita (the voice actor of Kyon) This led "Hare Hare Yukai" to chart at no. 6 on the Billboard Japan Hot Animation in the same week.

On May 10, 2025, she released "Evolutions", a single under the Lantis label.

Personal life In November 2010, Hirano posted a message on her Twitter account that she has had a pituitary gland tumor since junior high school. While not malignant, the tumor exerts pressure on certain motor functions, resulting in temporary memory loss, loss of vision and slurring of speech. She decided against elective surgery because the surgery would alter her nasal cavity and permanently modify her voice.

On January 3, 2024, she announced her marriage to actor . On September 11 of the same year, Bungeishunjū published a report of an alleged domestic violence against Hirano. She responded to the report on social media that same day, that she and Taniguchi had separated and were currently in negotiations for a mutually-agreed divorce. The couple officially divorced on August 5, 2025.

Public image

Once The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya broadcast in 2006, Hirano received widespread media attention and popularity, which led her to be known as a "super idol" in the voice acting industry. In 2007, she was ranked No. 36 in Daitan Map's Top 50 Voice Actors. She also notably became a voice actor who was able to cross over to mainstream media, where she began appearing on variety shows since 2010. In 2011, Hirano was the 5th best-selling voice actress, making in total sales.

Beginning in 2010, Hirano drew criticism from her anime fanbase when she openly discussed her dating and sex life on the variety show Goût Temps Nouveau, as well as the implication that she was abandoning voice acting in favor of a career in mainstream entertainment. In early 2011, an anonymous post on 2channel alleged from an acquaintance of a Lantis employee that Hirano had been dropped from the music label due to "excessively aggressive courting", in that she had sexual relations with three members from her back-up band. In August 2011, Japanese magazine Bubka published photos of the affair. Hirano stopped posting on Twitter beginning on May 18, 2013, allowing her team to use her account as an information channel. In December 2022, Hirano stated on Twitter that she still receives death threats whenever she does voice acting work for anime and cites it as a reason why she has largely stepped away from anime voice acting.

Filmography

Anime + List of voice performances in anime Year Title Role Notes Source –03 Angel Tales series Saru no Momo Debut role Kiddy Grade Lumière Canvas 2: Niji Iro no Sketch Sumire Misaki School Rumble series Yoko Sasakura starting in Second Semester (season 2) The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya Haruhi Suzumiya Nana Reira Serizawa Galaxy Angel-Rune Kahlua/Tequila Marjoram Sumomomo Momomo Sanae Nakajima Gakuen Utopia Manabi Straight! Mei Etoh –08 Lucky Star series Konata Izumi, Haruhi Suzumiya (cameo), Herself (cameo) –present Soreike! Anpanman Tanpopochan, Kokinchan guest roles Fist of the North Star: The Legend of Toki Sara OVA Nijū Mensō no Musume Chizuko "Chiko" Mokamo Hyakko Ayumi Nonomura Akaneiro ni Somaru Saka Minato Nagase Linebarrels of Iron Miu Kujō –11 Maria Holic series Shizu Shidō Kawa no Hikari Tammy TV special Fight Ippatsu! Jūden-chan!! Rona Elmo –11 Kimi ni Todoke Ume "Kurumi" Kurumizawa –present Fairy Tail Lucy Heartfilia In Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest from 2024 Kiddy Girl-and Lumiere –11 The Qwaser of Stigmata series Katja Lupin III: The Last Job Asuka Kagurazaka Nichijou Shogi King tile, Angel from Helvetica Standard, Narration Episode 9 –18 Gintama Imai Nobume Witch Craft Works Weekend –15 Dragon Ball Z Kai (Majin Buu saga) Dende –2018 Dragon Ball Super Dende The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan Haruhi Suzumiya Maesetsu! Hirano Sensei Pop Team Epic Popuko Ep. 1 Part A Akiba Maid War Okachimachi Ep. 10 onward One Piece Vegapunk Lilith Detectives These Days Are Crazy! Hana Kazamaki

Live-action television series Year Title Role Notes Source 2012 Muse no Kagami 2021 Koeharu! Iwao 2023 Born to Be on Air! Madoka Chishiro 2025 The Laughing Salesman Episode 11

Drama CDs + List of voice performances in drama CD Year Title Role Notes Source Kiddy Grade Sound Layer Lumière Lucky Star Konata Izumi Bleach: Fade to Black Sister Duel Masters: Lunatic God Saga Runa Kamizuki Let's Go! Anpanman: Bulbul's Big Treasure Hunt Adventure Kokin-chan Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero Dende 2025The Rose of VersaillesMarie Antoinette 2025Let's Go! Anpanman: Chapon's Hero!Kokin-chan

Theatre

Dubbing roles Hirano has had dubbing roles in localized versions of a number of foreign television series and films. + List of dubbing performances Title Role Notes Source Listen to My Heart Bong Woo-ri Hwang Jung-eum Cao Cao Diaochan Han Xue City Hunter Kim Na-na Park Min-young CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Haley Jones Taylor Swift, Season 9 Dragonball Evolution Bulma Emmy Rossum Encanto Isabela Madrigal Diane GuerreroAnimation Giant Lee Mi-joo Hwang Jung-eum The Mermaid Shan Lin Yun Renaissance Ilona Tasuiev Romola Garai Shazam! Mary Grace Fulton / Michelle Borth Shazam! Fury of the Gods Grace Fulton The Thieves Yenicall Jun Ji-hyun Zathura Lisa Kristen Stewart2008 NTV edition

Video games + List of voice performances in video games Year Title Role Source Canvas 2: Niji Iro no Sketch Sumire Misaki Sumomomo Momomo: The Strongest Bride on Earth Sanae Nakajima –11 Haruhi Suzumiya games Haruhi Suzumiya –10 Lucky Star games Konata Izumi Memories Off 6: T-wave Chisa Hakosaki Zettai Karen Children DS: Dai-4 no Children Kaoru Akashi Dragalia Lost Botan Catherine: Full Body Rin Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World: The Prophecy of the Throne Sakura Element Arknights Flametail Octopath Traveler II Ochette Fate/Samurai Remnant Dorothea Coyett

Discography

Studio albums + List of studio albums, with selected chart positions Title Album information Oriconpeakposition Riot Girl Released: July 16, 2008 Label: Lantis Catalog No.: LACA-5793 4 Fragments Released: May 23, 2012 Label: Universal Music Catalog No.: UMCK-9487 12 Vivid Released: February 19, 2014 Label: Universal Music Catalog No.: UMCK-9658 5

Singles + List of singles, with selected chart positions Year Title Oriconpeakposition Album "Breakthrough" 79 Riot Girl "Bōken Desho Desho?" 10 "Ashita no Prism" 13 "Love Gun" 6 "Neophilia" 17 "MonStAR" 11 "Unnamed World" 13 "Hysteric Barbie" 9 "TOxxxIC" 24 Vivid "Promise" 36 2025"Evolutions"—

Character albums and singles

Video albums

+ List of video albums, with selected chart positions Title Video information Oriconpeakposition Animelo Summer Live 2007: Generation-A Release date: November 28, 2007 Label: Lantis Catalog No.: LABM-7015 Aya Hirano 1st Live 2008 Riot Tour Live Release date: February 25, 2009 Label: Lantis Catalog No.: LABM-7039 Aya Hirano Music Clip Collection Vol. 1 Release date: September 9, 2009 Label: Lantis Catalog No.: LABM-7055 Aya Hirano 2nd Live Tour 2009 "Speed Star Tours" Live DVD Release date: June 23, 2010 Label: Lantis Catalog No.: LABM-7067 Aya Hirano Fragments Live Tour 2012 Live DVD Release date: November 28, 2012 Label: Universal Music Catalog No.: UMBK-1191

Awards Year Ceremony Category Nominee Result

Best Actress in leading role Haruhi Suzumiya (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya)

«Hare Hare Yukai» (together with Yūko Gotō and Minori Chihara in The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya)

Best Rookie Actresses Haruhi Suzumiya (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya) Best Music Performance «Motteke! Sailor Fuku» (Lucky Star)