Showtaro Morikubo

is a Japanese voice actor and singer who has voiced characters in anime, drama CDs, and video games. He was formerly affiliated with I'm Enterprise, Sigma Seven and VIMS. His most notable roles were Shikamaru Nara from Naruto, Souji Okita in the Hakuouki series, X in the Mega Man X series, Yuusuke Makishima from Yowamushi Pedal, and Yosuke Hanamura from Persona 4.

Biography Morikubo graduated from Third Junior & Senior High School of Nihon University in 1992, and dropped out of Tama Art University. Before becoming a full-fledged voice actor, he worked at a talent agency, and was recruited by people in the voice acting industry who saw a performance by the Onigiri Skippers, a theater troupe he founded with his seniors from the lab party he attended in elementary school. During his first dubbing session, he made sounds out of flipping pages on the script because he had no experience as a voice actor at that time. The script for the first episode had four pages of long dialogues from the first page, and the sound director said that he would never have let him do the role if he had known he would talk so much. He made his voice acting debut in 1996 as a Mini 4 Fighter in Bakusō Kyōdai Let's & Go!!. The show was supposed to finish in a year, but due to its unexpected popularity, it became a long-running production, and he moved from the agency where he had worked as an actor to a voice acting agency. Since then, he has been active in a variety of fields including animation, games, radio personality, music, and stage.

After working at Sigma Seven, Morikubo moved to VIMS, an office affiliated with Arts Vision.

In 1998, he and voice actor Hideo Ishikawa started a music unit called "Anzu" (derived from the only fruit Morikubo could eat), and in 1999, they formed the band "AN's ALL STARS" with other band members. In August of the same year, he formed the band "Mosquito Milk".

In 2001, Morikubo made his solo debut under the Capcom Suleputer label, and in 2008, he debuted again under the Lantis label. In 2010, he formed "Buzzy→Bee" as a solo project, and in January 2015, he became the second DJ of the long-running bayfm program "KEIYOGINKO POWER COUNTDOWN JAPAN HOT 30".

In 2016, he received the Kei Tomiyama Memorial Award at the 10th Seiyu Awards. In 2020, he received the Personality Award at the 14th Seiyu Awards.

On August 31, 2018, Morikubo left VIMS. On September 1 of the same year, he established Add9th and assumed the position of its representative director.

Morikubo married fellow voice actress Yū Asakawa on February 22, 2007. On January 14, 2009, Asakawa announced on her blog that the two had amicably divorced, citing differences in personality as the reason for the separation.

On July 4, 2014, Morikubo announced on his blog that he had gotten married that week, but expressed a desire to keep details of the marriage private, including the identity of his wife due to her being uninvolved in the entertainment industry. On December 28, 2017, he revealed on an episode of his radio show The BAY☆LINE that he and his wife had welcomed a daughter earlier in the year. The same day, he reaffirmed the news via Twitter.

He and Kentarō Itō call each other their best friend. Morikubo has been in charge of the stage music for the K-Show theater company, which Itō presides over, since its inception.

In August 2024, Morikubo, among others including Hiroshi Tsuchida, participated in a stage reading based on 's manga , themed after the persecution of Uyghurs in China. This fuelled fan speculation of Morikubo being removed from his roles of the characters Ifa in miHoYo's Genshin Impact on March 12, 2025 and Elysium in Arknights three days later on March 15, 2025, both of which were developed in mainland China, out of political reasons stemming from his involvement in the live reading.

Filmography Anime television 1996 After War Gundam X – Willis Aramis Bakusō Kyōdai Let's & Go!! – Mini Yon Fighter VS Knight Ramune & 40 Fire – Mito Natto

1998 Blue Submarine No. 6 (OVA) – Verg Chosoku Spinner – Shunichi Domoto Lodoss to Senki: Eiyū Kishi Den – Cecil Sorcerous Stabber Orphen – Orphen Uta no Prince-sama Maji LOVE Legend Star — Reiji Kotobuki Saiki Kusuo no Psi-nan — Uryoku "Kouta Nakanishi" Chouno

2017 Hand Shakers — Makihara Star-Myu: High School Star Musical 2 — Kyoji Akatsuki Code: Realize − Guardian of Rebirth — Impey Barbicane Boruto: Naruto Next Generations – Shikamaru Nara Yowamushi Pedal: New Generation – Yūsuke Makishima Crayon Shin-chan Gaiden: Omocha Wars — MC (Ep.9)

2018 Hakyu Hoshin Engi – Seikyo Doutoku Shinkun Yowamushi Pedal: Glory Line – Yūsuke Makishima Magical Girl Ore – Konami Yamo Isekai Izakaya "Nobu" – Nikolaus Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan (OVA) – Akira Otoshi

2019 B-Project: Zecchō Emotion – Hikaru Osari Namu Amida Butsu!: Rendai Utena – Shakanyorai Demon Lord, Retry! – Zero Kirisame Ensemble Stars! – Makoto Yūki Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Spider Demon (older brother) Dr. Stone – Shamil Volkov Black Clover – Zagred (Kotodama Magic Devil)

2020 Sorcerous Stabber Orphen – Orphen

2021 I-Chu: Halfway Through the Idol – Kururugi Satsuki WAVE!! Surfing Yappe!! – Sōichirō William Mori Sorcerous Stabber Orphen: Battle of Kimluck – Orphen Tokyo Revengers – Tetta Kisaki World Trigger Season 3 – Kazuma Satomi

2022 In the Land of Leadale – Luvrogue Shadowverse Flame – Gentleman Eternal Boys – Sawao Soda

2023 Sorcerous Stabber Orphen: Chaos in Urbanrama – Orphen Tōsōchū: The Great Mission – Sōya Tomura The Great Cleric – Kōun-sensei 16bit Sensation: Another Layer - Toyo Ichigaya

2024 Ishura – Regnejee the Sunset Wings Himitsu no AiPri – MC Aimu Acro Trip – Baryū Ōmizo Dragon Ball Daima – Gomah A Terrified Teacher at Ghoul School! – Ranmaru Karasuma Fate/strange Fake – Caster

Anime films Spriggan (1998) – Yu Ominae Pokémon: The First Movie (1998) – Young Mewtwo Final Fantasy VII Advent Children (2005) – Kadaj Fairy Tail the Movie: The Phoenix Priestess (2012) – Dyst WAVE!! Surfing Yappe!! (2020) – Sōichirō William Mori Ensemble Stars!! Road to Show!! (2022) – Makoto Yūki Fate/strange Fake: Whispers of Dawn (2023) – Caster Nintama Rantarō: Invincible Master of the Dokutake Ninja (2024) – Zatto Konnamon Chimney Town: Frozen in Time (2026)

Video games 1998 Super Adventure Rockman – Heatman, Quickman

1999 Spriggan: Lunar Verse – Yu Ominae

2000 Grandia II – Ryudo Rockman X5 – X, Dynamo Sorcerous Stabber Orphen – Orphen

2001 Apocripha/0 – Seles Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy (Japanese dubbed version) – Jak Rockman X6 – X, Dynamo

2002 Tokimeki Memorial Girl's Side – Chiharu Aoki

2003 Rockman X7 – X

2004 Jak II (Japanese dubbed version) – Jak

2005 Memories Off 5 The Unfinished Film – Haruto Kawai Shining Force Neo – Max

2006 Mermaid Prism

2007 Odin Sphere – Ingway

2008 11 Eyes – Takahisa Tajima Hakuōki series – Okita Souji Persona 4 series – Yosuke Hanamura White Knight Chronicles – Osmund

2009 Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier (Japanese dubbed version) – Jak

2010 NieR RepliCant – Tyrann Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children Black and Red – Kai Setsuna

2011 Final Fantasy Type-0 – Naghi Minatsuchi Tales of Xillia – Ivar

2012 Tales of Xillia 2 – Ivar Uta no Prince-sama Debut – Reiji Kotobuki

2013 Daitoshokan no Hitsujikai – Ikkei Takamine JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle – Akira Otoishi Uta no Prince-sama All Star – Reiji Kotobuki Uta no Prince-sama Music 2 – Reiji Kotobuki

2014 Bakumatsu Rock – Kogorō Katsura Code:Realize ~Sousei no Himegimi~ – Impey Barbicane Gakuen Heaven 2: Double Scramble – Eiji Sonoda

2015 I-Chu – Kururugi Satsuki Ensemble Stars! – Makoto Yuuki JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Eyes of Heaven – Akira Otoishi Mighty No. 9 – Aviator Uta no Prince-sama All Star After Secret – Reiji Kotobuki Yowamushi Pedal High Cadence To Tomorrow – Yūsuke Makishima

2016 World of Final Fantasy – Cid

2017 Phantasy Star Online 2 – Elmir

2018 BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle – Yosuke Hanamura Fire Emblem Heroes – Canas Granblue Fantasy – Spinnah, Hamsa

2019 Saint Seiya Awakening – Saggitarus Aiolos Arknights – Elysium (until March 15, 2025) Super Robot Wars T – Koji Kabuto

2021 Rune Factory 5 – Lucas Super Robot Wars 30 – Koji Kabuto

2022 Tactics Ogre: Reborn – Oz Moh Glacius

2023 Master Detective Archives: Rain Code – Aphex Logan

2024 Genshin Impact - Ifa (until March 12, 2025 )

2025

Rusty Rabbit – Flemy

Drama CDs ... Virgin Love – Kazuki Ao no Kiseki series 5: Persona Non Grata – Majera Be My Princess – Prince Keith Code:Realize ~Sousei no Himegimi~ as Impey Barbicane Gaki no Ryoubun series 2–5, Kaoru Nitta Hana-Kimi – Shuichi Nakatsu Junjou Boy series 1–2, Ritsu Asaka Kageki series 1–5, Shikyuriru/Shiki Mars – Rei Kashino Sakurazawa vs Hakuhou series 2: Houkengo no Nayameru Kankei – Katsumi Hirose SEVENTH HEAVEN – Kanade Superior – Exa WRITERZ – Hyoma Kiritani

Tokusatsu Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger Returns: Hundred Years After (2014) – Remorseful Knight Arslevan Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger (2024-2025) - Disrace

Dubbing Live-action Eddie Peng Tai Chi 0 – Fang Zi Jing Tai Chi Hero – Fang Zi Jing The Bodyguard – Cop #2 Call of Heroes – Ma Fung Wu Kong – Sun Wukong The Rescue – Gao Qian American Assassin – Mitch Rapp (Dylan O'Brien) The Batman – Thomas Wayne (Luke Roberts) Bones – James Aubrey (John Boyd) Cinderella – Romesh (Romesh Ranganathan) Criminal Activities – Noah (Dan Stevens) Criminal Minds – Spencer Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler) Deadpool & Wolverine – Gambit (Channing Tatum) Final Destination 3 – Ian McKinley (Kris Lemche) The Gilded Age – Oscar van Rhijn (Blake Ritson) His Dark Materials – Pantalaimon (Kit Connor) Houdini & Doyle – Harry Houdini (Michael Weston) A Lot like Love – Oliver Martin (Ashton Kutcher) Martial Arts of Shaolin – Lin Zhi-ming (Jet Li) A Minecraft Movie – Daryl (Jemaine Clement) My First Wedding – Nick (Kenny Doughty) Nerve – Ian/Sam (Dave Franco) Peaceful – Benjamin (Benoît Magimel) Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway – Tom Kitten The Roundup: No Way Out – Jang Tae-soo (Lee Beom-soo) Shane (New Era Movies edition) – Joe Starrett (Van Heflin) Strays – Bug (Jamie Foxx) The Time Traveler's Wife – Gomez (Desmin Borges) Wonka – Officer Attable (Kobna Holdbrook-Smith)

Animation Generator Rex – Rex The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature – Surly Playmobil: The Movie – Rex Dasher The Stolen Princess – Farlaf

Solo discography

Albums is the first solo album by Showtaro Morikubo, released in 2001. "The Answer" and "Moon Light" were the album's promotional tracks, being used in the video game series Rockman X as the opening themes to Rockman X6. "The Answer" appeared as the album's only single, paired with the B-side "Happy Monday Man". The concert for this album – later released on DVD and included the promotional video for "The Answer" – is entitled "Showtaro Morikubo Live House Tour '01 ~Okubyō Mono no G Kōi~" (臆病者のG行為 lit. "G Conduct of a Coward").

Build Up!!! [鍛] Power G Kōi (G行為 lit. "G Conduct") Karada Kensa (身体検査 lit. "Physical Examination") Rainy Day The Answer Hedgehog Peter Okubyō Mono (臆病者 lit. "Coward") Moon Light End of the Sky

kyo (叫〜kyo〜 lit. "exclaim")

叫〜kyo〜 Key dizzy candy DoPaMiNe My Destination Crazy night Never surrender Home sweet home Parallel World Catharsis-Dinner Whenever I go UNDER CONSTRUCTION Ride Free never ends...

rin (凛〜rin〜 lit. "frigid)

Introduction Rin Let's get started Cloudy sky D.I.G. MIRROR 〜interlude〜 「Detox」 Fatboy nothing to lose gravIty Stand down Water in the tub Mr.CLOWN

Solo singles The Answer being the TRY Lazy Mind Ride Free Parallel World Stand down Mr.CLOWN CHAIN REACTION TRIBALISM ～sunrise side～ TRIBALISM ～sunset side～ Focus PHANTOM PAIN TRUTH

Other discography

Albums Hard Spirit is an album released from one of Morikubo's most popular voice actor units, Heart-beat, in which he paired up with fellow voice actor Hiroki Takahashi. The album spawned two singles, "Shootin' Stars" and "Continued". This album was also featured in a three part live action series, "Cross Chord", a drama starring both voice actors as the lead characters. In addition to the main album, both Morikubo and Takahashi released separate albums (titled Show and Hero for each artist, respectively) containing solo versions of the Hard Spirit songs, along with two exclusively solo tracks, each (both of which are also included on "Hard Spirit"). Morikubo sings alone in "Hurry Up Drive" and "Change or Never change", and Takahashi's solos are "Thanks for..." and "Believe me".

Cross Chord Shootin' Stars (Movie Version) Continued (Movie Version) Hurry Up Drive Change or Never Change Thanks for... Believe Me Shootin' Stars (Single Version) Continued (Single Version)

Singles CONTINUED Shootin' stars

Notable songs "Moon Light", used in Rockman X6 as the main opening theme. "The Answer", used as a second opening theme for the aforementioned game. "Lazy Mind", used as the ending theme for Rockman X7. It is still heard in the English release of the game, but is instrumental only. "Begin the Try" (begin the TRY), used as the second ending theme to the anime Rockman.EXE.

DVD Showtaro Morikubo Okubyō Mono no G Kōi Live House Tour '01 Cross Chord (Volumes 1–3)

Awards Year Award Category Result 2016 10th Seiyu Awards Kei Tomiyama Memorial Award