is a Japanese voice actor and singer. He joined 81 Produce in 2003. He voiced Hayato Kazami in Future GPX Cyber Formula, Ryo Akiyama in Digimon Tamers and has been the Japanese voice of Sonic the Hedgehog in the eponymous series since 1998. He came in eighth in the Seiyū Grand Prix in 1994.
Early life While studying child psychology, Kanemaru worked part-time at the Far East Network in Yokota Air Base, and at a department store as a studio DJ in Shinjuku.
Career Kanemaru landed his first role in Urusei Yatsura. He later took part in several of Fuji TV's Saturday evening shows such as High School! Kimengumi, Tsuide ni Tonchinkan, and Meimon! Dai San Yakyūbu. At the time, he was employed by Beniya 25-Ji and Dojinsha Production. He got his first lead role in 1991's Future GPX Cyber Formula, where he played Hayato Kazami. He found out about it the day before the recording, when he heard an answering machine on his trip, and rushed home to read the script on the day of the recording. When he appeared in Cyber Formula, he was also working as an English tutor, and one of his students' parents leaked information about him, causing a huge commotion in the adjacent shopping district as anime fans rushed to the place where he was teaching.
During the dubbing of an American television sitcom Growing Pains, a Sega official who came to look for the role of Sonic heard Kanemaru's performance in the waiting room and cast him for the role starting from Sonic Adventure. This established a role for Sonic, who could freely switch between English and Japanese, and also led to Kanemaru's role. His performance in the Sonic series also led to offers from Disney to record children's programs. For the live-action film adaptation for the Sonic series, Kanemaru was replaced by Taishi Nakagawa. At the time the film was released, Kanemaru took to Twitter to express his thoughts and support the crew for the film.
In an interview with Animate Times in 2016, Kanemaru recalled that Cyber Formula helped him get used to singing, as the series had monthly album releases at the time. He was the first in the voice acting industry to be allowed to cover "Ue o Muite Arukō" and recorded it with an a cappella chorus. On his 1993 album Inspired Colors, he also wrote and composed the song "12-Gatsu no Fairy Tale", as well as English covers of "Video Killed the Radio Star" and Kazumasa Oda's "Love Story wa Totsuzen ni" under the title "Suddenly" (using the lyrics from Rita Coolidge's version). He has also tried his hand at standard jazz and has performed several live shows with several fellow voice actors, and his jazz numbers mixed with English and Japanese lyrics written himself are well received by all ages.
Filmography Anime series + List of voice performances Year Title Role Notes Source Urusei Yatsura Super Delicious Kid, Pupil Debut role –1986 Touch Yūji Narita, Manabu Ōgawara, Eiichirō Kashiwaba (as second-year high school student) Ninja Senshi Tobikage Kanji High School! Kimengumi Torio Tanokin, Keio Waseda, Shigeo Nagatsura, Tōru Iitomo, Kenichi Otonari Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ Chimatta Anmitsu Hime Shirataki –1988 Mami the Psychic Young man, head of newspaper department Tsuide ni Tonchinkan Chinpei Hatsuyama (Green) Tsurupika Hagemaru Masaru Kondo :ja:名門!第三野球部 Koji Ishii Shin Bikkuriman Shapan Blue Sonnet Male pupil OVA –1990 Yawara! Kawano, student B Chimpui Masao Koyama (Konsaburō Kozune) –1992 Chibi Maruko-chan English teacher, little boy Getter Robo Go Yuji Mutoh –2000 Future GPX Cyber Formula series Hayato Kazami TV, OVA 21 Emon Man B, pupil A, delivery robot, Pollin Otaku no Video Inoue OVA Honō no Tōkyūji: Dodge Danpei Yuji Takeda, Kazami Mama wa Shōgaku 4 Nensei Mario Vittori The Bush Baby Andrew Rose Tekkaman Blade Watts Oi! Ryoma Taisuke Inui Tottoi Reinhart My Patrasche Passerby, villager B Ocean Waves Okada Sonic Soldier Borgman II: New Century 2058 Ken Minai OVA –2010 Crayon Shin-chan Carpenter, Kazama's father Marmalade Boy Ginta Suou Sailor Moon S Asai Tsutomu Ep. 100 Tonde Burin Tamio Kitagawa Ep. 31 Magical Circle Guru Guru Prince Zabun Magic Knight Rayearth Zazu Torque World Fairy Tale Series Prince –present Nintama Rantarō Raizo Fuwa, Quayle Castella, samurai, soldier Nurse Angel Ririka SOS Foggy Ep. 6, 15 Saint Tail Toru Ijuuin Ep. 17 Rurouni Kenshin Chris Dragon Ball GT Kukan Sugoroku Sailor Moon: Sailor Stars DJ Jack Ep. 189 Hell Teacher Nube Shuichi Shirato Blue Seed 2 Man (Criminal) OVA Kiko-chan's Smile Michael Ninpen Manmaru Momosuke Sexy Commando Gaiden: Sugoi yo!! Masaru-san Okometsubu Fujiyama (Fūmin) Trigun DJ Shukan Storyland:ja:週刊ストーリーランド Yoshiki Hayashi Ceres, Celestial Legend Man Earth Maiden Arjuna English teacher Digimon Tamers Ryo Akiyama Hikaru no Go American person G-On Riders Foreigner –2005 Sonic X Sonic the Hedgehog Hamtaroとっとこハム太郎 はむはむぱらだいちゅ！ Gaijin man Samurai Champloo American soldier –2006 Pokémon: Advanced Generation Harley Glass Mask Peter Hamill Mushiking: The King of Beetles Bu Speed Grapher Child soldier Zenmai Zamurai Merchant Pierre, Kawara Banban, et al .hack//Roots Ochi Kirarin Revolution Chairperson Yes! PreCure 5 Michel Kasugano Saint Beast: Kouin Jojishi Tenshi Tan Supreme God Zeus Hetalia: Axis Powers Narrator ONA Gokyōdai Monogatariご姉弟物語 Alan Doraemon Ayao Itotori Episode: "I'll Be the King of String Finger World" Hunter × Hunter Buhara 2011 TV Series Akatsuki no Yona: Yona of the Dawn Ik-Su The Reflection Male counselor
Anime films + List of voice performances Year Title Role Notes Source Captain Tsubasa: Sekai Daikessen!! Jr. World Cup Shun Nitta Touch 2: Goodbye Gift Manabu Ōgawara Chinpui: Eri-sama Katsudō Daishashin Masao Koyama (Konsaburō Kozune) Slam Dunk: Shohoku's Greatest Challenge! Ichiro Katsumi Hell Teacher: Jigoku Sensei Nube Shuichi Shirato Digimon Tamers: Runaway Locomon Ryo Akiyama Gunbuster vs. Diebuster Representative Night of the Werehog Sonic the Hedgehog Pyu to Fuku! Jaguar:Ima, Fuki ni Yukimasu Kiyohiko "Piyohiko" Saketome Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance Narrator Gekijō-ban Anime Nintama Rantarō Ninjutsu Gakuen Zenin Shutsudō! no Dan Raizo Fuwa Suite Precure The Movie: Take it back! The Miraculous Melody that Connects Hearts! Natural 2024 Nintama Rantarō: Invincible Master of the Dokutake Ninja Fuwa Raizo
Video games + List of voice performances Year Title Role Notes Source Hell Teacher: Jigoku Sensei Nube Shuichi Shirato PS1/PS2 Farland Story: Yottsu no Fuuin Arc PS1/PS2 G.A.S.P!! Fighters' NEXTream Kai Himuro Nintendo 64 Atelier Elie: The Alchemist of Salburg 2 Douglas McClain PS1/PS2 –present Sonic the Hedgehog Sonic the Hedgehog starting from Sonic Adventure Shinseiki GPX Cyber Formula: Aratanaru Chousensha Kazami Hayato PlayStation Kuroi hitomi no noa: Cielgris Fantasm:ja:黒い瞳のノア Disutin PS1/PS2 Fatal Frame Mafuyu Hinasaki PS1/PS2 Atelier Viorate: The Alchemist of Gramnad 2 Bartholomaus Platane PS1/PS2 Konjiki no Gash Bell!! Unare! Yūjō no Zakeru Dream Tag Tournament Makoto Raiku Other –present Super Smash Bros. Sonic the Hedgehog starting from Super Smash Bros. Brawl Nintama Rantarou: Gakunen Taikousen Puzzle! no Dan Raizo Fuwa DS Atelier Viorate: The Alchemist of Gramnad 2: The Memories of Ultramarine Bartholomaus Platane PSP Atelier Nelke: The Alchemists and the New Earth Bartholomaus Platane (Barthel) PS4/PS Vita
Radio Year Title Role Notes Sources1992Youth RadimeniaHimselfGuest appearance on March 14. 1995–1997 Picture Land Club II Himself Radio program broadcast on Kansai Radio. In 1999, a Christmas CD single, Picture Land Club 2.5 was released. (In Japanese)2005Sunrise EXHimselfGuest appearance on the Sunrise EX block of Sunrise Radio. Broadcast July 30 on KBC Radio, and July 31 on Tokai Radio and HBC Radio.2005Youth RadimeniaHimself Appearance on August 27, presenting a listener gift.
Music CDs Year Title Notes Sources1997Midwinter Shooting StarOnly sung the eponymously-titled song as part of WITH YOU.
Drama CDs + List of voice performances Title Role Notes Source Houshin Engi Shin Kouhyou Drama CD Pyu to Fuku! Jaguar:Ima, Fuki ni Yukimasu Kiyohiko "Piyohiko" Saketome Drama CD Dragon Quest IV Rei (Hero) Drama CD Shout Out Loud!Shino HasaeDrama CDInnocent SizeNanase HirotoDrama CDDousei AiChisato KanemakiDrama CDFutaba Rhapsody Futaba HanazonoDrama CDMainichi Seiten!Shuu AsuooDrama CDKoiki na YatsuraSusumu ManabeDrama CD Note: Not to be confused with the manga of the same name about a pair of female criminal twins.Lesson XX Ichitarou SakuraDrama CDKatakoi ParadiseNatsuhiko IkegamiDrama CDYebisu CelebritiesLeon (English)Drama CDTokyo Amatoria Keiji YoshikawaDrama CDAkuma to OdoreSashaDrama CDC Kara Hajimaru Koi mo Ii Hiromu ToujouDrama CDOriginal CD Drama Naughty BoyMasanori YamadaDrama CDReiko the Zombie ShopIdeto TaniiDrama CDThe Young Magician Eyes of Destruction ACT.2IpukiDrama CD
Tokusatsu + List of voice performances Year Title Role Notes Source Bakuryū Sentai Abaranger Trinoid #5: Hakkarasniper Kamen Rider Den-O Chameleon Imagin
Dubbing + List of dub performances in overseas productions Title Role(s) Notes SourceCaptain SindbadTaran Clifford the Big Red Dog Casey Howard Dora the Explorer Swiper, father, Big Red Chicken, golden key, snow creatures Star Wars: Ewoks Widdle DVD version only Full House Ricky Fraggle Rock Additional voices NHK dub Growing Pains Bobby The Christ of Nanjing Youngster Insektors Fulgor Handy Manny Pat, Elliot, Fast Eddie, et al Honey, I Blew Up the Kid Nick Original VHS/DVD dub The Legend of the Lone Ranger Jack TV Tokyo dub Wreck-It Ralph Sonic the Hedgehog Ralph Breaks the Internet Sonic Boom Sonic Prime Thomas & Friends Henry, Porter, Carlos, OwenSucceeded Henry from Ryō Horikawa West Side Story Rico 1990 TBS edition
References
External links
81 Produce profile Jun'ichi Kanemaru at Ryu's Seiyuu Info