is a Japanese voice actor, narrator, and radio personality currently affiliated with Arts Vision.
His vocal register is described as a metallic lyric tenor suitable to voice a mature variation of coming of age young men. Combined with an impactful execution of battle cries, he earned his reputation in voicing heroic protagonists commonly found in works of the mecha, fighting, and fantasy genres. Hiyama is recognized for his portrayal of Hiei from YuYu Hakusho, starring twice within the Brave Series franchise as Maito Senpuuji in The Brave Express Might Gaine and Gai Shishioh in King of Braves GaoGaiGar, and playing Link in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
Biography Hiyama was born in Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima at the Red Cross Hospital, and grew up enjoying casual amateur baseball with friends. His mother was of Japanese descent, born in Taiwan during the end of World War II and resettling back in Japan after the war.
Greatly influenced by his father, Hiyama flourished in history and social studies class since middle school, but was not fond of the idea of participating in extracurricular activities. Despite this, Hiyama had no choice but to pick up at least one activity for each semester due to school regulations, and ended up trying out Go, Shogi, and his school's Radio Club by his second year of middle school. According to Hiyama, his middle school radio club experience was "in all honesty, awful." and he "was bored to the point of resigning from the club" by his third year, ending his middle school club life with Japanese calligraphy.
Upon entering high school, Hiyama believed he could "finally start pursuing his dream of not participating in any school clubs," but ended up being reluctantly dragged into his high school's radio club due to a close schoolmate of his wanting to join the club, yet not wanting to enter the club alone. Hiyama noted his high school radio club experience was "far more interesting" than he expected, as "we get to plan on what to broadcast for morning assembly, and not only that, we even produce our own radio dramas." It was through his interest in radio dramas, along with awareness of the voice acting boom of the 70s and 80s, that made Hiyama took notice early on that there were career opportunities in voice acting and that Tokyo had the training schools for them.
When the time came for Hiyama to plan his career development during his senior year of high school, he resorted to the mindset of "if I had to bread-win, might as well choose the type of bread that I love to eat." Therefore, his first choice was to apply for college to become a historian, while his second choice was to go into "something in relation to voice work," since he reflected on how his radio club experience was the one that made him believe this would be the lifestyle that he would truly enjoy. Due to the tough application requirements of his intended history major, Hiyama decided to pursue the path of voice acting, and talked it over with his parents. Hiyama recalled their discussion "ended in dispute," with his parents' decision to not support his tuition in fear of "a business that is unheard of." Hiyama was then left to fend for himself by enrolling into Tokyo Announce Gakuin's (now Tokyo Announce Gakuin Performing Arts College) Broadcasting Voice Actor major through Japan's Newspaper Scholarship grant.
Training and debut Due to the lack of financial support from his parents, Hiyama took on his major's scholarship recipient training course to make room in fulfilling his required deeds to give back to his scholarship sponsors. He met his basic needs in Tokyo by part-timing at newsagencies delivering newspapers around his neighborhood, while his tuition was covered by his grant. His daily routine consisted of a "grueling 3:00am to 9:00pm schedule" between work and voice acting studies, which "really grinded his mentality and physicality."
Upon his graduation from Tokyo Announce Gakuin, Hiyama continued his performance training under his alma mater's homeroom instructor via Arts Vision's Nihon Narration Engi Kenkyujyo (Japan Narration Performing Arts Research Center), and was scouted by Arts Vision's group of managers while he was rehearsing for his first stage performance.
Debuting as a mummy in the OVA version of the original Kaiketsu Zorori anime in 1989, Hiyama spent most of his beginner years continuing to deliver newspapers, while also continuing his performance training whenever he did not receive voice-acting cases to work. He was also noted to have part-timed as a security guard for a time, and mentioned how he deliberately hid his face in case his colleagues saw him during a period where he had to overlook a construction site near his recording studio.ytv アニメーションON THE WEB
Career breakthrough Hiyama's first official role was as the principal villain character Syndrome in Chikyuu SOS Soreike Kororin, a 1992 environmentalist anime television program spanning a half-year recording schedule. With his Kororin gig ending and worrying where his next paycheck would be, he received his agency's call to audition for YuYu Hakusho. According to his commentary within Yu Yu Hakusho's Blu-ray release, he first auditioned solely for the role of Kurama before trying again for Hiei upon receiving the notice for Yu Yu Hakusho's second round of audition, with the latter becoming his most iconic breakthrough character.
Filmography ※ All filmography are organized under Japan's release by year-alphabetical order; roles labeled in Bold are either protagonists, or roles of major importance.
Television animation
1992 Chikyuu SOS Soreike Kororin, Syndrome YuYu Hakusho, Hiei 1993 Dragon League, Hipro, Garadona The Brave Express Might Gaine, Maito Senpuuji Fatal Fury 2: The New Battle (TV Special), Joe Higashi Jungle King Tar-chan, Pedro Kazmaier 1994 Shonan Junai Gumi, Kamata Jun Captain Tsubasa J, Hyuga Kojiro Ginga Sengoku Gun'yūden Rai, Rai Ryuga Haō Taikei Ryū Knight, Windy Tottemo! Luckyman, Kazu, Marui Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon S, Yosaku Eda 1995 Bonobono, Rabi Nii-chan Fushigi Yûgi, Hikitsu Marmalade Boy, William "Bill" Matheson Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon SuperS, Tsunawataro 1996 B't X, Teppei Takamiya Rurouni Kenshin, Heihachiro Sasaki, Daigorō Ōkuma Slayers Next, Joe The Vision of Escaflowne, Ort 1997 The King of Braves GaoGaiGar, Gai Shishiou Pokémon, Akira (A.J.) 1998 Gasaraki, Yuushiro Gowa Initial D, Takeshi Nakazato Yu-Gi-Oh!, Tetsuo Sasaki, Dragon 1999 Cowboy Bebop, Shin Detective Conan, Makoto Kyogoku Infinite Ryvius, Airs Blue 2000 Hamtaro, Norio Digimon Adventure 02, BlackWarGreymon 2001 One Piece, Mr. 3 Pokémon Chronicles, Attila Project ARMS, Cliff Gilbert 2002 .hack//Sign, Balmung Cheeky Angel, Ichimonji Kobayashi Digimon Frontier, Seraphimon G-On Riders, Ichiro Hongo Hikaru no Go, Shūhei Ultimate Muscle, Bone Cold Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, Muruta Azrael 2003 .hack//Legend of the Twilight, Balmung Astro Boy: Mighty Atom (2003), Atlas Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo, Mean Green Soup Alien Cromartie High School, Pootan Godannar, Tetsuya Kouji Planetes, Kho Cheng-Shin Pokémon: Advanced Challenge, Noland 2004 Genshiken, Harunobu Madarame Grenadier - The Senshi of Smiles, Teppa Aizen RockMan.EXE Stream, Rei Saiko The Prince of Tennis, Jackal Kuwahara School Rumble, Harry McKenzie Keroro Gunsō, Kogoro Transformers: Superlink, Skyfire Yakitate!! Japan, Tesshō Iwashiro (ep.54) 2005 Bleach, Ikkaku Madarame Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha A's, Masked Warriors Pokémon: Battle Frontier, Jonathan Tsubasa Chronicle, Shōgo Asagi 2006 Air Gear, Magaki Muteki Kanban Musume, Kankuro Nishiyama Ryūsei no Rockman, Ox School Rumble (Second Season), Harry McKenzie, Masked Kamen, Narrator Saiunkoku Monogatari, Kōyū Ri Kinnikuman II-Sei, Bone Cold Wan Wan Celeb Soreyuke! Tetsunoshin, Kochi Hijikata Yakitate!! Japan, Iwashiro Tesshou from Wild Life Yoshimune, Yoshimune 2007 Gintama, Eldest Paruko Brother Tengen Toppa Gurren-Lagann, Viral, Old Coco Hayate the Combat Butler, Cyborg Butler Moetan, Kaks Shinkyoku Sōkai Polyphonica, Yardio Voda Munagoul Tetsuko no Tabi, Hirohiko Yokomi 2008 Kimi ga Aruji de Shitsuji ga Ore de, Kojuurou Macademi Wasshoi!, Professor Frankram Stein Mnemosyne, Kōki Maeno Pokémon: DP: Galactic Battles, Palmer Rosario + Vampire, Saizo Komiya 2009 Eden of the East, Yutaka Itazu Shin Koihime Musō, Kada 2010 Digimon Xros Wars, SlashAngemon Highschool of the Dead, Kouta Hirano The Tatami Galaxy, Johnny 2011 Double-J, Ichirō Toba Naruto: Shippuden, Bandō Sket Dance, Kunio Yamanobe 2012 Accel World, Sulfur Pot Humanity Has Declined, Oyage Kamisama Kiss, Maki Kohirui Saint Seiya Ω, Libra Genbu Sword Art Online, Diabel 2013 Battle Spirits: Saikyou Ginga Ultimate Zero, Ultimate-Kingtaurus, God of Darkness Bomber Kill La Kill, Uzu Sanageyama Kingdom (Second Season), Kaishibou Kuroko's Basketball, Daisuke Narumi My Youth Love Comedy Is Wrong As I Expected., Yoshiteru Zaimokuza 2014 Tokyo Ghoul, Enji Koma D-Frag!, RaGaiGar (ep 5) Duel Masters VS, Sasaki Kojirou M3 the dark metal, Aoshi Saginuma Nanatsu no Taizai, Jude Nisekoi, Ryuu No-rin, Rintaro Miyamoto Shirobako, Seiichi Kinoshita 2015 A Simple Thinking About Blood Type, Blood Type-A Daddy (Ep.6) Gate (novel series), Kamikoda Samurai Warriors, Date Masamune Seiyu's Life!, Yamori Unlimited Fafnir, Loki Yatterman Night, General Goro Rin-ne, Wig (ep 9) 2016 Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto, Ken Ken Joker Game, Alain Lernier (ep.3) Matoi the Sacred Slayer, Cariot Taboo Tattoo, Souha Tamaki Time Bokan 24, Yuri Gagarin 2017 100% Pascal-sensei, W King Pascal (ep. 25 & 26) A Sister's All You Need, Panda Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, Shin Uchiha Sr. Doraemon (2005), Goro Nobi Dragon Ball Super, Barry Kahn (ep.73-74) Fate/Apocrypha, Darnic Prestone Yggdmillennia Gintama, Pakuyasa Kino's Journey -the Beautiful World-, Police Chief (ep.8) Love and Lies, Yuuji Nejima Love Tyrant, Korari Nobunaga no Shinobi, Hachisuka Koroku Pokémon Sun and Moon, Kahuna Hala Restaurant to Another World, Lionel Tiger Mask W, Tiger The Black Twin Angel BREAK, Yuito Kisaragi Pikaia!, Edward Edwars 2018 Fist of the Blue Sky: REGENESIS (2018), Yè Jūshinki Pandora, Mr. Gold Lord of Vermilion: The Crimson King, Van Drail Overlord II, Éclair Éklair Éklare Pop Team Epic, Hero (also as himself) [First Segment] (ep.02) Time Bokan: The Villains' Strike Back, Ludwig van Beethoven (ep.16) WORKING BUDDIES! (Season 2), Kamo Shida 2019 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba , Kasugaigarasu (ep.21) Kengan Ashura, Saw Paing Yoroizuka Zoids Wild, Truffle 2020 Auto Boy - Carl from Mobile Land, Pump (Felix) the Fire Engine Ikebukuro West Gate Park, Yoshioka Journal of the Mysterious Creatures, Data Terminal Shadowverse, Sports Announcer The God of High School, Drake McDonald Tomica Kizuna Gattai Earth Granner, Gao Granner Leo 2021 Back Arrow, Goh Zanga Digimon Adventure, Machmon Jujutsu Kaisen, Esō Restaurant to Another World 2, Lionel Scarlet Nexus, Karen Travers World Trigger Season 3, Takuma Yuba 2022 Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, Ikkaku Madarame Cap Kakumei Bottleman DX, Leo Kinjishi Management of a Novice Alchemist, Geberk Pop Team Epic Season 2, Popuko [Second Segment] (ep.02) The Heike Story, Taira no Munemori Trapped in a Dating Sim: The World of Otome Games Is Tough for Mobs, Greg Fou Seberg 2023 By the Grace of the Gods Season 2, Tekun Golden Kamuy Season 4, Keiji Ueji Kaina of the Great Snow Sea, Handagil Magical Destroyers, Itasha Driver 2024 Blue Exorcist: Shimane Illuminati Saga, Michael Gedōin Grandpa and Grandma Turn Young Again, Hajime Takahashi Kinnikuman: Perfect Origin Arc, Darmeshiman 2025 Gachiakuta, Mymo 2026 The Ghost in the Shell, Krolden Young Ladies Don't Play Fighting Games, Gekido The Elusive Samurai, Nitta Yoshisada Tank Chair, Goro Arashiyama
Original video animation (OVA)
1994 Legend of the Galactic Heroes (Series 3), Bruno von Knapfstein 1995 Fire Emblem, Cain 1996 Legend of the Galactic Heroes (Series 4), Bruno von Knapfstein