Shigeru Chiba is the stage name of Masaharu Maeda, a veteran Japanese actor and voice actor born on February 4, 1954, in Kikuchi, Kumamoto. He is affiliated with the talent management firm 81 Produce. Before establishing himself as a voice actor, Chiba worked as a stunt actor and appeared in live-action films, including the Nikkatsu Roman Porno series. He transitioned to voice acting in 1976, with his debut role in the anime Dokaben.

Over his decades-long career, Chiba has become known for his distinctive, high-energy voice and his ability to perform both serious and comedic roles. He is particularly renowned for his improvisational skills, often adding ad-libs to his performances to the point where some directors, such as Mamoru Oshii, would simply indicate the intent of a scene in the script and let Chiba perform freely. His work as the narrator for the next-episode previews in the original Fist of the North Star anime is legendary for its escalating intensity and is a prime example of his unique vocal style.

Chiba has portrayed a vast number of iconic characters across several of anime's most popular series. He is well-known for playing antagonists and quirky supporting characters, including Kazuma Kuwabara in Yu Yu Hakusho, Buggy the Clown in One Piece, Emperor Pilaf and Raditz in the Dragon Ball franchise, and Megane in Urusei Yatsura. His role as the narrator in Fist of the North Star is also one of his most celebrated performances. In more recent years, his notable roles include Jogo in Jujutsu Kaisen, Sebas Tian in the Overlord series, Someji Kawamoto in March Comes in like a Lion, and Dr. Sakezō Sado in Space Battleship Yamato 2199.

A recurring collaboration defines a significant part of his career. Chiba is a close associate of director Mamoru Oshii, appearing in nearly all of Oshii's projects, both animated and live-action. This includes films like The Red Spectacles and the Patlabor series, where his character Shigeo Shiba was modeled after him. In addition to acting, Chiba has also worked as a sound director and is a mentor to fellow voice actor Megumi Hayashibara. He serves as the director of the C&O Actors Studio, an acting school for aspiring talent.