Kentarou Itou is a Japanese voice actor and stage actor, born on January 3, 1974, in Hachiōji, Tokyo. He is affiliated with the talent management firm Mausu Promotion and is also the representative of his own theater company, K-Show. His nickname is Itoken.

Itou's path to performance began after high school when he helped out with a theater company, sparking his interest in acting. In 1993, he enrolled in the drama department of Toho Gakuen College of Drama and Music and made his stage debut that same year. He started his professional career in 1995, joining the Theater Company 21st Century FOX and simultaneously making his voice acting debut. In 2003, he founded his own theater company, K-Show, demonstrating his ongoing commitment to live stage performance alongside his voice work. Over the years, he has been affiliated with several agencies, including Haikyo and Amuleto, before joining Mausu Promotion in June 2016. He has also taken over some anime roles originally performed by the late voice actors Kazuyuki Sogabe and Takeshi Aono.

Itou is known for his baritone vocal range, which allows him to portray a wide variety of characters, from energetic and hot-blooded youths to mature and authoritative figures. He became widely recognized for his roles in several major long-running shonen anime series. His portrayal of the determined and loyal Renji Abarai in Bleach is one of his most iconic performances. He is also well-known as the kind-hearted but gluttonous Choji Akimichi in the Naruto series, a role he has played for many years. Other significant roles include the passionate cyclist Jin Tadokoro in Yowamushi Pedal, the mischievous Yoshitake Shiraishi in Golden Kamuy, and the cheerful pianist Ryoutarou Tsuchiura in La Corda D'Oro. He has also voiced characters in diverse series such as the calculating Hiroki Kamijou in Junjou Romantica, Alford Markina in Kyo kara Maoh!, and the villainous Barry the Chopper in Fullmetal Alchemist. His filmography includes the role of Taisho-kun (the Boss) in the long-running children's series Tottoko Hamutarō, Warrock in Ryūsei no Rockman, Ensei Rou in The Story of Saiunkoku, Kurou Daijuuji in Demonbane, and characters in various specials and OVAs such as Chouji Akimichi in Naruto: Konoha Sports Festival and Shinichiro Morisaki in ARISA.

Throughout his career, Itou has collaborated with many of his peers in the industry. He is known to be a close friend of fellow voice actor Showtaro Morikita, with whom he shares the same hometown and birth year. He also has a good relationship with voice actor Masakazu Morita, with whom he has worked on projects like Bleach and La Corda D'Oro. His passion for cycling, which grew after his role in Yowamushi Pedal, has led to friendships with other cycling enthusiasts in the industry, such as Hirofumi Nojima.

One of Itou's notable achievements is his longevity and impact in the industry, having voiced pivotal characters in several of the most popular and enduring anime franchises of the last two decades. Beyond anime, his work in drama CDs and video games, as well as his leadership of the K-Show theater company, highlight his versatility and dedication to his craft.