Issei Futamata is a veteran Japanese voice actor and narrator born on March 15, 1955, in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. His real name is Kazunari Futamata, which he uses as his stage name but with a different pronunciation. He is affiliated with the Tokyo Actor's Consumer's Cooperative Society. Standing 172cm tall with B-type blood, his vocal range is characterized as a high baritone.

After graduating from high school, Futamata worked in Tokyo to save money to purchase a motorcycle. Once he achieved this goal, he left that job and enrolled in a vocational school for DJs, which ultimately led to his debut as a voice actor in 1975. His early career included roles in Future Boy Conan (1978) and Mobile Suit Gundam (1979).

Futamata is recognized for his versatile and distinctive voice, frequently portraying supporting characters, comedic roles, villains, and even non-human characters such as robots. His ability to modulate his tone is well-documented; early in his career, he was known for a柔和 (gentle) and beautiful voice suited for handsome young men, while over time his voice has taken on a richer, more profound quality, allowing him to effectively portray calm and wise characters.

He has a long-standing association with the works of renowned manga artist Rumiko Takahashi, becoming a regular presence in adaptations of her series. His most significant role in this context is as the protagonist Yusaku Godai in Maison Ikkoku. He also voiced Chibi in Urusei Yatsura, Hikaru Gosunkugi in Ranma ½, and Tesso in Inuyasha.

Among his vast number of anime roles, some of his most notable include Kinkotsuman in Kinnikuman, Kiyoshi Shusse in High School! Kimengumi, Saburou in the long-running series Sazae-san, Mikiyasu Shinshi in the Patlabor franchise, and the title character Gold Lightan in Golden Warrior Gold Lightan. He has also taken on significant roles in later years, such as the Narrator in the 2011 version of Hunter × Hunter, Kensei Ma in KenIchi the Mightiest Disciple, and Kyōsuke Higuchi in Death Note. His filmography is extensive, spanning decades and including works like Akira, Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These, and One Piece Film: Red.

Beyond animation, Futamata is active in video games, known for voicing Skullomania in the Street Fighter EX series and Chai in Shenmue. He also has a substantial presence in tokusatsu (live-action special effects) productions, most famously as the narrator for the popular series Ultraman Tiga.

In his personal life, Futamata married fellow voice actress Tomoka Kiriyama in 2013, and the couple had their first child, a daughter, in 2014.