Akoya Sogi
Description
Akoya Sogi is a Japanese voice actress and actress, best known for her long-standing role as the character Mai Shiranui in various fighting game franchises. She was born Yasuyo Sogi on September 27, 1968, in Kyoto, Japan, and is affiliated with the talent agency Ricomotion.
Sogi's career is defined by her association with the SNK video game series. Beginning in 1992 with the release of Fatal Fury 2, she provided the voice for the kunoichi Mai Shiranui. She would continue to voice this character for over 15 years, reprising the role in numerous installments of the Fatal Fury and The King of Fighters series, as well as crossover titles such as Capcom vs. SNK and SVC Chaos: SNK vs. Capcom. Her portrayal of Mai Shiranui extended beyond video games to anime adaptations, including the 2005 web animated series The King of Fighters: Another Day. Sogi's work as the character also included performance on a character-specific sound album, SNK Characters Sounds Collection Vol. 6: Mai Shiranui, released in 1998. This role remained her most prominent and defining voice acting credit throughout her career.
Beyond voice acting, Sogi is a versatile performer with a career in live-action media. She appeared in Japanese television dramas, including roles in series such as Kyoto Maze Guide and the NHK drama Carnation. Her film credits include a voice role in the Japanese-dubbed version of Ridley Scott's 1989 film Black Rain. Sogi is also an active stage actress, having performed in numerous theatrical productions, often with the theater company Gekidan Sotoba Komachi. In addition to her performance skills, she holds a black belt in Shorinji Kempo and has worked as an instructor for jazz and tap dance.
Sogi continued to voice Mai Shiranui until 2009, with her final performances being archived recordings used in The King of Fighters 2002: Unlimited Match. Following her retirement from voice acting, the role of Mai Shiranui was passed to Akemi Kikuchi.
Sogi's career is defined by her association with the SNK video game series. Beginning in 1992 with the release of Fatal Fury 2, she provided the voice for the kunoichi Mai Shiranui. She would continue to voice this character for over 15 years, reprising the role in numerous installments of the Fatal Fury and The King of Fighters series, as well as crossover titles such as Capcom vs. SNK and SVC Chaos: SNK vs. Capcom. Her portrayal of Mai Shiranui extended beyond video games to anime adaptations, including the 2005 web animated series The King of Fighters: Another Day. Sogi's work as the character also included performance on a character-specific sound album, SNK Characters Sounds Collection Vol. 6: Mai Shiranui, released in 1998. This role remained her most prominent and defining voice acting credit throughout her career.
Beyond voice acting, Sogi is a versatile performer with a career in live-action media. She appeared in Japanese television dramas, including roles in series such as Kyoto Maze Guide and the NHK drama Carnation. Her film credits include a voice role in the Japanese-dubbed version of Ridley Scott's 1989 film Black Rain. Sogi is also an active stage actress, having performed in numerous theatrical productions, often with the theater company Gekidan Sotoba Komachi. In addition to her performance skills, she holds a black belt in Shorinji Kempo and has worked as an instructor for jazz and tap dance.
Sogi continued to voice Mai Shiranui until 2009, with her final performances being archived recordings used in The King of Fighters 2002: Unlimited Match. Following her retirement from voice acting, the role of Mai Shiranui was passed to Akemi Kikuchi.
All Characters
- JapaneseAnime overview: The King of Fighters: Another Day