Akari Hibino
Description
Akari Hibino is a Japanese voice actress, born on July 5, 1959, in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture. She began her career in 1981 under her birth name, Yoko Ogai, making her voice acting debut in the television anime Manga Mito Komon. Her early passion for performance was evident through her participation in drama clubs from elementary school through high school, and she later studied at the Nihon Kogakuin College and was a member of the theatrical troupe Kai.
Hibino is most renowned for her long-standing association with the Captain Tsubasa franchise. Starting in 1983, she provided the voice for the protagonist, Tsubasa Oozora, in the original television series. She would reprise this iconic role in subsequent productions, including the 1994 series Captain Tsubasa J and various films and video games. Notably, she also performed the opening and ending theme songs for the anime series.
Beyond this signature role, Hibino built a diverse portfolio of characters throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Her major roles during this period included Konpoco in Esper Mami, Asa in the Project A-Ko film and its sequels, Shinji in Sonic Soldier Borgman, and Robin Goud Jr. in Seisenshi Robin Jr.. In the 1999 version of Hunter x Hunter, she voiced both Menchi and the Phantom Troupe member Feitan. She also took on the role of the historical figure Okita Soji in the Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal OVA. Hibino also voiced the character Taiga in the series Future Boy Conan II: Taiga Adventure.
After a period of semi-retirement in her thirties, she returned to voice acting in the late 1990s. In 1999, she changed her stage name from Yoko Ogai to Akari Hibino. In 2019, she announced on social media that she would once again begin using her original name, Yoko Ogai, for future voice acting work, confirming that she had not retired from the industry. In addition to her voice acting career, she later became active as a rakugo storyteller under the stage name Bibiriya Akarin.
A notable recurring collaboration in her career was with manga artist Yoichi Takahashi, the creator of Captain Tsubasa, to whom she was previously married.
Hibino is most renowned for her long-standing association with the Captain Tsubasa franchise. Starting in 1983, she provided the voice for the protagonist, Tsubasa Oozora, in the original television series. She would reprise this iconic role in subsequent productions, including the 1994 series Captain Tsubasa J and various films and video games. Notably, she also performed the opening and ending theme songs for the anime series.
Beyond this signature role, Hibino built a diverse portfolio of characters throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Her major roles during this period included Konpoco in Esper Mami, Asa in the Project A-Ko film and its sequels, Shinji in Sonic Soldier Borgman, and Robin Goud Jr. in Seisenshi Robin Jr.. In the 1999 version of Hunter x Hunter, she voiced both Menchi and the Phantom Troupe member Feitan. She also took on the role of the historical figure Okita Soji in the Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal OVA. Hibino also voiced the character Taiga in the series Future Boy Conan II: Taiga Adventure.
After a period of semi-retirement in her thirties, she returned to voice acting in the late 1990s. In 1999, she changed her stage name from Yoko Ogai to Akari Hibino. In 2019, she announced on social media that she would once again begin using her original name, Yoko Ogai, for future voice acting work, confirming that she had not retired from the industry. In addition to her voice acting career, she later became active as a rakugo storyteller under the stage name Bibiriya Akarin.
A notable recurring collaboration in her career was with manga artist Yoichi Takahashi, the creator of Captain Tsubasa, to whom she was previously married.
All Characters
- JapaneseAnime overview: Taiga Adventure