Kunihiko Kitagawa
Description
Yonehiko Kitagawa, who was formerly credited under the stage name Kunihiko Kitagawa, is a veteran Japanese voice actor. He was born Kunihiko Takeda on June 9, 1931, in Tokyo. He is a graduate of Hosei University and is affiliated with the talent management firm Aoni Production.
Kitagawa has been active in the voice acting industry since 1951, contributing to numerous anime series, particularly during the 1960s and 1970s. He is known for his work across several long-running franchises. A significant early role was providing the voice for the God of Poseidon in the 1972 anime adaptation of Triton of the Sea, in addition to serving as the series' narrator. He also voiced the character in the 1979 film Triton of the Sea. Another prominent and long-term role was as Chairman Harabote Muscle in the Kinnikuman anime series, a character he voiced in the 1983 television series and numerous subsequent films throughout the 1980s.
His career includes extensive work on multiple iterations of the GeGeGe no Kitarō franchise. Starting with the first anime series in 1968, he voiced a wide array of characters, including Konaki Jijii and Nurikabe, and continued to take on roles in the second series in 1971 and the fourth series in 1996. Other notable television animation roles from this period include Master Arashi in Tiger Mask, Lupin II in the first Lupin III series, and Dr. Nossori in Mazinger Z. His work has continued into the 21st century with roles such as Dr. Ishihara in Azumanga Daioh in 2002 and Makio in Bunny Drop in 2011.
Throughout his extensive career, Kitagawa has demonstrated recurring collaborations with major franchises and production houses. His long-standing association with the GeGeGe no Kitarō and Kinnikuman series are prime examples of this. His agency, Aoni Production, is one of Japan's most prominent voice actor agencies, indicating his long-term standing within the industry. With a career spanning over seven decades, Kitagawa's notable achievement lies in his enduring presence and extensive body of work as a character actor in Japanese animation from its early days to the modern era.
Kitagawa has been active in the voice acting industry since 1951, contributing to numerous anime series, particularly during the 1960s and 1970s. He is known for his work across several long-running franchises. A significant early role was providing the voice for the God of Poseidon in the 1972 anime adaptation of Triton of the Sea, in addition to serving as the series' narrator. He also voiced the character in the 1979 film Triton of the Sea. Another prominent and long-term role was as Chairman Harabote Muscle in the Kinnikuman anime series, a character he voiced in the 1983 television series and numerous subsequent films throughout the 1980s.
His career includes extensive work on multiple iterations of the GeGeGe no Kitarō franchise. Starting with the first anime series in 1968, he voiced a wide array of characters, including Konaki Jijii and Nurikabe, and continued to take on roles in the second series in 1971 and the fourth series in 1996. Other notable television animation roles from this period include Master Arashi in Tiger Mask, Lupin II in the first Lupin III series, and Dr. Nossori in Mazinger Z. His work has continued into the 21st century with roles such as Dr. Ishihara in Azumanga Daioh in 2002 and Makio in Bunny Drop in 2011.
Throughout his extensive career, Kitagawa has demonstrated recurring collaborations with major franchises and production houses. His long-standing association with the GeGeGe no Kitarō and Kinnikuman series are prime examples of this. His agency, Aoni Production, is one of Japan's most prominent voice actor agencies, indicating his long-term standing within the industry. With a career spanning over seven decades, Kitagawa's notable achievement lies in his enduring presence and extensive body of work as a character actor in Japanese animation from its early days to the modern era.
All Characters
- JapaneseAnime overview: Umi no Triton
- JapaneseAnime overview: Umi no Triton
- JapaneseAnime overview: Seigi wo Aisuru Mono Gekkō Kamen
- JapaneseAnime overview: Samurai Giants