Michael Naishtut is an American actor, voice artist, and performer with an extensive career in Japan and the United States. Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1961, he developed a foundation in theater after graduating from SUNY Oneonta with a degree in Theater. His early career included stage performances in New York City, appearances with the Florida Shakespeare Festival, and a role in a Commedia Dell' Arte show at EPCOT Center in Disney World. In 1988, he moved to Japan, where he would live and work for two decades, becoming a fluent Japanese speaker and a versatile presence in Japanese media.

In the realm of anime voice acting, Naishtut is recognized for his work in the NHK educational anime series Little Charo. He provided the English voices for two distinct characters in the 2008 television program: the dog Ike and the character Sirius. His other anime credits include a role in the television series Kasimasi - Girl Meets Girl, where he voiced a character listed as Man A in an episode, and a part in Soar High! Isami, for which he voiced multiple characters including Jusuke and Kai Hanaoka. He also contributed additional voices to the Yawara! special Zutto Kimi no Koto ga in 1996.

Beyond anime, a significant portion of Naishtut's voice work in Japan was for video games, often providing English voices for characters in major franchises. His notable video game credits include roles such as Delin Hong in Shenmue and Shenmue II, Vincent Goldman in Resident Evil: Survivor, Eugene Solano in Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception, and Bakuryu in Bloody Roar 3. He also voiced Craig Andrews in Firefighter F.D.18 and took on parts in games like Xenosaga Episode I, Baten Kaitos, and Rygar: The Legendary Adventure. His involvement extended to motion acting for the game The Last Remnant.

Naishtut's career in Japan was multifaceted, encompassing far more than voice acting. He was a familiar face on Japanese television, starring in popular children's programs such as Eigorian. He performed on stage with prominent Japanese actors, including Kabuki performers like Ichikawa Ebizou, and undertook intensive training in traditional Japanese arts, including Noh theater and Kyogen. This deep engagement with Japanese culture also led him to become a skilled Taiko drummer. He studied under a sensei in Tokyo for ten years and founded his own performance group, Akaoni Daiko. His work as a bilingual master of ceremonies and ring announcer for events like K-1 and Pride Bushido further demonstrated his versatility. He was also a founding member of the Tokyo Comedy Store, contributing to the introduction of improvisational and stand-up comedy in Japan.

Since returning to the United States, Naishtut has continued his career in acting and performance in Los Angeles. He has appeared in theater productions, including a role in the musical Memphis, for which he received an Ovation Award nomination as part of the ensemble, and has performed with The Second City Hollywood. While he continues to pursue acting, he has also focused on teaching and performing Taiko drumming through his programs Akaoni Daiko and Genki Taiko, bringing the art form to schools and communities.