Kazuki Yao is a veteran Japanese voice actor, actor, and narrator born on June 17, 1959, in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. He is currently affiliated with the talent management firm Max Mix. Yao is widely recognized for his distinctive, low-pitched, and gravelly voice, which he has used to portray a vast array of characters over several decades.

His path to voice acting began not in animation, but on the stage. Growing up, he was influenced by his mother and sister's love for musicals and plays, which led him to pursue a career in theater. After joining a theater company, he found that stage work alone was not financially sustainable. Seeking more opportunities, he was introduced to the world of television and film, which eventually led him to an audition for an anime role. He made his voice acting debut in 1984 as Shurugi Nam in the original video animation (OVA) Birth.

Yao's early career was marked by prominent roles in major mecha anime of the 1980s. In 1985, he voiced Shinobu Fujiwara in Dancouga – Super Beast Machine God, a role he considers his most memorable as it was the first time he felt he truly understood how to perform as an anime character. A line from this character, "Yatte yaruze!" (I'll do it!), became a personal catchphrase for Yao and is often referenced in other works. The following year, he landed the leading role of Judau Ashta in Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ, solidifying his place in the industry.

Throughout his career, Yao has built a reputation for voicing characters who are often abrasive, hot-blooded, or serve as comedic foils to the protagonists. He has had a long and prolific career, appearing in hundreds of roles across television anime, OVAs, films, and video games. His filmography includes a wide range of series such as Initial D as Kouichirou Iketani, Keroro Gunsō as Zoruru, Death Note as the死神 Sidoh, Fullmetal Alchemist as Lieutenant Yoki, and Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple as Ikki Takeda.

Beginning in 1999, Yao became a staple of the long-running series One Piece, where he voiced multiple characters. He first took on the roles of the hypnotist Jango and the flamboyant Okama, Mr. 2 Bon Clay. However, his most iconic role in the series began in 2005 when he was cast as the cyborg shipwright Franky, one of the main crewmates of the protagonist, Monkey D. Luffy. Yao's energetic and boisterous performance became synonymous with the character for nearly two decades. He voiced Franky in countless episodes, films like One Film Red and One Piece Stampede, and various specials. In December 2024, it was announced that Yao would be passing the torch to a new voice actor for the role of Franky.

Beyond his individual roles, Yao has also engaged in other creative endeavors. He was a member of the voice actor unit "Bara-gumi" (Rose Group) with fellow voice actor Taiki Matsuno. He also released a music album titled YAO in 1986, which included a song named after his famous catchphrase.

Kazuki Yao's career demonstrates a lasting impact on the anime industry, with a body of work that spans genres and generations, from classic mecha series to one of the most popular shows in the world.