Houchu Ohtsuka is a highly esteemed Japanese voice actor and narrator, born Yoshitada Ohtsuka on May 19, 1954, in Okayama Prefecture. He is affiliated with the talent management firm Crazy Box and has been an active force in the voice acting industry since 1976.

His path to voice acting began after high school when he moved to Tokyo. While working in customer service, he met a TV producer who invited him to audition, setting the course for his career. In his youth, he would read manga aloud to other children, an early display of his innate talent for vocal performance. He was mentored by the late veteran voice actor Takeshi Aono.

Ohtsuka is renowned for his distinctive, rich baritone voice, which carries both gravitas and a wide emotional range. He has expressed a personal preference for roles that require a soft but deep vocal pitch. This versatility allows him to portray a vast array of characters, from wise mentors and gruff authority figures to charismatic villains and even comedic roles. In his later career, he has frequently been cast as older, experienced men, often serving as a guiding figure to the protagonist. Memorable examples of this archetype include the legendary pervy sage Jiraiya in Naruto, the gentle but formidable former Water Hashira Sakonji Urokodaki in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, and the swordmaster Hakuro in That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime. His filmography is exceptionally broad, featuring iconic roles such as the cool and collected Akira Sendō in Slam Dunk, the ambitious Yazan Gable in Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, the complex and chilling Lieutenant Tokushirō Tsurumi in Golden Kamuy, and the eccentric Abuto in Gintama. He also demonstrated his comedic range by voicing one half of the titular duo, Pipimi, in the surreal sketch anime Pop Team Epic.

In recognition of his enduring contributions and powerful performances, Ohtsuka received the Best Supporting Actor award at the 11th Seiyu Awards in 2017. Beyond anime, he is a prolific and respected narrator, lending his voice to numerous television programs, commercials, and trailers, making him a familiar presence in Japanese media. He is also the primary Japanese dubbing voice for several major Hollywood actors, including Jean-Claude Van Damme, Donnie Yen, Jeff Goldblum, and Tim Robbins.

Houchu Ohtsuka's decades-long career and his ability to bring depth and nuance to every role have solidified his status as a legendary figure in the world of Japanese voice acting. His work continues to be featured prominently in each new anime season, a testament to his lasting talent and appeal.