Mio Imada plays Akira Tokaibayashi, the editor-in-chief of the Kochi Shimpo newspaper and the boss of the main character Nobu (Imada) in the NHK Asadora drama series "Anpan" (General TV, Monday to Saturday, 8:00 a.m. and other channels), starring Kenjiro Tsuda. This veteran voice actor is celebrating his 30th anniversary this year, and in recent years has appeared in many popular film productions as an actor. With his smooth, deep voice and rich expressiveness, Tsuda has breathed life into many characters, but what is the reason he is so sought after as an actor? We'd like to explore this by looking at his past appearances.
◇Starting his career as a stage actor, he became an indispensable voice actor in the anime world
Tsuda, who was such a movie buff that he would frequent art house cinemas since he was in middle and high school, began his career as an actor before making his debut as a voice actor in the role of Noda Atsushi in the 1995 TV anime "H2." He has played a wide variety of characters with unique personalities, including Kaiba Seto in the "Yu-Gi-Oh!" series, Inui Sadaharu in "The Prince of Tennis," Ogata Hyakunosuke in "Golden Kamuy ," Kento Nanami in " Jujutsu Kaisen ," and Novak in "Chi: The Motion of the Earth." His popularity is so great that it would be impossible to list his representative works, and he has become an indispensable presence in the Japanese anime world.
In recent years, it is not uncommon for voice actors to appear in TV dramas, but Tsuda originally wanted to be a film director and started his entertainment career as a stage actor. As an actor, he also appeared in "Ikebukuro West Gate Park" (2000, TBS), but he said that it was a minor role with few lines and screen time.
Tsuda was the narrator for the morning Asadora"Yell" in the first half of 2020, and after appearing in the drama, his appearances in TV dramas and movies increased. When he appeared in "Yell," he said with emotion, "I participated as a narrator, and it's a work that I really like personally. I'm so happy that I can participate even as a face-in-face." The following year, in 2021, he appeared as a regular in "Saiai" (TBS), starring Yuriko Yoshitaka. He was selected to play Yamao Atsushi, the head of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's First Investigation Division, and his popularity as an actor increased dramatically.
◇What roles have you played so far?
Tsuda's character Yamao in "Saiai" is the boss of detective Miyazaki Daiki (Kohei Matsushita), who is pursuing businessman Rio (Yoshitaka), who has become a key witness in a murder case. He has a playful personality when dealing with his subordinates, and is a soothing presence for viewers in this tense suspense drama, but in episode 8, he takes a turn for the worse. His ruthless side is revealed, as he tries to use his subordinates as "the perfect time to use them," leaving a strong impression on viewers.
In the 2023 drama "Last Man - The Blind Investigator" (TBS), he plays the role of Kunio Kamata, the real-life father of police inspector Shintaro Godo (Yo Oizumi). Kamata is the perpetrator of a robbery-murder case, currently serving a life sentence. He proved his high level of acting ability by brilliantly portraying the character from his 20s to his 70s, from his current time in prison to his younger days when he worked as a chef.
In 2024, he played the mysterious cooking YouTuber "Kazuto Yokoi" (TBS) in the drama "Saionji-san Doesn't Do Housework" and became a hot topic. In this drama, which depicts the love story between the main character, Saionji Kazuki (Wakana Matsumoto), and single father Kusumi Toshinao (Matsumura Hokuto), he played a role that was a so-called "decoy", but the way he honestly conveyed his feelings, "I want to be with all of you", charmed viewers as "too cool". In the scene where Saionji realizes that he is attracted to Kusumi and withdraws, his delicate acting brought tears to the viewers' eyes.
Producer Iwasaki Mana, who worked on the series, praised Tsuda's acting, saying, "Tsuda is a very mature and cool person, but in the comedy parts he goes all out in a funny direction. On the other hand, in serious scenes, he gives weight to his words with that beautiful voice and straightforward acting, and speaks with sincerity. I think Tsuda's charm added depth to Yokoi."
◇ "Anpan" Tokairin's "gap" captivates viewers
Tsuda, who has made a strong presence in many popular works, plays Tokairin, the chief editor of the Kochi Shimpo newspaper in "Anpan." He has an unreliable side to him, such as when he scouted Nobu to work at the Kochi Shimpo newspaper while he was completely drunk but doesn't remember it, and when he makes random remarks that get him called out by his subordinate Iwashimizu (Yuki Kura). However, he is a man with a strong passion for his work, such as when he asks Nobu and the others what the world needs in the post-war period and what the role of the media is.
Many viewers are fascinated by Tokairin's "gap," and on social media, they have been praising him, saying things like, "Tokairin's gap is so endearing," "He's perfect for the role," and "I love all of Kenjiro Tsuda, from the cool-voiced Tokairin to the playful, silly Tokairin." Despite only being on the show for about a week, it's likely due to Tsuda's excellent performance that Tokairin has quickly become a beloved character among viewers.
I think that his acting ability to express the multifaceted nature of characters is one of the reasons why he has been appearing in more dramas. With his catchy voice and his ability to express himself in a variety of roles, from serious to comical, Tsuda has played fascinating characters in many productions. I can't wait to see what roles Tsuda will play as an actor in the future, as well as seeing Tokairin's performance in "Anpan."
