Mamoru Miyano

Overview

Mamoru Miyano (宮野 真守, born June 8, 1983, in Saitama Prefecture) is a Japanese voice actor, actor, TV personality and singer. He is currently represented by Kenon, and his music activities are released through Pony Canyon. His official fan club is called "Laugh & Peace." He is best known for roles such as Light Yagami in Death Note, Setsuna F. Seiei in Mobile Suit Gundam 00, Rintaro Okabe in Steins;Gate, Rin Matsuoka in Free!, and Doma in Demon Slayer, among many others. In 2013 he became the first male voice actor to perform a solo concert at Nippon Budokan, and in 2015 he became the first male voice actor with a number 1 single on the Oricon daily chart.

Career

Early years and child acting

Miyano loved performing in front of people from kindergarten. Influenced by his older brother, who had joined a theater company first, he joined the Himawari Theatre Group in 1990 at the age of seven. His first job was a commercial for the Seiyu supermarket chain while in first grade, and his performance as Peter Cratchit in the company's production of Scrooge in fifth grade earned high praise and became a turning point. In his teens he appeared in TV dramas such as Kinpachi-sensei and The News Woman. During high school, uncertain about his future, he committed himself seriously to singing and dance lessons.

Voice acting debut and rise (2000s)

At 18, he passed an audition for the NHK Educational broadcast of the overseas drama Caitlin's Way and debuted as a voice actor. He then drew attention as Riku in the video game Kingdom Hearts, a role he reprised across Chain of Memories, Re:Chain of Memories and Kingdom Hearts II. His anime roles included Kiba in Wolf's Rain and Tamaki Suoh in Ouran High School Host Club. His portrayal of Light Yagami in Death Note (2006–2007) raised his profile considerably and earned him nominations for Best Lead Actor and Best New Actor at the inaugural Seiyu Awards. At the 2nd Seiyu Awards in 2008, he won for his roles as Setsuna F. Seiei in Mobile Suit Gundam 00 and Hakugen Rikuson in Kōtetsu Sangokushi, and the same year he won Best Voice Actor at the Tokyo International Anime Fair. He also played Tetsu Ishida in The Prince of Tennis Musical and made his film debut in The Prince of Tennis.

Singing career

Meeting Kazumi Saito during Tokimeki Memorial Only Love in 2006–2007 led to him performing "Kuon," the ending theme of Kōtetsu Sangokushi, in 2007. That song led to his debut with King Records, with support from Nana Mizuki. "Kuon," his debut single, was released on May 28, 2007 and debuted at No. 47 on the Oricon charts. In June 2007 he released the duet "Fight" with Romi Park (No. 73). In 2008 he released "Discovery" (No. 24), the character single "Soup/Hakosora" as Setsuna F. Seiei (No. 18), and "...Kimi e" (No. 18).

His debut album, Break, was released on March 11, 2009 (No. 20), followed on April 11 by his first tour, 1st Live Tour 2009: Breaking. In August 2009 he made his first appearance at Animelo Summer Live. His second album, Wonder (2010), also charted at No. 20, accompanied by the Wondering tour, and he starred in the film Wonderful World, his first lead film role. In April 2012 his third album, Fantasista, reached No. 4 on the Oricon Weekly Albums chart, and he made his first appearance on NHK's Music Japan.

On October 4, 2013, he performed Mamoru Miyano Special Live 2013: Traveling! at Nippon Budokan, the first solo concert there by a male voice actor, drawing 10,000 people. The Blu-ray of Mamoru Miyano Live Tour 2014: Wakening!, released January 28, 2015, ranked No. 2 overall and No. 1 in the music category on the Oricon weekly BD chart, a record for a work by a male voice actor. In 2015 his 12th single, "Shine," hit No. 1 on the Oricon daily singles chart on April 18, making him the first male voice actor to do so and the second voice actor under their own name after Nana Mizuki. In 2016 the simultaneously released singles "Tempest" and "The Birth" debuted at No. 5 and No. 9 on the weekly chart, the first time in nine years and three months that a male soloist placed two singles in the top ten.

Acting and tokusatsu

Miyano starred as Ultraman Zero in Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy Legend The Movie and later reprised the role in subsequent films and Ultra Series entries, including Ultraman Z in 2020. In 2011 he played Shin Moroboshi, Ultraman Zero's human guise, in the stage play Ultraman Premier, and on July 10, 2016 he took part in "Ultraman Day," celebrating the Ultra Series' 50th anniversary. He also made his musical lead debut as Tony in West Side Story.

Recent activity

In January 2023 he was announced as a regular on the Gochi Ni Narimasu segment of Gurunai Ninety Nine, the first voice actor to hold that spot, but he was eliminated after the final battle that December, ending his one-year run. On December 21, 2023 he announced his divorce on his official website. On June 8, 2025 it was announced that he was leaving Himawari Theatre Group after 35 years, and on June 9 his move to Kenon was announced. On July 1, 2026 he announced his move from King Records to Pony Canyon.

Notable works

His anime credits include Death Note, Inazuma Eleven, Steins;Gate, Mobile Suit Gundam 00, Durarara!!, Soul Eater, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Free!, Chihayafuru, Tokyo Ghoul (Shu Tsukiyama), Assassination Classroom, Bungo Stray Dogs (Osamu Dazai), Yuri!!! on Ice, Ajin: Demi-Human, Zombieland Saga, Demon Slayer, Oshi No Ko and Pluto. His film work includes The Boy and the Beast and Belle, and he dubbed Newt Scamander in the Japanese version of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

Musical style

While taking lessons, Miyano discovered his musical style through music produced by singers such as CHEMISTRY and Exile. His work spans anime songs and J-pop, and his live shows are known for combining singing with dance. As an actor, he says he keeps himself in a neutral state so that he can shift into any character.