Kenjiro Tsuda, a voice actor and actor widely known for his role as Seto Kaiba in Yu Gi Oh Duel Monsters as well as his appearances in television dramas such as the NHK morning drama Anpan and the Sunday Theater series The Royal Family, continues to enjoy remarkable success at the age of 54. Loved by fans of all ages, Tsuda topped ORICON NEWS’ first Favorite Voice Actor Ranking Male Edition announced last year. With his career surging after turning 50 and what he calls “my turn” still ongoing, Tsuda reflected on his journey as an actor.

Tsuda began acting at the age of 19 and made his professional debut while still in university. He appeared as a host in the 2000 drama Ikebukuro West Gate Park, but in past interviews he revealed that recognition was hard to come by at the time. He described those years as scraping rock bottom, recalling that he was unable to make a living, struggling even to afford a single piece of bread. He once read scripts by candlelight, attaching a candle to a plate and concentrating on the flickering light as he practiced.

Amid those hardships, Tsuda began working as a voice actor at 25. At 29, he landed what he later described as his “destined role,” portraying Seto Kaiba in Yu Gi Oh Duel Monsters, which aired in 2000. This role became his defining work. He went on to voice Sadaharu Inui in The Prince of Tennis in 2001, gradually establishing himself in the voice acting industry. Reflecting on that period, Tsuda said with a smile that life had felt genuinely dangerous at the time, but voice acting gave him hope and made him feel that he could finally survive.

“Support From People in Their 30s Is Strong” Surprised by Ranking Results

ーーThis year marks the 30th anniversary of your voice acting career. At this milestone, you placed first in ORICON’s Favorite Voice Actor Ranking, with support extending beyond anime fans. How did you feel when you heard the result?

Tsuda
Honestly, I was surprised. I’ve never taken first place in a ranking that targets such a wide range of age groups. I’ve appeared in various rankings before, and that alone made me happy, but those tended to focus on specific demographics. So when I heard this was my first time placing first overall, my reaction was a mix of joy and disbelief.

ーーYou ranked first among teens and people in their 20s, as well as in the 30 to 50 age range. Many people in their late 30s associate you strongly with Seto Kaiba from Yu Gi Oh Duel Monsters. Were you surprised by the breadth of support?

Tsuda
Support from people in their 30s is actually very strong for me. Especially the Yu Gi Oh generation. They’re incredibly passionate. When I attend events, the cheers are intense. Even when I go to recording sessions, colleagues in their 30s or younger newcomers will say, “I used to be a duelist!” It makes me happy knowing that characters I played are still loved after all these years.

“A Voice Actor Whose Face and Name Match”

ーーMany comments from voters mentioned your work in dramas, narration, and commercials, describing you as a voice actor whose face and name clearly match. One teenage voter from Shizuoka wrote that she encounters you everywhere, from anime and dramas to news programs, variety shows, and commercials, and that she became a devoted fan after being drawn in by your calming voice. How did you feel reading comments like that?

Tsuda
I noticed there were also fans of Inui from The Prince of Tennis in those comments. That generation really is passionate. Seeing people talk about my roles in Anpan or The Royal Family, and others praising my work in commercials and narration, honestly made me very happy.

There was one comment that really stood out to me. It said something like, “Even if only three male voice actors were left in Japan, his voice should definitely remain.” I couldn’t help but wonder who the other two would be. One of them would probably have a much higher pitched voice than mine. But hearing something like that makes me feel glad I chose this profession.

Looking at all the comments, I realized that the reasons people voted for me differ by generation. Some have supported me since my anime roles, while others discovered me through recent drama appearances. It really made me feel how many different ways people are cheering me on.

Source : ORICON NEWS