Nozomu Sasaki

Nozomu Sasaki (佐々木 望) is a veteran Japanese voice actor and singer who was born on January 25, 1967 in Hiroshima, Japan. Represented currently by Aoni Production after earlier stints with Arts Vision and 81 Produce, he has been active in the entertainment industry since 1986 and continues to work to the present day. Sasaki first gained widespread recognition when he voiced the troubled teenager Tetsuo Shima in the groundbreaking 1988 anime film Akira, a role that showcased his ability to convey high‑intensity emotional turmoil. He cemented his reputation as a leading voice talent by portraying Yusuke Urameshi in the popular series Yu‑Yu Hakusho, a performance he later reprised in multiple video game adaptations, demonstrating his lasting connection to iconic characters. Over the decades, his versatile vocal range has allowed him to inhabit a remarkable variety of roles, from the charismatic Eriol Hiiragizawa in Cardcaptor Sakura to the cold‑blooded antagonist Mello in Death Note and the heroic Hiroto Douma in Fafner in the Azure. In addition to animation, Sasaki has contributed voices to numerous video games such as Tekken 2 (Lee Chaolan) and The King of Fighters series (K9999), and he has appeared in live‑action tokusatsu productions, further expanding his repertoire. Although originally noted for his high‑pitched timbre, repeated intensive recording sessions and a demanding singing schedule caused his voice to deepen by the late 1990s, a change initially rumored to stem from heavy smoking and drinking. Beyond his professional achievements, Sasaki is an avid reader, possesses conversational English skills, and has released several music singles and albums, including the 1990 debut album HEART SCANDAL. His contributions have been recognized with multiple honors, most recently the Kei Tomiyama and Kazue Takahashi Award at the 18th Seiyu Awards in 2024, underscoring his enduring influence on the field of Japanese voice acting.