Shigeru Ushiyama

Shigeru Ushiyama (牛山 茂, Ushiyama Shigeru; born January 25, 1952) is a veteran Japanese actor and voice‑actor whose career has spanned more than four decades, beginning in 1977 and continuing to the present day. He was born in the scenic Nagano Prefecture of Japan, a region known for its mountains and traditional culture, which perhaps informed his later ability to portray a wide range of characters from stoic elders to animated heroes. Affiliated with the theatrical troupe Gekidan Subaru, Ushiyama quickly became a reliable supporting talent in both live‑action productions and animated series, earning a reputation for his deep, resonant voice and his capacity to inject subtle nuance into each role. Among his early television animation credits, he voiced Meccha Mucha in Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (1986) and General Maki in Ninku (1995), demonstrating his versatility across sci‑fi, fantasy, and historical genres. His later work includes memorable performances such as Doctor Hiriluk in One Piece (2001), Professor Shikishima in Tetsujin 28 (2004), and the enigmatic Wentzel Ahbe in Black Lagoon (2006), each role showcasing his talent for embodying both comic relief and solemn gravitas. Ushiyama also contributed to acclaimed theatrical animations, notably as October Salan in Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack (1988) and as Entarō Hōjō in In This Corner of the World (2016). In the video‑game arena he lent his voice to characters like Kvar in Tales of Symphonia (2003) and the regal Tornan King in Xenoblade Chronicles 2 (2017), further extending his influence across media. He is married to fellow voice actress Keiko Aizawa, forming a prominent couple within the Japanese dubbing community, and together they continue to be active in the industry. Throughout his extensive filmography, Ushiyama has also performed numerous Japanese dubs for Western actors such as William Fichtner, Kevin Pollak, and Bill Paxton, bringing Hollywood performances to Japanese audiences with authenticity and emotional depth. His enduring presence, marked by consistent work in television, film, video games, and dubbing, makes Shigeru Ushiyama a respected figure whose contributions have helped shape modern Japanese voice acting.