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Isao Sasaki (born May 16, 1942) is a prolific Japanese singer, known for singing opening and closing themes of various anime and tokusatsu shows especially aired in the 70's and 80's, though he occasionally sang songs from shows in the current millennium. He did some voice-acting, particularly in Kagaku Ninja Tai Gatchaman and Uchuu Senkan Yamato.
Due to his deep, charismatic voice, comparable to Elvis Presley (in fact he began his career as an Elvis impersonator since Elvis has always been VERY well-loved in Japan), most of his songs are beloved. His works, particularly his older ones, are brimming with Hot-Blooded music that are quite memorable to this day. Japanese metal band ANIMETAL have remixed most of his songs.He also has made many songs in English, and a very good one at that.
You can look up his Other Wiki
entry for a full list of his portfolio.
Notable characters he has voiced:
- Joe Asakura aka Condor Joe from Kagaku Ninja Tai Gatchaman, a role he is quite famous for doing.
- Hajime Saito from Space Battleship Yamato
- Gou Kato from Ai Shite Night, in which he voices a prospect rock star.
- Gou's songs however were sung by the late Ai Takano who was known for singing the opening theme to Juspion.
- Sentai Megid in Kamen Rider Saber + Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger Super Hero Senki.
- He's also the official Japanese dub voice of Sylvester Stallone.
Notable songs:
- While he didn't sing the opening of Gatchaman, he did the openings for Gatchaman II and Gatchaman Fighter
- Fight! Casshern and I Am the Neo Human - Neo Human Casshern
- Fight! Polymar and Tenshin! Polymar - Hurricane Polymar
- Space Battleship Yamato and Crimson Scarf — Space Battleship Yamato
- Getter Robo! and Gattai! Getter Robo! — Getter Robo
- Fly! Grendizer and Space's Monarch Grendizer - UFO Robo Grendizer
- Go! Goranger, Himitsu Sentai Goranger (both done with Mitsuko Horie), and other insert songs - Himitsu Sentai Gorenger
- JAKQ Dengeki Tai, Someday the Flowers Will Bloom, and other insert songs - JAKQ Dengeki Tai
- Galaxy Express 999 - Galaxy Express 999
- Does Your Youth Shine? - Chōjinki Metalder
- Midnight Dekaranger and Dekamaster NEVER STOP! - Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger
- Mazinger Z, Theme of Z and Our Mazinger Z - Mazinger Z (those are in English, from the Hawaiian Dub)
- Captain Harlock (In English) - Captain Harlock
- The opening theme of Daimos: "Tate! Toushou Daimos".
- Zenkai Gattai! JuraGaon - Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger (with Mitsuko Horie)
