Kana Hanazawa, born on February 25, 1989 in Tokyo, is a popular Japanese voice actress and singer. She debuted as a voice actress in 2003 but it wasn't until 2006 that she started doing voice work with any regularity and has gone on to have several major roles since then. Many of these cause her to be cast with Haruka Tomatsu. The characters she tends to play are often very timid, soft spoken girls, The Stoic and/or snarky as well as being a source of perverted VA jokes, namely that topless 4koma moment as well as 1 time 100 yen memes.
Her breakout role was probably Nadeko Sengoku and the Moe Image Song "Renai Circulation" from Bakemonogatari. Her popularity steadily rose in 2010 and is on her way to become one of the more prominent voice actors. She was cast in 5 shows in the fall season of 2010, tied to three other voice actors in second place in the numbers of roles.
In addition, Kana enjoys such respect and support from the public that her participation in the Harem Genre or Romance anime is guaranteed to cause Ship-to-Ship Combat and Die for Our Ship because of her frequent Typecasting as a very cute and likable Romantic Runner-Up, which often intentionally or not, become a powerful Ensemble Dark Horse. As a result, in the anime community, she is jokingly called "accursed" and is considered the mentor of other actresses with a similarly sad reputation like Inori Minase.
In subsequent years, she also tries to escape from the standard role, portraying the merry, loving to play a trick on the main character Ojou in The Irregular at Magic High School and Gabriel DropOut, tsundere in Oreimo or even Sugar-and-Ice Personality in Angel Beats! and Sagrada Reset. Such a variety of memorable characters, allows her already in 2017 to be the obvious winner in the survey of the top 20 most popular seiyu in the year.
Her Western counterpart is widely considered to be Cherami Leigh (they share a few roles together).
Currently in an Idol Singer group called Ro-Kyu-Bu along with her fellow co-stars/teammates from said show: Rina Hidaka, Yōko Hikasa, Yui Ogura and Yuka Iguchi.
In February 2017, she was confirmed (courtesy of Japanese paparazzi) to be in a relationship with fellow voice actor Kensho Ono and had been living with him for some time. On July 8, 2020, it was announced through her Twitter
that she officially tied the knot with him.
She's known infamously by some fans (especially within the Sinosphere) as "Northern Hyogo", which originates from a scene from a morning TV interview that showed her donning a memetic smile while the cycling weather forecast on the top of the screen JUST HAPPENED to be displaying the weather for Northern Hyogo prefecture, see for yourself
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Notable Roles
- Ai Kitora in World Trigger
- Aika Fuwa in Blast of Tempest
- Akane Sakurada of Castle Town Dandelion
- Akane Tsunemori in Psycho-Pass
- Alexia Midgar in The Eminence in Shadow
- Alice Kuonji in Witch on the Holy Night
- Alural in KamiKatsu: Working for God in a Godless World
- Amairo Kitsunegasaki in #COMPASS
- Angel (real name: Kanade Tachibana) in Angel Beats!
- Anri Sonohara from Durarara!!
- Aoi Fukasaku in Coppelion
- Aoi Futaba in Cat Planet Cuties
- Aoi Futaba in Princess Connect! Re:Dive
- Atsuko Hakari in Blue Archive
- Ayaka Sajyou in Fate/Prototype and Fate/strange Fake
- Ayase Shinomiya in Guilty Crown
- Banyue in the Japanese dub of the Animated Adaptation of Heaven Official’s Blessing: Tian Guan Ci Fu
- Blemishine and Luo Xiaohei (human form) in Arknights
- Cassandra Cain (Ella Jay Basco) in the Japanese dub of Birds of Prey (2020)
- Charles/Charlotte Dunois in Infinite Stratos
- Chiaki Kurihara in Bodacious Space Pirates
- Chiaki Nanami in Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair and Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School
- Chizuru Ooshima in My Little Monster
- Cibo in Blame!
- Cleo Zaubraff in Broken Blade
- Delphinus Mii and Mermaid Thetis in Saint Seiya Awakening
- Deuce in Final Fantasy Type-0
- Druj in The Great Jahy Will Not Be Defeated!
- Eida in Boruto
- Eiko Houzuki in Dark Gathering
- Elena Aoki in Gleipnir
- Elena Kimberlite in Vermeil in Gold
- Eliza in Lapis Re:LiGHTs
- Elvira Friedmann in Izetta: The Last Witch
- Ema in Sol Trigger
- Envy Adams in Scott Pilgrim Takes Off
- Eri Mizutani in THE iDOLM@STER: Dearly Stars
- Erii Haruue in A Certain Scientific Railgun
- Eve in Alchemy Stars
- Eydis Synthesis Ten in Sword Art Online: Rising Steel
- Ezekiel in Maria the Virgin Witch
- Firil Crest in Unlimited Fafnir
- Flora [Nera] in Dragon Quest Heroes: The World Tree's Woe and The Blight Below
- Fran in Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina
- Gabriela (Yvette Monreal) in the Japanese dub of Rambo: Last Blood
- Hana Midorikawa in Prison School (Playing Against Type, being a tomboyish, violent Jerkass. And it's beautiful.)
- Hanasaki Ran in LBX: Little Battlers eXperience W
- Hanazawa-san in Ground Control to Psychoelectric Girl
- Young Hanna (Britt Robertson) in the Japanese dub of A Dog's Purpose.
- Hilda in Tower of Fantasy
- Hildegard von Mariendorf in Legend of the Galactic Heroes: The New Thesis
- Hinata "Hina" Kawamoto in March Comes in Like a Lion
- Holly Madison in Last Exile
- She also replaces Anna Shiraki as Alvis in the sequel Last Exile: Fam, the Silver Wing
- Hotaru Hinase in A Condition Called Love
- Ichika Nakano in The Quintessential Quintuplets
- Ichiko Sakura in Good Luck Girl! (Thoroughly Playing Against Type, being a violent, Large Ham, inconsiderate and snobbish Tomboy. Though it's all just an act.)
- Illya in MementoMori: AFKRPG
- Inari Yoko in Kemono Jihen
- Invi in Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover
- Iris/Violet in Rune Factory Oceans
- Jessica Valentine in Dragonar Academy, yet another playing against type role.
- Jexi (Rose Byrne) in the Japanese dub of the film of the same name, and yet another playing against type role.
- Jiemei in Ushio and Tora
- Juri Sanada in Wanna Be the Strongest in the World!
- Kagami Yagami in Sasami-san@Ganbaranai
- Kagari in Rewrite
- Kagura in the Japanese dub of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
- Kana in Weathering With You
- Karuta Roromiya in Inu × Boku SS
- Katrielle Layton in Layton Mystery Detective Agency, replacing Kasumi Arimura who originally voiced Katrielle in Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires' Conspiracy.
- Kiki Majima aka Beast Princess in Love After World Domination
- Kinemi Miki in Blue Period
- Kobato in Kobato.
- Kobato Hasegawa in Haganai
- Kobayashi Shihono in Endo and Kobayashi Live! The Latest on Tsundere Villainess Lieselotte
- Koharu Sakuragi (Chloe Cerise) in Pokémon Journeys: The Series
- Kosaki Onodera in Nisekoi
- Kougyoku Ren in Magi: Labyrinth of Magic
- Kuro Matsumi in Saki Achiga-hen
- Kuroe in Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story
- Kusano in Sekirei
- Kuzuha Kirimoto in Aesthetica of a Rogue Hero
- Lilia Reinoise in I'm the Villainess, So I'm Taming the Final Boss
- Lucy Maud Montgomery in Bungo Stray Dogs (kinda Playing Against Type, as the character is psychotic and creepy in comparison to her usual roles)
- Lulu in Gloria Union
- Maimai Yuzuriha in Zombie Land Saga Revenge
- Maki in When Will Ayumu Make His Move?
- Malchut/A'milia in The Epic of Zektbach (Drama CD's)
- Manaka Mukaido in Nagi-Asu: A Lull in the Sea
- Maremi in The Vampire Dies in No Time
- Maria Akizuki in From the New World
- Marian/Modernia in Goddess of Victory: NIKKE
- Maribelle in Dragalia Lost
- Marie in Persona 4 Golden
- Marimo Bandou in Teekyuu
- Marry Kozakura in Mekakucity Actors
- Mato Kuroi, Black Rock Shooter, and Insane Black Rock Shooter in Black★Rock Shooter
- Mayuka Nasu in Buddy Complex
- Mayumi Saegusa in The Irregular at Magic High School
- Mayuri Shiina in Steins;Gate
- Mei Mei, Panda's little sister, in Shirokuma Cafe
- Melphonsina/Melondia and Lisa in Phantasy Star Online 2. The former is not Playing Against Type, but the latter is.
- Menreiki in Onmyoji
- Mika Tsutsumi in Beatless
- Mikan Yuuki in To Love Ru
- Mikoto Asuka in Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches
- Minori Nakazawa in No-Rin
- Miss Fortune in the Japanese dub of Skullgirls
- Mitsuri Karonji in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
- Nadeko Sengoku in Bakemonogatari and its sequels
- Nagisa Kubo in Kubo Won't Let Me Be Invisible
- Naho Takamiya in Orange
- Nanako Yukishiro in Senryu Girl
- Natsume Tsuchimikado in Tokyo Ravens
- Nene Kinokuni in Food Wars!
- Nessa in Fractale
- Nikki in Love Nikki - Dress Up Queen
- Noah in The King of Fighters All Star
- Noir Vinocacao in Dog Days
- Nuko in Girls' Last Tour
- Ost Hourai in The Rising of the Shield Hero
- Plutia/Iris Heart in Hyperdimension Neptunia Victory
- Quinny Yo in Last Hope (2018)
- Princess Pumpluplu in Go! Princess Pretty Cure: Go! Go!! Gorgeous Triple Feature!!!
- Ran in Urusei Yatsura All Stars
- Raphiel "Raphi" Ainsworth Shiraha in Gabriel DropOut
- Red Blood Cell (AE 3803) in Cells at Work!
- Rika Orimoto in Jujutsu Kaisen
- Rinne Sonogami in the video game adaptation of Date A Live
- Rinoa Heartily in Dissidia Final Fantasy NT
- Ritsu Kawai in The Kawai Complex Guide to Manors and Hostel Behavior
- Rize Kamishiro in Tokyo Ghoul
- Roka Shibasaki in D-Frag!
- Romary Stone in Mobile Suit Gundam AGE
- Ruri Gokou/Kuroneko (as well as one of her sisters, Hinata) in Oreimo
- Rhythmy Kyono in Tokimeki Memorial 4
- Ryoko Sato in Aura: Koga Maryuin's Last War
- Saaya Agata in SKET Dance
- Sakura Hanazono in Maid-Sama!
- Sakura Kugenuma in Majikoi! Love Me Seriously!
- Saria in The Fruit of Evolution
- Sariphi in Sacrificial Princess & the King of Beasts
- Satomi Murano in Parasyte
- Satou Matsuzaka in Happy Sugar Life (Playing Against Type in that the character is a murderous, psychotic Yandere)
- Saya in Love Live! Superstar!!
- Sera in Yu-Gi-Oh! The Dark Side of Dimensions
- Seryu Ubiquitous in Akame ga Kill! (One of her biggest examples of Playing Against Type, as she plays the role of an insane, psychopath murderous member of the empire.)
- Sharon Rainsworth in PandoraHearts
- Shiemi Moriyama in Blue Exorcist
- Shinako Morinome in Sing "Yesterday" for Me
- Shiori Shiomiya in The World God Only Knows (and by extension, Minerva in the Goddesses Arc)
- Shirase Kobuchizawa in A Place Further than the Universe
- Shiro in Deadman Wonderland (Oh so Playing Against Type it isn't funny anymore)
- Sonoko Nogi in Yuki Yuna is a Hero
- Sophie in Tales of Graces
- Suiko Minahoshi/Imaginator in Boogiepop and Others (2019)
- Susato Mikotoba from The Great Ace Attorney
- Suō Pavlichenko in Darker than Black: Ryūsei no Gemini
- Ms. Tobaru in Aharen-san wa Hakarenai
- Tsubame Iwato in Suzume
- Tsukimi Kurashita in Princess Jellyfish
- Valeria in Granado Espada
- Xiao Hei in the Japanese dub of The Legend of Hei
- Yokoi in My Neighbor Seki
- Yukari Yukino in The Garden of Words and Your Name
- Yuki in AFTERLOST
- Yuki in Cencoroll
- Yuki Minagawa in Tsurezure Children
- Yuri Mariya in Campione!
- Yuko Tani in the Godzilla anime trilogy
- Yuriko Mifune in Kotoura-san
- Yuu Naruse in No Matter How I Look at It, It's You Guys' Fault I'm Not Popular!
- Yuuka Kobayakawa in Girls Beyond the Wasteland
- Yuwa Akebi in Akebi's Sailor Uniform
- Zange/Hakua Suzushiro in Kannagi: Crazy Shrine Maidens
- Zessica Wong in Aquarion Evol
- Zera in Fairy Tail Zero
- Zeta in Granblue Fantasy
Tropes associated with her career:
- The Danza: She plays Hanazawa-san in Ground Control to Psychoelectric Girl.
- Ink-Suit Actor: Nadeko, Anri, Mayu, Mayuri, Nanami, Shiemi, Shiori and Kozue have virtually the same haircut as her pic above (although she tends to alternate between growing her hair out and cutting it short). A deliberate example is Akane Tsunemori, who was explicitly designed to resemble her look (at the time in 2012, it was a bit more of a bowl cut).
- Apart from the blonde hair, Hana looks basically exactly like her.
- Also, as someone who has gone on record admitting that she's finds girls' feet attractive (at least aesthetically), she tends to be very excited whenever she gets a chance to be barefoot herself. And when she does wear shoes, she often prefers to wear them without socks. Many of her characters mirror her in this latter regard, in that they never wear socks (or stockings) inside their shoes. Mayuri and Hana, mentioned above, are examples of this, as is Yukari, the object of all the Foot Focus in a movie teeming with it.
- Large Ham: As Ichiko Sakura, and usually every time she goes Playing Against Type.
- Troll: She often plays one in the second half of the tenth years, especially Mayumi and Raphiel.
- Woman of a Thousand Voices: Previously pigeonholed into
Moe and Shrinking Violet archetypes like her Big Sister Mentor Mamiko Noto, leading to some criticism on her limited voice range. However, she is quite capable for Playing Against Type such as Yandere Shiro from Deadman Wonderland, snarky sweet-and-cold Kuroneko from Oreimo, freaky otaku Tsukimi from Princess Jellyfish, Genki Girl Kureha from Mayo Chiki!, Handicapped Badass Ace Pilot Action Girl Ayase Shinomiya in Guilty Crown, Shameless Fanservice Girl Zessica Wong from Aquarion Evol, the Large Ham and at times raspy-voiced Ichiko Sakura from Good Luck Girl!, the very heroic CPU Iris Heart, and Cute and Psycho Uncanny Valley Girl Lisa from Phantasy Star Online 2. That without counting her more antagonistic roles, like the cannibalistic, gluttonous Rize. Here's a video with 95 characters she has played, including nine openings and 22 endings.
