Happy Birthday to Voice Acting Legend Nobuhiko Okamoto!
On October 24, beloved Japanese voice actor Nobuhiko Okamoto celebrated his birthday! Known for his incredible range—from wild, explosive wildcards to smooth, gentle heroes—Okamoto has voiced some of the most memorable characters in modern anime history. To mark the special occasion, Japanese anime portal Anime! Anime! conducted a fan poll asking: “Who is your favorite character voiced by Nobuhiko Okamoto?”
With 450 fans casting their votes, the results are finally in. Let’s break down the top characters that stole the hearts of anime fans!
Top 3 Most Beloved Characters
1. Katsuki Bakugo (My Hero Academia) — 30% of Votes
Taking the top spot once again is the explosive rival from Class 1-A himself, Katsuki Bakugo! Fans praised Okamoto’s incredible ability to portray Bakugo’s fiery, raspy shouts alongside his deeply emotional, vulnerable moments. His growth throughout the series, especially his heartbreaking apology to Izuku Midoriya and his desperate struggles in recent battles, resonated strongly with voters. As one fan put it: “Nobody can scream ‘Die!’ with as much passion and catharsis as Okamoto-san!”
2. Karma Akabane (Assassination Classroom) — 11% of Votes
Jumping up to second place is the mischievous genius of Class 3-E, Karma Akabane. Fans love the playful, slightly sadistic tone Okamoto brings to Karma’s taunts, as well as the intense emotional contrast shown during his intense clashes with Nagisa. Karma remains one of the standout fan favorites from the series.
3. Himmel the Hero (Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End) — 7% of Votes
Holding strong in third place is Himmel, the gentle hero whose legacy guides Frieren on her journey. While Okamoto is famous for screaming, aggressive characters, his performance as Himmel showed off his remarkably soft, soothing, and compassionate voice. Fans noted that even a single line from Himmel calling out Frieren’s name is enough to bring tears to their eyes.
Top 10 Fan-Favorite Characters Ranked
Here is the full top 10 list voted on by fans in Japan:
- #1: Katsuki Bakugo (My Hero Academia)
- #2: Karma Akabane (Assassination Classroom)
- #3: Himmel (Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End)
- #4: Yuu Nishinoya (Haikyu!!)
- #5: Floyd Leech (Disney Twisted-Wonderland)
- #6: Accelerator (A Certain Magical Index)
- #7: Hakure Nekosaki (Tougen Anki)
- #8: Belen Crayon (Devil Butler and the Black Cat)
- #9: Daichi Tenmei (Hundred Note)
- #10: Genya Shinazugawa (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba)
Did your favorite Nobuhiko Okamoto character make the list? Let us know which of his iconic roles is your absolute favorite!
Source: Yahoo News Japan