is a Japanese
voice actress
Voice acting is the art of performing voice-overs to present a character or provide information to an audience. Performers are called voice actors/actresses, voice artists, dubbing artists, voice talent, voice-over artists, or voice-over talent ...
affiliated with
Haikyo
Urban exploration (often shortened as UE, urbex and sometimes known as roof and tunnel hacking) is the exploration of manmade structures, usually abandoned ruins or hidden components of the manmade environment. Photography and historical inter ...
. Her best-known role is
Ryoma Echizen
is a fictional character and the protagonist of the manga and anime series ''The Prince of Tennis'' created by Takeshi Konomi. In the series, Ryoma is portrayed as a twelve-year-old tennis prodigy who won four consecutive Junior Tennis Tournam ...
, the title character in ''
The Prince of Tennis
is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Takeshi Konomi. The manga was serialized in Shueisha's ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' from July 1999 to March 2008, with its chapters collected in forty-two ''tankōbon'' volumes. ...
'' anime series. She sang some of the show's theme songs, insert songs, and character singles, some of which have charted in Oricon's single rankings. Other major roles include
Ayaka Yukihiro in the ''
Negima
''Negima! Magister Negi Magi'', known in Japan as , is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Ken Akamatsu. It was serialized in Kodansha's ''Weekly Shōnen Magazine'' from February 2003 to March 2012, with its chapters c ...
'' series, Akira in ''
Aria
In music, an aria (Italian: ; plural: ''arie'' , or ''arias'' in common usage, diminutive form arietta , plural ariette, or in English simply air) is a self-contained piece for one voice, with or without instrumental or orchestral accompanime ...
'', Cao Chun Yan in ''
Fighting Beauty Wulong
is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yūgo Ishikawa. It was serialized in Shogakukan's ''seinen'' manga magazine ''Weekly Young Sunday'' from August 2002 to May 2007, with its chapters collected in eight ''tankōbon'' volum ...
'',
Cornelia Li Britannia in ''
Code Geass
, often referred to simply as ''Code Geass'', is a Japanese anime television series produced by Sunrise. It was directed by Gorō Taniguchi and written by Ichirō Ōkouchi, with original character designs by Clamp. Set ...
'', Khamsin in ''
Shakugan no Shana
, also known simply as , is a Japanese light novel series written by Yashichiro Takahashi with illustrations by Noizi Ito. ASCII Media Works published 26 novels from November 2002 to November 2012 under their Dengeki Bunko imprint. The ...
'', Yoshitaka Nakabayashi in ''
He Is My Master
is a Japanese manga series written by Mattsuu and illustrated by Asu Tsubaki, a formerly married couple. It originally ran in '' Monthly Shōnen Gangan'' from February 2002 to February 2007. It was adapted into an anime television series by G ...
'',
Haruka Tenoh/Sailor Uranus in ''
Sailor Moon Crystal
''Sailor Moon Crystal'', known in Japan as , is a 2014 original net animation adaptation of the ''shōjo'' manga series '' Sailor Moon'' written and illustrated by Naoko Takeuchi, produced in commemoration of the original series' 20th ann ...
'', Mereoleona Vermillion in ''
Black Clover
is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yūki Tabata. It has been serialized in Shueisha's ''shōnen'' manga magazine ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' since February 2015, with its chapters collected in 33 ''tankōbon'' volumes ...
'', and Yun in ''
Yona of the Dawn
is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Mizuho Kusanagi. It has been serialized in Hakusensha's ''shōjo'' manga magazine ''Hana to Yume'' since August 2009, with its chapters collected in thirty-nine ''tankōbon'' volumes as of ...
''.
Biography
Before becoming a voice actor
During childhood, Junko actively participated in school plays. In kindergarten, she plays the difficult role of a duck in ''
The Ugly Duckling
"The Ugly Duckling" ( da, Den grimme ælling) is a Danish literary fairy tale by Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen (1805–1875). It was first published on 11 November 1843 in ''New Fairy Tales. First Volume#New Fairy Tales. Fir ...
'', and in elementary school, she was in ''
Kaguya-hime
is a (fictional prose narrative) containing elements of Japanese folklore. Written by an unknown author in the late 9th or early 10th century during the Heian period, it is considered the oldest surviving work in the form.
The story detail ...
''.
During junior and senior high school, Junko devoted herself to volleyball club activities. While practicing volleyball, coaching was very strict and there was no break. She soon retired from volleyball because the excessive practices were undermining her social life. Her experiences in these club activities were beneficially healthy both mentally and physically, though, the training was tiring. After graduating high school, looked towards work outside of Japan and becoming a
stewardesses. Junko attended an English vocational school to become a stewardess, but she neglected her studies and did not attend classes, so no airline would accept her.
After that, Junko got a job at a regular company. The social interactions at the company was enjoyable, but from the thought of doing the same job for the rest of her life scared her, and she tried to do what she dreamt of doing her whole life; she decided to become an actress. Initially, she tried to join the theater training program, shortly gave up due to financial difficulties such as tuition and living expenses. During her search, she found a voice actor training facility. At first, she liked manga and animation, but then became interested in voice acting and was recruited by the
Tohokushinsha Film Company.
After becoming a voice actor
Junko's debut as a voice actor was in a radio commercial for a hairdressing company. Her first job as a voice actor in an Anime was in a show called ''
Soreike! Anpanman
is a Japanese children's superhero picture book series written by Takashi Yanase, running from 1973 until the author’s death in 2013. The series has been adapted into an anime entitled , which is one of the most popular anime series among ...
'' where she played the role of a decal. After 3 months of working for Haka-kyo, she found a voice acting job for a game called ''
Tokimeki Memorial 3'' released for the
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 (PS2) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on 4 March 2000, in North America on 26 October 2000, in Europe on 24 November 2000, and in Australia on 3 ...
where she played the role of Shinrikyo Seika. In 2001, she appeared on TV as Ryoma Echizen, the protagonist of a TV anime called ''The Prince of Tennis''. When Junko was accepted to play Ryoma's role, she was so excited, and it was said that it was a miracle that an unnamed newcomer received the main character of the
Weekly Shōnen Jump
is a weekly ''shōnen'' manga anthology published in Japan by Shueisha under the ''Jump'' line of magazines. The manga series within the magazine consist of many action scenes and a fair amount of comedy. The chapters of the series that run ...
. Playing the role of Ryoma's had a big influence on Junko; she says playing that role changed her life an actress, and it has shaped who she is now. The original Manga author,
Takeshi Konomi
is a Japanese manga artist, known for creating the manga series ''The Prince of Tennis''.
Financial standing
Every year the National Tax Agency releases a list of the highest income tax payers for entertainers in Japan. The higher someone's inc ...
, says that Junko has become Ryoma herself, and that Ryoma was being played exactly as portrayed in the Manga. Ryoma Echizen has continued playing seamlessly for more than 10 years since the debut in 2001.
Live Activity
Junko has also released CDs of original songs performed at live events. On August 18, 2004 she performed as a live Ryoma Echizen at
Zepp Tokyo
The Zepp music halls are a group of Japanese music venues covering every area of the country. They play host to many international tours and are a popular stop among Japanese musicians. Each venue takes the Zepp name, along with the city in which ...
.
Filmography
Animation
Film
OVA
* ''
Code Geass: Akito the Exiled'' (2012), Shin Hyuuga (young)
* ''
Akatsuki no Yona
is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Mizuho Kusanagi. It has been serialized in Hakusensha's shōjo manga, ''shōjo'' manga magazine ''Hana to Yume'' since August 2009, with its chapters collected in thirty-nine ''tankōbon'' ...
: Sono se Niwa'' (2015), Yun
* ''
Pandora Hearts
''Pandora Hearts'' (stylized as ''PandoraHearts'') is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Jun Mochizuki. It was serialized in Square Enix's ''shōnen'' manga magazine '' Monthly GFantasy'' from May 2006 to March 2015, with its ...
: Oz Vessalius (2009-2010)
Vomic
* ''
World Trigger
, also known in short form as , is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Daisuke Ashihara. It was initially serialized in ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' from February 2013 to November 2018, and transferred to ''Jump Square'' in December ...
'' (2014), Yūma Kuga
Video games
Overseas dubbing
Discography
Drama CD
Other recordings
* ''Minna Genki'' by Junko Minagawa, Ryo Hirohashi and Friends
Singles
Character singles
Albums
Character albums
Compilation albums
References
External links
Official agency profile
Official website(archive)
Junko Minagawaat Ryu's Seiyuu Info
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Minagawa, Junko
Living people
Japanese video game actresses
Japanese voice actresses
Tokyo Actor's Consumer's Cooperative Society voice actors
Voice actresses from Ibaraki Prefecture
21st-century Japanese actresses
Year of birth missing (living people)