Nobuyuki Hiyama


Nobuyuki Hiyama is a Japanese voice actor, narrator, and radio personality currently affiliated with Arts Vision.
His vocal register is described as a metallic lyric tenor suitable to voice a mature variation of coming of age young men. Combined with an impactful execution on battle cries, he earned his reputation in voicing heroic protagonists commonly found in works of the mecha, fighting, and fantasy genres. Hiyama is recognized for his portrayal of Hiei from Yu Yu Hakusho, by starring twice within the Brave Series franchise as Maito Senpuuji of The Brave Express Might Gaine and Guy Shishioh of the King of Braves GaoGaiGar. He also played Link in .

Biography

Hiyama was born in Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima. and grew up enjoying casual amateur baseball with friends. His mother was of Japanese descent born in Taiwan during the end of World War II who resettled back to Japan after the war.
Greatly influenced by his father, Hiyama flourished in history and social studies class since middle school, but wasn't fond of the idea of participating in extracurricular activities; yet Hiyama had no choice but to pick up at least one activity for each semester due to school regulations, and ends up wandering through Go, Shogi, and his school's Radio Club by his second-year middle school. According to Hiyama, his middle school radio club experience was "in all honesty, awful." and "was bored to the point of resigning from the club" by his 3rd year and end his middle school club life with Japanese calligraphy.
Upon entering high school, Hiyama believed he could "finally start pursuing his dream of not participating in any school clubs," but ends up being reluctantly dragged into his high school's radio club due to a close schoolmate of his wanting to join the club yet doesn't want to enter the club alone. Hiyama noted his high school radio club experience was "far more interesting" than he expected, "we get to plan on what to broadcast for morning assembly, and not only that, we even produce our own radio dramas." It was through his interest in radio dramas, along with the awareness of the voice acting boom of the 70s and 80s that made Hiyama took notion early on that there were career opportunities in voice acting and that Tokyo has the training schools for them.
When the time came for Hiyama to plan his career development during his senior year of high school, he resorted to the mindset of "if I had to bread-win, might as well choose the type of bread that I love to eat." Therefore, his first choice was to apply for college to become a historian, while his second choice was to go into "something in relation to voice work," since he reflected how his radio club experience was the one that made him believe this will be the lifestyle that he would truly enjoy. Due to the tough application requirements of his intended history major, Hiyama decided to pursue the path of voice acting, and talked it over with his parents. Hiyama recalled their discussion "ended in dispute," with his parents' decision to not support his tuition in fear of "a business that is unheard of." Hiyama was then left to fend for himself by enrolling into Tokyo Announce Gakuin's Broadcasting Voice Actor major through Japan's Newspaper Scholarship grant.

Training and Debut

Due to the lack of financial support from his parents, Hiyama took on his major's scholarship recipient training course to make room in fulfilling his required deeds to give back to his scholarship sponsors, and meeting his basic needs in Tokyo by part-timing at newsagencies delivering newspapers around his neighborhood while his tuition was covered by his grant. His daily routine was consisted of a "grueling 3:00am to 9:00pm schedule" between work and voice acting studies which "really grinded his mentality and physicality."
Upon his graduation from Tokyo Announce Gakuin, Hiyama continued his performance training under his alma mater's homeroom instructor via Arts Vision's Nihon Narration Engi Kenkyujyo, and was scouted by Arts Vision's group of managers while he was rehearsing for his first stage performance.
Debuted as a Mummy in the OVA version of the original Kaiketsu Zorori anime in 1989, Hiyama spent most of his beginner years continued to deliver newspapers, while also continued his performance training whenever he did not receive voice-acting cases to work. He also noted to have part-timed as a security guard for a short while, and mentioned how he deliberately hid his face in case his colleagues spot him out during a period where he has to overlook a construction site near his recording studio.

Career Breakthrough

Hiyama received his first official role as the principal villain character, Syndrome in Chikyuu SOS Soreike Kororin, a 1992 environmentalist anime television program spanning a half-year recording schedule. With his Kororin gig ending and worrying where his next paycheck will be, he received his agency's call to audition for Yu Yu Hakusho. According to his commentary within Yu Yu Hakusho's Blu-ray release, he first auditioned solely for the role of Kurama, he then tried again for Hiei upon receiving the notice for Yu Yu Hakusho's second round of audition, with the latter becoming his most iconic breakthrough character.

Filmography

※ All filmography are organized under Japan's release by year-alphabetical order; roles labeled in Bold are either protagonists, or roles of major importance.

Television Animation

;1992
;1993
;1994
;1995
;1996
;1997
;1998
;1999
;2000
;2001
  • One Piece, Mr. 3
  • Pokémon Chronicles, Attila
  • Project ARMS, Cliff Gilbert
;2002
;2003
;2004
;2005
;2006
;2007
;2008
;2009
;2010
;2011
;2012
;2013
;2014
;2015
;2016
  • Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto, Ken Ken
  • Joker Game, Alain Lernier
  • Matoi the Sacred Slayer, Cariot
  • Taboo Tattoo, Souha Tamaki
  • Time Bokan 24, Yuri Gagarin
;2017
;2018
;2019
;2020
;1994
;1995
;1996
;1997
;2000
;2006
;2007
;2010
;2011
;2018
;2006

Video Games

;1993
;1994
;1995
;1996
;1997
;1998
;1999
;2000
;2001
;2002
;2003
;2004
;2005
;2006
;2007
;2008
;2009
;2010
;2011
;2012
;2013
;2014
;2015
;2016
;2017
  • Super Mario Odyssey, Topper
  • Super Robot Wars V, Maito Senpuuji
;2018
;2019
;2020
DurationPlatformTitleRoleDeveloper
2010-2013PachinkoCR Sengoku Bushou Retsuden ~Date Masamune~Date MasamuneNewgin
2013-PachinkoCR B't XTeppei TakamiyaTakao
2014-iOS / AndroidGranblue FantasySSR: SeoxCygames
2014-2015iOS / Android3594e -Sangokushi Eiga-EX/SR: Zhang Fei, EX/SR: Xiahou Dun
SSR/SR: Sun Ce		Square Enix
2016-iOS / AndroidTales of AsteriaVeigue LungbergBandai Namco Games
2016/06-
2016/12/20		iOS / AndroidNEW WORLD Vol. 1: Maiden of Silver TearsSR/R+/R: BalmungCyberConnect2
2016/06-iOS / AndroidBalgoSquare Enix
2016/06-
2018/08/31		iOS / AndroidShinobi NightmareNobunagaFuji&Gumi Games
2016/06/15-iOS / AndroidLine: Gundam WarsShiro AmadaBandai Namco, Line Corporation
2016/09-iOS / AndroidBLEACH: Brave SoulsIkkaku MadarameKLab Games
2016/10-
2017/08/31		iOS / AndroidWorld ChainTakeshi Miyamoto
SSR: Guan Yu, SSR: Sun Ce, SSR: Nero		Sega
2016/11-iOS / AndroidMonster StrikeHiei XFLAG
2017/01-iOS / AndroidSuper Robot Wars X-ΩGuy Shishioh Sega, B.B. Studio, Bandai Namco
2017/02/28-iOS / AndroidTales of the RaysVeigue LungbergBandai Namco Games
2017/04/12-iOS / AndroidFlame x Blaze AlagamiSquare Enix
2017/04/26-
2018/01/31		iOS / AndroidWar of Crown SparrowASONE GAMES, GAMEVIL
2017/04/27-iOS / AndroidStar Ocean: AnamnesisPater Square Enix
2017/06/15-iOS / AndroidSuper Robot Wars X-ΩYuushiro Gowa Sega, B.B. Studio, Bandai Namco
2017/06/23-iOS / AndroidCrash FeverJoe Higashi WonderPlanet Inc.
2017/08/23-iOS / AndroidLineage II: RevolutionTheodore Netmarble Games
2017/09/19-iOS / AndroidShironeko ProjectSetsumusho aka. Shā Wú Shēng
COLOPL, Inc.
2017/09/30-iOS / AndroidShironeko ProjectKarlos ElgrandCOLOPL, Inc.
2017/11/28-iOS / AndroidThe New Prince of Tennis: Rising BeatJackal KuwaharaBushiroad, Akatsuki
2017/12/07-iOS / AndroidRed Stone II: Adventurers of Prominence Freelancer L&K Co.
2018/01/01-iOS / AndroidSuper Robot Wars X-ΩForte Sega, B.B. Studio, Bandai Namco
2018/01/18-iOS / AndroidShironeko TennisKarlos ElgrandCOLOPL, Inc.
2018/02/09-
2019/05/30		iOS / AndroidQuiz Magic Academy: Lost FantariumLeonKonami
2018/02/28-iOS / AndroidMobile Suit Gundam: Sokuou SensenShiro AmadaBandai Namco
2018/03/27-iOS / AndroidCaravan StoriesZoneliAiming Inc.
2018/04-iOS / AndroidDetective Conan Puzzle: Cross ChainMakoto KyogokuCYBIRD
2018/08/17-iOS / AndroidGyakuten OthelloniaHiei DeNA
2018/08/28-iOS / AndroidYu Yu Hakusho: 100% Real BattleHieiKLab Games
2018/09/04-iOS / AndroidFire Emblem HeroesJamke—Prince of VerdaneIntelligent Systems, Nintendo
2018/10/31-iOS / AndroidIcchi Banketsu -ONLINE-HokusaiRejet, DMM Games
2018/12/28-iOS / AndroidYo-kai Watch: Puni PuniSusanooLEVEL-5 Inc., NHN PlayArt
2019/02/14-iOS / AndroidDragon Quest RivalsZankroneSquare Enix
2019/02/14-iOS / AndroidTokyo Afterschool SummonersBehemothLifewonders
2019/04/10-iOS / AndroidDetective Conan Runner: The Conductor of Truth Makoto KyogokuBushimo, Bushiroad, Ambition
2019/05/01-iOS / AndroidYo-kai Watch: Puni PuniMakoto Kyogoku LEVEL-5 Inc., NHN PlayArt
2019/06/04-iOS / AndroidMonster StrikeViral & Gueira XFLAG
2019/06/14-iOS / AndroidShironeko TennisHiei COLOPL, Inc.
2019/07/01-iOS / AndroidSuper Robot Wars X-ΩMaito Senpuuji Sega, B.B. Studio, Bandai Namco
2019/07/16-2020/08/05iOS / AndroidHero's ParkKiyokazu ShirahamaDank Hearts
2019/07/24-2020/04/27
2020/06/30 		iOS / AndroidForever Seven DaysNight the Black CatNetEase, DeNA
2019/08/21-iOS / AndroidSuper Robot Wars DDGuy ShishiohBandai Namco
2020/03/01-iOS / AndroidValkyrie ConnectValtusAteam Inc.
2020/04/30-iOS / AndroidGrand SummonersHiei Good Smile Company, NextNinja
2020/05/29-
2020/06/26- 		iOS / AndroidLast OriginCT66 RampartPiG, SmartJoy
2020/07/01-iOS / AndroidLangrisser MobileHiei Zlongame, extreme, Masaya Games
2020/07/16-iOS / AndroidTales of CrestoriaVeigue LungbergBandai Namco

Tokusatsu

;1993
;1994
;1995
;1998
;2004
;2005
;2007
;2008
;2009
;2011
;2013
;2016
;2017
;2018

Promotions and Mascots

Radio Shows

Current Programs

Past Programs

Stage Performance

Discography

Personal Music Albums

Character Image Song Albums and Singles

Release DateTitlePortrayed RoleCatalog NumberNote
1993/08/20Yu Yu Hakusho Music Battle HenHieiMRCA-20020
1993/12/16The Brave Express Might Gaine Uta no AlbumMaito SenpuujiVICL-437
1993/12/17Yu Yu Hakusho Netsushou Hen ~Karaoke Battle Royale~HieiMRCA-20028
1994/06/08Yu Yu Hakusho Meikai Shitō Hen: Honō no Kizuna ~Hiei no Shou~HieiTYDY-2062
1994/08/19Yu Yu Hakusho Music Battle Hen 2HieiMRCA-20042
1994/12/16Yu Yu Hakusho Music Battle Hen 3 ~Makai Densetsu~HieiMRCA-20052
1994/12/16Ginga Sengoku Gun'yūden Rai Original Soundtrack Vol.2
※ Includes character image songs		Rai RyugaAPCM-5055
1996/08/26B't X Hikari to Kaze no Rondo 1: Kimi wo MamoritaiTeppei TakamiyaPODX-1014
1999/03/25Initial D Vocal BattleTakeshi NakazatoAVCT-15000
2000/01/26Initial D Vocal Battle: Second StageTakeshi NakazatoAVCA-14003
2000/05/03Infinite Ryvius Character Song Collection: AshitakaraAirs BlueVICL-60559
2000/08/23Fushigi Yûgi Vocal Collection: TV series Songs Complete CollectionHikitsuTYCY-10037/9
2002/03/27Shaman King Character Song AlbumZen KICA-570
2003/09/03Tokimeki Memorial Girl's Side Clovers' Graffiti 3: Kazuma SuzukaKazuma SuzukaKMCM-25
2004/03/14Tokimeki Memorial Girl's Side Image Song Collection ～Be Mine～Kazuma SuzukaKMCA-192
2004/05/12Prince of Tennis Best of Rival Players XVIII: Jackal Kuwahara & Bunta MaruiJackal KuwaharaNECM-11027
2006/02/24Mizu no Senritsu Character Song ~Futari no Another Story~ Drop IV: HUNTERTetsuo KataseVGCD-0027
2006/08/02Bleach Beat Collection 2nd Session: 03Ikkaku MadarameSVWC-7382
2006/09/20 Original Character Song AlbumGyarickPCCG-00813
2008/06/20Houkago wa Gin no Shirabe: Mishiro Takaya HenTakaya MishiroFPBD-0064
2009/01/28Prince of Tennis Roman-RanmanJackal KuwaharaNECA-10118
2010/03/24Samurai Warriors 3 Sen: Retsuka OugiDate MasamuneKECH-1546
2011/05/25Samurai Warriors 3Z Ten: Gouka OugiDate MasamuneKECH-1577/8
2014/07/16Prince of Tennis II: RIKKAI SUPER STARSJackal KuwaharaNECA-33003
2016/02/17Ketteiban: Yu Yu Hakusho Anime Theme Song & Character Song Best Album
※ Remastered album.		HieiPCCK-20121
2017/02/08Matoi the Sacred Slayer Character Song Mini AlbumCariotLACA-15632
2017/08/02Twin Angel Song Selection: JewelryYuito KisaragiPCCR-90078
2018/01/04Yu Yu Hakusho 25th Anniversary Single Record Box
※ Limited Edition 7-inch Vinyl Set		HieiPCKA-00011
2020/04/29Prince of Tennis Team Single: BesFes～Are We Cool ?～「Oujya Rikkaidai」Jackal KuwaharaNECM-10280
2020/04/29Prince of Tennis Character Single: LEAVE IT TO MEJackal KuwaharaNECM-10282

Drama CDs

※ Determined by role's first appearance within the product.
Release DateSeries / TitleRoleCatalog Number
1997/10/21Weiß Kreuz Dramatic Collection I ~The Holy Children~Jake KMMCM-1003
2003/09/26S.S.D.S. 〜Super Stylish Doctors Story〜 Kiwamu KimijimaLACA-5206
2004/12Shueisha Drama CD: Yu Yu HakushoHieiSCD-905850
2005/03Shueisha Drama CD: Yu Yu Hakusho 2HieiSCD-909113
2005/10/21Tales of Rebirth Drama CD seriesVeigue LungbergFCCT-0034
2006/08/25Fushigi Yūgi Genbu Kaiden HikitsuMMCC-4102
2006/12/21Ai Death Gun Reiji SagimiyaLACA-5591
2015/10/28Youkoso Seiyuu Ryohe! Room 201 ~The Dialect Actor~Taiga MizunoEYC1-10564
2017/03/22KonoSuba Season 2 OST & DramaCD Vol.3: Gospels for Days of Passion!WolfgangCOCX-39904

Collaborations