Megumi Hayashibara

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Megumi Hayashibara 林原 めぐみ
Background information
Born	March 30, 1967
Origin	Kita-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Genre(s)	J-Pop
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter
Years active	1989–Present
Label(s)	King Records
Website	megumi HOUSE

Megumi Hayashibara (林原 めぐみ, Hayashibara Megumi^?), born March 30, 1967 in Kita-ku, Tokyo, Japan) is a very popular Japanese seiyū, lyricist and singer. She is married and has one daughter.

Hayashibara began her voice acting career with training at the Arts Vision voice acting school/talent agency, while at the same time studying to be a registered nurse, her original career choice. Her debut as a seiyū came in 1986, with a bit part in the anime series Maison Ikkoku. She has since gone on to play many of anime's most beloved characters, including Hello Kitty, Faye Valentine in Cowboy Bebop, Lime from the Saber Marionette series, Haruka Urashima from Love Hina, Rei Ayanami of Neon Genesis Evangelion, Musashi (Jessie) of Team Rocket from the Pokémon anime series, Lina Inverse from the Slayers series, Canal in Lost Universe and the female Ranma Saotome in the Ranma 1/2 series.

According to the Anime News Network Encyclopedia, as of March 2007, Hayashibara is the most prolific female seiyū with 200 credits to her name. [1] She is arguably the best known seiyū outside Japan, and is considered by some anime fans to be the "queen" of the seiyū, likely due to the large number of major roles she has performed, as well as the personal relationship she has cultivated with her fans, through her radio shows and her writing.

As one of the pioneers of the "Third Seiyū Boom", Hayashibara is among the most prolific seiyū-turned-singers in history. Since her musical debut in 1989, she has sung the theme songs for numerous anime series, including all the Slayers TV series, movies, and OVAs, Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi, Lost Universe, Sorcerer Hunters, most the Saber Marionette series Love Hina, the themes "Oversoul", "Trust You", "Northern Lights", and "Omokage" for Shaman King, and most recently the opening and ending themes of Gakuen Utopia Manabi Straight!. In addition, she has released several solo musical albums, and she has also sung as part of the bands DoCo and Ties, and as a guest vocalist for Hinata Girls. She has written lyrics for many of the songs she has performed.

Though Hayashibara is not well known in the music industry outside of Japan, within Japan, her albums sell strongly, routinely debuting in the top 10 on Japan’s Oricon pop music charts. Additionally, she hosts two radio shows, Tokyo Boogie Night and Heartful Station, which frequently showcase her songs, as well as those sung by other seiyū.

Hayashibara has also written several books, including two collections of essays, two volumes compiling her former magazine column, Aitakute Aitakute, an autobiographical manga, Ashita ga aru sa, and the Pokémon children’s book Jigglypuff's Magic Lullaby. She currently writes an advice column appearing monthly in Newtype magazine.

Contents 1 Notable voice roles 1.1 Anime 1.2 Game 1.3 Drama CD 2 Solo CD Albums 3 Radio shows 4 Manga (Japanese Comics) 5 U.S. Convention appearances 6 Trivia 7 External links

[edit] Notable voice roles

[edit] Anime

Current anime that Hayashibara is performing is in bold

• Rebuild of Evangelion (2007) as Rei Ayanami (revision story Evangelion)
• Gakuen Utopia Manabi Straight! (2007) as young Chief (Episode 9/Only in the Beginning)
• Pocket Monsters Diamond & Pearl: Dialga vs. Palkia vs. Darkrai (2007) as Musashi
• Paprika (2006) as Atsuko Chiba and Paprika
• Inukami! (2006) as Young Kayano Kawahira (episode 10 - special appearance)
• Pocket Monsters Advanced Generation: Pokémon Ranger and the Prince of the Sea: Manaphy (2006) as Musashi
• Law of Ueki (2005) as Ueki Haruko (episodes 45 - 47)
• Pocket Monsters Advanced Generation: Mew and the Wave-Guiding Hero: Lucario (2005) as Musashi
• Pocket Monsters Advanced Generation: The Visitor of the Space Fissure: Deoxys (2004) as Musashi
• Hitsuji no Uta (2003) as Koujou Chisana
• Pocket Monsters Advanced Generation: The Wishing Star of Seven Nights: Jirachi (2003) as Musashi
• Cromartie High School (2003) as Maeda's Mother
• Shrine of the Morning Mist as Kurako Hieda
• Tenshi na Konamaiki (2002) as Amatsuka Megumi
• Pocket Monsters: The Guardians of the Water City: Latias and Latios (2002) as Musashi, Latias
• Love Hina Again (2002) as Haruka Urashima
• Sorcerous Stabber Orphen (2001) as Esperanza
• Shaman King (2001) as Anna Kyōyama and Opacho
• Slayers Premium (2001) as Lina Inverse
• Pocket Monsters: Celebi: A Timeless Adventure (2001) as Musashi
• Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (2001) as Faye Valentine
• Tales of Eternia - The Animation (2001) as Marone Bluecarno
• One Piece: Nejimaki Shima no Bouken (2001) as Honey Queen
• Love Hina (2000) as Haruka Urashima
• Pocket Monsters: Lord of the Unknown Tower (2000) as Musashi and Fushigidane
• Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust (2000) as Leila
• Cardcaptor Sakura (1999) as Madoushi
• Pocket Monsters: Revelation Lugia (1999) as Musashi and Fushigidane
• Starship Girl Yamamoto Yohko (1999) as Madoka Midou
• Queen Emeraldas (1998) as Hiroshi Umino
• Pocket Monsters: Mewtwo Strikes Back (1998) as Musashi and Fushigidane
• Saber Marionette J to X (1998) as Lime
• Lupin III: Memories of the Flame: Tokyo Crisis (1998) as Maria
• Akihabara Dennou Gumi (1998) as Tsubame Otori
• Cowboy Bebop (1998) as Faye Valentine
• Lost Universe (1998) as Canal Vorfeed
• Slayers Excellent (1998) as Lina Inverse
• Slayers Gorgeous as Lina Inverse
• Slayers Great (1997) as Lina Inverse
• Slayers TRY (1997) as Lina Inverse
• Pokémon (1997) as Musashi, Fushigidane, Pigeon, and the Advanced Generation Pokédex, among many other roles)
• Jungle de Ikou! (1997) as Ongo
• Mashin Eiyuuden Wataru (1988) as Himiko Shinobibe
• Mashin Eiyuuden Wataru 2 (1990) as Himiko Shinobibe
• Chou Mashin Eiyuuden Wataru (1997) as Himiko Shinobibe
• Sorcerer Hunters (1996) as Tira Misu
• Black Jack (1996) as Rei Fujinami
• Saber Marionette J (1996) as Lime
• Slayers Special (1996) as Lina Inverse
• Slayers Return (1996) as Lina Inverse
• Tenchi: The Movie (1996) as Achika Masaki
• Slayers NEXT (1996) as Lina Inverse
• Detective Conan (Case Closed) (1996) as Shiho Miyano aka Ai Haibara (Sherry)(episode 219/oav 1:Conan vs KID vs Yaiba as Koizumi Akako)
• Shadow Skill (1995) as Elle Ragu
• Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995) as Rei Ayanami, Yui Ikari, Pen Pen, EVA-01 (Berserk Mode)
• Slayers: The Motion Picture (1995) at Lina Inverse
• Slayers (1995) as Lina Inverse
• Sailor Moon S the Movie: Hearts In Ice (1994) as Himeko Nayotake
• Blue Seed (1994) as Momiji Fujimiya
• DNA² (1994) as Tomoko Saeki
• Macross Plus (1994) as Lucy MacMillan
• Uchu no Kishi Tekkaman Blade II (1994) as Aki Kisaragi
• Nekketsu Saikyo Gosaurer (1993) as Hiromi Tachibana, Erika and Harue Yamamoto
• The Hakkenden (1993) as Mouya Inusaka
• Hello Kitty's Paradise (1993) as Hello Kitty
• Uchu no Kishi Tekkaman Blade (1992) as Aki Kisaragi
• Yu Yu Hakusho (1992) as Genkai (young version)
• All-Purpose Cultural Cat Girl Nuku Nuku (1992) as Atsuko "Nuku Nuku" Natsume
• Video Girl Ai (1992) as Ai Amano
• Zettai Muteki Raijin-Oh (1991) as Falzev, Ruruko Himeki and Yu Izumi
• 3x3 Eyes (1991) as Pai/Parvati
• Magical Princess Minky Momo (1991) as Minky Momo
• Patlabor the Movie (1989) as Weather Forecaster
• Garaga (1989) as Kina
• Ranma ½ (1989) as Ranma Saotome (female)
• Gundam 0080 (1989) as Christina "Chris" MacKenzie
• Bubblegum Crisis (1987) as Nam
• Project A-Ko (1986) as Ume
• Maison Ikkoku (1986) as Yosuke Nanao, various (debut)

[edit] Game

• 3x3 Eyes -Kyuusei Koushu- as Pai and Sanjiyan
• 3x3 Eyes Tenrin'ou Genmu as Pai and Sanjiyan
• Ayanami Ikusei Keikaku as Ayanami Rei
• Eva to Yukai na Nakama tachi as Ayanami Rei
• Evangelion 2nd Impression as Ayanami Rei
• Evangelion Koutetsu no Girlfriend(Girlfriend of Steel) as Ayanami Rei and Kirishima Mana
• Battle Tycoon as Tilia Rosette
• EMIT as Tanaka Yuri
• Fire Woman Matoigumi as Sakai Ryoko
• Kidou Senshi Gundam Climax U.C. as Christina MacKenzie
• Kidou Senshi Gundam Senki as Christina MacKenzie
• Lunar Eternal Blue as Remiina
• Mujintou Monogatari as Kurashima Saori
• O-chan no Oekaki Logic as Hebe
• Popoitto Hebereke as all voices
• Quo Vadis 2 as Hilda Belens
• Ranma 1/2 as Saotome Ranma
• Ranma 1/2 Battle Renaissance as Saotome Ranma
• Ranma 1/2 Datou, Ganso Musabetsu Kakutouryuu! as Saotome Ranma
• Ranma 1/2 Torawareno Hanayome as Saotome Ranma
• Shaman King: Soul Fight as Anna Kyoyama
• Shining Force Neo as Freya
• Shining Tears as Blanc Neige
• Slayers Royal as Lina Inverse
• Slayers Royal 2 as Lina Inverse
• Slayers Wonderful as Lina Inverse
• Super Robot Taisen F as Patricia Hackman
• Torifels Mahou Gakuen as Eltz
• WarioWare: Smooth Moves! as Ashley and Red (Japanese version)
• WarioWare: Touched! as Ashley and Red (Japanese version)
• Wrestle Angels as Megumi

[edit] Drama CD

• Akihabara Dennou Gumi as Tsubame
• Bakuretsu Hunt as Tira Mis
• Bannou Bunka Nekomusume as Natsume Atsuko
• Dancing Whispers as Miifa
• GS Mikami Gokuraku Daisakusen!! as DJ
• Jungle de Ikou as Ongo
• Kodomotachi ha Yoru no Juunin as Yumi
• Lamune & 40 DX as Mountain Dew Gold
• Lips the Agent as Yuu and Winter Fairy
• Love Hina as Urashima Haruka
• Mujintou Monogatari as Kurashima Saori
• Neon Genesis Evangelion as Ayanami Rei
• PopFul Mail Paradise 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 as Mail
• Popful Mail The Next Generation as Mail
• RG Veda as Ashura
• Shadow Skill as El Lag
• Slayers Extra as Lina Inverse
• Slayers Nextra as Lina Inverse
• Slayers Premium as Lina Inverse
• Slayers vs. Orphen as Lina Inverse
• SM Girls Saber Marionette J/R as Lime
• Starship Girl Yamamoto Yohko as Madoka Midou
• Tokyo Juliette as Ayase Minori

As of August 2006, she is known to have sung a total of at least 332 unique songs (457 songs, including remixes and edited versions), most of which have been related to anime series, drama CDs, or video games. As of that date, she had appeared on at least 562 known CD releases, 325 of which include singing performances. However, no official canonical list of her CD releases has been compiled, and it is possible that the true totals exceed these figures to some degree.

She was the voice of Li'l Sneezer in the Japanese dub of Tiny Toon Adventures.

[edit] Solo CD Albums

All are King Records releases unless otherwise noted

• Half and, Half (KICS-100, 1991)
• WHATEVER (KICS-176, 1992)
• Perfume (KICS-215, 1992)
• SHAMROCK (KICS-345, 1993)
• PULSE (Futureland, TYCY-5413, 1994)
• SpHERE (KICS-430, 1994)
• Enfleurage (KICS-475, 1995)
• bertemu (KICS-590, 1996)
• Irāvatī (KICS-640, 1997)
• Fuwari(ふわり) (KICS-755, 1999)
• VINTAGE S (KICS-790, 2000)
• VINTAGE A (KICS-810, 2000)
• feel well (KICS-955, 2002)
• Northern lights (2002)
• center color (KICS-1070, 2004)
• PLAIN (KICS-1303, to be released April 21, 2007)

[edit] Radio shows

Hayashibara has/had hosted the following radio shows:

• Tokyo Boogie Night
• Haoujuku
• Heartful Station
• Muboujuku

[edit] Manga (Japanese Comics)

• Megumi-Toons (writer)

[edit] U.S. Convention appearances

Anime America 1993[2] and 1995[3]

[edit] Trivia

• Blood type: O
• Height: 1.55 (5'1") m
• Weight: 45 kg (99 lbs)
• 3 Sizes: 80-59-85
• Shoe size: 23 cm
• She admits being camera shy, as she's been offered roles for many tokusatsu shows due to her talents as being a voice actor. She is more comfortable working in voice only instead of in front of the camera. Currently, her only association with this genre is doing the opening for the Henshin Heroine series, Vanny Knights. Many tokusatsu fans familiar with her work feel confident that she's quite capable of transitioning from anime to tokusatsu, as many tokusatsu actors and actresses made successful transitions to anime.
• In many anime, Hayashibara is cast as a redheaded character with combat abilities.
• She shares the same birthday with Ayako Kawasumi.
• Hayashibara actually did obtain a nursing license, and has cited incidents where she has had to perform advanced first aid on audience members during public appearances.
• The character of Megumi Reinard in Martian Successor Nadesico, a successful seiyū who goes to war as the ship's communcations officer, appears to be partially modeled on Hayashibara.

[edit] External links

• megumi HOUSE (Official website - Japanese)
• Animenfo.com profile
• Megumi Hayashibara voice roles at Hitoshi Doi's seiyu database
• Jmusic.fr.tc biographie et discographie, section jmusic (fr)