Despite having joined the voice acting industry in Japan fairly late, Takeo Otsuka has turned into one of its rising stars.
Time to dive into his Seiyuu Digest and get to know more about his career.
Takeo Otsuka
KANJI: 大塚剛央
BORN: October 19, 1992
OCCUPATION: Voice actor
HEIGHT: N/A
Takeo Otsuka was born on October 19, 1992, in Tokyo, Japan, and is currently represented by I’m Enterprise.
Seiyuu
Contrary to most seiyuu, Takeo Otsuka’s path towards becoming a voice actor was not something well-defined since his high school days.
However, Otsuka owes his passion for video games and, in a way, his curiosity for the profession of voice acting, to his mother.
His mother was a fan of video games. As such he was exposed to various seiyuu from a young age.
It was during his high school years when he began watching late-night anime that he started to seriously consider it.
He developed an appreciation for the voices of characters and began researching the names of voice actors behind those roles. Still, it was not enough to sway him into becoming a voice actor.
Having had good teachers along the way, his dreams in middle school were initially focused on becoming a schoolteacher.
Later, in his third year of high school, because of his involvement in sports, he started considering careers related to sports, such as athletics.
Things changed when he was in his fourth year of university. He was job hunting but he was never entirely satisfied with his career prospects.
According to Otsuka, he felt that what he was pursuing wasn’t truly what he wanted to do. He pondered about his passions and interests and found that he was deeply enthusiastic about games and anime.
It was in this reflection that he realized the potential of a career in voice acting. His vision of the future became clearer, and from that point onward, he was certain that this was what he wanted to pursue. His doubts had vanished.
After graduating from the Japan Narration Acting Institute, he signed with I’m Enterprise, making his debut as a voice actor in 2016.
2016 – 2017
First steps in the voice acting industry
Otsuka made his debut as a voice actor in 2016 with a minor role in the anime series, Amanchu!.
The following year added minor roles to his repertoire in anime series such as Twin Angel Break, In Another World With My Smartphone, and Magical Circle Guru Guru.
These first two years were focused on slowly getting his name out there, working towards what would end up being an amazing year for Takeo Otsuka.
2018 – 2022
First leading roles
2018 ended up being a breakthrough year for Takeo Otsuka.
In August 2018, he achieved his first leading role in an anime as Rimo in the romance/drama animated movie, Shikioriori.
Not too long after that, in October 2018, he secured his first leading role in a TV anime as Kakeru Kurahara in the sports anime series, Kaze ga Tsuyoku Fuiteiru.
This was a role that ended up putting the spotlight on Otsuka’s voice acting skills like no other before.
The acting effectively covers how blunt and cold Kurahara is when the anime starts, slowly opening to those around him, warming up to them, and showing a more caring individual. His goals are the same but the character ends up growing alongside the whole running team.
Otsuka’s delivery ended up turning some heads his way and would, eventually, put a spotlight on himself as one of the rising stars among male seiyuu, something that, at the 14th Seiyuu Awards in 2020 would be officially confirmed.
A year later, Takeo Otsuka saw himself cast in another leading role in an anime series. He was cast as Ryuusei Midorigaoka in the anime/live-action series, Dimension High School.
The series was not well received due to its quirky concept and B-movie acting for both the voice and the live cast. As a result, this is one of Otsuka’s roles that, despite having shown a different of his acting, didn’t end up putting a good light on himself.
2020 was a year that hit the voice acting industry in ways no one was anticipating. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, studios closed in Japan from March to August, halting recordings, projects being canceled, and, worst of all, many seiyuu losing their gigs during that time.
The effects of the pandemic were felt as well in the following year (as anime series are recorded 1 or 2 seasons ahead of time).
As a result, only seiyuu that had been active in the previous year or up until March 2020 got a chance to be active – or have some activity despite not recording a thing in 2020 – in anime series and the sort.
Takeo Otsuka was cast in the Haikyuu!! anime series season Haikyuu!! To the Top and in the OVA series Haikyuu!! Riku vs. Kuu as two different supporting characters.
Out of those, it was his role as the wing spiker Naoyasu Kuguri in Haikyuu!! Riku vs. Kuu stood out the most for his emotionless acting style matching the character’s lethargic personality.
Still, in 2020, he was cast as Takeo, a modified human with a genuine care for humans, in the anime series, Noblesse.
2021 was a year to forget for Otsuka, scoring only 2 new roles in anime series, with both being supporting and barely getting any screen time.
As far as reprisals go, he reprised his roles as Oryx and Collot in the 2nd season of Beastars.
Things changed around in 2022, with Takeo Otsuka scoring a leading role in an anime series yet again.
He was cast as the cynical and prideful Leon Fou Bartfort, the protagonist of the anime series, Otome Game Sekai wa Mob ni Kibishii Sekai desu.
In the same year, Otsuka reprised his role as Gerald in Shadows House 2nd Season.
Other anime series in which he has voiced characters include:
- Golden Kamuy (2018)
- Last Period (2018)
- The Thousand Musketeers (2018)
- Endro! (2019)
- Namu Amida Butsu! Rendai Utena (2019)
- Stars Align (2019)
- Beastars (2019)
- Kami no Tou (2020)
- Munou na Nana (2020)
- Maoujou de Oyasumi (2020)
- Beastars 2nd Season (2021)
- Shadows House (2021)
- Bottom-tier Character Tomozaki (2021)
- Cap Kakumei Bottleman DX (2022)
- Akuyaku Reijou nanode Last Boss wo Kattemimashita (2022)
- Kidou Senshi Gundam: Suisei no Majo (2022)
- Sword Art Online: Progressive Movie – Kuraki Yuuyami no Scherzo (2022)
- Saiyuuki Reload: Zeroin (2022)
- Orient (2022 – 2023)
2023 –
On a good spell
2023 revealed itself as a big year for Takeo Otsuka as he scored more than 4 leading roles in anime series.
He was cast as Aquamarine Hoshino, one of the protagonists in the drama anime series, Oshi no Ko.
Due to the character’s background – which I’m not going to spoil -, Otsuka’s performance was mature, calm, and collected throughout, with Aqua often being the one solving mysteries or helping others behind the scenes.
The series received a lot of fanfare, turning into a favorite in the year by many anime viewers in Japan and overseas.
The series is confirmed for a 2nd season.
He was then cast as Kanata, the protagonist in the sci-fi anime series, Synduality: Noir. The series was split into two seasons, with the 2nd one premiering in 2024.
Still, in the summer of 2023, Takeo Otsuka was cast as Hikaru Sudou, an intelligent calm, and collected doctor and the protagonist in the anime series, AI no Idenshi.
He was then cast as the stoic and serious Hyoma Kunato, the protagonist in the action anime series, Monogatari. The series has two seasons, which aired in the same year.
In the Autumn anime season, Otsuka voices Jinshi, one of the main characters in the anime series, based on the popular light novels, The Apothecary Diaries.
In 2024, he will be voicing Aoi Nanamori in the anime adaptation of the popular manga, Momochi-san Chi no Ayakashi Ouji.
Other anime series in which he has voiced characters include:
- Sugar Apple Fairy Tale (2023)
- Saikyou Onmyouji no Isekai Tenseiki (2023)
- Flaglia: Natsuyasumi no Monogatari (2023)
- Kidou Senshi Gundam: Suisei no Majo Season 2 (2023)
- Potion-danomi de Ikinobimasu! (2023)
- Hokkyoku Hyakkaten no Concierge-san (2023)
- Technoroid: Overmind (2023)
- Opus.COLORs (2023)
- BLEACH (2023)
Awards
In 2020, at the 14th Seiyuu Awards, Takeo Otsuka shared the Best New Actor award with Gakuto Kajiwara, Katsumi Fukuhara, Koutaro Daigo, and Shogo Yano.
Radio
Since early on in his career, Takeo Otsuka has been active as a radio show host. His first big radio show and still his longest-running is “Bokutachi Mou Friend desuyone?”.
As a radio show host, Otsuka is all-around friendly and nice to his guests and easily joins in any crazy shenanigans that his guests or co-hosts start.
Below are some of the radio shows that have marked his career so far.
Amasaki Kouhei, Otsuka Takeo no Bokutachi Mou Friend Desuyone? (2017 -)
In 2017, Takeo Otsuka teamed up with fellow seiyuu Kouhei Amasaki to co-host the radio show “Amasaki Kouhei, Otsuka Takeo no Bokutachi Mou Friend Desuyone?” (天﨑滉平、大塚剛央の僕たちもうフレンドですよね？).
The radio show kicked off with the concept of “Two new voice actors with few friends make a lot of friends in the industry“, with each guest, initially, having a “friend card” to fill in according to certain conditions.
After making a total of 10 friends, something they achieved in 2020, the radio show changed its focus from making friends to a regular friendly radio show that has, from time to time, crossover episodes with other radio shows hosted by seiyuu.
Login Play (2020 – )
Since 2020, Otsuka has been co-hosting the radio show Kyo mo tanoshi-sonna yon nin ga login shita yodesu (shortened to Login Play) with Takahide Ishii, Tetsuei Sumiya, and Takeru Kikuchi.
The radio show focuses on all things gaming, with the 4 seiyuu sharing their passions for games and even tackling interesting challenges along the way.
Being hosted by Marine Entertainment has made it so that the quartet has made its debut as a seiyuu unit named Playstyle.
MAN TWO MONTH Radio Otsuka Takeo Nonbiri Sanpo Demo Shimasen ka? (2021)
In 2021, Otsuka was invited to be the host of MAN TWO MONTH RADIO, show in which seiyuu can handle their own radio show for two months before switching to the next seiyuu.
MAN TWO MONTH Radio Otsuka Takeo Nonbiri Sanpo Demo Shimasen ka? (MAN TWO MONTH RADIO 大塚剛央 のんびり散歩でもしませんか) was hosted in August and September 2021.
IDOLMASTER SideM Radio 315Night! (2021)
Alongside C.FIRST’s members Yuri Ise and Masaya Miyazaki, Otsuka hosted the radio show IDOLMASTER SideM Radio 315Night! in 2021.
As per usual with this radio show, it was entertaining and filled with a great, warm vibe, fun corners, and a lot of crazy shenanigans.
Takeo Otsuka & Taito Ban’s Andonuts! (2023)
In 2023, Otsuka teamed up with fellow seiyuu Taito Ban to host the radio show “Takeo Otsuka & Taito Ban’s Andonuts!“.
Other radio shows he has hosted, co-hosted, or guested include:
- Dimension High School After School Study Room
- Kaze ga Tsuyoku Fuiteiru Radio de ashiru no suki ka?
- [Oshinoko] no Hanashi
- SYNDUALITY Noir Rock Town Broadcasting Station
Games
Up until the time of writing this article, Takeo Otsuka hasn’t had many opportunities to voice main characters in games.
He’s lent voice characters such as:
Eishin Mayumi in THE IDOLM@STER SideM GROWING STARS (2021 – 2023)
In 2021, C.FIRST debuted a couple of months prior to the launch of HE IDOLM@STER SideM GROWING STARS, smartphone game in the SideM franchise.
Otsuka voiced Eishin Mayumi, one of the members of the group.
The game introduced a fully-voiced main story, Live2D models, chat with idols (in-game), and a rhythm game section introducing 4 different difficulty settings. However, after a two-year run, the game announced its discontinuation.
Joshua Rosfield (young) in Final Fantasy XVI (2023)
In 2023, Takeo Otsuka was cast in the Japanese dub of the action/fantasy RPG game Final Fantasy XVI. He voiced the younger version of Joshua Rosfield.
He also voiced characters in the following games (list is not exhaustive):
- Labyrinth of Grand Marche (2016)
- Captain Tsubasa ~Fighting Dream Team~ (2017)
- Duel Masters Place (2019)
- Z/X Code OverBoost (2020)
- OVERHIT (2020)
- Megami Historia (2020)
- Angelique Luminarise (2021)
- Technoroid Unison Heart (2022)
- N -INNOCENCE- (2022)
- Million Dollar Boys (2022)
- Your Majesty (2022)
- Ikemen Villains (2023)
- CARAVAN STORIES (2023)
- Dragon Quest Champions (2023)
- Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road of Heroes (2023)
Live Acting/Reading
Although this is not a massive focus in Takeo Otsuka’s career, he does have an interesting set of live acting/reading credits to his name.
In 2019, Takeo Otsuka was cast in the anime/live action series Dimension High School.
He voiced and acted as Ryuusei Midorigaoka, something that required a completely different skillset from just giving a voice to the character.
The series mixed anime parts with live action ones. While the anime series didn’t take itself really seriously, the live acting wasn’t necessarily bad, with Takeo Otsuka showing a completely different side to his acting skillset.
In 2021, Takeo Otsuka participated in the CHIL CHIL BOX live reading boys love (BL) play “Shokan IP!〜 Shachiku to Vamp 〜”.
In this play, protagonist Kyosuke Takanashi (played by Soma Saito) works quietly in a corner of Maki Corporation, a leading company, without any good or bad feelings, greed, or enthusiasm.
That’s until Lucian (played by Takeo Otsuka) joins the company as an elite senior (and vampire).
This was the very first time Otsuka participated in a BL live reading play and feedback by those that attended was that his acting was really good, especially in comparison with all the BL veterans in the cast.
Narration / Dubbing
Otsuka started dubbing foreign movies and TV series in 2020. Since then he has a couple of credits under his belt. Some of those include:
- My Fake Boyfriend
- Sweet Magnolias
- LUCIFER
- Tiny Pretty Things
- The Twilight Zone
- Loud House
- Nata Tensei
When it comes to narration, he has 3 credits for commercials, not long-form narration for shows or documentaries.
Drama CDs
When it comes to drama CDs, Takeo Otsuka is quite active in this field, however, that activity is primarily in Boys Love (BL) drama CDs.
When it comes to the “regular” drama CDs, he has credits in a couple of tie-in drama CDs for game franchises and a few otome/romance drama CDs.
Some of those CDs are:
- FABULOUS NIGHT series,
- Mobile Suit Gundam: Witch of Mercury Special Drama CD,
- Jackass!,
- Itoshi no XL size,
- Megumi and Tsugumi,
- Cupid ni rakurai tsuigeki,
- Tasogare Outfocus,
- Yuukyuu omega,
between many more.
Music
Takeo Otsuka has started to be a name people have to be familiar with. In 2023, he still has very few roles in this field but the ones he has already show the quality he has on the vocal end.
He is by no means a heavily technical singer but he has plenty of control and his vocals sound really sweet all around which leads to pleasant performances.
He’s best known for being part of the following 2D music groups:
PlayStyle (2020 -)
PlayStyle consists of Takahide Ishii, Tetsuei Sumiya, Takeo Otsuka, and Takeru Kikuchi, co-hosts of the radio show Kyo mo tanoshi-sonna yon nin ga login shita yodesu (shortened to Login Play).
The group started to release music in 2020 with “FAKE OVER“.
So far they have released 3 singles, with all songs being featured as the themes for their radio show. They released “Ryusei Dream” (流星ドリーム) in 2021 and “GAME CHANGER” in 2022.
ChronoStasis (2020 -)
Still in 2020, Rejet – in collaboration with Marvelous – launched Fabulous Night, the host club-meets-Eurobeat music + drama project.
The franchise is hosted by Kenjiro Tsuda, who plays the role of the DJ (he does not sing in this franchise), and features 5 host clubs: Chronostasis, Twilight, Vendetta, Himmel, and Neo Basara.
All follow a different theme and have a completely different vibe to their visuals and music.
Otsuka got to be the face of a 2D music franchise in 2020 by nailing his role as Gilgamesh in the Fabulous Night franchise, leading ChronoStasis.
The group consists of Gilgamesh (CV: Takeo Ootsuka), Carl (CV: Yoshihide Sasaki), Algernon (CV: Shouta Aoi) and Sol (CV: Toshiki Masuda).
The group released its first song “Mythology” in 2021. The song was included in the group’s 1st CD “Host-Song Reservation -Gold-“.
The CD included as well the solo song “GODSELF” performed by Takeo Ostuka as Gilgamesh.
Wrapping up the 1st season of CD, the #1 hosts of each house released “FABULOUS NIGHT Legacy of Host-Song“.
Included in that CD was the song “Femme Fatale”.
Still in 2022, the franchise was back to releasing music, and yet again with the #1 hosts teaming up to perform “SYAKUNETSU” in Host-Song Luxury “SYAKUNETSU”.
With the 2nd CD series underway, the group released “Host-Song PRIDE -Hi-Tradition-“.
For this season, all 5 houses released a CD under the theme “PRIDE”. All 15 members tackled solo songs for the very first time, showing their determination to be the #1 host.
As Gilgamesh, Otsuka performed the solo song “PHOENIX“.
To wrap up the 2nd series of CDs, Gilgamesh (CV: Takeo Otsuka), Reimu Sumeragi (CV: Toshiyuki Toyonaga), and Tenma Hino (CV: Kensho Ono) performed “All eyes on me“, song included in the CD Host-Song Delight “all Eyes On Me”.
C.FIRST (2021 -)
In 2021, Takeo Otsuka joined the IDOLMA@STER SideM franchise as part of the trio, C.FIRST (read: class first).
C.FIRST is a trio consisting of Shu Amamine (CV: Yuri Ise), Momohito Hanazono (CV: Masaya Miyazaki), and Eishin Mayumi (CV: Takeo Otsuka).
The unit joined the franchise before the launch of Idolmaster SideM Growing Stars, smartphone game for the SideM franchise that was discontinued in 2022.
The group made its debut with the digital single “We’re the one” in August 2021. The song was extremely well-received by fans of the franchise.
That would end up being the appetizer for the trio’s 1st CD release “THE IDOLM@STER SideM GROWING SIGN@L 02 C.FIRST“.
The CD was released in December 2021 and included not only the previously released digital single but also a new track titled “Not Alone” and drama tracks to introduce the members to the fanbase.
The group then participated in the 49 ELEMENTS CD series that kicked off in 2022.
“THE IDOLM@STER SideM 49 ELEMENTS -02 C.FIRST” included a new group song titled “Trust me now” as well as solo tracks for each member, a first for the group.
As Eishin, Otsuka performed the song “KARMA”.
Aside from these singles, C.FIRST has participated in several live shows:
- THE IDOLM@STER SideM 6thLIVE TOUR ～NEXT DESTIN@TION!～ (2022)
- PRODUCER MEETING 315 BE@T OF PASSION FESTIVAL!!! (2022)
- THE IDOLM@STER SideM 7th STAGE (2023)
SCHWARZE KATZ (2021 – 2022)
Still, in the same year, Otsuka joined the cast of Dragon’s Bite, an original 2D entertainment project – not focused on music – created by games writer Hiroyuki Kamei.
Dragon’s Bite is a unique project that mixes seiyuu × cooking × music × Romance of the Three Kingdoms, all in the same place.
The story is set at Ryugu, a public casino facility built in Japan in the near future.
Cooking battles among three-member teams have taken place at an illegal casino set up deep beneath the facility. The battles are fought by the descendants of the heroes of the “Romance of the Three Kingdoms.” Their battle will change the fate of the world!
He joined SCHWARZE KATZ, group consisting of Xun You (CV: Takeo Otsuka), Guo Jia (CV: Yuki Sakakihara), and Xun Yu (CV: Tetsuei Sumiya).
As part of the group, he performed “Taste me, delicious” as well as the beautiful solo song “In the rain“.
In December 2022, the project announced its end.
Mechanica Metallica (2021 -)
In 2021, Otsuka joined the cast of Technoroid, a new generation mixed media project created by Noriyasu Agematsu (Uta no Prince-Sama, GHOST CONCERT, and VISUAL PRISON) in collaboration with RUCCA and Elements Garden.
He is a member of the EDM trio, メカニカメタリカ (Mechanica Metallica) alongside Junya Enoki, Akito Sugibayashi, and Shugo Nakamura.
The group released a preview of their debut song メタリックホリック (Metallic Holic) in 2021.
In 2022, the group released “Technoroid Unison Heart CLIMBER CD SERIES vol.3“, its first CD, part of the CLIMBER CD series.
The CD included the new song “Metallic Holic” as well as drama tracks to give a little bit more context into the backstory of each character as well as the group.
In 2023, the franchise released its first best of album titled “UNIZON MIND”.
The CD includes all the digital singles released by all the groups in the franchise, compiling them into a neat package that was perfect to introduce to new fans.
Variety
Given his late debut as a voice actor – in comparison with most seiyuu – as well as with how only recently has he started to attract attention, it is understandable that he doesn’t have many variety show appearances.
Adding to this is the fact that, since the COVID-19 pandemic, the seiyuu industry has changed drastically and companies like Marine Entertainment – that used to be big on producing such variety shows, – are barely afloat, there have been fewer and fewer variety shows around featuring whole casts or a selection of newcomers or rising stars playing games or tackling challenges.
As such, so far, Otsuka has had few opportunities to be on variety shows.
Jinro Battle lies and the truth 2020 FEBRUARY
In February 2020, Otsuka participated in Marine Entertainment’s popular Jinro Battle variety show, Jinro Battle lies and the truth 2020 FEBRUARY.
However, there were a couple of twists to the format. First, the show included a reading part, then it was aired live with a crowd, and the public could participate in it.
The cast included:
- Takahide Ishii,
- Taichi Ichikawa,
- Yuki Aoi,
- Takehiro Urao,
- Kazuki Ura,
- Gakuto Kajiwara,
- Shouhei Komatsu,
- Tomohito Takatsuka,
- Yusuke Nagano,
- Kento Hama,
- Daiki Hamano,
- Yoshitaka Yamaya
Facts
Really close to Kouhei Amasaki
When it comes to Otsuka’s social circle, especially within the seiyuu industry, he has confirmed that he has a close friendship with Kouhei Amasaki.
Both openly stated that in their web radio program “Bokutachi Mou, Friend Desu yo ne?”.
Loves gaming and going to karaoke
Being influenced by his mother since he was a little kid, Takeo Otsuka is an avid gamer. He ended up getting hooked on RPGs when he was introduced to “Final Fantasy IX” at a friend’s house.
At the same time, he loves karaoke and reading.
Clothing designer in collaboration with Livertine Age
Otsuka has collaborated several times with the Japanese apparel company, LIVERTINE AGE. For this brand, he has designed hats, sweaters, and shirts.
Playing football since he was young
Otsuka started playing soccer as a child after being invited by a neighborhood friend to just watch a practice session. He ended up joining in, something that marked the beginning of his involvement in the local soccer club.
With this, THTFHQ wraps up another Seiyuu Digest. In the meantime, don’t forget to check past Seiyuu Digests (some of those recently updated) – HERE.
