For many, Sho Karino is an unknown name. However, the talented seiyuu and Café Parade leader is showing that all he needs is that golden opportunity to truly shine.
Estimated reading time: 12 minutes
Sho Karino
KANJI: 狩野翔
BORN: December 18, 1987
OCCUPATION: seiyuu, actor
HEIGHT: 175cm
Sho Karino was born on December 18, 1987 in Kanagawa, Japan.
Before making his debut as a seiyuu, Karino attended Tokyo Animator College, a multimedia vocational school located in Tokyo that rains animators, illustrators, manga artists, and voice actors.
After graduating, he joined Tokyo Actor’s Consumer’s Cooperative Society, and, to this day, he’s represented by them.
Seiyuu
2010 –
Slowly building his repertoire
Since his debut in 2010, Sho Karino has trailed slowly in the anime industry, only counting with minor roles and an odd supporting role here and there.
From the few opportunities he’s gotten to showcase his skills, Karino has shown a good grasp of emotions, has a good, gentle mid-toned voice, and has a certain degree of versatility.
His first steps in the anime industry were in 2011 with minor roles in Kamisama Dolls, Maji de Watashi ni Koi Shinasai! and Nekogami Yaoyorozu.
2012 was a really slow year for Karino, counting with only one minor role in Sword Art Online.
Things changed around in 2013 when Karino was cast in anime series such as Outbreak Company, Aoi Sekai no Chuushin de, Sekai de Ichiban Tsuyoku Naritai!, Tamayura: More Aggressive, and Lego Legends of Chima.
2014 would have been Karino’s best year as a voice actor for anime, with him raking up 10 minor roles in a wide variety of anime genres that went from shounen to ecchi, shounen-ai, action, drama, and more.
Although his characters got very few lines for those series, Karino made sure his performance was always at a really high level.
In that year, he got minor roles in anime series such as Noragami, DRAMAtical Murder, Isshuukan Friends., Wizard Barristers: Benmashi Cecil, Gokukoku no Brynhildr, Space☆Dandy, Nourin, Detective Conan, between many others.
From 2015 – 2016, work in anime dropped a lot for Karino, with him getting minor roles in Shokugeki no Souma, Binan Koukou Chikyuu Boueibu LOVE!, Schwarzesmarken, and Bokura wa Minna Kawai-sou (OVA).
2017 arrived and with it came the anime adaptation of the extremely popular idol franchise, The iDOLM@STER SideM. Although not part of the main cast introduced in that season, Yukihiro Kamiya got a cameo on one of the episodes.
Karino reprised his role as Yukihiro Kamiya, Café Parade’s leader for this series as well as for the chibi anime stemming from the franchise The iDOLM@STER SideM: Wake Atte Mini! (2018).
2018 proved to be a quiet year, counting with minor roles in Death March kara Hajimaru Isekai Kyousoukyoku, Aguu: Tensai Ningyou, Dakaretai Otoko 1-i ni Odosarete Imasu. and Yagate Kimi ni Naru.
2019 and 2020 presented themselves as complicated years for Karino, with little to no exposure in popular anime and being cast in very few works.
However, his past experiences voicing minor characters in isekai anime proved useful, as he continued to be cast in series of that genre.
In this period, Karino got roles in Mahou Shoujo Tokushusen Asuka, Kenja no Mago, Watashi, Nouryoku wa Heikinchi de tte Itta yo ne!, Uchi Tama?! Uchi no Tama Shirimasen ka?, Honzuki no Gekokujou and Muhyo to Rouji no Mahouritsu Soudan Jimusho.
In 2021, Karino was cast in the popular action anime Tokyo Revengers.
He voices Chifuyu Matsuno, one of the main characters in the series, the calm and collected vice-captain of Toman’s 1st division. He’s loyal to a fault, sometimes getting himself in danger to help his friends.
Karino is still trying to find his footing however when given the opportunity, he’s always made sure his performances were of high quality, showing that there is a lot of talent waiting for its chance to be unleashed.
Radio
Karino is still working towards being a well-known and respected name in the industry and, as such, due to his current low popularity, there haven’t been many opportunities to host radio shows aside from the rotational radio show for the IDOLMASTER SideM franchise and MAN TWO MONTH radio.
His witty and naturally funny demeanor quickly disarm anyone that is participating – guesting and/or hosting – the radio show he’s in. He’s armed with an arsenal of puns and jokes around quite a lot, making the environment around him pretty relaxed.
IDOLMASTER SideM Radio 315Night! (2018)
Sho Karino has co-hosted the radio show IDOLMASTER SideM Radio 315Night! several times. Between being a guest, main MC and a pinch-hitter, Karino counts with over 10 appearances on this radio show.
He’s got to host this radio show in 2018 alongside fellow Café Parade members – Makoto Furukawa and Daiki Kobayashi, Takuya Kodama – and was also a guest alongside members of other groups.
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.
MAN TWO MONTH RADIO (2018)
In 2018, Sho Karino was invited to host his own radio show for 1 whole month in MAN TWO MONTH RADIO, radio show that counts with a different seiyuu host each month.
It kicked off with fellow seiyuu Soma Saito in 2015, and, over the years, it has been a fantastic outlet for newcomer or less known seiyuu to have their voices heard and their talents appreciated.
Seiyuu chose their theme, the name of the radio show, and variety corners, as well as handle solo hosting of the said radio show.
Karino’s radio show was titled MAN TWO MONTH RADIO 狩野翔のラジオ仮免取得中！(MAN TWO MONTH RADIO Karino Sho no Radio Karimen Shutokuchu!).
For his radio show, Karino talked about games, the occult, and things he wanted to improve in himself.
Games
Much like his work in anime, Karino doesn’t count with many credits in games.
Still, from the credits he has under his belt, it is safe to say that RPGs are the genre of games in which he has voiced characters with more frequency.
Some of his credits in games include:
- Valiant Knights (2015),
- LORD of VERMILION III (2015),
- IDOLMASTER SideM (2016),
- LORD of VERMILION ARENA (2016),
- IDOLMASTER SideM LIVE ON ST@GE! (2017),
- Otomeken Musashi (2018),
- Quiz RPG: The World of Mystic Wiz (2019),
- Touken Ranbu -ONLINE- (2020), and
- Monster Strike (2020).
Acting
Alongside his work as a voice actor, Sho Karino has done a bit of acting work, mainly stage acting.
Some of his acting credits include Nijiiro Orchestra (2013, 2016), Butai sunzen kazoku (2012), Yari mizo Sodesu yo. (2013) and Sakurada Family Monogatari (2019).
He’s an expressive actor with a lot of confidence in himself. Sakurada Family Monogatari, one of the most popular plays he’s been a part of, was released on DVD, giving Karino’s fans a good glimpse at his acting in front of a camera and an audience.
K4 Company (2021)
In 2021, Karino joined the supporting cast alongside fellow male seiyuu Tsubasa Yonaga, Kentaro Kumagai, Gakuto Kajiwara, Jun Kasama, Sho Karino, Yuuki Shin, and Yuya Hozumi in the movie K4 Company THE MOVIE.
Drama CDs
Sho Karino is still taking his first steps when it comes to working on drama CDs. His first leading acting credit in drama CDs is in the BL CD, Koi toka Ai toka, souiu no (恋とか愛とか、そういうの).
Some of his credits include: THE IDOLM@STER SideM ST@RTING LINE Café Parade / Shinsoku Ikkon, Chic na megane to ki ni naru Karada and Deichuu no Hasu.
Music
On the music side of things, Sho Karino has yet to make a solo debut or join a seiyuu unit.
However, he’s well known for his work as the leader of IDOLMASTER SideM’s flamboyant group, Café Parade.
Café Parade (2015 -)
This unit consists of Makoto Furukawa, Daiki Kobayashi, Takuya Kodama, Sho Karino and Kouhei Amasaki. This unit is part of the IDOLMASTER SideM franchise.
Sho Karino is the heart of the group, being one of the most consistent and charismatic singers within the group. He’s always performing with a big smile on his face, something that instantly makes him stand out.
To top it all off, Karino has a really sweet mid-tone singing voice that stands out.
Up until now, the quintet has released 3 CDs, THE IDOLM@STER SideM ST@RTING LINE-10 Café Parade (2016), THE IDOLM@STER SideM NEW STAGE EPISODE:04 Café Parade (2020), and THE IDOLM@STER SideM GROWING SIGN@L 04 Café Parade (2022).
Although the group had a small cameo in the IDOLM@STER SideM anime, the group ended up not releasing any music for the series.
Aside from these singles, Café Parade has participated in several cross-unit and solo song projects within the franchise.
The quintet has participated so far in 4 IDOLMASTER SideM stages:
- 2nd STAGE 〜ORIGIN@L STARS〜 (2017),
- 3rd STAGE 〜GLORIOUS ST@GE!〜 (2018),
- THE IDOLM@STER SideM 4th LIVE STAGE 〜TRE@SURE GATE〜 (2019),
- THE IDOLM@STER SideM 6thLIVE TOUR ～NEXT DESTIN@TION!～ (2021 – 2022).
Variety
Funny, witty, and always with a pun or two ready to be unleashed, Sho Karino is a blast to watch in whatever variety show he’s a part of.
As a host he lets his professionalism show, being able to conduct a show following the script but always with a quip or two in the middle. As a guest he can range from calm to goofy, making the hosts, as well as other guests, feel at ease.
Over the years, Karino has been participating in seiyuu variety shows. He’s been on several Marine Entertainment variety shows such as FUTSAL Seiyuu and Jinrou Battle.
After years of guesting on variety shows, Karino got his own variety show in 2018.
Below are some of his most relevant variety show appearances of his.
Ito Kento & Karino Sho no Sui do (2018 -)
Since 2018, Sho Karino has been co-hosting the cooking variety show Ito Kento & Karino Sho no Sui do (伊東健人・狩野翔のスイどう) with fellow seiyuu, Kento Ito.
For this Nico Nico show, Kento Ito and Sho Karino try to make sweets delicately yet with a manly touch with the help of the staff. The show is rather popular, even counting with special events and DVD releases.
Futsal Seiyuu (2019 -)
In 2019, Karino joined the cast of Marine Entertainment’s sports variety, Futsal Seiyuu.
He then participated in the 2nd edition of the variety series, Futsal Seiyuu 2019 SEPTEMBER, which counted with Yoshitaka Yamaya, Taichi Ichikawa, Reona Irie, Shimoduru Naoyuki, Kodai Sakai, Tetsuro Noda, Akihiro Arai, Daiki Hamano, Yuki Shin, Tomoki Atsuta, Yusuke Nagano, Shugo Nakamura, Toshinari Fukamachi and Takuya Masumoto.
Karino Sho no Seiyuu mo MAGICBAR ni iru (2018 – )
In 2018, Sho Karino started to host his own variety show 狩野翔の声優もMAGICBARにいる (Karino Sho no Seiyuu mo MAGICBAR ni iru).
Karino is the bar’s master, receiving fellow male seiyuu as guests on it, collaboration with both the guests as well as the viewers on interesting projects.
Seiyuu Bowling Grandprix 5 (2020)
In 2020, Sho Karino participated in the 5th edition of the bowling variety DVD series, Seiyuu Bowling Grandprix.
He was featured alongside Kentaro Kumagai, Gakuto Kajiwara and Masatomo Nakazawa.
Seiyuu Bowling Grandprix was created by Seiyuu Grandprix, well-known seiyuu magazine, and it counts with a pretty unique concept: a bowling tournament with punishments, skill challenges, and free talk corners.
Gakutomo Channel (2020)
In 2020, Sho Karino guested on Gakuto Kajiwara’s YouTube channel, Gakuto Channel. He participated in 4 episodes that included a wide variety of tasks and challenges.
At the same time, those episodes count with candid talk between both.
Facts
Loves the occult
In 2018, on MAN TWO MONTH RADIO Karino Sho no Radio Karimen Shutokuchu!, Karino mentioned that he loves watching occult videos and does so with frequency. He’s a big fan as well of science-fiction movies.
Athletic
Fans of Karino know that he is extremely athletic. He plays futsal and he loves snowboarding, pole vaulting, and gymnastics.
Due to this, he’s participated and shone for several physical variety events such as FUTSAL Seiyuu.
Designer
In 2017, Sho Karino collaborated with LIVERTINE AGE, a Japanese apparel brand, by designing designs for t-shirts and hoodies. His collection quickly sold out.
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.
