Kenji Utsumi
Voice ActorKenji Utsumi (1937-2013) was a Japanese actor best known for his voice work, including Balzac in the Berserk anime, across a career spanning nearly six decades in Japanese animation.
Berserk Role
Utsumi voiced Balzac in the Japanese-language version of Berserk, lending the character his instantly recognizable deep voice. The role sits among a filmography built largely on commanding, weighty characters across decades of anime work.
Career and Notable Roles
Utsumi's most famous roles include Raoh and Kaioh in Fist of the North Star, Senbei Norimaki in Dr. Slump, and Alex Louis Armstrong in Fullmetal Alchemist. Within the Dragon Ball franchise he voiced Shenlong, Commander Red, Reacoom, and the announcer of the Tenkaichi Budōkai tournament, and he also played Coach Kamogawa in Hajime no Ippo. He additionally served as the Japanese dub voice for Hollywood actors including Steve McQueen and Jack Nicholson, and he earned a lifetime achievement award at the Seiyu Awards.
Frequently Asked Questions
What anime did Kenji Utsumi voice?
Utsumi's most famous roles include Raoh and Kaioh in Fist of the North Star, and Senbei Norimaki in Dr. Slump. Both stand among his signature performances across decades of Japanese animation.
Who was Kenji Utsumi?
Kenji Utsumi (1937–2013) was a Japanese actor best known for his voice work, built on commanding, weighty characters across decades of anime. He earned a lifetime achievement award at the Seiyu Awards for his contributions to the industry.
Who voices Major Armstrong in Japanese?
Kenji Utsumi voices Alex Louis Armstrong in Fullmetal Alchemist. It's one of his best-known roles from a filmography built largely on commanding, weighty characters.
Who voices Genji Kamogawa?
Kenji Utsumi played Coach Kamogawa in Hajime no Ippo. The role is part of a career spent voicing authoritative, larger-than-life figures across Japanese anime.
What other work did Kenji Utsumi do besides anime?
Within the Dragon Ball franchise, Utsumi voiced Shenlong, Commander Red, Reacoom, and the announcer of the Tenkaichi Budōkai tournament. He also served as the Japanese dub voice for Hollywood actors including Steve McQueen and Jack Nicholson.
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Sources & Information
This content is original writing by Daddy Jim Headquarters based on the Dragon Ball anime series, manga, and official materials. Episode and chapter references are cited where applicable.
Character and scene imagery on this site is original artwork by Daddy Jim Headquarters, not screenshots or licensed imagery. Official cover art is used on three types of pages for editorial commentary:
- Movie pages: theatrical posters and key visuals, credited to Toei Animation and Shueisha.
- Game pages: official box art, credited to Bandai Namco, Atari, and other publishers.
- Manga chapter pages: Jump Comics volume covers, credited to Shueisha and Akira Toriyama.
Official resources:
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