Natsuki Hanae

In Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, the Ufotable adaptation of the series, Hanae provides the Japanese voice of Tanjiro Kamado, the kind-hearted protagonist whose family is slaughtered by demons and who becomes a slayer to avenge them and restore his transformed sister. Leading one of the most prominent anime franchises of its era placed the role among the defining credits of his career, joining a body of work already filled with central characters. The part fits a pattern in his filmography, in which he is repeatedly cast as earnest, emotionally driven young protagonists who anchor their respective series.

Born on June 26, 1991, Hanae is affiliated with the talent agency Across Entertainment and has been active since 2011. He built his reputation through a long run of leading and major supporting roles across popular anime. Among his best-known performances are Ken Kaneki in Tokyo Ghoul, Inaho Kaizuka in Aldnoah.Zero, Takumi Aldini in Food Wars: Shokugeki no Soma, and Kosei Arima in Your Lie in April. His credits also include Sieg in Fate/Apocrypha, Korai Hoshiumi in Haikyu!!, Haruichi Kominato in Ace of Diamond, and Maki Katsuragi in Stars Align.

Hanae has continued to headline notable series across genres, voicing the title character Vanitas in The Case Study of Vanitas, the Duke in The Duke of Death and His Maid, and Qifrey in Witch Hat Atelier. More recently he took on Ken Takakura, nicknamed Okarun, in Dandadan. The breadth of these leading roles, spanning supernatural drama, sports, comedy, and fantasy, has established him as one of the more in-demand male voice actors of his generation.