Sōichirō Hoshi

In Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, the anime adaptation produced by studio Ufotable, Hoshi provides the Japanese voice of Wakuraba, one of the demons serving among the Twelve Kizuki. The part is a supporting villain role, a register Hoshi has cultivated across his later career after first building his reputation on heroic leads. His distinctive vocal range, capable of both earnest protagonists and menacing antagonists, makes him a natural fit for the kind of cold, conflicted demon the series favors. The credit places him within Ufotable's deep ensemble cast, alongside the many veteran performers the studio draws on for its supernatural action adaptations.

Hoshi has voiced a long list of leading anime characters, including Son Goku in Saiyuki, Kira Yamato across the Mobile Suit Gundam Seed, Gundam Seed Destiny, and Gundam Seed Freedom productions, Kazuki Fuuchouin in GetBackers, Masaru Daimon in Digimon Savers, Kaoru Hanabishi in Ai Yori Aoshi, and Tomoki Sakurai in Heaven's Lost Property. In games he plays Sanada Yukimura in Sengoku Basara, Keiichi Maebara in Higurashi When They Cry, Kilik in Soulcalibur, and several roles in Haruka: Beyond the Stream of Time, and he partially voices Shirogane Takeru in the Muv-Luv series. He is also noted for villains such as Goro Akechi in Persona 5, Death Gun in Sword Art Online, and Lio Shirazumi in The Garden of Sinners, as well as Sentarō Miya in Kono Oto Tomare! Sounds of Life.

Hoshi's performances have earned him formal industry recognition. He received the voice acting award at the Anime Grand Prix across the 2005 and 2006 cycles. At the inaugural Seiyu Awards he was nominated in the category for best actors in supporting roles for his portrayal of Kira Yamato in Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny. He later took home the Kei Tomiyama Award at the 19th Seiyu Awards. Beyond his acting, Hoshi is also active as a singer.