Shigeru Chiba

In "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba," produced by studio Ufotable, Chiba lends his voice to Jigoro Kuwajima. The part adds to a body of work that stretches back to the early 1970s, and his weathered, characterful delivery suits the role of a seasoned figure. By the time he joined the series, Chiba had long been one of the most recognizable voices in Japanese animation, having built a reputation across many genres and generations of viewers, which makes his appearance a notable piece of casting within the production.

Born Masaharu Maeda on February 4, 1954, in Kikuchi, Kumamoto, Chiba adopted the stage name under which he became widely known and is affiliated with the talent firm 81 Produce. His extensive list of credits includes Yoshihiro Kira in "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable," the narrator of "Fist of the North Star," Megane in "Urusei Yatsura," and Rei Ichido in "High School! Kimengumi." He also voiced Kazuma Kuwabara in "YuYu Hakusho," Pilaf in "Dragon Ball," both Raditz and Garlic Jr. in "Dragon Ball Z," Buggy the Clown in "One Piece," Kefka Palazzo in "Dissidia: Final Fantasy," and Koichi Todome in the "Kerberos Saga."

Beyond performing, Chiba works as a narrator, talent and sound director, reflecting a career that ranges well past standard voice acting. He is also remembered as the voice acting mentor to Megumi Hayashibara, a connection that underscores his influence on later generations in the industry. His longevity, spanning from 1972 onward, and the breadth of his roles have made him a fixture of Japanese anime and game voice work.