Norihiro Hayashida

Norihiro Hayashida served as a producer on Dragon Ball Z Kai, the remastered and re-edited reissue of Dragon Ball Z that Toei Animation launched in 2009 to coincide with the franchise's twentieth anniversary. In that role he helped oversee the behind the scenes effort of trimming filler, upgrading picture quality, and re-recording dialogue with a mix of returning and new voice talent, giving a tighter cut of the Saiyan, Frieza, Cell, and Majin Buu arcs for modern audiences.

Kai was a substantial production undertaking, and Hayashida was one of several producers who coordinated the editorial, audio, and broadcast logistics that turned Toriyama's original anime into a leaner retelling that many international fans now consider the definitive version of the Z saga.

Outside Dragon Ball, Hayashida's producer and executive producer credits stretch across a range of notable anime. He worked on Hell Girl and Mononoke through SKY Perfect Well Think and Wellthink, served on Moyashimon as executive producer, and contributed corporate production on Hataraki Man. His broader resume also includes Gag Manga Biyori, reflecting a career that moves comfortably between prime time dramas, late night anime, and the kind of large legacy franchise work that Dragon Ball Z Kai represents.