Maaya Sakamoto
Voice ActorMaaya Sakamoto is a Japanese actress and singer who voices Matsuri, Gaara's dedicated student, in the original Japanese version of Naruto, the anime made by Studio Pierrot.
Naruto Role
In the Japanese-language Naruto, Sakamoto voices Matsuri, the first female genin from the Hidden Sand, who comes to idolize Gaara and becomes his pupil after he rescues her. The part sits among her many anime credits, though she is far better known for leading heroines elsewhere in the medium.
Career and Notable Roles
Sakamoto made her voice debut as a child in 1992 and rose to fame as Hitomi Kanzaki in The Vision of Escaflowne. Her celebrated roles include Haruhi Fujioka in the comedy Ouran High School Host Club, Ciel Phantomhive in Black Butler, and Aerith Gainsborough in the Final Fantasy VII games, while as a singer she has topped the Oricon chart and headlined a concert at the Nippon Budokan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What characters did Maaya Sakamoto voice?
In the Japanese version of Naruto, Sakamoto voices Matsuri, the first female genin from the Hidden Sand, who idolizes Gaara and becomes his student after he rescues her. She also voices Haruhi Fujioka in the comedy Ouran High School Host Club.
Is Maaya Sakamoto a singer?
Yes, alongside her acting career Sakamoto has topped Japan's Oricon chart and headlined a concert at the Nippon Budokan. Her music career runs parallel to decades of leading anime roles.
What is Maaya Sakamoto best known for?
Sakamoto rose to fame playing Hitomi Kanzaki in The Vision of Escaflowne and is also known for voicing Ciel Phantomhive in Black Butler. Both are lead roles that helped establish her as one of anime's prominent heroine actresses.
What video games has Maaya Sakamoto voiced characters in?
In video games, Sakamoto voices Aerith Gainsborough across the Final Fantasy VII titles, extending her anime work into major game franchises.
When did Maaya Sakamoto start voice acting?
Born in 1980, Sakamoto made her voice acting debut as a child in 1992 and has worked in the industry ever since.
Naruto Wiki Themed Music
Sources & Information
This content is original writing by Daddy Jim Anime based on the Naruto anime series, manga, and official materials. Episode and chapter references are cited where applicable.
Rights holders
- Created byMasashi Kishimoto
- Published byShueisha
- Animated byStudio Pierrot
All rights belong to their respective owners.
Character and scene imagery on this site is original artwork by Daddy Jim Anime, 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 Studio Pierrot and Toho.
- Game pages: official box art for the Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm games, credited to Bandai Namco.
- Manga chapter pages: Jump Comics volume covers, credited to Shueisha and Masashi Kishimoto.
- Licensed imagery: Photographs of real people, including creators, voice actors and production staff, are used under licence from the rights holder or the applicable stock provider, or under the terms of a public licence permitting editorial use. Each such image is reproduced in its licensed form and remains the property of its owner.
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Official resources:
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