In a year packed with phenomenal anime, both new and sequel, we were treated to a lot of amazing stories, characters, and animation. But behind every great anime is a talented cast, and 2023 saw an impressive array of voice actors bringing our beloved characters to life. With a staggering 52,000 people who voted across both categories and supported 30 exceptionally talented nominees, the wait is now over. Without further ado, it’s time now to unveil the best seiyuu of the year 2023.
| Rank | Title | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Atsumi Tanezaki | 14.63% |
| 2nd | Rie Takahashi | 9.31% |
| 3rd | Aoi Yuki | 9.03% |
| 4th | Saori Hayami | 8.85% |
| 5th | Asami Seto | 8.84% |
| 6th | Yui Ishikawa | 7.05% |
| 7th | Kana Hanazawa | 6.54% |
| 8th | Kana Ichinose | 6.2% |
| 9th | Ai Kayano | 6.16% |
| 10th | Manaka Iwami | 5.53% |
| 11th | Reina Ueda | 5.08% |
| 12th | Megumi Han | 4.83% |
| 13th | Yumi Uchiyama | 4% |
| 14th | Sayaka Senbongi | 2.17% |
| 15th | Tomoyo Kurosawa | 1.76% |
After being crowned as the Best Lead Actor and Best Supporting Actor at the 17th Seiyu Awards in 2023, it’s clear that Atsumi Tanezaki is a powerhouse talent. Throughout 2023, she continued to shine even further, remaining consistent in her skill and ultimately solidifying as the top female seiyuu of the year. From the adorable Anya Forger from Spy x Family Season 2 to the composed Frieren in Frieren Beyond Journey’s End, Chise Hatori in The Ancient Magus Bride Season 2, and Gyokuyo in The Apothecary Diaries and more, Tanezaki can do it all in bringing the characters to life with her phenomenal voice range. With that being said, it’s undeniable that she truly deserves the title of best female seiyuu of the year.
Claiming the second spot is the lovely Rie Takahashi, whose repertoire of characters continued to impress and charm audiences throughout the year. From the explosive Megumin in Konosuba: An Explosion on this Wonderful World! to the captivating Ai Hoshino in Oshi no Ko, Takahashi’s performances remained iconic and impactful, worthy of a spotlight. Her exceptional portrayal of Tomo Aizawa in Tomo-chan Is a Girl, Yuzuriha in Hell’s Paradise, and Kaoru Kamiya in Rurouni Kenshin 2023 further showcased her shining talent.
Wrapping up the top three is none other than Aoi Yuki, who blew the audience away with her portrayal of Maomao in The Apothecary Diaries. But she didn’t stop there—Yuki’s performances from last year were also chilling. Characters such as Yuki-Onna in In/Spectre Season 2, Monika in Spy Classroom, and Norea Du Noc in Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury Season 2 were simply fascinating, showing her versatility and raw talent.
| Rank | Title | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Junichi Suwabe | 10.57% |
| 2nd | Yuichi Nakamura | 9.55% |
| 3rd | Junya Enoki | 8.9% |
| 4th | Chiaki Kobayashi | 8.76% |
| 5th | Yuto Uemura | 8.18% |
| 6th | Mamoru Miyano | 8.12% |
| 7th | Takeo Otsuka | 7.81% |
| 8th | Natsuki Hanae | 6.28% |
| 9th | Yuma Uchida | 5.27% |
| 10th | Nobunaga Shimazaki | 4.91% |
| 11th | Yuichiro Umehara | 4.84% |
| 12th | Kaito Ishikawa | 4.78% |
| 13th | Kengo Kawanishi | 4.76% |
| 14th | Yoshitsugu Matsuoka | 4% |
| 15th | Ayumu Murase | 3.27% |
Hero or villain, no matter which side the role he plays, it is undeniable Junichi Suwabe‘s suave voice always knows how to captivate the audience. His portrayal as the selfish and cold-hearted Sukuna may have been his crown jewel last year but his role as Tetsuo Tosu proves why this man has been one of the top voices in the industry for decades and why he isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. His other roles such as Belgrieve, Lügner, and Voltekamui, also prove that despite being so long in the field, he’s still on top of his game. Did I mention that he voiced 7 characters in Hell’s Paradise? With talent like his, it’s no wonder he was voted as the best male seiyuu of the year.
In the runner-up spot, we have Yuichi Nakamura, whose smooth and dynamic voice never fails to impress. While his portrayal of Satoru Gojo in Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 garnered well-deserved attention last year, Nakamura’s voice acting prowess was also present with roles like Sein in Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, Andy in Undead Unluck, and Max in Level 1 Demon Lord and One Room Hero. With his stellar performances across the board and a dash of charm in his voice, he has firmly established himself as one of the industry’s leading talents.
Rounding up the third place is another voice actor who stars in the Jujutsu Kaisen series. Junya Enoki may be the youngest among the top 3 but he shows that he too can play a lead in a popular show. Aside from Yuji Itadori, Enoki also gave an awesome performance to plenty of main roles last year: Nasa Yuzaki in Tonikaku Kawaii Season 2, Yukito Urabe in Kamikatsu, Naoya Mukai in Girlfriend, Girlfriend Season 2, and Totomaru Isshiki in Ron Kamonohashi’s Forbidden Deductions.
The year 2023 truly treated us to an outstanding showcase of voice acting talent. With each performance breathed life into our beloved characters, we can also feel the passion and love poured out by these dedicated professionals. We owe a heartfelt thanks to them for their continuous effort to keep us entertained.
And in behalf of Anime Corner, I also would like to thank everyone who voted in our polls. Here’s to another year of celebrating the incredible voices behind our favorite anime characters! We can’t wait to see you again at the next one!
Featured image: © HAIKYO, © INTENTION, © 81Produce Co.