Katsuhisa Houki (宝亀克寿) is a veteran Japanese actor and voice actor whose deep, commanding voice has become familiar to anime fans across several generations. Born in Nagasaki Prefecture, Houki built his career through stage acting before establishing himself as a prolific voice performer. His work spans television anime, theatrical animation, video games, narration, live-action drama and Japanese dubbing.
For international anime audiences, he is particularly recognizable as Jinbe and Gecko Moria in One Piece, Teppei Hōjō in Higurashi When They Cry, and Raven in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. He has also voiced characters in Code Geass, Death Note, Doraemon, Naruto, Gundam, Inazuma Eleven, Dragon Ball Super: Broly and many other productions.
Who Is Katsuhisa Houki?
Katsuhisa Houki is the professional name of Japanese actor and voice actor Katsuhisa Hōki (宝亀克寿). He was born on October 30, 1946, in Nagasaki Prefecture, and is associated with Aoni Production, where his profile describes a four-octave vocal range, including falsetto.
Before becoming widely known for voice acting, Houki worked extensively in theatre. His professional history includes Gekidan Toen, Gekidan Hyakkiza, Sigma Seven, Production Baobab and Kenyu Office, before joining Aoni Production in 2020. This stage background is an important part of his acting style: rather than relying only on the sound of his voice, he brings considerable theatrical weight to characters who are often older, authoritative, intimidating or physically imposing.
His voice has consequently become associated with a wide variety of mature male characters, including military officers, fathers, villains, warriors, political figures and mentors.
Early Life and Career
Houki was born in Nagasaki and developed an interest in acting before establishing his career as a voice performer. Biographical accounts describe him as originally interested in becoming a sportsman, but during his school years he became increasingly involved with theatre and began pursuing stage performance. He later worked with several theatre companies, gaining practical experience as an actor before moving more heavily into voice work.
His transition into voice acting was comparatively unusual. According to biographical accounts, a voice director he knew through an amateur baseball circle encouraged him to try voice work. What began as another part of his acting career quickly became a major professional direction, with voice assignments eventually occupying much of his schedule.
That theatrical foundation helped shape the qualities that would later make him particularly effective in animation. Houki can give a character an imposing presence without making every performance sound identical. His roles range from serious antagonists to comic supporting characters and warm, older figures.
Voice Acting Career
Houki’s anime career covers several decades, and his credits demonstrate how consistently he has been used for characters who need authority, age or personality.
His official Aoni Production profile lists some of his best-known anime work, including Jinbe and Gecko Moria in One Piece, Teppei Hōjō in Higurashi When They Cry, Batouley Asprius in Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion, Kenzo Usui in Star Driver, Kira Seijiro in Inazuma Eleven, Raven in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood and Kaminari in Doraemon.
Some notable Japanese original voice performances include:
| Anime / Project | Character | Year | Role Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Keaton | Gerald Donovan | 1998 | Japanese original |
| Cowboy Bebop | Baker | 1998 | Japanese original |
| One Piece | Gecko Moria / Jinbe | 2000s–present | Japanese original |
| Higurashi When They Cry | Teppei Hōjō | 2006 | Japanese original |
| Death Note | Kiichiro Osoreda | 2006 | Japanese original |
| Doraemon | Kaminari | 2005–present | Japanese original |
| Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion | Batouley Asprius | 2006 | Japanese original |
| Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood | Raven | 2009 | Japanese original |
| Inazuma Eleven | Seijiro Kira | 2008 | Japanese original |
| Star Driver | Kenzo Usui | 2010 | Japanese original |
| The First Slam Dunk | Mitsuyoshi Anzai | 2022 | Japanese original |
| Dragon Ball Super: Broly | Paragus | 2018 | Japanese original |
The table highlights selected recognizable credits rather than attempting to reproduce Houki’s enormous full filmography. His agency profile alone lists a much broader range of television animation and game work.
Most Famous Anime Roles
Jinbe — One Piece
One of Katsuhisa Houki’s most important roles is Jinbe, the former Warlord of the Sea and fish-man who eventually becomes an important member of the Straw Hat crew.
Houki took over the Japanese voice of Jinbe after the death of Daisuke Gōri. The role became one of his defining performances, particularly because Jinbe requires a combination of strength, maturity, loyalty and calm leadership.
The official One Piece cast information lists Houki as Jinbe’s second Japanese voice actor, alongside his other role as Gecko Moria. He continues to be credited as Jinbe in the anime’s current cast listings.
Gecko Moria — One Piece
Houki also voices Gecko Moria, another major One Piece character and former member of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
Moria is very different from Jinbe, demonstrating the actor’s range. The character is eccentric, sinister and theatrical, while Jinbe is controlled and dignified. Houki’s ability to separate the two performances is one reason his One Piece work stands out. Aoni Production officially lists both characters among his principal anime credits.
Teppei Hōjō — Higurashi When They Cry
Another frequently recognized role is Teppei Hōjō in Higurashi When They Cry.
Teppei is a particularly difficult character because the performance needs to communicate unpleasantness and intimidation while fitting the darker emotional atmosphere of the series. Houki’s naturally heavy voice makes the character immediately distinctive.
Aoni Production lists Teppei Hōjō among his major anime credits.
Raven — Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
In Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Houki provides the voice of Lieutenant General Raven.
Raven is a senior military officer whose apparently friendly manner hides much darker ambitions. The official Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood character page identifies Houki as Raven’s voice actor.
The role illustrates Houki’s strength in portraying older authority figures whose voices need to sound convincing even when their motivations are morally questionable.
Mitsuyoshi Anzai — The First Slam Dunk
Houki was also part of the Japanese cast of The First Slam Dunk, the acclaimed theatrical continuation of Takehiko Inoue’s basketball story.
The official movie cast page includes Houki among the performers. His presence connects the film with the broader Slam Dunk legacy while demonstrating how his career continued into major theatrical animation projects decades after his early stage work.
Other Notable Anime Characters
Houki’s filmography extends well beyond his best-known One Piece roles. His agency profile documents appearances in a broad selection of influential anime.
Among the notable examples are Batouley Asprius in Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion, Kenzo Usui in Star Driver, Kira Seijiro in Inazuma Eleven, Conrad in Romeo × Juliet, Raven in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Garcia in Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, Kiichiro Osoreda in Death Note, Narumoto-related and supporting characters in long-running franchises, and Kaminari in Doraemon.
He has also worked in series such as Naruto, Gintama, Nintama Rantarō, Tamagotchi!, The Twelve Kingdoms, Yosuga no Sora, Jormungand, Hikaru no Go, Gundam MS IGLOO and Ginga Eiyū Densetsu.
This range explains why anime fans may recognize Houki’s voice even when they do not immediately remember his name. He has repeatedly appeared in different generations of popular Japanese animation.
Movies, Television and Other Voice Roles
Houki’s work is not limited to television anime.
One particularly notable film performance is Paragus in Dragon Ball Super: Broly. The official Toei Animation cast page confirms Houki as the Japanese voice of Broly’s father in the 2018 theatrical film.
He has also participated in other animated films, including The First Slam Dunk, as well as projects connected with franchises such as Naruto and Pokémon. His career includes a substantial amount of game voice work as well.
Video Games
Houki has provided voices for numerous games, including roles connected with:
- One Piece Unlimited Cruise
- Higurashi When They Cry
- Super Robot Wars
- Sengoku BASARA 3
- Mobile Suit Gundam
- Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion
- Ratchet & Clank
Aoni Production specifically lists Gecko Moria in One Piece Unlimited Cruise, Teppei Hōjō in Higurashi When They Cry Matsuri, Harumasa Nanbu in Sengoku BASARA 3, and several Super Robot Wars characters among his game credits.
Japanese Dubbing
It is also important to distinguish Houki’s Japanese dubbing work from his original Japanese anime performances.
For films and international television, Houki has frequently supplied Japanese-language voices for foreign productions. For example, he provided the Japanese dub voice of Hank in Bumblebee, the character played in English by John Cena’s co-star Len Cariou.
He has also been associated with Japanese dubbing for productions including The Crown, where he voices Winston Churchill as portrayed by John Lithgow in the Japanese version.
These performances are not English-language roles. They are Japanese dubbing performances, making them distinct from his original Japanese anime work.
Live-Action Acting
Although Houki is now widely recognized as a voice actor, acting was part of his career before voice work became his dominant profession.
His theatre background includes several acting companies, and he has also appeared in Japanese television dramas and films. Aoni Production’s official profile lists television drama credits including NHK productions and Japanese film work.
This experience helps explain why his voice performances often feel grounded in conventional acting rather than functioning simply as character voices.
Awards and Recognition
Houki’s career is notable primarily for its longevity and breadth rather than a long list of major voice-acting awards.
His most significant recognition comes from the sheer number of established productions in which he has participated. His credits include major franchises such as One Piece, Dragon Ball, Fullmetal Alchemist, Gundam, Code Geass, Death Note, Doraemon, Higurashi When They Cry and Slam Dunk.
He has also continued receiving work in major anime and games well into the 2020s, reflecting the industry’s continued demand for his distinctive mature voice.
Why Anime Fans Recognize Katsuhisa Houki
Katsuhisa Houki’s appeal comes from more than simply having a deep voice. His stage experience gives his performances a strong sense of character, while his vocal range allows him to move between stern authority figures, villains, fathers, warriors and comedic personalities.
For many international fans, One Piece is the clearest connection. Jinbe is one of the series’ most important supporting characters, while Gecko Moria represents a completely different side of Houki’s range.
Fans of other major anime may know him as Teppei Hōjō from Higurashi When They Cry, Raven from Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Batouley Asprius from Code Geass, or one of his many supporting roles across Gundam, Naruto, Death Note and Doraemon.
His career is therefore a good example of the importance of veteran Japanese voice actors who may not always occupy the starring role but repeatedly give memorable identities to the worlds around the protagonists.
Career Highlights
Katsuhisa Houki’s career can be understood through several major milestones:
- Building an acting foundation through Japanese theatre.
- Moving from stage performance into professional voice acting.
- Developing a recognizable deep and resonant voice suited to mature characters.
- Becoming a major supporting performer across television anime.
- Taking over the Japanese voice of Jinbe in One Piece.
- Performing both Jinbe and Gecko Moria in the same franchise.
- Playing Teppei Hōjō in Higurashi When They Cry.
- Voicing Raven in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.
- Performing Paragus in Dragon Ball Super: Broly.
- Appearing in the Japanese cast of The First Slam Dunk.
- Continuing to work across anime, games, film dubbing and television.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Katsuhisa Houki?
Katsuhisa Houki is a Japanese actor and voice actor born on October 30, 1946, in Nagasaki Prefecture. He is currently affiliated with Aoni Production and has worked in theatre, anime, games, films, television and dubbing.
What is Katsuhisa Houki best known for?
He is particularly well known for voicing Jinbe and Gecko Moria in One Piece. Other major anime roles include Teppei Hōjō in Higurashi When They Cry and Raven in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.
Who voices Jinbe in the Japanese version of One Piece?
Katsuhisa Houki is the Japanese voice of Jinbe. He became the second voice actor to perform the character and continues in the role in the current anime cast.
Who does Katsuhisa Houki voice in Dragon Ball Super: Broly?
Houki voices Paragus, the father of Broly, in the Japanese version of Dragon Ball Super: Broly. Toei Animation’s official cast information confirms the credit.
Is Katsuhisa Houki a voice actor or a live-action actor?
He is both. Houki developed his career through theatre and has appeared in live-action productions, while voice acting became one of his most prominent professional fields.
Does Katsuhisa Houki work in video games?
Yes. His game credits include characters in One Piece Unlimited Cruise, Higurashi When They Cry Matsuri, Sengoku BASARA 3, Super Robot Wars, Mobile Suit Gundam and Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion.
Does he also perform dubbed roles?
Yes. Houki has provided Japanese-language dubbing for international films and television productions. His work includes Japanese dubbing roles such as Hank in Bumblebee and Winston Churchill in The Crown.
Why is Katsuhisa Houki important to anime fans?
His importance comes from the breadth and longevity of his career. He has contributed voices to several major anime franchises and has repeatedly portrayed memorable mature characters, while continuing to work across animation, games, films and television.
