Subaru Kimura is a German-born Japanese actor, voice actor, rapper, narrator and television personality whose career has grown from child performance into one of Japan’s most recognizable entertainment careers. He became widely known at just 14 years old when he was selected as the new Japanese voice of Takeshi “Gian” Goda in Doraemon, a role that has remained central to his career for more than two decades. Since then, Kimura has built an extensive voice-acting résumé spanning anime, animated films, video games, overseas dubbing and character-driven music projects.
Anime fans also know him for Aoi Todo in Jujutsu Kaisen, Satori Tendo in Haikyu!!, Haruki “Pah-chin” Hayashida in Tokyo Revengers, Kanba Takakura in Mawaru Penguindrum, Ryoma Terasaka in Assassination Classroom and Ichiro Yamada in Hypnosis Mic. In 2025, another major chapter began when Kimura became the Japanese voice of Franky in One Piece.
Who Is Subaru Kimura?
Subaru Kimura (木村 昴, Kimura Subaru) was born Subaru Samuel Bartsch on June 29, 1990, in Germany. He was born to a German father and Japanese mother and moved to Japan at the age of seven, growing up in Tokyo’s Katsushika area. His official agency, Atomic Monkey, lists Germany as his birthplace and notes English and German among his skills.
Although he is now strongly associated with voice acting, Kimura did not originally set out to become a professional seiyu. His early ambitions were connected to musical theatre and stage performance. As a child, he joined a children’s theatre company and studied acting, traditional Japanese dance, tap dancing and musical performance.
That background became an important part of the performer he eventually became. Kimura’s career has never been restricted to recording dialogue: he has also worked as a singer, rapper, narrator, television host, stage performer and live entertainer.
Early Life and Career
Kimura spent his first years in Germany before moving to Japan at seven. According to an interview published by Katsushika City, he initially had little interest in voice acting and wanted to become a musical-theatre performer. His mother encouraged him to join a children’s theatre company partly as a way to make learning Japanese more enjoyable.
His theatrical training gave him experience in several disciplines. He performed in stage productions and became particularly interested in musical performance. At the age of 12, he passed an audition connected to Annie, and in 2002 he appeared as a tap dancer in the musical.
The opportunity that changed his professional direction came in his early teens. When the Doraemon cast was being replaced, Kimura decided to audition for Gian. He has explained that at the time he was not seriously planning a career as a voice actor; he was partly attracted to the excitement of being able to tell his classmates that he had auditioned for Doraemon.
The joke became a life-changing opportunity. Kimura won the role and began voicing Gian in 2005 at the age of 14, succeeding Kazuya Tatekabe. His debut came while he was still a junior-high-school student.
Voice Acting Career
The Breakthrough of Doraemon
For Kimura, Doraemon was more than a successful first role. Gian became the foundation of his professional voice career and one of the longest-running performances of his life.
Gian is physically imposing, loud, confident and often comedic, but the character can also reveal a more vulnerable side. Kimura’s deep, forceful delivery became an instantly recognizable part of the modern Doraemon cast.
His association with the character has continued through television specials, theatrical releases and other Doraemon projects. The Japan Film Database, for example, credits Kimura as Gian in films ranging from Doraemon: Nobita’s New Dinosaur to Doraemon: Nobita’s Earth Symphony and Doraemon the Movie: Nobita’s Art World Tales.
Building a Wider Anime Career
After establishing himself through Doraemon, Kimura gradually took on more varied anime roles. One of his important early dramatic performances was Kanba Takakura in Mawaru Penguindrum, followed by roles in productions such as CØDE, Ping Pong the Animation, Black Bullet, Gundam Build Fighters and Kuroko’s Basketball.
His career expanded considerably during the 2010s. He voiced Ryoma Terasaka in Assassination Classroom, Shoya Kusanagi in Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS, Kanba and other characters in Mawaru Penguindrum, and later became associated with major series including Haikyu!!, Violet Evergarden, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind, My Hero Academia and Tokyo Revengers.
His work during this period demonstrated that he could move comfortably between comedy, action, drama and larger-than-life personalities.
Most Famous Anime Roles
Gian — Doraemon
Gian, whose real name is Takeshi Goda, remains Kimura’s signature character. He took over the role in 2005 at only 14 and has continued playing the character across the modern Doraemon franchise.
The performance helped establish Kimura’s deep vocal style, but it also gave him a platform from which he could pursue more varied work. For many Japanese viewers, his voice is inseparable from the modern version of Gian.
Aoi Todo — Jujutsu Kaisen
Aoi Todo is one of Kimura’s most recognizable contemporary anime performances. In Jujutsu Kaisen, Todo is a physically powerful Kyoto Jujutsu High student whose eccentric personality is matched by his confidence and fighting ability.
Kimura’s performance emphasizes Todo’s booming presence while still allowing room for humor and surprising emotional moments. His official agency lists Todo among his principal animation roles.
Satori Tendo — Haikyu!!
Kimura voices Satori Tendo, the unpredictable middle blocker of Shiratorizawa Academy in Haikyu!!. Tendo is known for his unusual intuition, playful personality and intimidating ability to anticipate opponents.
The official Haikyu!! cast information confirms Kimura as Tendo in the third season, while the franchise’s 10th-anniversary project also highlighted his connection to the character.
Haruki “Pah-chin” Hayashida — Tokyo Revengers
In Tokyo Revengers, Kimura voices Haruki Hayashida, better known as Pah-chin. The character is a member of the Tokyo Manji Gang and is associated with the more aggressive and emotionally charged side of the series.
It is another role that fits Kimura’s ability to give physically imposing characters a distinctive voice while preserving their emotional personality.
Ryoma Terasaka — Assassination Classroom
Kimura played Ryoma Terasaka in Assassination Classroom, another role that takes advantage of his strong, energetic vocal presence. Terasaka’s confrontational personality provides plenty of opportunities for Kimura’s forceful delivery, but the character also develops significantly throughout the story.
Ichiro Yamada — Hypnosis Mic
Kimura’s work as Ichiro Yamada in Hypnosis Mic: Division Rap Battle connects his acting ability directly with his experience as a rapper and musical performer.
Ichiro is a central character in the music-driven franchise, meaning Kimura is required not only to act but also to perform rhythmically and musically. His work with the project contributed to the franchise’s broader multimedia identity and earned him a Seiyu Award for Singing as part of Hypnosis Mic in 2019.
Franky — One Piece
In 2025, Kimura added one of anime’s most recognizable supporting characters to his résumé: Franky from One Piece.
The official One Piece announcement confirmed that Kimura would take over the role from Kazuki Yao beginning with the Egghead arc’s return in April 2025.
Franky is the Straw Hat Pirates’ shipwright, a physically imposing cyborg with an extremely theatrical personality. The role is a natural fit for Kimura’s experience with energetic, humorous and powerful characters.
The official One Piece character page now lists Franky’s voice as Kazuki Yao → Subaru Kimura, while current franchise materials identify Kimura as Franky’s voice actor.
Selected Anime Roles
| Anime / Project | Character | Year | Role Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doraemon | Takeshi “Gian” Goda | 2005–present | Japanese original voice |
| Mawaru Penguindrum | Kanba Takakura | 2011 | Japanese original voice |
| Assassination Classroom | Ryoma Terasaka | 2015–2016 | Japanese original voice |
| Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS | Shoya Kusanagi | 2017–2019 | Japanese original voice |
| Haikyu!! | Satori Tendo | 2016 onward | Japanese original voice |
| Violet Evergarden | Spencer Marlborough | 2018 | Japanese original voice |
| JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind | Pesci | 2018–2019 | Japanese original voice |
| Hypnosis Mic: Division Rap Battle | Ichiro Yamada | 2020 onward | Japanese original voice |
| Jujutsu Kaisen | Aoi Todo | 2020 onward | Japanese original voice |
| Tokyo Revengers | Haruki “Pah-chin” Hayashida | 2021 onward | Japanese original voice |
| The World Ends with You the Animation | Beat | 2021 | Japanese original voice |
| The Way of the Househusband | Gouda | 2021 | Japanese original voice |
| Suicide Squad Isekai | King Shark | 2024 | Japanese original voice |
| One Piece | Franky | 2025–present | Japanese original voice |
These are selected notable credits rather than a complete filmography. Kimura’s agency lists a substantially larger body of animation work.
Subaru Kimura’s Notable Characters
One of the defining features of Kimura’s career is his ability to play characters with extremely different personalities.
Gian showcases his deep and commanding voice. Aoi Todo adds an exaggerated, eccentric energy. Satori Tendo requires a more unpredictable and playful quality, while Kanba Takakura demonstrates his ability to handle a darker dramatic character.
His work as Ichiro Yamada is different again because the character is closely connected to rap performance. Kimura’s own background in hip-hop and music makes the role particularly suited to him.
He has also performed characters such as Balthus von Albrecht in Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Beat in The World Ends with You, Aced in Kingdom Hearts III, Kotcha in Final Fantasy VII Remake, Barreks in Borderlands 3, and Raymond Lawrence in Star Ocean: The Divine Force.
Movies, Television and Other Voice Roles
Kimura has developed a substantial career outside traditional television anime.
Animated Films
He has repeatedly reprised Gian in Doraemon theatrical films, including Doraemon: Nobita and the Secret Gadget Museum, Doraemon: Nobita and the Birth of Japan 2016, Doraemon: Nobita’s Great Adventure in the Antarctic Kachi Kochi, Doraemon: Nobita’s Chronicle of the Moon Exploration, Doraemon: Nobita’s New Dinosaur, Doraemon: Nobita’s Earth Symphony and Doraemon: Nobita’s Art World Tales.
He also voiced Hanamichi Sakuragi in The First Slam Dunk, another major animated-film role that demonstrated his ability to carry a physically energetic protagonist. The Japan Film Database credits Kimura as Sakuragi in the 2022 film.
Japanese Dubbing
It is important to distinguish Kimura’s anime performances from his dubbing work. Many of his most famous anime characters are original Japanese performances, while some of his international film and television credits are Japanese-language dubs.
His dubbing résumé includes Gary “Eggsy” Unwin in Kingsman and Kingsman: The Golden Circle, Robin of Loxley in Robin Hood, Elton John in Rocketman, Chris Redfield in Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, Yao in Disney’s live-action Mulan, and M’Baku in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
He also voiced Kazuda Xiono in the Japanese dub of Star Wars Resistance. Disney’s Japanese site specifically identifies Kimura as the dubbing voice for the character.
For The Little Mermaid (2023), Kimura provided the Japanese dubbing voice for Sebastian, rather than the original English performance. Disney’s Japanese release information confirms him as part of the Japanese dub cast.
Video Games
Video games form another major part of Kimura’s career. His credits include Balthus von Albrecht in Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Beat in The World Ends with You, Aced in Kingdom Hearts III, Kotcha in Final Fantasy VII Remake, Barreks in Borderlands 3, and Raymond Lawrence in Star Ocean: The Divine Force.
He has also continued his work as Ichiro Yamada in Hypnosis Mic games and as other characters across mobile and console titles.
Television and Live Performance
Kimura is not exclusively a voice actor. His résumé includes television appearances, stage performances, music projects and narration.
He has served as a main MC for the children’s television program Oha Suta and has appeared in live-action productions including NHK’s historical drama Kamakura-dono no 13-nin. He also played Vice in Kamen Rider Revice, combining voice performance with live-action character work.
His theatre background remains important as well. His stage credits include Annie, HONK!, Dance with Devils and other productions. He has also worked as the head of the theatre group BAKA BAKKA.
Awards and Recognition
Kimura’s career has received formal recognition from Japan’s voice-acting industry.
At the 13th Seiyu Awards in 2019, Kimura was one of the recipients of the Singing Award as part of Hypnosis Mic -Division Rap Battle-. The award reflected the project’s combination of voice acting and music performance.
More recently, Kimura received the Influencer Award at the 19th Seiyu Awards. The official awards organization lists him as the recipient in that category, recognizing the broader impact he has developed beyond conventional voice acting.
These honors reflect the unusually broad nature of his career. Kimura has become a recognizable personality not only through anime characters but also through music, television, stage work and public appearances.
Career Highlights
Several milestones stand out when looking at Subaru Kimura’s career as a whole.
Becoming Gian at 14: His casting as Gian in Doraemon transformed a teenage theatre performer into a professional voice actor almost overnight.
Developing beyond one signature character: Rather than becoming identified exclusively with Gian, Kimura built a diverse portfolio spanning action, comedy, drama and musical performance.
Combining acting and music: His work as Ichiro Yamada in Hypnosis Mic brought together his voice acting and rap performance, contributing to the project’s multimedia success.
Major anime franchises: His roles in Jujutsu Kaisen, Haikyu!!, Tokyo Revengers, One Piece, Doraemon and other major series have introduced his voice to different generations of anime viewers.
Expanding into games and dubbing: His work in major video-game franchises and Japanese-language versions of international films has made him a versatile performer across the entertainment industry.
Joining One Piece: Becoming the new Japanese voice of Franky in 2025 gave Kimura another long-running global anime franchise to his résumé. The official One Piece site continues to list him as Franky’s voice actor.
Why Is Subaru Kimura Recognized by Anime Fans?
Subaru Kimura is recognized by anime fans because his voice has become associated with several very different generations of popular Japanese animation.
Older viewers may know him primarily as Gian from Doraemon. Fans of modern action anime may recognize him as Aoi Todo from Jujutsu Kaisen, Satori Tendo from Haikyu!! or Pah-chin from Tokyo Revengers. Others know him through Hypnosis Mic, The World Ends with You, Fire Emblem or his growing collection of video-game roles.
His move into One Piece as Franky has added another major character to that list. The role also demonstrates how his distinctive, powerful delivery can fit a character whose personality is deliberately exaggerated and theatrical.
Ultimately, Kimura’s appeal comes from range. He can play intimidating characters, comedic personalities, dramatic figures and music-focused performers while maintaining a strong individual presence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Subaru Kimura?
Subaru Kimura is a German-born Japanese actor, voice actor, rapper, narrator and television personality. He is best known for Gian in Doraemon and has also voiced characters such as Aoi Todo, Satori Tendo and Ichiro Yamada.
What is Subaru Kimura’s most famous role?
His most famous long-running role is probably Takeshi “Gian” Goda in Doraemon. Kimura began voicing Gian in 2005 when he was only 14 years old.
Who does Subaru Kimura voice in Jujutsu Kaisen?
Kimura provides the Japanese original voice of Aoi Todo in Jujutsu Kaisen.
Who does Subaru Kimura voice in Haikyu!!?
He voices Satori Tendo of Shiratorizawa Academy in Haikyu!!. The official Season 3 cast lists Kimura as Tendo.
Is Subaru Kimura the new voice of Franky in One Piece?
Yes. Kimura became the Japanese voice of Franky beginning with the One Piece television anime’s return to the Egghead arc in April 2025, succeeding Kazuki Yao.
Has Subaru Kimura worked in video games?
Yes. His game credits include Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Kingdom Hearts III, Final Fantasy VII Remake, Borderlands 3, The World Ends with You and Star Ocean: The Divine Force.
Has Subaru Kimura worked as a Japanese dub voice actor?
Yes. In addition to his original Japanese anime performances, Kimura has provided Japanese-language dubbing for international productions. His credits include Kingsman, Mulan, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Star Wars Resistance and The Little Mermaid.
Has Subaru Kimura won any voice-acting awards?
Yes. He received the Singing Award at the 13th Seiyu Awards as part of Hypnosis Mic and later received the Influencer Award at the 19th Seiyu Awards.
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