Who is Tomokazu Sugita? Taro Sakamoto's voice actor in Sakamoto Days and where you've heard him before

Modified May 28, 2024 20:00 GMT

Who is Tomokazu Sugita? Taro Sakamoto's voice actor in Sakamoto Days and where you've heard him before (Image via TMS Entertainment & X | @sugitaLOV)

The anime adaptation of Sakamoto Days was announced on May 27, 2024. Along with it, anime fans also learned that Tomokazu Sugita will be voicing Taro Sakamoto, the series' protagonist. To no one's surprise, the role of a protagonist wouldn't be given to a rookie, and the voice actor selected for Sakamoto is someone with decades of experience.

Tomokazu is a Japanese voice actor who started his voice acting career in the late 1990s and is famous for his heavy voice, which fits the description of old men. Where most of his roles are that of aged men, his voice is known for one specific character, Gintoki from Gintama. So, he is not shy about voicing funny characters.

This article will explore some of his famous roles in the anime industry and see what makes this voice actor special.

Disclaimer: Any opinions expressed in this article solely belong to the author.

Exploring the career of Tomokazu Sugita, the voice actor of Taro Sakamoto from Sakamoto Days

Sakamoto, as seen in the trailer (Image via TMS Entertainment)

Taro Sakamoto is the main protagonist of Sakamoto Days. He is a former assassin who left a shady business to open a store with his wife and daughter. After marriage, he becomes obese and has little connection with his previous job agency.

His personality is that of a person who rarely talks and lets his actions do the talking. As he left the assassin agency due to his family, endangering his family would awaken the demon inside Sakamoto, and the results wouldn't be too good for the opponents.

Gintoki as seen in the anime (Image via Sunrise)

Tomokazu Sugita is the voice actor assigned to voice Sakamoto. The most influential voice-acting role Tomokazu Sugita has performed to this day is Sakata Gintoki from Gintama. Gintoki, just like Sakamoto, is a man of few words and doesn't like unnecessary involvement in others' business.

But his personality differs in the aspect that he is a coward and his personality changes when faced with a difficult situation. This makes him similar to Sakamoto, whose personality changes whenever faced with a difficult situation, making Tomokazu Sugita a decent choice for the voice casting of Sakamoto.

Rudeus, as seen in his (Image via Studio Bind)

Another famous role of this voice actor is Greyrat Rudues (older self) from Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation. This character's older self was that of a shut-in who had no aim to pursue something in life. Another one of his roles is Taiju Shiba from Tokyo Revengers, a meathead who only knows how to fight.

This explains the versatility of Tomokazu Sugita and how he can adapt to any character. Some of his most influential roles in the anime industry are as follows:

Charlotte Katakuri from One Piece
Aizawa Yuuichi from Kanon
Sakata Gintoki from Gintama
Kyon from The Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya
Tabata Hidenori from Daily Lives of High School Boys
Munakata Reishi from K
Joseph Joestar from Jojo's Bizarre Adventures
Karasuma Tadaomi from Assassination Classroom
Escanor from The Seven Deadly Sins
Kabakura Tarou from Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku
Himejima Gyoumei from Demon Slayer
Greyrat Rudeus from Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation
Shiba Taiju from Tokyo Revengers

With such a versatile voice that he easily fits into any role, whether an old man or a hard-headed teenager, Tomokazu Sugita is undoubtedly the perfect voice for the Taro Sakamoto from Sakamoto Days.

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Edited by Shreya Das