Uchiyama Koki, who debuted as a voice actor in the early 2000s and won the Best New Male Actor prize at the 5th Voice Actor Awards, celebrates his birthday on August 16. In 2025–2026 he has taken on lead roles in WonDance, Arne no Jikenbo, Dead Account, and Nijusseiki Denki Mokuroku -Eureka Evrika-, among others.
To mark the occasion, Anime! Anime! ran a reader poll asking “Which character voiced by Uchiyama Koki is your favourite?” from July 24 to July 31, 2026. A total of 562 responses were collected. The respondent breakdown was approximately 93% female and 7% male, with roughly 48% aged 19 or under and about 20% in their twenties.
No. 1 — Narumai Gen from Kaiju No. 8
Narumai Gen, captain of the 1st Division of Japan’s Defence Force, claimed first place with roughly 20% of the vote. The character made a full-scale appearance in Season 2 of Kaiju No. 8, which aired in 2025. Narumai is famously slovenly in his private life but overwhelmingly powerful in battle.
Fans praised the performance: “He’s a gamer who does whatever he likes off-duty, but the moment his battle switch flips he’s a completely different person. Uchiyama-san conveys that strength not through shouting but through a calm voice and measured delivery — it’s a perfect fit.” Others were surprised by the range: “I always associated Uchiyama-san with cool, stoic characters, so seeing him handle such a loud, petulant role was a shock — and then he nailed it completely, which was a second shock.” Several fans highlighted the character’s duality — childishly selfish yet selflessly willing to face kaiju — as something Uchiyama made fully convincing.
A short anime, Narumai no Heijitsu, starring Narumai Gen is set to begin streaming on September 5, 2026, further underlining the character’s popularity.
No. 2 — Tsukishima Kei from Haikyuu!!
Tsukishima Kei, the 188 cm first-year blocker of Karasuno High’s volleyball club, earned roughly 14% of the vote — sliding from the top spot in the previous poll. Known for his sarcastic personality, Tsukishima uses sharp observation and his imposing frame to contribute crucial blocks for his team.
Fans noted that “he maintains that listless, ironic atmosphere throughout, but when the moment demands it he explodes with emotion in a way that gave me goosebumps,” and that his gradual immersion in volleyball through encounters with teammates and rivals was portrayed naturally. The scene in which he successfully blocks and shouts “Yossha!” during the match against Shiratorizawa was cited most frequently as a standout moment.
The franchise has Gekijouban Haikyuu!! VS Chiisana Kyojin and the special anime Haikyuu!! Bakemono-tachi no Iku Tokoro scheduled for 2027.
No. 3 — Itoshi Rin from Blue Lock
Itoshi Rin, the top-ranked striker in the Blue Lock project, received roughly 9% of the vote, dropping one place from the previous survey. Outwardly cold and ruthless, he harbours fierce ambition and complicated feelings toward his older brother Sae, whom he is determined to surpass.
Voters said the voice performance “draws you in through tone and raw on-pitch screams that embody his relentless egoist spirit,” and that “the contrast between young Rin who loved playing football with his brother and the present-day Rin who lives to beat Sae is expressed in completely different ways — only Uchiyama-san could pull that off.” Others felt the voice alone conveyed Rin’s inner loneliness and the complexity of his feelings toward Sae. Season 3, Blue Lock: Neo Egoist League, is currently in production.
Other Notable Mentions
- Cart from Ginga Tokkyuu Milky☆Subway — “A downer, cyborg, good-looking character who seems tailor-made for Uchiyama-san.”
- Meruem from HUNTER×HUNTER — “Remarkable that Uchiyama-san, in his early twenties at the time, conveyed the king’s overwhelming majesty alongside his newborn naivety and inner conflict. The final scene is impossible to watch without tears.”
- Shigaraki Tomura from Boku no Hero Academia — “He played the League of Villains’ leader from Season 1 all the way through FINAL SEASON, portraying darkness, resolve, vulnerability, and even tenderness.”
- Mizoe Yosuke from Nijusseiki Denki Mokuroku -Eureka Evrika- — “Uchiyama-san fully lets loose — wild movements, over-the-top reactions, fluent English — it’s a blast to watch every week.”
Top 10 Results (2026 Poll)
- 1st — Narumai Gen / Kaiju No. 8
- 2nd — Tsukishima Kei / Haikyuu!!
- 3rd — Itoshi Rin / Blue Lock
- 4th — Miyamura Izumi / Horimiya
- 5th — Shigaraki Tomura / Boku no Hero Academia
- 6th — Inumaki Toge / Jujutsu Kaisen
- 7th — Yamada Akito / Yamada-kun to Lv999 no Koi wo Suru
- 8th — Kirishima Ikuya / Free!
- 9th — Idia Shroud / Disney Twisted-Wonderland
- 10th — Someya Yujiro / Heroine Tarumono!
(Poll period: July 24–31, 2026)
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