August 11 is the birthday of Noriaki Taniyama, the voice actor and musician who made his debut in the mid-1990s. He is well known as a member of the unit ST☆RISH from the Uta no☆Prince-sama♪ franchise, with which he won the Singing Award at the 6th Voice Actor Awards.
Between 2025 and 2026, Taniyama has kept a busy schedule, lending his voice to titles including SAKAMOTO DAYS, Mikata ga Yowasugite Hojo Mahou ni Tetteshita Kyutei Mahoshi, Tsuiho sarete Saikyo wo Mezasu, and Gomon Bait-kun no Nichijo. His music unit GRANRODEO celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2025, released its 10th album “ChaosBlue” in February 2026, and launched the live tour “Chaos in Paradise” from April. Appearances at “Shimono Hiro Music Festival” and “ANIMAX MUSIX 2026” are also scheduled for autumn.
To mark his birthday, Anime!Anime! ran a reader poll asking: “Which character voiced by Noriaki Taniyama is your favourite?” The survey ran from 24 to 31 July 2026 and collected 1,179 responses. Roughly 93% of respondents were female and 7% male; about 48% were aged 19 or under, and around 21% were in their twenties.
1st Place — Nakahara Chuuya, Bungou Stray Dogs
Taking the top spot by a wide margin was Nakahara Chuuya from Bungou Stray Dogs, with approximately 65% of the vote — retaining first place from the previous poll.
Chuuya is a high-ranking executive of the Port Mafia who wields the gravity-manipulating ability “Tainted Sorrow.” He once formed the legendary duo known as “Soukoku” alongside Dazai Osamu of the Armed Detective Agency.
Fans praised the contrast between his rough exterior and his deep loyalty to allies, with many highlighting the dynamic banter with Dazai — from intense battle sequences to a comedic scene in which Chuuya shouts in an exaggerated feminine register. Several readers also noted that they discovered GRANRODEO through the series, since the unit performs its theme songs, and some mentioned that Taniyama has personally visited the Nakahara Chuuya Memorial Museum in Yamaguchi Prefecture — his own home prefecture — deepening the sense of personal connection to the role.
2nd Place — Shinomiya Natsuki / Satsuki, Uta no☆Prince-sama♪
Shinomiya Natsuki and his alternate personality Satsuki from Uta no☆Prince-sama♪ claimed second place with around 8% of the vote, the same ranking as the previous survey.
Natsuki is a gifted idol with a gentle, warm personality; removing his glasses reveals the aggressive alter ego Satsuki. Fans loved the extreme contrast, noting that Taniyama delivers a soft, high-pitched voice for Natsuki and a powerful, deep voice for Satsuki — “two for the price of one.” Specific songs such as “Sirius e no Chikai” and “Orion de SHOUT OUT” were singled out for praise.
3rd Place — Jean Kirstein, Attack on Titan
Jean Kirstein from Attack on Titan took third place with roughly 5% of the vote, completing a top three identical to the previous poll.
A member of the 104th Training Corps and frequent rival of Eren Yeager, Jean grows from a self-interested cadet into a cool-headed battlefield leader. Fans appreciated his relatability — “the most human character in the series” — and praised Taniyama’s ability to convey Jean’s growth through voice alone, from the sharp, hot-headed tones of his youth to the calmer, lower register of adulthood.
Other Notable Mentions
- Hela (Gomon Bait-kun no Nichijo) — Fans enjoyed Taniyama playing a sultry “big-sister” type, and were delighted by a finale scene in which Hela hums the GRANRODEO opening theme “GO GO PARADISE!!”
- Kitan (Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann) — It is widely known that the character was originally slated for an early exit, but Taniyama’s passionate performance led to an expanded role.
- Ayato Koi (Break My Case) — Praised for a naturally charismatic portrayal of a born charmer.
- Narumi Takayuki (Kimi ga Nozomu Eien) — Cited as the work that inspired the formation of GRANRODEO; fans still listen to his character songs “Mikansei no GUILTY” and “LAST SMILE.”
Full Top 10 (2026 Poll)
- 1st — Nakahara Chuuya (Bungou Stray Dogs)
- 2nd — Shinomiya Natsuki / Satsuki (Uta no☆Prince-sama♪)
- 3rd — Jean Kirstein (Attack on Titan)
- 4th — Tsukimori Len (Kiniro no Corda)
- 5th — Himuro Tatsuya (Kuroko’s Basketball)
- 6th — Wirbel (Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End)
- 6th — Hela (Gomon Bait-kun no Nichijo)
- 8th — Ayato Koi (Break My Case)
- 8th — Instructor Utsushi (Monster Hunter Rise)
- 10th — Dark Schneider (BASTARD!! -Ankoku no Hakaishin-)
The results highlight fans’ appreciation for Taniyama’s versatile range, and the high number of comments referencing theme songs and character songs underscores his dual appeal as both a voice actor and a performing artist.
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