Kotono Mitsuishi Voice Actress
Kotono Mitsuishi is born on December 8, 1967 in Toda City in Saitama, Japan. She is a well-known Japanese voice actress and also a narrator that had worked with Arts Vision and Lasley Arrow. She is currently a freelance voice actress without any affiliation with a talent agency. She is most known for her roles as Usagi Tsukino in the Sailor Moon series and Misato Katsuragi in the Evangelion franchise.
Early Years
Mitsuishi’s original dream for her future was to become a kindergarten teacher. Unfortunately, with the declining birth rate in Japan and the shortage of jobs, Mitsuishi decided to change her career path.
During her early years, she would listen to a lot of radio and from elementary school she had an interested in talking on the school radio committee. This was where she believed she wanted to work in the voicing industry and joined the Katsuta Voice Actor’s Academy after graduating from highschool in 1986. While studying, she worked part-time as an elevator operation staff and also worked in the Pollution Control Department of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government office.
Voice Actress Debut
In the year 1988, she made her voice acting debut as Tomoyo in the OVA for the popular series ‘Ace Wo Nerae! 2’. However she made her biggest break when she was chosen to voice Usagi Tsukino of the world-wide popular Sailor Moon series. She became an instant celebrity.
In addition to Sailor Moon, her roles as Misato Katsuragi in Evangelion and Sayaka Mine in Yaiba catapulted her success in the voice acting industry.
When given the role of Misato Katsuragi, it is said that the director of the anime Hideaki Anno found that Mitsuishi’s contrast between the happy and dark tone that she could portray in her voice was perfect for the character.
Oruchuban Ebichu Influence
Kotono Mitsuishi is said to be a very influential individual in the voice acting society. The development of the anime ‘Oruchuban Ebichu’ from a manga was all thanks to her fanatic interest in it.
Oruchuban Ebichu is a manga about a hamster series created by Risa Ito published by Futabasha in 1990. The manga is a comedy story with a hamster as the main character with a little twist, portraying explicit violence, innuendos and sexually oriented scenes.
It is said that Mitsuishi read the manga during breaks while recording for her part as Misato Katsuragi on the Evangelion anime series for laughs. She showed the manga to other production staff and later was decided that the manga was worth making into an anime. As a result she put her name down first and rallied to become the voice actor for the hamster in the anime.
In addition, Mitsuishi also was chosen to sing the opening theme song "Nande Kana" for the anime.
Personal Life
Mitsuishi is married with one daughter and her hobbies include shopping, watching movies, and Japanese dance.
According to her official website, Mitsuishi has gone through some tough times during 2007 and 2008 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Later the diagnosis was lifted and the cancer was confirmed to be benign.
Awards
In 2014, Mitsuishi was awarded with the "Kazue Takahashi" Award at the 8th Annual Seiyu Awards. A prestigious award to a female performer who has influenced the broadening of the profession in every form of media.
Filmography
Mitsuishi has played roles in an extensive number of titles ranging from anime series, OVAs and video games. Here are the most recent titles that she has played a role in.
Anime Series
- Cheating Craft (2016)
- Time Bokan 24 (2016)
- Schoolgirl Strikers (2017)
- Tsugumomo (2017)
- Aikatsu Stars! (2017)
- Eromanga Sensei (2017)
- Elegant Yokai Apartment Life (2017)
- Girls' Last Tour (2017)
- The Ancient Magus' Bride (2017)
- Pop Team Epic (2018)
- Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion (2018)
- Zombie Land Saga (2018)
- Pastel Memories (2019)
- Kiratto Pri Chan (2019)
- Cautious Hero: The Hero Is Overpowered but Overly Cautious (2019)
- Tsugu Tsugumomo (2020)
Anime Movies
- Crayon Shin-chan: The Storm Called!: Me and the Space Princess (2012)
- Gothicmade (2012)
- Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo (2012)
- Doraemon: Nobita's Secret Gadget Museum (2013)
- Hunter × Hunter: The Last Mission (2013)
- Doraemon: New Nobita's Great Demon—Peko and the Exploration Party of Five (2014)
- Stand by Me Doraemon (2014)
- Expelled from Paradise (2014)
- Doraemon: Nobita's Space Heroes (2015)
- Pretty Cure All Stars: Carnival of Spring♪ (2015)
- Crayon Shin-chan: My Moving Story! Cactus Large Attack! (2015)
- Love Live! The School Idol Movie (2015)
- Doraemon: Nobita and the Birth of Japan 2016 (2016)
- Crayon Shin-chan: Fast Asleep! The Great Assault on Dreamy World! (2016)
- Detective Conan: The Darkest Nightmare (2016)
- Doraemon the Movie 2017: Great Adventure in the Antarctic Kachi Kochi (2017)
- Doraemon: Nobita's Treasure Island (2018)
- Crayon Shin-chan: Burst Serving! Kung Fu Boys
Ramen Rebellion(2018) - Doraemon: Nobita's Chronicle of the Moon Exploration (2019)
- Crayon Shin-chan: Honeymoon Hurricane
The Lost Hiroshi(2019) - Sailor Moon Eternal (2020)
- Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 (2020)