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I've been reading through many posts and have realized, to my astonishment, that many Kenshin fans don't like his Japanese voice!

Kenshin's voice actress, Suzukaze Mayo (Morinaga Kaname) was a member of Takarazuka Acting Troupe for a good amount of time before she voiced Kenshin. This group is one of those well-known Japanese acting troupes where women play both male and female roles, in direct contrast to traditional Japanese theater where the roles are played by all men. In fact, if you look for Suzukaze Mayo on Youtube, you'll find a clip of her in one of these, Rose of Versailles, plays as a Frenchman named Oscar, and she sings a song called "Wa Ga Na Wa Oscar." It was, for me, quite an experience to hear Kenshin's voice coming from her mouth. XD

I love Mayo Suzukaze's voice on Kenshin for a few reasons. First of all, it's so recognizable. She has a unique quality to her voice that, upon first hearing it, sounds a bit strange, but I quickly got used to it and even came to love it. I thought it fit because Kenshin himself is very strange upon first encounter, but you come to love him straight away in spite of it, even because of it! It's not super girly (I know many people prefer Richard Hayworth because he makes Kenshin sound masculine), but it's not too harsh for Kenshin either. As Watsuki put it, Kenshin's voice should be "neutral." She is able to make Kenshin's character sound funny, cute, serious, sorrowful, etc, in a way that nobody will ever forget.

I can hardly express how much I love Suzukaze's voice on Kenshin. I suppose that it just connects with me, so it's just my opinion that it really fits him.

Richard Hayworth's voice never seemed to fit Kenshin for me. Probably because I already loved Suzukaze's voice so much. But his voice is... airy. Do you know what I mean? It was so expressionless, except when he was angry, and his "oro's" were seriously lacking.

Then there is Ogata Megumi, who did the voice for Kenshin on the drama CDs. Now, I am a huge fan of Ogata. When I found out she did the voice of Yue in CardCaptor Sakura, I rented every episode he was in. When I found out she does the voice of Code in the absolutely unobtainable drama CDs of Twin Signal, I cried because I'll never find them to hear them. BUT EVEN SO!!! I can't hear her voice coming out of Kenshin's mouth.

Ogata's voice is smooth, perfectly toned, with a musical quality that is emotive yet mysterious. But in my opinion it would be far too mysterious for Kenshin! In spite of all the darkness surrounding Kenshin's past, the guilt and bitterness that constantly eats at him, he tries to live a normal life. Though he knows there is danger at every corner, his favorite moments are doing chores, hanging with his friends, mentoring Yahiko. In Seisouhen we discover he is suited for normal farm life. Ogata's voice is simply too eccentric for that role.

To sum up, I think Suzukaze Mayo was the perfect choice to voice Kenshin, much better than a man like Richard Hayworth, or a famous star like Ogata Megumi.

Thoughts? (PLEASE do NOT quote the first post!)

I was also shocked by all the people saying how much they hate Kenshins japanese voice! It is so beutiful, so KENSHIN... And I really don't understand the "he sounds girly" talk... I must confess that at first I didn't even know that the voice actor for Kenshin was a girl ^^

The englich version for Kenshin (the little I have heard of it) seriously makes my stomach turn... I'm sorry, but I MUST AGREE with post nr 1 on this one!

I agree with Yami. Hayworth's voice better suits Kenshin, in my opinion. I've tried to adapt to Suzukaze's voice.. But it just doesn't seem right to me. gonk

same here, it was a little too high pitched for my taste, i mean men have to have deep voices, ESPECIALLY when he's battousai. i did like her oros better have to admit that but honestly i prefer the english voice richard hayworth

I like both. but I slightly dislike J. Shannon Weaver in the Samurai X movie.