Maaya Sakamoto is a multifaceted Japanese artist, renowned for her exceptional voice acting skills and captivating singing talent. Her illustrious career spans over three decades, with her debut as a voice actress in 1992 as the voice of Chifuru in Little Twins.
However, it is her iconic role as Hitomi Kanzaki in The Vision of Escaflowne that has cemented her status as a prominent voice actress in the anime industry. Her impressive repertoire includes a wide range of notable roles, such as Riho Yamazaki in Nightwalker: The Midnight Detective, Moe Katsuragi in Risky Safety, Princess Tomoyo in Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle, Haruhi Fujioka in Ouran High School Host Club, Sayaka Nakasugi in Birdy the Mighty, Ciel Phantomhive in Black Butler, Shinobu Oshino in Monogatari, Shiki Ryougi in the Kara no Kyoukai film series, and Motoko Kusanagi in the newer Ghost in the Shell films and series.
In addition to her voice acting prowess, Maaya Sakamoto has also explored her musical talents, releasing a plethora of successful singles and albums. Her debut single "Yakusoku wa Iranai" in collaboration with Yoko Kanno under Victor Entertainment on April 24, 1996, marked the beginning of her singing career. Her subsequent singles, including "Tune the Rainbow", "Loop", "Ame ga Furu", and "Triangler", have all reached the top 10 Oricon singles chart, with "Triangler" charting at number 3 and remaining on the chart for 26 weeks.
Her albums have also achieved significant commercial success, with Shōnen Alice and Yūnagi Loop both reaching the top 10 Oricon albums chart. Her album You Can't Catch Me, released on January 12, 2011, became her first release to ever reach number 1. Maaya Sakamoto has also performed at prestigious venues, including a concert at the Nippon Budokan on March 31, 2010, her thirtieth birthday.
Furthermore, Maaya Sakamoto has lent her voice to numerous overseas dubs, including Padme Amidala in the Star Wars films and cartoons, as well as being the dub voice for Natalie Portman in various films. Her impressive range and versatility have solidified her position as one of Japan's most beloved and respected voice actresses and singers.
