The 19th annual Seiyū Awards, honoring excellence in voice acting, took place on March 15, 2025, at the JOQR Media Plus Hall in Minato, Tokyo, celebrating the talented individuals who bring anime and other media to life. Among the prestigious winners were Miho Okasaki and Toshihiko Seki, who both received the Best Lead Actor Award for their outstanding performances throughout the year.
Best Lead Actors: Miho Okasaki and Toshihiko Seki
Miho Okasaki, known for her role as Rimuru Tempest in That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 3, and Toshihiko Seki were both awarded the Best Lead Actor Award. This award recognizes the best leading performances from voice actors over the past year.
Supporting Roles Shine: Hidenobu Kiuchi, Asami Seto, Hiroki Tochi, and Yoko Hikasa
The Best Supporting Actor Award was shared by a quartet of talented voice actors: Hidenobu Kiuchi, Asami Seto, Hiroki Tochi, and Yoko Hikasa. This award acknowledges outstanding supporting performances in various productions.
Yuichi Nakamura: Most Valuable Seiyu for the Second Year
Yuichi Nakamura has been awarded Most Valuable Seiyu for the second year in a row.
New Talent Recognized: Hiiro Ishibashi, Shotaro Uzawa, Hiroki Nanami, Rika Hayashi, and Asaki Yuikawa
The Best New Actor Award celebrated emerging talent in the voice acting industry, recognizing noteworthy performances from actors who debuted within the last five years. This year’s winners were Hiiro Ishibashi, Shotaro Uzawa, Hiroki Nanami, Rika Hayashi, and Asaki Yuikawa.
Kenichi Suzumura Wins Singing Award
Kenichi Suzumura (Bravern in Brave Bang Bravern!) won the Singing Award.
Maaya Uchida and Fairouz Ai Honored for Foreign Film/Drama
Maaya Uchida and Fairouz Ai won the Best Foreign Film/Drama Award.
Other Award Recipients
Several other awards were presented, recognizing contributions across various categories:
- Merit Award: Mari Okamoto, Keiichi Noda
- Synergy Award: Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom
- Kei Tomiyama Award: Soichiro Hoshi
- Kazue Takahashi Award: Wakana Yamazaki
- Kids/Family Award: Wataru Hatano
- Game Award: Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
- Special Honor Award: Look Back
- Influencer Award: Subaru Kimura
A Shift Towards Gender Neutrality
Starting in 2023, the Seiyu Awards made a significant change by removing gender distinctions from the Best Lead Voice Actor, Best Supporting Voice Actor, and New Voice Actor categories. The awards committee explained that this decision reflects the evolving nature of voice acting, where actors frequently portray characters of different genders.
