Aya Hirano

Aya Hirano
Native name	平野 綾
Born	October 8, 1987 Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan
Occupation	Voice actress, singer
Years active	2001–present
Notable work	The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya as Haruhi Suzumiya Death Note as Misa Amane Fairy Tail as Lucy Heartfilia
Height	157 cm (5 ft 2 in)
Website	ayahirano.jp

Aya Hirano (平野 綾 Hirano Aya, born October 8, 1987) is a Japanese voice actress and J-pop singer who has had roles in several anime, visual novels, and TV commercials in Japan.^[1][2] She was contracted to Space Craft Produce, a branch of the Space Craft Group, for her voice acting career,^[3] and for her singing career, she was signed under Lantis.^[4] She left both Space Craft and Lantis in 2011. Hirano moved to the voice acting agency Grick in August 2011, and into Universal Sigma in 2012.^[5]

Biography

Hirano spent a few of her very early years of life in America before returning to Japan.^[6] In 1998, she joined the Tokyo Child Theatrical Group division of the Space Craft Group company. Eventually, she began to appear in commercials and got her first role as a voice actress in Angel Tales.^[7] From 2002 to 2003, she was a member of the band SpringS.^[8]

After graduating from high school, she began seriously pursuing her voice acting and solo singing career. Her big break came in 2006, when she was cast as the voice of Haruhi Suzumiya, the title character of the anime series The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. The series' public success has greatly enhanced her popularity and career in Japan. Her CD single Bōken Desho Desho? containing the opening song of the show sold out in Japan the very day it was released. This success was followed by her voicing two lead characters in anime based on popular manga; Reira in Nana and Misa Amane in Death Note. Her popularity was confirmed at the first Seiyu Awards, where she won "Best Newcomer (female)", for her role as Haruhi Suzumiya;^[9] the same role also won her a nomination as "Best Main Character (female)". At the same awards, she was also nominated for "Best Supporting Character (female)", and earned two nominations for "Best Single" (One of which is a solo, Bōken Desho Desho?; the other was a group nomination for the single Hare Hare Yukai).^[9] In 2008, she won the "Best Main Character (female)" award at the second Seiyu Awards.^[10]

She performed at the "Animelo Summer Live" concerts between 2006 and 2008, as well as the Suzumiya Haruhi no Gekisō concert on March 18, 2007. Hirano was a guest at Anime Expo 2007, along with other cast members from The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Minori Chihara and Yūko Gotō.^[11] In 2007, she continued to enjoy great success in her career, landing the role of Konata Izumi in the anime version of Lucky Star and launching three separate singles back-to-back monthly at year's end.

In November 2010, Hirano posted a message on her Twitter account that she has had a pituitary gland tumor since junior high school. While not malignant, the tumor exerts pressure on certain motor functions, resulting in temporary memory loss, loss of vision and slurring of speech. She decided against elective surgery because the surgery would alter her nasal cavity and permanently modify her voice.^[12] To facilitate her care, she announced in April 2011 that she had been prohibited from taking on new voice acting roles in anime since some time the previous year. She still continued voicing characters for anime that received additional seasons or extended runs.^[13] In May 2011, Hirano announced via Twitter that she was no longer performing music for Lantis and has discontinued her music career until further notice.^[14] On August 2, 2011, Japanese magazine Bubka confirmed that Hirano was dismissed by Lantis due to a sex scandal involving her sleeping with several band members.^[15] Citing a need for a new agency that was more ideal with her career wishes, Hirano announced on August 12, 2011 that she left Space Craft Entertainment.^[16] On August 21, Hirano moved to the voice acting agency Grick.^[17] Days later, on August 27, Hirano posted a message on her Twitter account, confirming that she has resumed new voice acting roles in anime.^[18]

Hirano returned to music in 2012 and was signed to the record label Universal Sigma. Her first release on the label was the mini album Fragments on May 23, 2012.^[19]

Filmography

Anime

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Source[20][21][22]
2001–03	Angel Tales series	Saru no Momo
2002	Kiddy Grade	Lumière		[2]
2003	Beyblade G-Revolution	MingMing
2004	Battle B-Daman	Charat
2005	Battle B-Daman: Fire Spirits	Pheles
2005	Canvas 2: Niji Iro no Sketch	Sumire Misaki		[23]
2005	Eyeshield 21	Mamori Anezaki		[24]
2005	Itsudatte My Santa!	Mai
2006	The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya	Haruhi Suzumiya	2008 Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation Award, Best Voice Actress (Japanese)	[1][2][25][26]
2006	Buso Renkin	Mahiro Muto
2006	Renkin 3-kyū Magical? Pokān	Pachira
2006	Death Note	Misa Amane		[2]
2006	Galaxy Angel-Rune	Kahlua/Tequila Marjoram		[2]
2006	Nana	Reira Serizawa		[2]
2006	Sumomomo Momomo	Sanae Nakajima
2006–07	Himawari! series	Shikimi
2006–08	School Rumble series	Yoko Sasakura
2007	Dragonaut: The Resonance	Garnet McLane
2007	Gakuen Utopia Manabi Straight!	Mei Etoh
2007	Hello Kitty: Apple Forest and the Parallel Town	Emily
2007–08	Lucky Star series	Konata Izumi, Haruhi Suzumiya		[1]
2007–15	Soreike! Anpanman	Tanpopochan, Kokinchan
2008	Kemeko Deluxe	Nakamura
2008	Macross Frontier	Mina Roshan, Nene Rora
2008	Nijū Mensō no Musume	Chico
2008	Scarecrowman: the Animation	Mischa
2008	Moegaku★5	Goddess
2008	Amuri in Star Ocean	Femina Novum	OVA
2008	Lupin III: Green Vs. Red	Yukiko	OVA
2008	Examurai	Airei	OVA
2008	Fist of the North Star: The Legend of Toki	Sara
2008	Hyakko	Ayumi Nonomura
2008	Linebarrels of Iron	Kujō Miu
2008	Mokke	Reiko Nagasawa
2008–09	Akaneiro ni Somaru Saka series	Minato Nagase
2008–13	Zettai Karen Children series	Kaoru Akashi
2009	White Album	Yuki Morikawa
2009	Kawa no Hikari	Tammy
2009	To	Ariina	OVA
2009	Pyu to Fuku! Jaguar	Koneko Kamitoya	OVA
2009	The Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya	Haruhi-chan	web series
2009	Nyoro~n Churuya-san (ja)	Haruhi	web series
2009	Dragon Ball Z Kai	Dende
2009	Fight Ippatsu! Jūden-chan!!
2009	Kiddy Girl-and	Lumiere
2009–10	Queen's Blade series	Nanael
2009–11	Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas	Sasha/Athena	OVA
2009–11	Kimi ni Todoke series	Ume "Kurumi" Kurumizawa
2009–11	Maria Holic series	Shizu Shidō
2009–present	Fairy Tail	Lucy Heartfilia
2009–15	Jewelpet series	Garnet
2010	Black Butler II	Hannah Anafeloz
2010	Lupin III: The Last Job	Asuka Kagurazaka
2010	Book Girl Memoir	Miu Asakura	OVA
2010–11	Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan series	Kana Ienaga
2010–11	The Qwaser of Stigmata	Katja
2011	Hunter × Hunter	Menchi
2012	Himitsu no Akko-chan	Akko-chan	anime shorts	[27]
2012	Girls und Panzer	Alisa
2012	Shinken Zemi Kōkō Kōza	Hina		[28]
2012–13	Gintama'	Imai Nobume
2012–13	Recorder and Randsell series	Sayo
2013	Miyakawa-ke no Kūfuku (ja)	Konata Izumi	web series
2013	Gatchaman Crowds	Paiman
2014	Terra Formars	Sandra Hoffman
2014	Witch Craft Works	Weekend
2014	Space Dandy	Maker
2014–15	Parasyte	Migi		[29]
2014–15	Dragon Ball Z Kai (Majin Buu saga)	Dende
2015	The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan	Haruhi Suzumiya
2015	Ultimate Otaku Teacher	Toune Yamato		[30]
2015–16	Gintama°	Imai Nobume

Drama CDs

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Source[31]
2003	Kiddy Grade Sound Layer	Lumière
2007	Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora	Sayoko Natsume
2007	The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya: Sound Around	Haruhi Suzumiya
2008	Maria Holic	Kanako Miyamae
2008	B. Ichi	Lin Kinpar
2008	Lucky Star	Konata Izumi
2009	Akane-iro ni Somaru Saka	Minato Nagase
2009	Kiss of Rose Princess	Anís Yamamoto

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Source[32]
2007	The Asylum Session	Hiyoko
2008	Bleach: Fade to Black	Sister
2009	Pyu to Fuku! Jaguar: Ima, Fuki ni Yukimasu	Hamyi
2009	Duel Masters: Lunatic God Saga	Runa Kamizuki
2009	Macross Frontier: Itsuwari no Utahime	Mena Roshan
2010	The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya	Haruhi Suzumiya
2010	Book Girl	Miu Asakura
2011	Macross Frontier: Sayonara no Tsubasa	Mena Roshan
2011	Little Ghostly Adventures of the Tofu Boy	Ai Murota
2012	Go! Anpanman: Rhythm and Play – Anpanman and the Strange Parasol	Kokin-chan
2012	Jewelpet the Movie: Sweets Dance Princess	Garnet
2012	Fairy Tail the Movie: Phoenix Priestess	Lucy Heartfilia
2013	Hunter x Hunter: Phantom Rouge	Retz
2013	Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods	Dende
2013	Go! Anpanman: Mischievous Ghost and Cuddling Together	Kokin-chan
2014	Go! Anpanman: Kokin-Chan Became a Mom and Play with Fun	Kokin-chan

Dubbing roles

Hirano has had dubbing roles in localized versions of a number of foreign television series and films.

Title	Role	Notes	Source[33]
Can You Hear My Heart	Bong Woo-ri	Hwang Jung-eum
Cao Cao	Diaochan	Han Xue
City Hunter	Kim Na-na	Park Min-young
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation	Haley Jones	Taylor Swift, Season 9	[34]
Dragonball Evolution	Bulma	Emmy Rossum
Giant	Lee Mi-joo	Hwang Jung-eum
Renaissance	Ilona Tasuiev	Romola Garai
The Thieves	Yenicall	Jun Ji-hyun
Zathura	Lisa	Kristen Stewart

Radio

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Source[35]
2001	Tenshi no Shippo: Home Party		Nippon Cultural Broadcasting / Radio Osaka
2006–07	Sumomo Radio		Lantis Web Radio
2007–09	Radio Animelo Mix		Nikoniko Anime Channel

Video games

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Source[36]
2003	Angel Tales series	Saru no Momo
2006	Canvas 2: Niji Iro no Sketch	Sumire Misaki	PS2
2006	Taiko no Tatsujin: Doka! to Oomori Nanadaime	Singing on "Hare Hare Yukai"
2006	Nana: Subete wa Daimaou no Omichibiki!?	Reira Serizawa
2006	Finalist	Honoka Serizawa
2006–09	Galaxy Angel II series	Kahlua/Tequila Marjoram
2007	Gakuen Utopia Manabi Straight! Kira Kira Happy Festa!	Memmu Eto
2007	Spectral Gene	Nevuan, Kurohime
2007–08	Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon	Shirma Magnolie
2007	Luminous Arc	Lucia
2007	Eternal Sonata	Polka	Also Chopin's Dream
2007	Sumomomo Momomo: The Strongest Bride on Earth	Sanae Nakajima
2007–10	Lucky Star series	Konata Izumi
2007–11	Haruhi Suzumiya series	Haruhi Suzumiya
2008	Zettai Karen Children DS: Dai-4 no Children	Kaoru Akashi
2008	Tetsudō Musume DS: Terminal Memory	Minami Kurahashi
2008	Chocobo to Mahō no Ehon: Majō to Shōjo to Gonin no Yūsha	Shirma Magnolie
2008	Sigma Harmonics	Neon Tsukiyomi
2008	Motto Moegaku	Goddess
2008	Final Approach 2: 1st Priority	Kanon Keiju
2008–09	Memories Off 6: T-wave	Chisa Hakosaki	Also Next Relation
2008–09	Katekyo Hitman Reborn! series	Rizona
2008–09	Akaneiro ni Somaru Saka series	Minato Nagase
2009	Bleach: Heat the Soul 6	Dark Rukia
2009	Arc Rise Fantasia	Ruche
2009	Summon Night X: Tears Crown	Amelia Kirst
2009	Assassin's Creed 2	Cristina Vespucci
2009	Magna Carta 2	Zephie
2009	Queen's Blade: Spiral Chaos	Nanael
2009	Kokuhaku	Haruka Koosamumiya, Yosai Kurasawa, Kaede Hayami, Runa Kurasawa
2009	Hyakko Yorozuya Case Files!	Ayumi Nonomura
2009	Linebarrels of Iron	Kujo Miu
2009–10	Jewelpet series	Garnet
2010	White Album	Yuki Morikawa
2010	Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood	Cristina Vespucci
2010	Busou Shinki series	Electric guitar type MMS Baby Razz	Battle Masters and Battle Rondo
2010	Yakuza 4	Hana
2010–14	Fairy Tail series	Lucy Heartfilia
2011	Aquapazza: Aquaplus Dream Match	Yuki Morikawa
2011	Final Fantasy Type-0	Carla
2011	Yakuza: Dead Souls	Hana
2011	Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology 3	Kanonno Grassvalley
2011	Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy	Prishe
2011	Queen's Gate: Spiral Chaos	Katja, Nanael
2011	Sengoku Taisen 1570	Hanahime, SS Cha, BSS Uesugi Kenshin
2011	Weiß Schwarz Portable	Haruhi
2012	Yakuza 5	Hana
2012	Dragon Nest	Curly
2013	Super Robot Wars UX	Miu Kujou
2013	DoDonPachi DaiOuJou	Oya	XBox 360 version
2014	Girls und Panzer: Senshadō, Kiwamemasu!	Arisa
2014	Ryū ga Gotoku Ishin!	Ikumatsu
2014	Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls	Monaka Towa
2014	3594e: Sangokushi Eika

Discography

Albums

1. Riot Girl (2008)
2. Speed Star (2009)
3. Aya Museum (2011)
4. Fragments (2012)
5. Vivid (2014)

Singles

1. "Breakthrough" (March 8, 2006)
2. "Bōken Desho Desho?" (April 26, 2006) (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya opening theme)
3. "Ashita no Prism"^[37] (September 6, 2006)
4. "Love Gun" (October 10, 2007)
5. "Neophilia" (November 7, 2007)
6. "MonStAR" (December 5, 2007)
7. "Unnamed World" (April 23, 2008) (Nijū Mensō no Musume ending theme)
8. "Namida Namida Namida" (October 8, 2008) (Hyakko ending theme)
9. "Set me Free/Sing A Song!" (April 29, 2009)
10. "Super Driver" (July 22, 2009) (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya opening theme)
11. "Hysteric Barbie" (June 23, 2010)
12. "TOxxxIC" (February 20, 2013)
13. "Promise" (October 9, 2013)

Other songs

• "Hare Hare Yukai" (2006)
• "Suzumiya Haruhi no Tsumeawase" (2006)
• "Haruhi Suzumiya Character Song" (2006)
• "Saikyo Pare Parade" (2006)
• "Mei Etō Character Song" (2006)
• "Sanae Nakajima Character Song" (2006)
• "Motteke! Sailor Fuku" (2007)
• "Konata Izumi Character Song" (2007)
• "Mune Pettan Girls Character Song" (2007)
• "Kosutte! Oh My Honey" (2007)
• "Tomare!" (2009)
• "Haruhi Suzumiya Character Song II" (2009)
• "Seikon no Qwaser Character Song" (2010)
• "Fairy Tail Character Song" (2010)
• "Party! LoveBeat!" (along with Kanae Itō and Haruka Kudō) (2012)
• "Zutto Kitto", Fairy Tail film ending theme (2012)

Concert videos

• Suzumiya Haruhi no Gekisō (2007)
• Love Letter (ラブレター Rabu Retā) (November 21, 2007)
• Love Story (ラブストーリー Rabu Sutori) (April 25, 2008)
• 1st Live 2008 Riot Tour Live (February 25, 2009)
• I Love You (March 18, 2009)
• Aya Hirano Music Clip Collection Vol.1 (September 9, 2009)
• Suzumiya Haruhi no Gensō (February 26, 2010)
• Aya Hirano 2nd Live Tour 2009 "Speed Star Tours" Live DVD (June 23, 2010)
• Aya Hirano Special Live 2010 -Kiss me- (May 3, 2011)

References

1. Mizukami, Jiro; Kyuki, Akihiko; Onitsuka, Kanako; Fringe (October 2007). "Voice Actress Spotlight". Newtype USA. Vol. 6 no. 10. pp. 142–143. ISSN 1541-4817.
2. Oochi, Yoko; Yoshida, Moichi (December 2007). "Death Note". Newtype USA. Vol. 6 no. 12. pp. 50–51. ISSN 1541-4817.
3. "Space Craft Produce official website".
4. "Lantis profile". Lantis.
5. Doi, Hitoshi. "Hirano Aya". Seiyuu Database. Retrieved April 12, 2014.
6. "Voice Actress/Singer Aya Hirano to Perform at Otakon". Anime News Network. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
7. Manry, Gia (July 28, 2012). "Aya Hirano Q&A". Anime News Network. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
8. "Recommended Eggs - Springs (「ユニット名未定」改め)". Scramble Egg. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
9. "Results of Japan's First Ever Seiyuu Awards Announced". Anime News Network. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
10. "2nd Annual Seiyū Awards Announced". Anime News Network. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
11. "Anime Expo 2007 Guests". Anime Expo. 2007. Archived from the original on 11 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-03.
12. "平野綾がTwitterで持病告白「たまに目が見えなくなったりするけど慣れた」。" [Aya Hirano Confesses Her Illness on Twitter: "I occasionally can't see, but I'm used to it."] (in Japanese). November 3, 2010. Archived from the original on 12 May 2011. Retrieved June 1, 2011.
13. "Aya Hirano: Prohibited From Acting in New Anime Works". Anime News Network. April 7, 2011. Retrieved April 7, 2011.
14. "Aya Hirano Confirms She Stopped Performing Music for Lantis". Anime News Network. May 28, 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
15. "Aya Hirano sex scandal". Yahoo! News. August 2, 2011. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
16. "Aya Hirano Confirms She Is Leaving Agency for Another". Anime News Network. August 13, 2011. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
17. "Voice Actress Aya Hirano Moves to New Agency Grick". Anime News Network. August 20, 2011. Retrieved August 20, 2011.
18. "Aya Hirano Returns to Voice-Acting on New Works Again". Anime News Network. August 27, 2011. Retrieved August 27, 2011.
19. "Aya Hirano's Musical Return Detailed". Anime News Network. March 24, 2012. Retrieved October 30, 2012.
20. "Aya Hirano – Biography – テレビアニメ" [Aya Hirano – Biography – Television Animation]. Aya Hirano Official Website (in Japanese). Retrieved November 3, 2015.
21. "Aya Hirano – Biography – OVA". Aya Hirano Official Website (in Japanese). Retrieved November 3, 2015.
22. "Aya Hirano – Biography – Webアニメ" [Aya Hirano – Biography – Web anime]. Aya Hirano Official Website (in Japanese). Retrieved November 3, 2015.
23. Taniguchi, Hiroshi (November 2006). "The Official Art of Canvas2 ~Nijiro no Sketch~". Newtype USA. Vol. 5 no. 11. pp. 101–107. ISSN 1541-4817.
24. "スタッフ＆キャスト". TV Tokyo. Archived from the original on June 23, 2010. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
25. Maeda, Hisashi; Horiguchi, Yukiko; Tamura, Seiki; Ishida, Naomi; Miura, Rina (June 2007). "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya". Newtype USA. Vol. 6 no. 6. pp. 32–35. ISSN 1541-4817.
26. "Anime Expo® 2008 Announces the 2008 SPJA Award Winners" (Press release). Anime Expo. July 9, 2008. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
27. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-08-17/aya-hirano-stars-in-himitsu-no-akko-chan-flash-anime
28. "Shinken Zemi Gets Anime with Miyu Irino, Aya Hirano" (Press release). AnimeNewsNetwork. March 23, 2012. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
29. ""Parasyte" Anime Staff and Cast Announced". Crunchyroll. July 29, 2014. Retrieved August 3, 2014.
30. "Ultimate Otaku Teacher Casts Daisuke Namikawa, Mao Ichimichi., Ayahi Takagaki". Anime News Network. June 9, 2015. Retrieved June 14, 2015.
31. "Aya Hirano – Biography – ドラマCD" [Aya Hirano – Biography – Drama CD]. Aya Hirano Official Website (in Japanese). Retrieved November 3, 2015.
32. "Aya Hirano – Biography – 劇場アニメ" [Aya Hirano – Biography – Theater Animation]. Aya Hirano Official Website (in Japanese). Retrieved November 3, 2015.
33. "Aya Hirano – Biography – 吹き替え" [Aya Hirano – Biography – Dubbing]. Aya Hirano Official Website (in Japanese). Retrieved November 3, 2015.
34. "Aya Hirano Q&A - Otakon 2012 - Anime News Network". Anime News Network. July 28, 2012. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
35. "Aya Hirano – Biography – ラジオ" [Aya Hirano – Biography – Radio]. Aya Hirano Official Website (in Japanese). Retrieved November 3, 2015.
36. "Aya Hirano – Biography – ゲーム" [Aya Hirano – Biography – Game]. Aya Hirano Official Website (in Japanese). Retrieved November 3, 2015.
37. "The unstoppable Aya Hirano's third single "Ashita no Prism"". Newtype USA. Vol. 5 no. 12. December 2006. p. 119. ISSN 1541-4817.

External links

• Official blog (Japanese)
• Official website (Japanese)
• Aya Hirano at Anime News Network's encyclopedia