Anime Industry Shut Him Out — One Punch Man Voice Actor Reveals How He Fought Back
At Tokyo’s Animate Theater, One Punch Man star Yuki Kaji turned a promo stop for Netflix’s Love Through a Prism into a candid reveal, recounting the string of industry rejections that forged his rise behind the mic.
Yuki Kaji took a break from sounding invincible and talked about something every working actor knows too well: getting told no. At a Tokyo event for Netflix's new original anime Love Through a Prism, the One Punch Man and Attack on Titan star laid out just how rough the grind can be, even when your voice is everywhere.
The moment: Tokyo stage, honest math
On December 22, 2025, Kaji hit the stage at Animate Theater in Tokyo to help promote Love Through a Prism. In the middle of all the usual hype, he dropped a candid snapshot of his career: there were years when he auditioned 50 to 60 times and walked away with only one or two roles. Brutal, but very real.
Handpicked for Love Through a Prism
Despite that rough stretch, this new gig came with a very specific vote of confidence. Kaji said he was personally chosen for the role by Yoko Kamio — yes, the creator of Boys Over Flowers — after auditioning for the project. Her reasoning wasn’t subtle:
"I absolutely wanted Kaji for this role."
For Kaji, who grew up with Kamio’s work and clearly respects her, that hit different. Being selected for something he actually wanted, by someone he admires, was a big deal.
Who he plays, and when you can watch
Kaji is voicing Shinnosuke Kobayakawa in Love Through a Prism. The series starts streaming on Netflix on January 15, 2026.
That 'overnight' career? Here’s the receipt
Kaji’s now one of the most recognizable names in anime, but he didn’t skip the line. Along with One Punch Man’s Speed-o'-Sound Sonic, you’ve heard him in a lot of places — TV, games, leads, supporting roles, the works. Highlights include:
- Shoto Todoroki in My Hero Academia
- Meliodas in The Seven Deadly Sins
- Eren Jaeger in Attack on Titan Final Season
- Issei Hyodo in High School DxD
- Shu Ouma in Guilty Crown
- Yukine in Noragami
- Ayato Kirishima in Tokyo Ghoul
- Kenma Kozume in Haikyuu!!
- Alibaba Saluja in Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic
- Konekomaru Miwa in Blue Exorcist
- Finnian (Finny) in Black Butler
- Clemont (Citron) in Pokemon the Series: XY
- Koichi Hirose in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable
- Rentaro Satomi in Black Bullet
- Nishikata in Teasing Master Takagi-san
- Osamu Mikumo in World Trigger
- Haruyuki Arita in Accel World
- Lyon Vastia in Fairy Tail
- Shion in No. 6
- Sabito in Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles (video game)
If you came for One Punch Man
Kaji’s Sonic remains one of that show’s sharpest recurring presences. If you want a refresher, all One Punch Man seasons and episodes are streaming on Crunchyroll.
Bottom line: hearing a top-tier voice like Kaji talk about 50-60 auditions for a couple wins is a good reminder that the industry can be a grinder. The upside is we’re about to see what he does with Shinnosuke in Love Through a Prism — and given who picked him, expectations are fair. What do you think: perfect fit, or surprise casting that could shake things up?