Yuichi Nakamura was born on February 20th in Takamatsu, Japan. He has been voice acting since 2001 after his debut role as Griffon and Ligaon in Dennou Boukenki Webdiver, and he's voiced about 300 characters in television, movies, and video games.
He has voiced characters in classic anime like Yu-Gi-Oh!, Bleach, Black Lagoon, and Hajime no Ippo, and some of his most notable roles are in the most recent installments of Shonen anime, such as Jujutsu Kaisen and My Hero Academia.
Jujutsu Kaisen
Nakamura voices Jujutsu Kaisen's Satoru Gojo, a character that's loved and hated by fans in equal measure. Gojo is one of the main protagonists and a teacher at Tokyo Metropolitan Curse Technical College. Gojo's role as the strongest special grade jujutsu sorcerer puts him in a bind between his beliefs in his students and the beliefs of those in charge of him and jujutsu sorcery.
Jujutsu Kaisen follows high school student Yuji Itadori as he becomes the vessel for a 1000-year-old curse, Ryomen Sukuna, and how the sorcerers will snuff Sukuna out before he destroys humanity. Nakamura brings Gojo's sass and nonchalance to life rather easily and even said in an interview with Enoki Junya, the voice of Yuji, "in terms of acting, it is easy to act as characters like Gojo since he appears a lot," but he also explains that it's difficult to portray how powerful Gojo really is.
Fairytail
Fairy Tail's Gray Fullbuster is an Ice-Make Mage on Team Natsu in the Fairy Tail Guild. Gray, like a lot of Nakamura's other characters, is laid-back, but he gets serious when the situation requires that he be.
Fairy Tail follows Lucy Heartfilia and Natsu Dragneel in their search for Dragon Igneel. In a monthly magazine interview, Nakamura shared that he sees Gray as a supportive character and acts him out with that in mind.
Haikyu!!
Kuroo Tetsuro is a supporting character and captain of Nekoma High's Boy's Volleyball Club in Haikyu!! In terms of arrogance, Kuroo isn't quite as intense as Gojo can be, but Nakamura still breathes an air of 'I'm good at what I do,' when it comes to portraying Kuroo.
Haikyu!! follows Hinata Shoyo's journey to becoming one of the best volleyball players in Japan. Side characters like Kuroo help Hinata achieve new skills and make the rivalry between Nekoma and Karasuno High even more intense than in years past. Kuroo has been ranked in the top 10 in Haikyu!! character popularity polls by fans and by Weekly Shonen Jump, likely due to Nakamura's ease and relaxed yet intimidating demeanor he brings to Kuroo.
One Punch Man
One Punch Man follows hero Saitama, who defeats criminals and enemies simply because it's fun and he is strong. Nakamura voices Saitama's friend, Satoru, better known by his hero alias Mumen Rider.
Mumen Rider is a weaker hero compared to his counterparts, but he is determined to not let that stop him. Nakamura brings Mumen Rider's passion to life when it comes to being brave and passionate about hero work.
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations
Boruto follows Boruto, Naruto Uzumaki's son, as he navigates the world on his way to becoming a ninja while also trying not to be overshadowed by his father's legacy. Being a ninja requires many adventures and the buildup of enemies, The Kara being one of Boruto's.
Koji Kashin is a clone that operates in the Konohagakure sector as an inner of Kara. Nakamura tends to voice characters with an arrogant overlay of someone who is actually rational and brings perspective.
Fruits Basket
Fruits Basket (2019) follows Tohru Honda as she navigates life after her mother's death. The Sohma family stumbles upon Tohru living out of a tent, and they offer to let her stay with them. Fruits Basket's Sohma Shigure is the head of the house and the Dog of the Chinese Zodiac.
Shigure is another of Nakamura's more arrogant and scheming characters that attempt to play things off as comedy even in serious situations. In the final season, Nakamura was able to bring out Shigure's bottled-up intentions and emotions.
My Hero Academia
My Hero Academia follows Izuku Midoriya on his way to becoming 'The World's Greatest Hero.' Along the way, student heroes are bound to meet pros that are there to help or be a lesson. MHA's Pro Hero Hawks, more recently revealed to be Keigo Tamaki, is arrogant, flirty, and always sounds like he's scheming.
In an interview with comicbook.com, Nakamura expressed that Hawks can be difficult because he knows there is a gap in characterization between how he is depicted in the manga versus how he is in the anime. He somehow had to combine not showing his true intentions and being enthusiastic, and, given how popular the character has become among fans of the anime, it's clear that Nakamura succeeded.
Kimi ni Todoke
Nakamura is not limited to his ability to voice heroes and villains, but quiet side characters, as well. Ryu Sanada from Kimi ni Todoke is described as someone who would quietly persevere.
Kimi ni Todoke is based on a shojo romance manga by Karuho Shiina. The show focuses on Kuronuma Sawako, nicknamed Sadako, while she learns to make friends. Nakamura's romantic roles are just as impressive as his more intense roles.
Life Lessons With Uramichi Oniisan
The 2021 anime series Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan follows former gymnast Uramichi Omota as he reveals hard truths of the world to a group of preschoolers. Nakamura's character, Mitsuo Kumatani is Uramichi's junior and is the employee in the bear costume in their morning show "Together with Mama."
Nakamura's calm yet commanding voice exhibits an uncharacteristically though exterior for a man in a kid's show bear costume. Mitsuo can be kind of intimidating to his superiors, but there is still a casual air about him.
Seraph Of The End: Vampire Reign
There tends to be the discussion of whether fans can decide to like or dislike the character of Guren Ichinose, from Seraph of the End. Guren became the head of his household at 16-years-old and is now a Lieutenant Colonel of the Japanese Imperial Demon Army sent to exterminate vampires.
Like, Kuroo Tetsuro, Guren is a leader that values teamwork and is passionate about it. Nakamura's signature nonchalance allows Guren to appear lazy while he secretly works hard behind the scenes. This is one of his most impressive voice characters because, after Guren becomes a Namanari, his voice and demeanor change.