Seiyū Love: Junichi Suwabe
Although it annoys some friends, I have a tendency to refer to Japanese voice actors by the name of the character who first brought them to my attention. In the case of Junichi Suwabe, that would be Grimmjow from “Bleach.” I think this man has one of the sexiest voices on the planet.
If you’re not familiar with Grimmjow, he was an arrancar (elite demon, if you will) with an untamed personality. Growling, aggressive, threatening, all these were typical attributes of Grimmjow’s performance. That’s not to say there weren’t other, more nuanced qualities, but baddass characters with deep, manly voices seemed to be Suwabe’s mainstay for a while.
As much as I have touted performers who can play a wide variety of characters, there are also seiyū I adore simply because I love their voices. I had no problem with a long line of tough-guy characters for Suwabe. So long as that rich, lusciously masculine voice was coming out of their mouths, I was happy! However, few actors get into performance to be pigeonholed.
You’ve heard “Dying is easy; comedy is hard,” right? I was initially a bit surprised then delighted when Suwabe started getting more roles that included comedy elements. Yōji Itami from “Gate” was the first of these I experienced. The creepy giggles and whimsy of Undertaker from “Black Butler” combine both death and comedy.
Most recently I have been amazed by his performance of Sui from “Rokuhōdō Yotsuiro Biyori.” The cat-loving owner of a traditional Japanese tea house, Sui is the pinnacle of polite, greeting customers with sincere courtesy and differential consideration. I wouldn’t have guessed Suwabe’s voice could express such a character, but knowing what his voice is capable of makes Sui’s voice as yummy as the food and drinks they serve at his quaint shop. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted a venue in anime to be real more than Rokuhōdō, and it’s his voice as much as the amazing food that’s to thank for it.
I’m grateful to his agent and the directors responsible for giving Suwabe more than tough-guy characters, and I look forward to seeing him further diversify his repertoire. At least my nieces get it and kind of appreciate it when refer to a performer by a seminal role, even if they don’t know the reference when I exclaim with delight, “Oh! That’s Grimmjow!”
