Kanao Tsuyuri in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is voiced by Reina Ueda in the Japanese version and Brianna Knickerbocker in the English dub. Both actresses bring a quietly expressive quality to Kanao’s reserved, emotionally restrained personality — a character who communicates more through presence than words, making the casting of voices known for soft-spoken, nuanced delivery particularly fitting.
January 17, 1994
Reina Ueda (上田 麗奈) is a Japanese voice actress and singer from Toyama Prefecture, affiliated with the talent agency 81 Produce. She entered the industry after winning the Second Class Grand Prix in an 81 Produce audition in 2011, formally joining the agency the following year. Her first voice acting credit came in 2012 with Inazuma Eleven: Chrono Stone, and she quickly built a reputation for portraying characters with delicate, introspective emotional registers.
Her first major lead role came in 2014 with Naru Sekiya in Hanayamata, and her profile rose steadily through roles in Dimension W, Pokémon: Sun & Moon, and SSSS.Gridman. In 2019, she was cast as Kanao Tsuyuri in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, a role that became one of the most prominent of her career. Kanao’s near-silent demeanor and gradual emotional awakening align naturally with Ueda’s ability to convey feeling through minimal, carefully controlled vocal expression.
Beyond voice acting, Ueda is also an active recording artist signed to Lantis. She released a mini-album in 2016 and her first solo single, “Sleepland,” in 2018, which served as the ending theme to Märchen Mädchen. Her second single, “Literature” (リテラチュア), released in 2020, was used as the opening theme to Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina.
Toyama Prefecture, Japan
- Kanao Tsuyuri – Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
- Akane Shinjō – SSSS.Gridman
- Mira Yurizaki – Dimension W
- Mallow – Pokémon: Sun & Moon
- Shiori Shinomiya – Sakura Quest
- Mayu Nekoyashiki / Cure Lillian – Wonderful PreCure!
- Miyo Saimori – My Happy Marriage
- Reze – Chainsaw Man
The following list reflects documented credits and may not be exhaustive.
Anime (Selected, Chronological Highlights)
- (2014) Naru Sekiya – Hanayamata
- (2016) Mallow (Mao) – Pokémon: Sun & Moon
- (2017) Jasminka Antonenko – Little Witch Academia
- (2017) Hiromi Maiharu – Minami Kamakura Koukou Joshi Jitensha-bu
- (2018) Akane Shinjō – SSSS.Gridman
- (2019) Miyako Hoshino – Wataten!: An Angel Flew Down to Me
- (2019) Gray – The Case Files of Lord El-Melloi II: Rail Zeppelin Grace Note
- (2019–present) Kanao Tsuyuri – Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
- (2020) Shuka Karino – Darwin’s Game
- (2022–present) Reze – Chainsaw Man
- (2023) Miyo Saimori – My Happy Marriage
- (2024) Mayu Nekoyashiki / Cure Lillian – Wonderful PreCure!
- (2025) Shizuka Kuze – Takopi’s Original Sin
- (2025) Kanao Tsuyuri – Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle (film)
Video Games (Selected)
- Francisca – Kirby Star Allies
- Honami Mochizuki – Project Sekai: Colorful Stage feat. Hatsune Miku
- Kanao Tsuyuri – Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles
Reina Ueda’s portrayal of Kanao Tsuyuri has been widely praised for its subtlety and restraint. Kanao is one of the series’ most emotionally complex supporting characters, and Ueda’s ability to convey inner turmoil through near-silence has been noted by fans and critics alike. Her performance across the TV series and into the Infinity Castle film maintains consistency in capturing Kanao’s growth from an emotionally suppressed young woman into a more fully realized Demon Slayer. Ueda also received the Best New Actress Award at the 9th Seiyu Awards in 2015, recognizing her early impact on the industry.
Reina Ueda’s official staff Twitter account is @ReinaUeda_Staff. Her official staff Instagram is @reinaueda_staff.
December 31, 1982
Brianna Knickerbocker is an American voice actress and singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles, California. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, she originally pursued a career in fashion design before a pivotal moment led her to search for a new path. She found an acting opportunity online, booked it, and transitioned into voice acting for English-dubbed Japanese anime and video games — a field in which she has since built an extensive career.
Knickerbocker is particularly well known for voicing soft-spoken, emotionally reserved characters, a quality that makes her a natural fit for Kanao Tsuyuri in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. Her most recognized roles include Rem in Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World, Sakura in Fire Emblem Fates, and Hu Tao in Genshin Impact. She has also won the Breakthrough Voice Actress of the Year award at the 4th Annual BTVA Anime Dub Awards (both Staff Choice and People’s Choice categories).
In addition to her voice acting work, Knickerbocker pursues a music career under the stage name Starless, described as a blend of dark pop with electronic undercurrents. Her dual career in performance and music reflects a broad creative range that extends well beyond any single role or franchise.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Kanao Tsuyuri – Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
- Rem – Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World
- Sakura – Fire Emblem Fates
- Hu Tao – Genshin Impact
- Elaine – The Seven Deadly Sins
- Wiz – KonoSuba
- Kirin Todo – The Asterisk War
- Tuesday – Carole & Tuesday
The following list reflects documented credits and may not be exhaustive.
Anime (Voice Acting)
- (2015) Chisaki Hiradaira – A Lull in the Sea
- (2015) Itsuki Inubozaki – Yuki Yuna is a Hero
- (2015–2016) Akane Awakusu – Durarara!!x2
- (2015–2016) Leysritt – Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works
- (2015–2021) Elaine – The Seven Deadly Sins
- (2015–2016) Kirin Todo – The Asterisk War: The Academy City on the Water
- (2016–present) Wiz – KonoSuba
- (2017) Erica – Berserk
- (2019) Tuesday – Carole & Tuesday
- (2019–present) Filo – The Rising of the Shield Hero
- (2019–present) Rem – Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World
- (2019–present) Kanao Tsuyuri – Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
- (2020–2022) Kaede Akino – Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story
- (2021) Shiraori/Kumoko – So I’m a Spider, So What?
- (2025) Kanao Tsuyuri – Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle (film)
Brianna Knickerbocker’s English dub performance as Kanao Tsuyuri has been well received by the Western Demon Slayer fanbase. Her tendency to voice shy, quietly determined characters translates effectively to Kanao’s particular brand of stoic composure, and her work in the role carries through from the original TV series to the Infinity Castle film. More broadly, Knickerbocker’s performance as Rem in Re:Zero remains one of the most praised English dub performances in recent anime history, and her casting as Kanao reflects a similar approach to emotionally layered, understated characters. She has been recognized for her dub work with the Breakthrough Voice Actress of the Year award at the 4th Annual BTVA Anime Dub Awards.
Brianna Knickerbocker’s official Twitter account is @briannanoellek.
