Minato Namikaze, better known as the Fourth Hokage in Naruto, is voiced by Toshiyuki Morikawa in the original Japanese version and Tony Oliver in the English dub. Both actors helped bring Naruto’s father to life, portraying the calm, intelligent, and heroic shinobi whose sacrifice shaped the entire story.
JAPANESE VOICE ACTOR (TOSHIYUKI MORIKAWA)
Date of Birth
January 26, 1967
About Toshiyuki
Toshiyuki Morikawa (森川 智之) is one of Japan’s most respected voice actors. Known for his deep, commanding voice, he has portrayed numerous iconic anime, video game, and film characters throughout a career spanning more than three decades. He is also the founder and head of the voice acting agency Axlone.
For Naruto Shippuden, Morikawa was cast as Minato Namikaze, capturing the Fourth Hokage’s intelligence, warmth, and unwavering resolve. His performance became closely associated with the character across anime episodes, films, and video games.
Hometown
Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan
Career Highlights
Some of Toshiyuki Morikawa’s most recognized roles include:
- Minato Namikaze — Naruto Shippuden
- Sephiroth — Final Fantasy VII franchise
- Dante — Devil May Cry
- Naraku — Inuyasha
- Yoshikage Kira — JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable
- Boros — One-Punch Man
- Isshin Kurosaki — Bleach
- Kagaya Ubuyashiki — Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
Full Current Filmography
The following list highlights documented major anime credits available from public sources and is not exhaustive.
Television Anime
- Naruto Shippuden — Minato Namikaze
- Inuyasha — Naraku
- Bleach — Isshin Kurosaki, Kaname Tōsen
- One-Punch Man — Boros
- Black Clover — Julius Novachrono
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba — Kagaya Ubuyashiki
- JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable — Yoshikage Kira
- Fairy Tail — Mard Geer
- Kingdom — Ri Boku
- Made in Abyss — Bondrewd
Anime Films
- Road to Ninja: Naruto the Movie — Minato Namikaze
- Naruto Shippuden the Movie: The Lost Tower — Minato Namikaze
- Numerous Final Fantasy and anime film appearances as Sephiroth and other characters.
Video Games
- Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm series — Minato Namikaze
- Final Fantasy VII series — Sephiroth
- Devil May Cry series — Dante
- Resident Evil series — Leon S. Kennedy (Japanese voice)
- Kingdom Hearts series — Sephiroth
Critical Reception
Morikawa is widely regarded as one of the industry’s premier veteran voice actors. His portrayal of Minato is frequently praised for balancing authority and compassion, qualities that made the Fourth Hokage one of the franchise’s most beloved characters.
Our Sources
- Behind The Voice Actors – Minato Namikaze / Fourth Hokage (https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Naruto/Minato-Namikaze-Fourth-Hokage/)
- Toshiyuki Morikawa Biography (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toshiyuki_Morikawa)
- Naruto Character List (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Naruto_characters)
Social Media
- Agency Profile: https://axl-one.com/talent/morikawa.html
ENGLISH VOICE ACTOR (TONY OLIVER)
Date of Birth
May 12, 1958 (IMDb)
About Tony
Tony Oliver (born Rafael Antonio Oliver) is a Puerto Rican-born American voice actor, voice director, producer, and scriptwriter. He is one of the most influential figures in English-language anime dubbing, with a career that spans anime, animation, video games, and live-action television. Beyond his acting work, Oliver has served as a writer, producer, and voice director on numerous projects, including the Power Rangers franchise. (Wikipedia)
In Naruto Shippuden, Oliver provides the English voice of Minato Namikaze, bringing a calm authority and warmth to the Fourth Hokage. His performance helped establish Minato as one of the most admired parental figures in anime and a fan-favorite character throughout the franchise. (Wikipedia)
Hometown
San Juan, Puerto Rico (IMDb)
Career Highlights
Some of Tony Oliver’s most recognized roles include:
- Minato Namikaze — Naruto Shippuden
- Arsène Lupin III — Lupin the Third
- Ulquiorra Cifer — Bleach
- Rick Hunter — Robotech
- Lancer (Cú Chulainn) — Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works
- Saba — Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
- Hiroshi Ban — Ultraman Arc (Behind The Voice Actors)
Full Current Filmography
The following list reflects documented major voice acting credits from publicly available sources and may not be exhaustive.
Anime Series
- Naruto Shippuden — Minato Namikaze
- Bleach — Ulquiorra Cifer
- Lupin the Third franchise — Arsène Lupin III
- Robotech — Rick Hunter
- Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works — Lancer (Cú Chulainn)
- Hunter × Hunter (2011) — Beans
- Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon — Gaga Gozen
- Vinland Saga — Gunnar
- D4DJ First Mix — Ryujin Kofune
- Ultraman Arc — Hiroshi Ban (Wikipedia)
Anime Films
- Road to Ninja: Naruto the Movie — Minato Namikaze
- Lupin III: The First — Arsène Lupin III
- Lupin the Third: Blood Seal of the Eternal Mermaid — Arsène Lupin III
- The Mystery of Mamo — Arsène Lupin III
- Stand by Me Doraemon 2 — Toby Nobi
- Fate/stay night: Heaven’s Feel I. presage flower — Lancer (English version) (Wikipedia)
Video Games
- Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm series — Minato Namikaze
- Bleach games — Ulquiorra Cifer
- Bravely Default series
- Danganronpa series
- BlazBlue series
- Various Lupin the Third productions as Arsène Lupin III (Meet The Voice Actors)
Critical Reception
Tony Oliver is widely respected not only for his voice acting but also for his behind-the-scenes contributions to anime localization. Fans frequently praise his portrayal of Minato for capturing the character’s wisdom, kindness, and leadership qualities. His work on Naruto Shippuden remains one of the most recognizable performances in his extensive anime career. (Meet The Voice Actors)
Our Sources
- Behind The Voice Actors – Tony Oliver (https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Tony-Oliver/)
- Tony Oliver Biography (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Oliver)
- IMDb – Tony Oliver (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0031407/)
- Road to Ninja: Naruto the Movie Cast Listing (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_to_Ninja:_Naruto_the_Movie)
- Dubbing Wikia – Tony Oliver (https://dubbing.fandom.com/wiki/Tony_Oliver)
Social Media
- Official Website: http://tonyoliverentertainment.com
- Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TonyOliverEntertainment/
