Momo Ayase in Dandadan is voiced by Shion Wakayama in the Japanese version and Abby Trott in the English dub. Both actresses bring a compelling energy to the role, capturing Momo’s fierce, confident gyaru personality alongside the genuine emotional vulnerability that makes her one of the most memorable protagonists in recent anime.
Shion Wakayama (Japanese Voice Actress)
Date of Birth
February 10, 1998
About Shion
Shion Wakayama is a Japanese voice actress affiliated with Himawari Theatre Group, a company she joined at the remarkably young age of three. Born in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, she initially worked as a child actress in television dramas before developing a serious interest in voice acting during middle school, driven largely by her passion for video games. She went on to study voice performance while also pursuing personal creative interests — playing bass guitar in a light music club during her college years and participating in the art club during high school.
Wakayama made her first lead voice acting role as Aoi Aioi in the 2019 anime film Her Blue Sky, a performance that established her as a rising talent in the industry. She has since built a diverse portfolio spanning action, slice-of-life, and sci-fi anime, demonstrating considerable range across genres. Her work as Takina Inoue in Lycoris Recoil (2022) became one of her most celebrated performances prior to Dandadan, earning her wide recognition among anime audiences.
Her portrayal of Momo Ayase in Dandadan is widely regarded as a career-defining performance. Wakayama captures Momo’s gyaru archetype with an authenticity that feels spontaneous and unscripted — a quality that even her English counterpart Abby Trott has publicly praised. In 2023, Wakayama was recognized with the Best New Actor Award at the 17th Seiyu Awards, a testament to the industry’s acknowledgment of her growing impact.
Hometown
Chiba Prefecture, Japan
Career Highlights
- Momo Ayase – Dandadan
- Takina Inoue – Lycoris Recoil
- Aoi Aioi – Her Blue Sky
- Yume Minami – SSSS.Dynazenon
- Cosette Schneider / Destiny – Takt Op. Destiny
- Lemon Yakishio – Too Many Losing Heroines!
- Ai Mie – The Girl I Like Forgot Her Glasses
Full Current Filmography
The following list reflects documented credits and may not be exhaustive.
Anime (Selected, Chronological Highlights)
- (2006) Anna Girardot – Red Garden
- (2009) Kinako – Cookin’ Idol Ai! Mai! Main!
- (2019) Aoi Aioi – Her Blue Sky (Main)
- (2019) Azura – Dr. Stone
- (2019) Hinata Mukai – Gundam Build Divers Re:Rise
- (2021) Yume Minami – SSSS.Dynazenon
- (2021) Cosette Schneider / Destiny – Takt Op. Destiny
- (2022) Mai Kawai – Police in a Pod
- (2022) Takina Inoue – Lycoris Recoil
- (2023) Ai Mie – The Girl I Like Forgot Her Glasses
- (2024) Momo Ayase – Dandadan (Main)
- (2024) Lemon Yakishio – Too Many Losing Heroines! (Main)
- (2024) Asahi Amagami – Amagami-san Chi no Enmusubi (Main)
- (2025) Hinageshi Usuzumi – Momentary Lily (Main)
Video Games (Selected)
- Ellen Joe – Zenless Zone Zero
- Yunli – Honkai: Star Rail
Critical Reception
Shion Wakayama’s performance as Momo Ayase has been widely praised by fans and critics as one of the standout voice acting achievements of the Fall 2024 anime season. Her ability to convey Momo’s layered personality — brash and confident on the surface, warm and emotionally complex underneath — has resonated strongly with audiences. The role is currently her most favorited credit on MyAnimeList, with over 4,800 user favorites, reflecting the significant impression the performance has made. Her work in Dandadan also contributed to broader recognition following her Best New Actor Award win at the 17th Seiyu Awards in 2023, which was awarded in recognition of her body of work leading into this breakout period.
Abby Trott (English Voice Actress)
Date of Birth
May 8, 1986
About Abby
Abby Trott is an American voice actress born in Attleboro, Massachusetts. Her path into the industry is notably unconventional: before establishing herself in English-language dubbing, she spent time in Akita, Japan, teaching English through the JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching) Programme. During her time in Japan, she began her performing career by acting in puppet shows, an early experience that gave her a hands-on foundation in performance and storytelling. She eventually returned to the United States and joined Bang Zoom! Entertainment, through which she has built one of the most recognizable resumes in English-language anime dubbing.
Trott is perhaps best known to mainstream anime audiences for her role as Nezuko Kamado in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, a performance that required her to convey deep emotion with minimal dialogue — a demanding task she executed with notable skill. That role earned her a nomination for Best Voice Artist Performance (English) at the 8th Crunchyroll Anime Awards in 2024. Beyond anime, her credits span video games, Western animation, and even music: she performed the English version of “Lifelight,” the main theme of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Her casting as Momo Ayase in Dandadan was one she actively pursued. In interviews, Trott has spoken about being drawn to the source material and expressing admiration for Shion Wakayama’s original Japanese performance. She has described wanting to capture the same sense of authenticity and rawness that Wakayama brought to the role — a creative ambition that has been well received by English-speaking fans of the series.
Hometown
Attleboro, Massachusetts, USA
Career Highlights
- Momo Ayase – Dandadan
- Nezuko Kamado – Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
- Shizuka Mikazuki – Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead
- Yoh Asakura – Shaman King (remake)
- Maya Fey – Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Spirit of Justice
- Windblade – Transformers: Combiner Wars
- Annette – Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Full Current Filmography
The following list reflects documented credits and may not be exhaustive.
Anime (Voice Acting)
- (2019) Hikari Horaki – Evangelion Death (True)2 (Netflix dub)
- (2019) Chiyoko Fujiwara (young) – Millennium Actress (Eleven Arts dub)
- (2021) Nezuko Kamado – Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train
- (2021) Snorri – Vinland Saga (Netflix dub)
- (2021) Kasey Ann – Super Crooks
- (2022) Linhua Hachisuka – Engage Kiss
- (2022) Ibaraki-Douji / Operator – Fate/Grand Carnival
- (2022) Reina Hama – Drifting Home
- (2023) Aya – Suzume
- (2023) Akane Kinoshita – My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999
- (2023–2024) Pod 153 – Nier: Automata Ver1.1a
- (2023–2024) Shizuka Mikazuki – Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead
- (2024) Kirie Goshima – Uzumaki
- (2024–present) Momo Ayase – Dandadan
- (2024–present) Mutsumi Yozakura – Mission: Yozakura Family
- (2024) Hōjō Tokiyuki – The Elusive Samurai
- (2024–2025) Kia – Ishura
- (2025) Nezuko Kamado – Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle
- (2025) Altea – Übel Blatt
- (2025) Satsuki – Mono
- (2025) Rosalie – Secrets of the Silent Witch
Critical Reception
Abby Trott’s English dub performance as Momo Ayase has been positively received by fans of the series, with many noting her ability to balance the character’s energetic, outspoken personality with moments of genuine emotional depth. Her casting has been viewed as a natural extension of her track record in high-profile anime roles, and her publicly stated enthusiasm for the source material has contributed to a performance that feels invested rather than routine. Her profile on Behind the Voice Actors reflects Momo Ayase as one of her most discussed current roles among the fan community.
