JAPANESE VOICE ACTOR: Kōichi Yamadera
Ryoji Kaji, one of the most charismatic and mysterious characters in Neon Genesis Evangelion, is voiced by Kōichi Yamadera in the original Japanese version. Yamadera’s smooth, confident performance became a defining part of Kaji’s identity, helping establish the character as one of the franchise’s most memorable adults.
Date of Birth
June 17, 1961.
About Kōichi
Kōichi Yamadera is widely regarded as one of Japan’s greatest voice actors. With a career spanning more than four decades, he is known for his remarkable vocal range and his ability to portray heroes, antiheroes, villains, mentors, and comedic characters. His portrayal of Ryoji Kaji remains one of the most iconic performances in anime history.
Hometown
Shiogama, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.
Career Highlights
- Ryoji Kaji — Neon Genesis Evangelion
- Spike Spiegel — Cowboy Bebop
- Beerus — Dragon Ball Super
- Togusa — Ghost in the Shell
- Ryōga Hibiki — Ranma ½
- Shōyō Yoshida / Utsuro — Gintama
- Jūbei Kibagami — Ninja Scroll
- Inspector Zenigata — Lupin the Third franchise
Full Current Filmography
The following reflects major documented credits and is not exhaustive.
Television Anime
- Neon Genesis Evangelion — Ryoji Kaji
- Cowboy Bebop — Spike Spiegel
- Dragon Ball Super — Beerus
- Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex — Togusa
- Ranma ½ — Ryōga Hibiki
- Gintama — Shōyō Yoshida / Utsuro
- Shōwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjū — Sukeroku
- Space Battleship Yamato 2199 — Aberdt Desler
Anime Films
- The End of Evangelion — Ryoji Kaji
- Evangelion: Death & Rebirth — Ryoji Kaji
- Ninja Scroll — Jūbei Kibagami
- Numerous Evangelion Rebuild franchise appearances and related productions.
Video Games
- Neon Genesis Evangelion game adaptations — Ryoji Kaji
- Yakuza series — Shun Akiyama
- Kingdom Hearts series — Donald Duck, Genie, Beast
- Final Fantasy IV DS — Kain Highwind
- Catherine — Vincent Brooks
Critical Reception
Kōichi Yamadera’s portrayal of Kaji is frequently cited as one of the standout performances in Evangelion. Fans and critics alike praise the natural confidence, charm, and emotional complexity he brought to the role, helping Kaji become one of the franchise’s most beloved characters.
Our Sources
- Behind The Voice Actors — Ryoji Kaji Voice Cast (https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/Neon-Genesis-Evangelion/Ryoji-Kaji/)
- Wikipedia — Kōichi Yamadera (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koichi_Yamadera)
- Meet The Voice Actors — Kōichi Yamadera Profile (https://meetthevoiceactors.com/voice-actors/koichi-yamadera/)
ENGLISH VOICE ACTOR: Aaron Krohn
In the original ADV Films English dub of Neon Genesis Evangelion, Ryoji Kaji is voiced by Aaron Krohn. His performance became closely associated with the character among English-speaking fans and remains one of the most recognized voices from the classic dub. Later releases, including Netflix’s redub, featured other actors such as Greg Chun, but Aaron Krohn remains the actor most commonly linked with Kaji’s original English portrayal.
Date of Birth
July 5, 1968.
About Aaron
Aaron Krohn is an American actor, musician, and former anime voice actor. During the 1990s, he worked extensively with ADV Films and contributed to several notable anime dubs. His portrayal of Ryoji Kaji became his most famous anime role and remains highly regarded among longtime Evangelion fans.
Hometown
Houston, Texas, United States.
Career Highlights
- Ryoji Kaji — Neon Genesis Evangelion
- Kaworu Nagisa — Evangelion: Death & Rebirth
- Kaworu Nagisa — The End of Evangelion
- Various ADV Films anime dubbing roles throughout the 1990s.
Full Current Filmography
The following reflects publicly documented voice acting credits and may not be exhaustive.
Anime Series
- Neon Genesis Evangelion — Ryoji Kaji
- Blue Seed — Murakumo, Secretary
- Those Who Hunt Elves — Yuri Bath House Master
- Burn Up W — Police Chief, Reporter, Thug A
- Fire Emblem OVA — Nabarl
Anime Films
- Evangelion: Death & Rebirth — Kaworu Nagisa / Ryoji Kaji
- The End of Evangelion — Kaworu Nagisa / Ryoji Kaji
- Samurai Shodown: The Motion Picture — Kyoshiro Yoshimune
Critical Reception
Aaron Krohn’s portrayal of Kaji is often remembered for capturing the character’s relaxed confidence and mature charisma. Among fans of the original ADV dub, his performance is frequently cited as one of the strongest adult character portrayals in the series.
Our Sources
- Behind The Voice Actors — Ryoji Kaji Voice Cast (https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/Neon-Genesis-Evangelion/Ryoji-Kaji/)
- IMDb — Aaron Krohn Profile (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0471968/)
- Evangelion Wiki — Aaron Krohn (https://evangelion.fandom.com/wiki/Aaron_Krohn)
- DBpedia — Aaron Krohn Biography (https://dbpedia.org/resource/Aaron_Krohn)
Social Media
No verified official public social media profiles were consistently documented from available sources.
