Funny Valentine, the main antagonist of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run (2026 anime), is voiced in Japanese by Kazuhiro Yamaji and in the English dub by Jason Douglas. In this article, we’ll focus on Yamaji’s performance and career, which bring Valentine’s imposing authority and ideological intensity to life.
Japanese Voice Actor: Kazuhiro Yamaji
Date of Birth
June 4, 1954
About Kazuhiro
Kazuhiro Yamaji is a veteran Japanese actor and voice actor affiliated with the theatrical company Seinenza Theater Company. With decades of experience across stage, film, and voice work, he is known for his deep, authoritative voice and commanding presence. His casting as Funny Valentine reflects his strength in portraying powerful, morally complex leaders—perfectly suited to Valentine’s role as a charismatic yet controversial figure in Steel Ball Run.
Hometown
Mie Prefecture, Japan
Career Highlights
- Funny Valentine — JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run (2026)
- Silver Fang (Bang) — One-Punch Man
- Kenny Ackerman — Attack on Titan
- Hit — Dragon Ball Super
- Sid Barrett — Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt
Yamaji is widely respected for portraying seasoned, authoritative characters, often bringing a sense of gravitas and subtle menace to his roles.
Full Current Filmography
Below is a structured list of verifiable roles based on publicly available sources (may not be exhaustive):
Anime
- Cowboy Bebop — Additional voices
- Samurai Champloo — Additional voices
- 2016 — One-Punch Man — Silver Fang (Bang)
- 2017–2023 — Attack on Titan — Kenny Ackerman
- 2017–2018 — Dragon Ball Super — Hit
- 2018 — Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt — Sid Barrett
- 2021 — Godzilla Singular Point — Goro Otaki
- 2026 — JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run — Funny Valentine
Live-Action Dubbing / Other
- Japanese dubbing for numerous Western actors including Jason Statham and Hugh Jackman (various films and series)
Note: This list reflects documented credits from cited sources and may not be exhaustive.
Critical Reception
Kazuhiro Yamaji is highly regarded for his commanding vocal presence and ability to convey layered authority. His performances often balance calm control with underlying intensity, making him a natural fit for antagonistic or mentor-type roles. As Funny Valentine, his portrayal has been praised for capturing both the character’s patriotic conviction and unsettling ruthlessness.
Our Sources
- Wikipedia – Kazuhiro Yamaji (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazuhiro_Yamaji)
- Wikipedia – Steel Ball Run: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel_Ball_Run%3A_JoJo%27s_Bizarre_Adventure)
- JoJo Wiki – Funny Valentine (https://jojowiki.com/Funny_Valentine)
English Voice Actor: Jason Douglas
Date of Birth
February 5, 1973
About Jason
Jason Douglas is an American actor, voice actor, and director known for his deep, authoritative voice and commanding performances across anime and live-action projects. With a strong background in theater and on-screen acting, he brings a grounded intensity to his roles. As Funny Valentine, Douglas delivers a performance that emphasizes the character’s charisma, conviction, and underlying menace—key elements of one of JoJo’s most ideologically driven antagonists.
Hometown
Arkansas, USA
Career Highlights
- Funny Valentine — JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run (2026)
- Beerus — Dragon Ball Super
- Yoshikage Kira (older) — JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable
- Gildarts Clive — Fairy Tail
- X Drake — One Piece
- Kratos (young, additional voice work) — God of War (select projects)
Douglas is particularly known for portraying powerful, authoritative figures, making him an excellent match for Valentine’s imposing presence and philosophical depth.
Full Current Filmography
Below is a structured list of verifiable roles based on available sources (may not be exhaustive):
Anime
- Fairy Tail — Gildarts Clive
- Dragon Ball Super — Beerus
- JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable — Yoshikage Kira (older)
- One Piece — X Drake
- Tokyo Ghoul — Kishou Arima
- Attack on Titan — Zeke Yeager (select dub credits / alternate casting)
- 2026 — JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run — Funny Valentine
Live-Action / Television
- The Walking Dead — Tobin
- Breaking Bad — Detective Munn
- Better Call Saul — Police Detective (guest role)
Video Games
- Borderlands 3 — Krieg (additional voice work)
- Call of Duty series — Various characters
Note: This list reflects documented credits from cited sources and may not be exhaustive.
Critical Reception
Jason Douglas has earned consistent praise for his commanding vocal presence and ability to portray complex authority figures. His performance as Beerus in Dragon Ball Super is widely recognized for balancing menace with dry humor, while his broader work demonstrates strong versatility across genres. As Funny Valentine, his portrayal has been well received for capturing the character’s persuasive charisma and underlying ruthlessness.
Our Sources
- Wikipedia – Jason Douglas (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Douglas)
- Wikipedia – Steel Ball Run: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel_Ball_Run%3A_JoJo%27s_Bizarre_Adventure)
- Behind The Voice Actors – Funny Valentine (https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/)
