Yamato, the powerful child of Kaido and one of the most popular characters introduced during the Wano Country Arc of One Piece, is voiced by Saori Hayami in the original Japanese version and Michelle Rojas in the English dub. Hayami’s performance quickly became a fan favorite after Yamato’s anime debut in 2021, while Rojas was announced as the English voice of Yamato in 2023 for Crunchyroll’s dub release.

Japanese Voice Actor: Saori Hayami

Date of Birth

May 29, 1991

About Saori

Saori Hayami is one of Japan’s most acclaimed voice actresses and singers. Known for her elegant vocal delivery and exceptional emotional range, she has voiced many of anime’s most recognizable characters. Her performances often combine warmth, strength, and sophistication, making her one of the industry’s most sought-after talents.

In One Piece, Hayami voices Yamato, the self-proclaimed Kozuki Oden and ally of the Straw Hat Pirates. Her portrayal balances Yamato’s immense strength, determination, humor, and admiration for Oden, helping establish the character as one of the standout additions to the series during the Wano saga. Anime News Network reported Hayami’s casting when Yamato officially joined the anime in 2021.

Hometown

Tokyo, Japan

Career Highlights

Some of Saori Hayami’s most notable roles include:

  • Yamato — One Piece
  • Yor Forger — Spy × Family
  • Shinobu Kocho — Demon Slayer
  • Yukino Yukinoshita — My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU
  • Miyuki Shiba — The Irregular at Magic High School
  • Ryuu Lion — Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?
  • Fubuki — One-Punch Man
  • Rachel Gardner — Angels of Death
  • Ruby Rose (Japanese dub) — RWBY

Full Current Filmography

The following list highlights major documented anime roles and is not intended to be a complete record of every credit.

Television Anime

2011

  • Puella Magi Madoka Magica — Kazuko Saotome

2013

  • My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU — Yukino Yukinoshita

2014

  • The Irregular at Magic High School — Miyuki Shiba

2015

  • One-Punch Man — Fubuki

2019

  • Demon Slayer — Shinobu Kocho

2021

  • One Piece — Yamato
  • The Honor Student at Magic High School — Miyuki Shiba

2022

  • Spy × Family — Yor Forger

2024

  • Demon Slayer: Hashira Training Arc — Shinobu Kocho

This filmography reflects notable publicly documented roles and may not be exhaustive.

Critical Reception

Yamato was already one of the most popular characters in Eiichiro Oda’s manga before appearing in the anime. Hayami’s performance received widespread praise from fans for capturing Yamato’s larger-than-life personality while maintaining the emotional sincerity that defines the character’s story. Her casting was widely celebrated throughout the anime community and remains one of the most successful additions to the One Piece voice cast in recent years.

Our Sources

English Voice Actor: Michelle Rojas

Date of Birth

Michelle Rojas’s exact date of birth is not publicly documented in reliable official sources.

About Michelle

Michelle Rojas is an American voice actress, ADR director, and scriptwriter known for her extensive work in anime dubbing. Over the years, she has become a familiar voice to anime fans through leading and supporting roles across action, fantasy, romance, and comedy series.

In One Piece, Rojas voices Yamato in Crunchyroll’s English dub. Her casting was officially announced in 2023 and was met with significant enthusiasm from fans eager to hear Yamato’s English voice. Rojas brings strength, determination, humor, and emotional depth to the role, reflecting the qualities that made Yamato one of the most popular characters introduced during the Wano Country Arc.

Hometown

Michelle Rojas’s hometown has not been publicly documented in official biographies.

Career Highlights

Some of Michelle Rojas’s most notable roles include:

  • Yamato — One Piece
  • Tohka Yatogami — Date A Live
  • Mina Ashido — My Hero Academia
  • Shion — That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
  • Roxy Migurdia — Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation
  • Riruka Dokugamine — Bleach
  • Serina — Trinity Seven
  • Kanan Matsuura — Love Live! Sunshine!!
  • Tomoe Gozen — The Heike Story

Full Current Filmography

The following list highlights major documented anime roles and may not be exhaustive.

Television Anime

2013

  • Date A Live — Tohka Yatogami

2016

  • Love Live! Sunshine!! — Kanan Matsuura

2018

  • That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime — Shion

2020

  • My Hero Academia — Mina Ashido

2021

  • Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation — Roxy Migurdia

2022

  • The Heike Story — Tomoe Gozen

2023

  • One Piece — Yamato

2024

  • One Piece (Wano Arc and Egghead Arc Dub Episodes) — Yamato

Video Games

Notable Game Credits

  • SMITE — Various Voices
  • Paladins — Various Voices
  • Dragon Ball: The Breakers — Additional Voices

Michelle Rojas is primarily known for her anime dubbing work, though she has also contributed to games and ADR production.

Critical Reception

Michelle Rojas’s performance as Yamato has been praised by English-dub viewers for capturing the character’s powerful presence and emotional sincerity. Fans particularly noted her ability to balance Yamato’s larger-than-life confidence with the vulnerability shown during the character’s backstory and interactions with Momonosuke and Luffy.

Because Yamato arrived in One Piece with an already massive manga fanbase, expectations were high. Rojas’s portrayal was widely viewed as a successful adaptation of the character for English-speaking audiences.

Our Sources

Social Media

Published by Limarc Ambalina

Limarc Ambalina is the founder of Japan Bound, a website covering all things Japan — from travel and culture to anime, manga, and pop culture. He is also the Director of Content at ISNation and the former VP of Editorial at HackerNoon. Based in Japan, he has been writing about Japanese life and entertainment since 2019, growing the site to over 2.4 million views.

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