JAPANESE VOICE ACTOR: Nobunaga Shimazaki
Yuki Sohma, the Rat of the Zodiac and one of the central characters in Fruits Basket (2019), is voiced by Nobunaga Shimazaki in the reboot anime adaptation. Known at school as the “Prince” for his calm demeanor and striking appearance, Yuki became one of the series’ most beloved characters, and Shimazaki’s performance was widely praised for capturing both his kindness and emotional struggles. In the original 2001 anime, Yuki was voiced by Aya Hisakawa, while the 2019 adaptation introduced Shimazaki in the role.
Date of Birth
December 6, 1988.
About Nobunaga
Nobunaga Shimazaki is a Japanese voice actor affiliated with Aoni Production. Since his debut, he has become one of the most recognizable leading actors in modern anime, known for portraying gentle protagonists, rivals, and emotionally layered characters. His portrayal of Yuki Sohma is considered one of the standout performances of the Fruits Basket reboot.
Hometown
Shiogama, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.
Career Highlights
- Yuki Sohma — Fruits Basket (2019)
- Eugeo — Sword Art Online: Alicization
- Yuno — Black Clover
- Mahito — Jujutsu Kaisen
- Haruka Nanase — Free!
- Shinichi Izumi — Parasyte
- Nagi Seishirō — Blue Lock
- Shidō Itsuka — Date A Live
Full Current Filmography
The following reflects documented major credits and may not be exhaustive.
Television Anime
- Fruits Basket (2019) — Yuki Sohma
- Sword Art Online: Alicization — Eugeo
- Black Clover — Yuno
- Jujutsu Kaisen — Mahito
- Parasyte — Shinichi Izumi
- Free! — Haruka Nanase
- Date A Live — Shidō Itsuka
- Tokyo Revengers — Izana Kurokawa
- World Trigger — Hyuse
- Blue Lock — Nagi Seishirō
Anime Films
- Fruits Basket: Prelude — Yuki Sohma
- Various Free! film projects — Haruka Nanase
- Multiple Sword Art Online franchise films — Eugeo
Video Games
- Sword Art Online game franchise — Eugeo
- Jujutsu Kaisen game projects — Mahito
- Multiple anime adaptation games connected to his television roles.
Critical Reception
Nobunaga Shimazaki’s performance received widespread praise for portraying Yuki’s emotional growth, loneliness, and gradual self-discovery. Many fans consider his work one of the strongest aspects of the 2019 adaptation.
Our Sources
- Behind The Voice Actors — Yuki Sohma Voice Cast (https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/Fruits-Basket/Yuki-Sohma/)
- AniBase — Yuki Souma Character Profile (https://anibase.net/en/character/mLPOP/Yuki-Souma)
- Wikipedia — Nobunaga Shimazaki (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobunaga_Shimazaki)
ENGLISH VOICE ACTOR: Eric Vale
In both the original 2001 anime and the 2019 reboot, Yuki Sohma is voiced in English by Eric Vale. His return for the reboot was officially announced by Funimation and celebrated by longtime fans, making him one of the returning cast members who helped bridge both adaptations of Fruits Basket.
Date of Birth
April 28, 1974.
About Eric
Eric Vale is an American voice actor, ADR director, scriptwriter, and producer best known for his extensive work in anime dubbing. Over the years, he has voiced many iconic anime characters, but Yuki Sohma remains one of his most beloved and recognizable performances.
Hometown
Grand Prairie, Texas, United States.
Career Highlights
- Yuki Sohma — Fruits Basket
- Future Trunks — Dragon Ball
- Sanji — One Piece
- Tomura Shigaraki — My Hero Academia
- America / Canada — Hetalia
- Phoenix Wright — Ace Attorney
- Justin Law — Soul Eater
Full Current Filmography
The following reflects documented major credits and may not be exhaustive.
Anime Series
- Fruits Basket — Yuki Sohma
- Fruits Basket (2019) — Yuki Sohma
- Dragon Ball franchise — Future Trunks
- One Piece — Sanji
- My Hero Academia — Tomura Shigaraki
- Hetalia — America, Canada
- Soul Eater — Justin Law
- Noragami — Kazuma
- Classroom of the Elite — Kakeru Ryūen
Anime Films
- Fruits Basket: Prelude — Yuki Sohma
- Numerous Dragon Ball films — Future Trunks
- Multiple One Piece films — Sanji
Video Games
- Ace Attorney projects — Phoenix Wright
- Borderlands 2 — Additional Voices
- Various anime adaptation and RPG titles connected to his television roles.
Critical Reception
Eric Vale’s portrayal of Yuki is frequently praised for capturing the character’s calm elegance while still conveying his emotional vulnerability. Fans often cite his performance as one of the most iconic roles in English anime dubbing, particularly because he successfully reprised the character nearly two decades after the original series.
Our Sources
- Behind The Voice Actors — Yuki Sohma Voice Cast (https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/Fruits-Basket/Yuki-Sohma/)
- Fruits Basket Wiki — Eric Vale (https://fruitsbasket.fandom.com/wiki/Eric_Vale)
- Wikipedia — Eric Vale (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Vale)
- Anime Herald — Eric Vale Returns as Yuki Soma (https://www.animeherald.com/2019/02/16/eric-vale-plays-yuki-soma-in-2019-fruits-basket-anime/)
Social Media
- Official Website: https://www.therealericvale.com/
- X (Twitter): https://x.com/ericvale
