Minami Takayama is a Japanese voice actress, narrator, and singer. She is currently affiliated with 81 Produce. She is best known for being the lead vocalist of Two-Mix and ES CONNEXION during its active years. Renowned for her remarkable contributions to the world of anime, she is best known for her iconic roles, including Conan Edogawa in "Detective Conan," both Kiki and Ursula in "Kiki's Delivery Service," Nabiki Tendo in "Ranma ½," Moomin in "Moomin," Yaiba Kurogane in "Yaiba," Hao Asakura in "Shaman King," Rantarō Inadera in "Nintama Rantarō," Hajime Hinata/Izuru Kamukura in the "Danganronpa" series, Envy in "Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood," and Fu Hua in "Honkai Impact 3rd".
Minami Takayama is a Japanese voice actress, narrator, and singer affiliated with 81 Produce. She's renowned for iconic roles like Conan Edogawa in "Detective Conan," Kiki and Ursula in "Kiki's Delivery Service," and Nabiki Tendo in "Ranma ½," among others.
Born on May 5, 1964, Minami Takayama's birthplace is in Adachi, Tokyo, Japan. Izumi Arai is her birth name. She holds Japanese nationality and her ethnicity is Japanese-Asian. Notably, her uncle, Hisashi Shinma, held the position of former Managing Director at New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Takayama pursued her education at Adachi Nishi High School before continuing her academic journey at Nihon Kogakuin College.
From a young age, Minami Takayama was immersed in the arts, studying ballet, Japanese dance, and vocal music, driven by a strong sense of justice that was evident even in her school reports. Her childhood aspiration was to become a police officer, a path she believed suited her, leading her to venture into ventriloquism as she thought it might be essential for a traffic safety role. However, her parents had different plans, steering her towards the entertainment industry, and ventriloquism became a pretext for her acting studies. Later, in high school, after winning a radio disc jockey contest, she contemplated a career as a DJ due to her love for radio and fascination with free-form banter and voice work.
Following her graduation from Adachi Nishi High School in Tokyo, she initially pursued a career in acting but soon found herself grappling with uncertainty about her future. It was a chance encounter when a caller praised her voice while she was working at an office that propelled her into the world of voice acting at the age of 22. She began her journey with Sun House Music's voice acting division in 1985, later joining 81 Produce, where she was given a one-year ultimatum to prove herself.
Despite early struggles in auditions for female roles, her career took off in 1987 when she made her debut as a female student in "Campus Special Investigator Hikaruon." She eventually gained recognition for her work in a range of roles, including boys like Rantarō Inadera in "Nintama Rantarō" and Conan Edogawa in "Detective Conan," both of which she portrayed for over two decades. Beyond voice acting, Takayama pursued a musical career, collaborated with her cousin Miru Takayama, and contributed to anime theme songs.
Her accomplishments culminated in winning the Synergy Award at the 5th Seiyu Awards in 2011, and she remains an esteemed figure in the industry, even appearing in a TV Asahi special that voted her as one of the top 200 popular voice actors. Furthermore, Takayama's personal life included a marriage to manga artist Gosho Aoyama in 2005, which eventually ended in divorce in 2007, but their relationship as collaborators has remained strong, exemplifying their enduring bond. Takayama's compassionate nature and quick thinking were evident during an earthquake at the opening speech of "Detective Conan: Quarter of Silence," where she reassured children in Conan's voice, demonstrating her enduring connection with her iconic role.
Minami Takayama, a renowned voice actress, narrator, and singer, possesses an elegant beauty, standing at a height of 1.56 meters (5 feet 1 inch) and weighing 44 kilograms. Her striking features include black-reddish hair and captivating brown eyes that complement her slim physique, attractive personality, and radiant complexion. Notably, she is celebrated for her exceptionally alluring voice, adding to her overall charm and talent.
Minami Takayama, previously married to Japanese manga artist Gosho Aoyama, renowned for his enduring manga series "Case Closed" (Detective Conan, 1994-present), is currently single. Their marriage took place in 2005, but the couple decided to part ways in 2007. Her sexual orientation is straight when it comes to her sexuality.
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Minami Takayama, the accomplished Japanese voice actress, narrator, and singer, has an estimated net worth of approximately $1 million as of 2023. Her primarily income comes from her lucrative voice acting career, where she commands an annual salary exceeding $500,000. Enjoying a comfortable and enviable lifestyle, she has established herself as a prominent figure in the industry.
Minami Takayama is presently associated with 81 Produce, a well-established voice talent management company based in Japan. Founded on February 3, 1981, 81 Produce has played a pivotal role in nurturing and representing numerous talented voice actors and actresses in the Japanese entertainment industry, contributing significantly to the world of animation, dubbing, narration, and character voicing across various media platforms.
Minami is not only a renowned voice actress but also an integral member of the music group "Two-Mix," where she serves as the main vocalist and plays a crucial role in composing their songs. She also played a significant part in ES CONNEXION during its active years, further showcasing her multifaceted talent in the Japanese pop music scene as well as her contributions to the world of anime and entertainment.
Takayama's personal life has seen her previously married to the acclaimed manga artist Gôshô Aoyama. Remarkably, their marriage came to fruition on a serendipitous note, aligning with her 41st birthday, marking a unique and memorable milestone in her life. Their marriage took place in 2005, but the couple decided to part ways in 2007.
Minami Takayama, the accomplished Japanese voice actress and singer, is known by a name that differs from her birth name. Arai Izumi is her original birth name, and the transition to her renowned stage name, Minami Takayama, reflects her professional identity and the recognition she has garnered throughout her illustrious career in the entertainment industry.