Yumiko Kobayashi: Movies & Box Office

**Yumiko Kobayashi** (小林 由美子, *Kobayashi Yumiko*; born **June 18, 1979** in *Chiba Prefecture, Japan*) is a prolific Japanese voice actress who has been active in the industry since **1998**. She began her career while still a student at Wayo Women’s University, landing her debut role as Mita in *Kirara*. Her breakthrough came in 2001 with the lead role of Kento Yūki in *Dennō Bōkenki Webdiver*, which established her as a versatile talent capable of portraying both youthful boys and spirited girls. Over the ensuing decades she has built an extensive résumé that spans television animation, theatrical films, video games, drama CDs, and even live‑action dubbing, showcasing a range that includes energetic protagonists such as Shinnosuke Nohara in *Crayon Shin‑chan* and the enigmatic Black Star in *Soul Eater*. She has also lent her voice to numerous dubbing projects, providing Japanese voices for characters like Mason Evans Jr. in *Boyhood* and young Eddie Kaspbrak in *It*, and contributed to popular video games such as *God of War* (Atreus) and *Granblue Fantasy* (Mimlemel), further underscoring her adaptability.

Beyond her vocal work, Kobayashi is known for her close friendships with fellow voice actors Natsuko Kuwatani, Hisayo Mochizuki, and Nana Mizuki, all members of the former voice‑acting unit *Prits*. In a 2019 interview she cited Akiko Yajima’s performance as Kevin in *Home Alone* as a pivotal inspiration, prompting her to specialize in male child roles—a niche she has expertly mastered. Her voice has become synonymous with iconic characters such as Yakitate!! Japan’s Kazuma Azuma, *The Seven Deadly Sins*’ Mead, and *JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure*’s Poco. Since August 2007 she has worked as a freelancer, maintaining a steady presence in new anime seasons like *The Orbital Children* and upcoming projects such as *Dragon Ball Daima*. Married with two children, Kobayashi continues to influence the voice‑acting community while balancing her family life, embodying both professional dedication and personal warmth.