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Furious 7 Japanese Dub Cast Announced

A Japanese voice actor's repertoire extends beyond just anime. Many of the voices viewers enjoy in their favorite shows can also be heard in live-action Japanese dubs of Hollywood films. Kenshō Ono, for instance, was the Japanese voice of Harry Potter and Akira Kamiya dubs over James Bond. The Japanese dub cast for Furious 7 (known in Japan as Wild Speed: SKY MISSION) has been announced with many anime regulars lending their voices to the film.

• Taiten Kusunoki (Vin Diesel, Gen'ichirou in The Prince of Tennis) as Dominic Toretto
• Hiroki Takahashi (Jake Gyllenhaal, Eiji and Ryou in The Prince of Tennis) as Brian O'Conner
• Rikiya Koyama (Kiefer Sutherland, Mori in Case Closed) as Luke Hobbs
• Yūko Kaida (Anne Hathaway, Minako in Maria Watches Over Us) as Letty Ortiz
• Mie Sonozaki (Kirsten Dunst, Viola in One Piece) as Mia Toretto
• Kenichirō Matsuda (Batou in Ghost in the Shell Arise, Ryūji in The Prince of Tennis II) as Roman Pearce
• Jou Watanabe (Archie Morris in ER, Mukade in Kekkaishi) as Tej Parker
• Kyōko Sakai (Harriet Vanger in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Kazumi in Love Stage!!) as Elena Neves
• Maaya Sakamoto (Major Kusanagi in Ghost in the Shell Arise, Natalie Portman) as Megan Ramsey
• Fumihiko Tachiki (Gendo Ikari in Neon Genesis Evangelion, Forrest Whitaker) as Jakande
• Daisuke Namikawa (Ulquiorra in Bleach, Elijah Wood) as Kiet
• Mayumi Sako (Saki in Persona -trinity soul-, Scarlett Johansson) as Kara
• Kazuhiro Yamaji (Kazuya in Tekken: The Motion Picture, Jason Statham) as Deckard Shaw
• Houchu Ohtsuka (Yazan Gable in Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, the Joker in The Dark Knight) as Frank Petty

While Kusunoki, Takahashi, Koyama, Kaida, Sonozaki, Matsuda, Watanabe and Sakai — who by now see themselves as a Fast & Furious "family" — are reprising their roles, the other voice actors are new to the series. Several of the actors made statements about participating in the action series' seventh installment:

TAITEN KUSUNOKI: I really worried when I heard the news about Paul during filming [Paul Walker, who plays Brian, died in a car accident in November 2013], since I've been involved in The Fast and the Furious for a long time. But thanks to the powers of a staff and crew including Paul, a truly wonderful work has been created, and I feel deeply relieved. It's all about car action, but this time the cars even fly. There are even action scenes with super cars worth over US$3 million. I can't go into details, but I'd really like fans to watch the last scene.

HIROKI TAKAHASHI: I think this movie lets you taste refreshing car action beyond what you'd experience everyday while also reviving those familial bonds. Thanks, Paul. And to his brothers, and to the whole family!!

RIKIYA KOYAMA: It's SKY MISSION time!! Where in the world are we going now!? Can cars actually do that!? Can they go that wild!? Don't you need your lives!? What is this doin' to yer nerves!? Where do we go next!? You'll have to watch!!

MAAYA SAKAMOTO: I'm happy to participate in this mega-popular series for the first time. Ramsey is an attractive woman who's sexy but a little boyish. Look forward to the premiere!

DAISUKE NAMIKAWA: Definitely a Hollywood flick! This is a long series, but this movie is a steady upgrade. I really want to experience it in a theater. The possibilities of cars are now limitless! Teamwork is another theme in this movie. I'm pleased to be a part of it!

Fast & Furious 7 opens in the United States today and in Japan on April 17.

[Via Animate.tv; Image from ComingSoon.net]