# Ayana Taketatsu (竹達 彩奈)
**Ayana Taketatsu** (竹達 彩奈) is a Japanese voice actress and singer from [Saitama Prefecture](https://www.edgepedia.org/saitama-prefecture), best known for playing Azusa Nakano in *K-On!*, Nino Nakano in *The Quintessential Quintuplets*, and Leafa (Suguha Kirigaya) in *Sword Art Online*.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1989, Saitama Prefecture, Japan[1](https://www.filmnoir.app/links/tmdb/person/1072776) |
| Debut | 2007[2](https://aniholic.net/va-ayana-taketatsu/) |
| Agency | Ancheri (アンシェリ)[3](https://ancheri.co.jp/talent/ayana_taketatsu.html) |
| Record label | Pony Canyon[4](https://bangumi.tv/person/5228/works) |
| Signature roles | Azusa Nakano (*K-On!*), Nino Nakano (*The Quintessential Quintuplets*), Leafa (*Sword Art Online*), Kotori Itsuka (*Date A Live*), Kirino Kosaka (*Oreimo*)[5](https://ayanataketatsu.jp/profile.html) |
| Award | Seiyu Awards singing award in 2010 as a member of the in-anime band Houkago Tea Time[6](https://www.fashion-press.net/profiles/24782) |
| Spouse | Voice actor Yuki Kaji[4](https://bangumi.tv/person/5228/works) |
## Early life and debut
Taketatsu decided to become a voice actress because she liked acting and anime, and entered the Japan Narration Acting Institute (日本ナレーション演技研究所) in her second year of middle school[6](https://www.fashion-press.net/profiles/24782). She debuted in 2007[2](https://aniholic.net/va-ayana-taketatsu/).
Her breakthrough came as Azusa Nakano, the younger member of the school band in *K-On!* (2009), after which she became one of the most prominent young female voice performers in Japan[7](https://www.j-cast.com/2018/01/09318187.html?p=all). Fans know her by the nickname Ayachi[4](https://bangumi.tv/person/5228/works).
## Voice acting roles
Taketatsu's early signature parts were mostly younger-sister and tsundere (character type: initially harsh or hostile, later warm and loving) characters. She played Kirino Kosaka in *My Little Sister Can't Be This Cute*, Koneko Tōjō in *High School DxD*, and Kotori Itsuka in the *[Date A Live](https://www.edgepedia.org/date-a-live)* series[3](https://ancheri.co.jp/talent/ayana_taketatsu.html). In *Sword Art Online* she voiced Suguha Kirigaya, the protagonist's cousin who fights under the avatar name Leafa[3](https://ancheri.co.jp/talent/ayana_taketatsu.html).
**Range beyond the sister archetype.** Her later credits show a deliberate widening of roles. She voiced the older-sister type Yamato in *Kantai Collection*, the tall, laid-back Hotaru Shidare in *Dagashi Kashi*, and the title character of *Ms. Koizumi Loves Ramen Noodles*[3](https://ancheri.co.jp/talent/ayana_taketatsu.html). In *Frieren: Beyond Journey's End* she played the demon Aura, a full villain role delivered in a mature, cool voice[6](https://www.fashion-press.net/profiles/24782). Other main and heroine parts include Kei Karuizawa in the *Classroom of the Elite* series, Nino Nakano in *The Quintessential Quintuplets*, Fu Sawatari in *Tamayura*, Wisteria in *The Girl from the Other Side*-adjacent dark fantasy *Nokemono-tachi no Yoru*, and Henri Hayesworth in *The Death Mage Who Doesn't Want a Fourth Time*-style fantasy *Yuusha ga Shinda!*[3](https://ancheri.co.jp/talent/ayana_taketatsu.html). One career survey counts more than 190 credited appearances since her debut[2](https://aniholic.net/va-ayana-taketatsu/).
She also works in dubbing and live-action media: she voiced [Hans Albert Einstein](https://www.edgepedia.org/hans-albert-einstein) in the Japanese dub of the documentary series *[Genius](https://www.edgepedia.org/genius-american-tv-series)*, appeared in the NHK short drama *Choi☆Dora 2017*, and has done commercial narration and voice work for brands including Dydo and Rakuten[3](https://ancheri.co.jp/talent/ayana_taketatsu.html) • [7](https://www.j-cast.com/2018/01/09318187.html?p=all).
## Music career
Taketatsu's singing career grew out of *K-On!*, where she performed as a member of the in-anime band [Houkago Tea Time](https://www.edgepedia.org/houkago-tea-time); the group received a Seiyu Awards singing award in 2010[6](https://www.fashion-press.net/profiles/24782). She has said that starting to sing professionally was a major decision in her life and required courage[7](https://www.j-cast.com/2018/01/09318187.html?p=all). Her releases are on the [Pony Canyon](https://www.edgepedia.org/pony-canyon) label[4](https://bangumi.tv/person/5228/works), and she held her first solo live concert on July 5, 2015 at Pacifico Yokohama[8](https://edo.repo.nii.ac.jp/record/657/files/DK26-18s.pdf).
## Fan engagement and other activities
Taketatsu runs an official mobile fan club called **Ayana Kōkoku** (あやな公国, roughly "Ayana Kingdom"), which distributes member-only videos, voice messages, wallpapers, and limited merchandise, and hosts fan events such as the annual birthday livestream[9](https://ayanakoukoku.com/). She also maintains an official YouTube channel covering her voice acting and music alongside variety-style project videos[10](https://tuber-review.com/youtubers/9554).
## Personal life
Taketatsu is married to the voice actor Yuki Kaji[4](https://bangumi.tv/person/5228/works). Her listed profile gives a height of 151 cm and blood type O[3](https://ancheri.co.jp/talent/ayana_taketatsu.html).
## References
1. [Ayana Taketatsu, FilmNoir App (TMDB data)](https://www.filmnoir.app/links/tmdb/person/1072776)
2. [竹達彩奈（声優）のプロフィール・出演作品まとめ, アニ☆ホリ](https://aniholic.net/va-ayana-taketatsu/)
3. [竹達 彩奈, 株式会社アンシェリ talent page](https://ancheri.co.jp/talent/ayana_taketatsu.html)
4. [竹達彩奈, Bangumi person 5228](https://bangumi.tv/person/5228/works)
5. [竹達彩奈 Profile, official special site](https://ayanataketatsu.jp/profile.html)
6. [竹達彩奈のプロフィール・経歴・出演映画, ファッションプレス](https://www.fashion-press.net/profiles/24782)
7. [声優のマルチな芸能活動続く, J-CAST ニュース (2018)](https://www.j-cast.com/2018/01/09318187.html?p=all)
8. [アイドルが生息する「現実空間」と「仮想空間」の二重構造, 江戸川大学研究紀要](https://edo.repo.nii.ac.jp/record/657/files/DK26-18s.pdf)
9. [竹達彩奈オフィシャルファンクラブサイト『あやな公国』](https://ayanakoukoku.com/)
10. [竹達彩奈 の評価・評判は？, YouTuber世論調査](https://tuber-review.com/youtubers/9554)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Voice performers › Japanese voice performers › Surnames N to Y*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 18, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license