# Maaya Sakamoto (坂本真綾)

**Maaya Sakamoto** (坂本真綾; born 1980 in Tokyo) is a Japanese singer, voice actress, and stage actress who debuted as a recording artist in 1996 with "Yakusoku wa Iranai," the opening theme of the anime *The Vision of Escaflowne*, in which she also played the heroine Hitomi Kanzaki. Her recorded catalog has grown to 36 singles and 11 full albums, and she has worked concurrently as a dub and anime voice actor, radio host, musical-theater performer, and essayist.<sup>[1](https://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/flyingdog/-/Profile/A008957.html)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://natalie.mu/music/artist/112)</sup>

| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1980, Tokyo, Japan<sup>[3](https://eiga.com/person/32173/)</sup> |
| Debut | CD debut April 1996 with the single "Yakusoku wa Iranai," opening theme of *The Vision of Escaflowne*<sup>[2](https://natalie.mu/music/artist/112)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[3](https://eiga.com/person/32173/)</sup>  |
| First long-term collaborator | Composer Yoko Kanno, who produced her music after they met during Escaflowne, when Sakamoto was 16<sup>[4](https://www.cdjapan.co.jp/anime/essentials/maaya_sakamoto/)</sup> |
| Chart milestones | Oricon No. 1 with the 2011 album "You can't catch me" and the 2020 digital single "Yakudou"<sup>[1](https://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/flyingdog/-/Profile/A008957.html)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[13](https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/89443/)</sup> |
| Signature voice roles | Haruhi Fujioka (*Ouran High School Host Club*), Shiki Ryougi (*Kara no Kyoukai*), Shinobu Oshino (*Monogatari* series), Mari Illustrious Makinami (*Rebuild of Evangelion*), Motoko Kusanagi (*Ghost in the Shell: Arise* and *The New Movie*)<sup>[5](https://www.animatetimes.com/news/details.php?id=1741159511)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[6](https://theghostintheshell.jp/en/feature/interview06_1)</sup>  |
| Dub roles | Padmé Amidala in the *Star Wars* films and Rosita in *Sing* (Japanese versions)<sup>[7](https://www.toyo.ac.jp/link-toyo/culture/sakamotomaaya)</sup> |
| Radio | Host of "Vitamin M" on bayfm for 20 years; the program's 1,000th broadcast fell in July 2021<sup>[1](https://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/flyingdog/-/Profile/A008957.html)</sup> |
| Theater award | 38th Kikuta Kazuo Drama Award for playing Jelusha in the Japanese premiere of the musical *Daddy Long Legs* (2013)<sup>[1](https://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/flyingdog/-/Profile/A008957.html)</sup> |

## Start as a child performer

Sakamoto entered entertainment at age 8, working as a child actress in commercial songs, narration, dubbing of films and foreign dramas, and stage work with a theater company.<sup>[1](https://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/flyingdog/-/Profile/A008957.html)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[3](https://eiga.com/person/32173/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[4](https://www.cdjapan.co.jp/anime/essentials/maaya_sakamoto/)</sup>  In 1993 she took her first lead voice role as Chifuru in the OVA *Little Twins*.<sup>[3](https://eiga.com/person/32173/)</sup>

The turning point came at 16, when she was cast as the lead character in *The Vision of Escaflowne* and, through that job, met the composer [Yoko Kanno](https://www.edgepedia.org/yoko-kanno), ending up singing the series' opening theme.<sup>[4](https://www.cdjapan.co.jp/anime/essentials/maaya_sakamoto/)</sup> The single "Yakusoku wa Iranai" became her CD debut in 1996, and Kanno's music production then anchored her singing career in its early phase.<sup>[3](https://eiga.com/person/32173/)</sup>  The two continued to work together for more than a decade afterward.<sup>[8](https://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/maaya/30th/)</sup>

## Singing career

**Kanno era and live expansion.** Sakamoto released records steadily after her debut, and in 2010 marked 15 years since her CD debut with her first concert at [Nippon Budokan](https://www.edgepedia.org/nippon-budokan); in January 2011 she released her seventh original album "You can't catch me", which became her first No. 1 on Oricon's weekly album chart, even as she expanded her collaborations with musicians.<sup>[3](https://eiga.com/person/32173/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[13](https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/89443/)</sup> The 2011 single "You can't catch me" gave her an Oricon No. 1 and began a period in which she actively sought sessions with a wide range of musicians.<sup>[1](https://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/flyingdog/-/Profile/A008957.html)</sup>

**Self-writing and later collaborations.** From the 2013 album *Singer Songwriter* she began writing her own words and music, and she also became a frequent provider of songs to other artists, including [KinKi Kids](https://www.edgepedia.org/kinki-kids)' "Hikari no Kehai," Mamoru Miyano's "Toumei," and Walkure's "Kaze wa Yokoku naku Fuku."<sup>[1](https://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/flyingdog/-/Profile/A008957.html)</sup> Her 30th single "Uchuu no Kioku" (2019) was produced by Shiina Ringo, and her tenth album *Kyou Dake no Ongaku* followed the same year; in 2020 the digital single "Yakudou" reached Oricon No. 1.<sup>[1](https://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/flyingdog/-/Profile/A008957.html)</sup>

**Anniversary projects.** [Anniversary](https://www.edgepedia.org/anniversary) years have structured her career publicly: the 25th-anniversary live at Yokohama Arena in March 2021 took its title from her debut single,<sup>[2](https://natalie.mu/music/artist/112)</sup> and a 20th-anniversary live at [Saitama Super Arena](https://www.edgepedia.org/saitama-super-arena) had been released on video in 2015.<sup>[9](https://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/maaya/disco/)</sup> For the 30th anniversary, her label ran a worldwide vote for her best song and released the best album *M30~Your Best~* on October 22, 2025, containing 15 songs chosen by that vote from the 255 recordings of her 30-year career and 15 chosen by 15 musician colleagues who had supported her work.<sup>[10](https://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/maaya/30th/yourbest/index.html)</sup> A 30th-anniversary live at Ariake Arena followed in April 2026, staged in two routes with different backing bands led by Katsutoshi Kitagawa and Shin Kono, with the recording released on Blu-ray and DVD on December 9, 2026.<sup>[8](https://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/maaya/30th/)</sup>

A large share of her recent singles have been anime and game tie-ups. She has sung theme songs repeatedly for the mobile game *Fate/Grand Order*, including "Shikisai" (2015), "Gyakkou" (2018), "Dokuhaku ↔ Yakudou" (2020), and the final-chapter theme "Tokei" (2025), and the label compiled these in the 2026 album *Yoin*, a best-of of eleven years of FGO theme songs.<sup>[9](https://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/maaya/disco/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[11](https://barks.jp/artist/498055/)</sup>  The 36th single "Drops" (May 2025) served as the opening theme of the TV anime *Aru Majo ga Shinu made*.<sup>[1](https://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/flyingdog/-/Profile/A008957.html)</sup>

## Voice acting

Her roles span both young and mature characters. Beyond Hitomi Kanzaki, notable work includes Haruhi Fujioka in *Ouran High School Host Club*, Shiki Ryougi in the *Kara no Kyoukai* films, Shinobu Oshino (Kisshot Acerolaorion Heartunderblade) in the *Monogatari* series, Alphard in *Canaan*, and, in the anime of *Chi: On the Movements of the Earth*, the boy genius Rafal.<sup>[5](https://www.animatetimes.com/news/details.php?id=1741159511)</sup>

**Motoko Kusanagi.** Sakamoto's connection to *Ghost in the Shell* predates her casting as its protagonist. At 15 she played the young girl whose child body [Motoko Kusanagi](https://www.edgepedia.org/motoko-kusanagi), voiced by Atsuko Tanaka, inhabits in one scene of the 1995 film, so her first encounter with the series was on screen rather than as a viewer.<sup>[6](https://theghostintheshell.jp/en/feature/interview06_1)</sup> When the franchise rebooted with *[Ghost in the Shell](https://www.edgepedia.org/ghost-in-the-shell): Arise* (2013–2014) and *[Ghost in the Shell: The New Movie](https://www.edgepedia.org/ghost-in-the-shell-the-new-movie)*, she took over the role of Motoko herself; the audition did not disclose the title, with character names disguised in the script, because a change of voice actor for a work with a large fan base was kept top secret.<sup>[6](https://theghostintheshell.jp/en/feature/interview06_1)</sup>

In dubbing, she is the regular Japanese voice of [Padmé Amidala](https://www.edgepedia.org/padme-amidala) in the *Star Wars* films and voiced Rosita in the Japanese version of *Sing*.<sup>[7](https://www.toyo.ac.jp/link-toyo/culture/sakamotomaaya)</sup>

## Stage, radio, and writing

Sakamoto has kept a parallel career on stage. From 2003 she played Eponine in the Toho production of the musical *Les Misérables*,<sup>[12](https://sakamotomaaya.com/file_download/9/Yorimo.jp%2C%2BMarch%2B2010%2B-%2B15th%2BAnniversary%2BArticle.pdf)</sup> and in 2013 her performance as Jelusha in the first Japanese production of *Daddy Long Legs* won the 38th Kikuta Kazuo Drama Award.<sup>[1](https://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/flyingdog/-/Profile/A008957.html)</sup>

Her radio program "Vitamin M," on which she has been host for 20 years, reached its 1,000th broadcast in July 2021 and continues.<sup>[1](https://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/flyingdog/-/Profile/A008957.html)</sup> As a writer she has published a collection solely of her own lyrics, *Shishuu* (KADOKAWA), and essay collections including *Manpuku-ron: Asu ni Kaburitsuke* (KADOKAWA).<sup>[1](https://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/flyingdog/-/Profile/A008957.html)</sup>

She has described acting and singing as one continuum rather than competing careers: playing roles lets her become entirely different people, while writing and singing her own songs lets her return to herself, and she considers it important to keep both.<sup>[4](https://www.cdjapan.co.jp/anime/essentials/maaya_sakamoto/)</sup> She graduated from Toyo University's Faculty of Sociology in 2002 while already working, and is represented by the agency Fortunerest.<sup>[7](https://www.toyo.ac.jp/link-toyo/culture/sakamotomaaya)</sup>

## References

1. [坂本 真綾 | プロフィール | FlyingDog (Victor Entertainment)](https://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/flyingdog/-/Profile/A008957.html)
2. [坂本真綾のプロフィール・作品情報 - 音楽ナタリー](https://natalie.mu/music/artist/112)
3. [坂本真綾：プロフィール・作品情報・最新ニュース - 映画.com](https://eiga.com/person/32173/)
4. [Maaya Sakamoto interview, CDJapan Anime Essentials](https://www.cdjapan.co.jp/anime/essentials/maaya_sakamoto/)
5. [声優・坂本真綾さん、アニメキャラクター代表作まとめ（2025年版） - アニメイトタイムズ](https://www.animatetimes.com/news/details.php?id=1741159511)
6. [Voice Actor Maaya Sakamoto Talks About Her Feelings on the "New Motoko" - Ghost in the Shell Official Global Site](https://theghostintheshell.jp/en/feature/interview06_1)
7. [坂本真綾が語る、はじめること、続けることの尊さ - LINK@TOYO 東洋大学](https://www.toyo.ac.jp/link-toyo/culture/sakamotomaaya)
8. [坂本真綾 The 30th Anniversary - FlyingDog SPECIAL SITE](https://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/maaya/30th/)
9. [坂本真綾 Discography - 坂本真綾 Official web site [I.D.]](https://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/maaya/disco/)
10. [坂本真綾「30周年記念ベストアルバム M30〜Your Best〜」 - FlyingDog SPECIAL SITE](https://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/maaya/30th/yourbest/index.html)
11. [坂本真綾 - BARKS（ニュース一覧）](https://barks.jp/artist/498055/)
12. [Yorimo, March 2010 - 15th Anniversary article (PDF), sakamotomaaya.com](https://sakamotomaaya.com/file_download/9/Yorimo.jp%2C%2BMarch%2B2010%2B-%2B15th%2BAnniversary%2BArticle.pdf)
13. [坂本真綾、早くも今秋に新アルバム発売決定](https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/89443/)

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*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 20, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*

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