# Miou Tanaka
**Miou Tanaka** (田中美央, たなか みおう; born 1974) is a Japanese actor and voice actor from Kita Ward, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture[1](https://buzzmelt.com/person/miou-tanaka). After more than two decades with the Haiyuza theater company, he left the stage troupe in 2022 and now works across film, television, dubbing, narration, and video games[2](https://empathyinc.net/actor/tanaka/). His best-known screen role is Captain Tatsuo Hotta in Takashi Yamazaki's *Godzilla Minus One* (2023), a part he reprised in the 2026 sequel *Godzilla Minus Zero*[3](https://www.allcinema.net/person/pdf/783425).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1974, Kita Ward, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture[1](https://buzzmelt.com/person/miou-tanaka) |
| Physical profile | 182 cm tall; voice range described as high baritone[2](https://empathyinc.net/actor/tanaka/) |
| Training | Osaka University of Arts, stage arts faculty; Haiyuza research institute, then Haiyuza company membership until February 2022[2](https://empathyinc.net/actor/tanaka/) |
| Agency | Empathy (俳優プロダクション エンパシィ), joined after leaving Haiyuza[4](https://empathyinc.net/2022/03/02/%E6%96%B0%E5%8A%A0%E5%85%A5%E3%81%AE%E3%81%8A%E7%9F%A5%E3%82%89%E3%81%9B%E3%80%80%E7%94%B0%E4%B8%AD%E7%BE%8E%E5%A4%AE%E3%81%8C%E6%89%80%E5%B1%9E%E3%81%A8%E3%81%AA%E3%82%8A%E3%81%BE%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F/) |
| Signature film role | Captain Tatsuo Hotta in *Godzilla Minus One* (2023) and *Godzilla Minus Zero* (2026)[3](https://www.allcinema.net/person/pdf/783425) |
| Notable game voices | Hamura Kyōhei (*JUDGE EYES*), Uematsu Akinobu (*Yakuza Kiwami 2*), Tendo Yōsuke (*Yakuza 7*), Ryu Jose (*Gundam U.C. ENGAGE*), Halfdan (*Assassin's Creed Valhalla*)[2](https://empathyinc.net/actor/tanaka/) |
## Training and stage career
Tanaka graduated from the stage arts faculty of Osaka University of Arts, entered the Haiyuza theater company through its research institute, and remained a company member until February 2022[2](https://empathyinc.net/actor/tanaka/). The announcement of his move to the Empathy agency noted that he had spent 24 years with Haiyuza[4](https://empathyinc.net/2022/03/02/%E6%96%B0%E5%8A%A0%E5%85%A5%E3%81%AE%E3%81%8A%E7%9F%A5%E3%82%89%E3%81%9B%E3%80%80%E7%94%B0%E4%B8%AD%E7%BE%8E%E5%A4%AE%E3%81%8C%E6%89%80%E5%B1%9E%E3%81%A8%E3%81%AA%E3%82%8A%E3%81%BE%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F/). Wikizilla records that he performed as a stage actor from 1998 to 1999 before moving into film and television work[5](https://wikizilla.org/wiki/Mio_Tanaka).
Stage work has continued alongside his screen career. Recent credits include the 2022 reading production "Tanaka Chio's Fue" at the Hakuhinkan Theater and the 2023 "Ikoku Labyrinth" (Onpuma)[2](https://empathyinc.net/actor/tanaka/). In 2026 he appeared in the Nikkai Theater Family Festival musical *Rodrigo Laubain to Jusha Kunirus*, performed with the Puppet Theatre Hitomiza[2](https://empathyinc.net/actor/tanaka/).
## Film and television
**Film.** Tanaka's screen debut credits include *Acacia no Machi* (2000) and *Inō Tadataka: Shigosen no Yume* (2001)[2](https://empathyinc.net/actor/tanaka/). He appeared in Masato Harada's *Japan's Longest Day* (2015) as Arao Kōshō, in *Fueled by Fate* (2016), *Sekigahara* (2017) as Kani Saizō, *Kakegurui* director Iwai's *22-nenme no Kokuhaku* (2017), *Kensatsugawa no Zainin* (2018) as Koike Takaaki, *Burai* (2020), and *The Way of the Great River* (2022) as Yoshizawa Ryō/Yoshinosuke[2](https://empathyinc.net/actor/tanaka/). In the *[Kingdom](https://www.edgepedia.org/kingdom-2019-film)* series directed by Shinsuke Sato he played En (Yuan) in *Kingdom 2* (2022), *Kingdom 3* (2023), and *[Kingdom 4: Return of the Great General](https://www.edgepedia.org/kingdom-4-return-of-the-great-general)* (2024)[2](https://empathyinc.net/actor/tanaka/) • [6](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/miou-tanaka). Other 2020s credits include *Hell Dogs* (2022) as Tawaraya Kazufusa, *Ultraman Blazar the Movie: Tokyo Kaiju Showdown* (2024) as Nitoh, *[Demon City](https://www.edgepedia.org/demon-city-film)* (2025) as Homare Takemoto, and *Yukikaze* (2025)[5](https://wikizilla.org/wiki/Mio_Tanaka) • [6](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/miou-tanaka).
**Godzilla.** In *Godzilla Minus One* (2023), directed by Takashi Yamazaki, Tanaka played Tatsuo Hotta, the former captain of the destroyer Yukikaze[3](https://www.allcinema.net/person/pdf/783425) • [7](https://news.mynavi.jp/article/20261020-5160506/DETAIL/). He also contributed his voice to the Hollywood release of the film, delivering Hotta's line "Prepare for shock!"[8](https://taigacast.com/actor/ac1056044/). He returned as Hotta in *Godzilla Minus Zero*, the sequel set two years after the first film's destruction, which premiered in Japan on 3 November 2026[7](https://news.mynavi.jp/article/20261020-5160506/DETAIL/). At the film's Japan premiere he said it was an honor to continue from the previous work[7](https://news.mynavi.jp/article/20261020-5160506/DETAIL/).
**Television.** His drama credits span nearly every major Japanese network, including NHK's taiga dramas *Onna Jōshu Naotora*, *Idaten*, *Seirei no Moribito*-era productions such as *Dousuru Ieyasu*, and the 2024 morning drama *Tora ni Tsubasa*[2](https://empathyinc.net/actor/tanaka/). He was a regular cast member of Nippon TV's *The First Penguin* as Ōshima Daizō, appeared in the two-part *Aibou* season 22 story "Muteki no Hito", and played the master of a [Chinese restaurant](https://www.edgepedia.org/chinese-restaurant) in *Stingers: Undercover Verification Unit* episode 3 (2025)[2](https://empathyinc.net/actor/tanaka/). In 2026 he joined the taiga drama *Toyotomi Brothers!* from episode 21[2](https://empathyinc.net/actor/tanaka/).
## Voice acting
Tanaka's deep, high-baritone voice has made him a frequent choice for authority figures and physically imposing characters[2](https://empathyinc.net/actor/tanaka/). In video games he voiced Hamura Kyōhei in *JUDGE EYES: Will of the Grim Reaper*, Uematsu Akinobu in *Yakuza Kiwami 2*, Tendo Yōsuke in *Yakuza: Like a Dragon*, the HQ commander in *Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker*, Ryu Jose in *Mobile Suit Gundam U.C. ENGAGE*, Halfdan in *Assassin's Creed Valhalla*, and [Zhang Fei](https://www.edgepedia.org/zhang-fei) in *Ryū no Hagyoku*[2](https://empathyinc.net/actor/tanaka/). He later voiced pirate king Raymond Law in *Like a Dragon: Pirates in Hawaii* and Saito in *Ghost of Yōtei*[2](https://empathyinc.net/actor/tanaka/).
In anime, he played Kanmei in *Kingdom* season 3 and the Chief in *NOMAD Megalobox 2* (both 2021), Kojiro Murdoch in *[Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom](https://www.edgepedia.org/mobile-suit-gundam-seed-freedom)* and its special edition (2024), and Mikio Yatsuse in *My Oni Girl* (2024)[9](https://anime.eiga.com/person/100944/program/) • [6](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/miou-tanaka). Later voice roles include Juzo Nogizaka in *Kaiju No. 8* (2024), Merlin Albright in *Rising Impact* (2024), Margo in *[Clevatess](https://www.edgepedia.org/clevatess)* (2025), and Yanagisawa Katsushige in the 2026 animated film *The Camphorwood Custodian*, the first anime adaptation of a [Keigo Higashino](https://www.edgepedia.org/keigo-higashino) work[6](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/miou-tanaka) • [2](https://empathyinc.net/actor/tanaka/).
**Dubbing and narration.** Tanaka dubs foreign film and television roles into Japanese, including Thorn in *The Wild Robot* (2024), Lance in *Tangled: The Series*, and Hugo Wakefield, played by [Colman Domingo](https://www.edgepedia.org/colman-domingo), in [Steven Spielberg](https://www.edgepedia.org/steven-spielberg)'s *Disclosure Day* (2026)[3](https://www.allcinema.net/person/pdf/783425) • [2](https://empathyinc.net/actor/tanaka/). His narration work includes commercials for Suntory Iyemon Tokucha, Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical's Feitasu, and Mouse Computer's G-tune gaming PCs, plus promotional narration for NHK dramas such as *Onna Jōshu Naotora* and *Yake ni Ben no Tatsu Bengoshi ga Gakkō de Hoeru*[2](https://empathyinc.net/actor/tanaka/).
## Public profile
Tanaka's profile is listed by his agency with a birthdate of 1974, a height of 182 cm, and a high baritone voice range[2](https://empathyinc.net/actor/tanaka/); the Crank-In database lists his height as 183 cm[10](https://www.crank-in.net/person/208989). He maintains a personal blog and an X account under the handle @Mio_T_Haiyuza[11](https://www.vip-times.co.jp/?talent_id=M12-1091). In 2026 he served as master of ceremonies for the Ifukube Akira Fantasy World 2 concert, an orchestral program devoted to the composer of the original *Godzilla* score[2](https://empathyinc.net/actor/tanaka/).
## References
1. [Miou Tanaka · Movies and TV Shows, Plex](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/miou-tanaka)
2. [田中美央 | 俳優プロダクション エンパシィ (agency profile)](https://empathyinc.net/actor/tanaka/)
3. [田中美央, allcinema](https://www.allcinema.net/person/pdf/783425)
4. [新加入のお知らせ 田中美央が所属となりました, 俳優プロダクション エンパシィ](https://empathyinc.net/2022/03/02/%E6%96%B0%E5%8A%A0%E5%85%A5%E3%81%AE%E3%81%8A%E7%9F%A5%E3%82%89%E3%81%9B%E3%80%80%E7%94%B0%E4%B8%AD%E7%BE%8E%E5%A4%AE%E3%81%8C%E6%89%80%E5%B1%9E%E3%81%A8%E3%81%AA%E3%82%8A%E3%81%BE%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F/)
5. [Mio Tanaka, Wikizilla](https://wikizilla.org/wiki/Mio_Tanaka)
6. [Miou Tanaka, BuzzMelt](https://buzzmelt.com/person/miou-tanaka)
7. [『ゴジラ-0.0』ジャパンプレミア&レッドカーペット, マイナビニュース](https://news.mynavi.jp/article/20261020-5160506/DETAIL/)
8. [田中美央 ｜大河ドラマデータベース](https://taigacast.com/actor/ac1056044/)
9. [田中 美央 : 出演作品, アニメハック](https://anime.eiga.com/person/100944/program/)
10. [田中美央：プロフィール・最新ニュース, クランクイン！](https://www.crank-in.net/person/208989)
11. [田中 美央 | 日本タレント名鑑](https://www.vip-times.co.jp/?talent_id=M12-1091)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of East and Southeast Asia › Japanese actors, 2000s onward*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 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