Megumi Hayashibara

Megumi Hayashibara is one of the most well-known seiyuu in Japan. She is also a singer, lyricist, and DJ.

Hayashibara hedged her career bets by studying to be a seiyuu at the same time as she was studying to become a registered nurse. She debuted as a seiyuu in 1986 with small roles in the popular romantic comedy Maison Ikkoku. Since then she has played many leads, some of whom are the world's favorite anime characters, including:

• Slayers - Lina Inverse
• Cowboy Bebop - Faye Valentine
• Neon Genesis Evangelion - Rei Ayanami
• Sorcerer Hunters - Tira Misu
• Shaman King - Anna Kyouyama
• Video Girl Ai - Ai
• All Purpose Cat Girl Nuku Nuku - Atsuko Natsume
• Detective Conan - Ai Haibara
• Ranma 1/2 - Ranma Saotome (female)
• Pokemon - Musashi

Hayashibara also wrote a short autobiographical manga known as Megumi-Toons, as well as a two essay collections and her magazine column, Aitakute Aitakute. She currently runs an advice column in Newtype.