Aya Hirano

Biography

Aya Hirano (平野 綾, Hirano Aya; born October 8, 1987) is a Japanese actress and singer. Beginning in the entertainment industry as a child actor in television commercials, she appeared in her first voice acting role in the anime television series Angel Tales (2001).
In 2006, Hirano became known for her role as the title character in the Haruhi Suzumiya franchise, winning the Voice Acting Award at the 2007 Tokyo Anime Awards, the Best Newcomer Award at the 1st Seiyu Awards in 2007, and the Best Lead Actress award at the 2nd Seiyu Awards in 2008. She also provided the voice of Misa Amane in Death Note, Konata Izumi in Lucky Star, and Lucy Heartfilia in Fairy Tail. In 2010, Hirano began transitioning her acting career to television and stage plays, starring in Konna no Idol Janain!? (2012) and Muse no Kagami (2012).
In the late 2000s and early 2010s, Hirano was regarded as an idol voice actor and is notable for being a voice actor who was able to cross over to mainstream entertainment. Along with voice acting, Hirano currently releases music through Universal Sigma. She released her first single "Breakthrough×Breakthrough8 March 2006 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Breakthrough3:342一番星4:373Breakthrough(off vocal)3:344一番星(off vocal)4:34" in 2006, and she released her first album Riot Girl×RIOT GIRL16 July 2008 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 14 tracks1LOVE★GUN3:512HERO4:233MonStAR4:234明日のプリズム4:015Breakthrough (Album Ver.)3:136冒険でしょでしょ？4:197曖昧スクリーム4:418ヨロコビの歌4:429Maybe I can't good-bye.4:0510NEOPHILIA4:1511Harmonia vita5:2112For you4:3113星のカケラ5:5814RIOT GIRL4:51 in 2008.

Early life

Hirano was born in Nagoya on October 8, 1987. From the ages of two until three Hirano lived in New York City, United States due to her father's job, and she became interested in acting after watching the 1990 Broadway production of Peter Pan.

Acting career

In 1998, Hirano joined the Tokyo Child Theatrical Group division of the Space Craft Group company. After starting her acting career, Hirano began to appear in commercials and received her first role as a voice actress at 14 years old in the 2001 anime series Angel Tales. In 2002, when she was 15, she voiced co-lead character Lumiere in Kiddy Grade.
After graduating from high school, Hirano began seriously pursuing her voice acting and solo singing career. Her big break came in 2006, when she was cast as the voice of Haruhi Suzumiya, the title character and heroine of the anime series The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. The series' public success boosted her popularity and career in Japan. Hirano soon became one of the first voice actors who crossed over into mainstream media, as well as one of the first well-known idol voice actors. This success was followed by her voicing Reira Serizawa in Nana and Misa Amane in Death Note. At the first Seiyu Awards, she won "Best Newcomer (female)", for her role as Haruhi Suzumiya; the same role also won her a nomination as "Best Main Character (female)". At the same awards, she was also nominated for "Best Supporting Character (female)", and earned two nominations for "Best Single" (one of which was for a solo, "Bōken Desho Desho?"; the other was a group nomination for the single "Hare Hare Yukai"). She also won in the Voice Acting category at the 2007 Tokyo Anime Awards for her role as the lead character in The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya.
Hirano performed at the Animelo Summer Live concerts between 2006 and 2008, as well as the Suzumiya Haruhi no Gekisō concert on March 18, 2007. She was a guest at Anime Expo 2007, along with other cast members from The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Minori Chihara and Yūko Gotō. In 2007, she continued to enjoy great success in her career, landing the role of Konata Izumi in the anime version of Lucky Star. In 2008, at the second Seiyu Awards, she won for Best Lead Actress, and also for Best Singing along with cast members of Lucky Star for the series' opening theme "Motteke! Sailor Fuku".
In April 2011, Hirano announced that she had been prohibited from taking on new voice acting roles since the previous year. She still continued voicing characters for anime that received additional seasons or extended runs. Citing a need for a new agency that was more ideal for her career wishes, she announced on August 12, 2011, that she had left Space Craft Entertainment. On August 21, Hirano moved to the voice acting agency Grick. Days later, on August 27, she posted a message on her Twitter account, confirming that she had resumed new voice acting roles in anime.
In 2016, after a stint in the musical The Mystery of Edwin Drood in Tokyo, Hirano spent four months studying English and voice in New York.

Music career

Hirano's music career began as part of the band SpringS, which was active from 2002 to 2003. She then released two character image songs in 2005: "Kimi Kara Onegai My Saint" (キミからお願い★my saint), which was used as an ending theme to the original video animation Itsudatte My Santa!, and "Futari no Imi" (二人の意味), which was an image song for her character Mamori Anezaki in the anime series Eyeshield 21.
Hirano's first solo single under the record label Lantis was "Breakthrough×Breakthrough8 March 2006 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Breakthrough3:342一番星4:373Breakthrough(off vocal)3:344一番星(off vocal)4:34", which was released on March 8, 2006; the title track was used as the opening theme of the visual novel Finalist. Her next single was "Bōken Desho Desho?" (冒険でしょでしょ?, It's an Adventure, Right Right?), which was released on April 26, 2006; the title track is used as the opening theme of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. The CD sold out in Japan the very day it was released. This was followed by the release of an image song single for her character Haruhi Suzumiya on July 5, 2006, which contained the songs "Parallel Days" (パラレル Days) and "SOS nara Daijōbu" (SOS ならだいじょーぶ). Her third single "Ashita no Prism" (明日のプリズム) was released on September 6, 2006.
Hirano released her fourth single "Love Gun" on October 10, 2007. This was followed by her fifth single "Neophilia×NEOPHILIA7 November 2007 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11NEOPHILIA4:122forget me nots...4:053NEOPHILIA (off vocal)4:124forget me nots... (off vocal)4:02Disc 21NEOPHILIA4:12" which was released on November 7, 2007, and her sixth single "MonStAR×MonStAR5 December 2007 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11MonStAR4:212ラブソング4:133MonStAR (off vocal)4:244ラブソング (off vocal)4:13Disc 21MonStAR4:36" which was released on December 5, 2007.
Hirano released her seventh single "Unnamed World×Unnamed world23 April 2008 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Unnamed world3:322Maybe I can't good-bye.4:063Unnamed world(off vocal)3:324Maybe I can't good-bye.(off vocal)4:04" on April 23, 2008; the title track was used as the ending theme to the anime series Nijū Mensō no Musume. This was followed by the release of her first solo album Riot Girl×RIOT GIRL16 July 2008 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 14 tracks1LOVE★GUN3:512HERO4:233MonStAR4:234明日のプリズム4:015Breakthrough (Album Ver.)3:136冒険でしょでしょ？4:197曖昧スクリーム4:418ヨロコビの歌4:429Maybe I can't good-bye.4:0510NEOPHILIA4:1511Harmonia vita5:2112For you4:3113星のカケラ5:5814RIOT GIRL4:51 on July 16, 2008. She then released the song "Namida" (涙 NAMIDA ナミダ) on October 8, 2008, which was used as the ending theme to the anime series Hyakko.
Hirano released her eighth single "Set me free / Sing a song!×Set me free / Sing a Song!29 April 2009 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Set me free3:432Sing a Song!3:433Set me free (off vocal)3:424Sing a Song! (off vocal)3:40" on April 29, 2009. She then released her ninth single "Super Driver×Super Driver22 July 2009 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Super Driver4:202アイシテ!4:183Super Driver [off vocal]4:194アイシテ! [off vocal]4:17" on July 22, 2009; the title track is used as the opening theme of the second season of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. Her second album Speed Star (スピード☆スター×スピード☆スター18 November 2009 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 13 tracks1stereotype 〜inst〜1:012Super Driver4:193Sing a Song!3:414OH! My Darlin'4:585Kiss♥me2:586水たまり4:107あの花のように3:558アイシテ!4:189VOXX4:1410Set me free3:4211LocK-oN4:2912スピード☆スター4:3813Unnamed world3:33) was released on November 18, 2009. Her tenth single "Hysteric Barbie×Hysteric Barbie23 June 2010 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Hysteric Barbie3:562キセキノイロ3:513ダリア4:31" was released on June 23, 2010. To promote the single, she created a Twitter account which was originally intended to be only used for one day; however, she would continue to use the account after the promotion had ended.
In May 2011, Hirano released a compilation album titled Aya Museum×AYA MUSEUM25 May 2011 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 29 tracks · 3 discsDisc 11水たまり4:092冒険でしょでしょ？4:193RIOT GIRL4:504Set me free3:415Super Driver4:206NEOPHILIA4:117スピード☆スター4:428星のカケラ5:579Unnamed world3:3410ダリア4:3611For you4:2912MonStAR4:2113LOVE★GUN4:1314ヨロコビの歌4:43Disc 21宇宙鉄人キョーダイン2:572ドリームスペーシア4:103忘れましょうねヤヤヤヤヤン♪3:324Step〜明日への一歩〜2:575Dドライヴ/ラヴ4:516しちゃいましょう suggestive (パキラVer.)3:417フツウの恋〜走れ!イインチョー!〜3:008目覚めない wish...3:499どんだけファンファーレ4:0610HYSTERIC DOLLS3:5911Flying Horse 〜ウマ仮面 愛のテーマ〜5:0412God knows...4:4013Lost my music4:1514First Good‐Bye4:39Disc 31Making Museum. Later that month, she announced via Twitter that she was no longer performing music for Lantis and had discontinued her music career until further notice. On August 2, 2011, Japanese magazine Bubka confirmed that she was dismissed by Lantis due to her sleeping with several band members. She then returned to music in 2012 and was signed to the record label Universal Sigma. Her first release on the label was the mini album Fragments×FRAGMENTS23 May 2012 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11DIFFUSION (To the Other Side)4:352無防備なリフレイン4:373FRAGMENTS4:164PizzzzzzzA!!!!!!!3:475LOOP4:096BRIGHT SCORE4:147Sunday4:278スターゲイズ・ラブ4:329君を守るために僕は夢を見る4:56Disc 21Sunday2スターゲイズ・ラブ on May 23, 2012. This was followed by the song "Zutto Kitto" (ずっと きっと) which was released on August 15, 2012; the title track is used as the ending theme to the anime film Fairy Tail the Movie: Phoenix Priestess.
In 2013, Hirano released two singles: "TOxxxIC×TOxxxIC20 February 2013 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1TOxxxIC3:592ミライボイジャー4:043ミライボイジャー -アヤVer.-4:044TOxxxIC –Instrumental-3:595ミライボイジャー –Instrumental-4:04" which was released on February 20, and "Promise×Promise9 October 2013 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Promise4:172たからもの4:433Up To Date3:214Promise -Instrumental-4:165たからもの -Instrumental-4:43" which was released on October 9; "Promise" was used as an insert song in the documentary film Kitakitsune Monogatari: Ashita e. She released her fourth album Vivid×vivid19 February 2014 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1vivid 〜inst〜0:502Let’s Go!3:133Up To Date3:224Promise4:175TOxxxIC4:006ダブル4:077のんびりしましょ4:138Logic Girl3:289星屑ガランドウ4:2810Keep On Runnin’3:4611もっともっと3:5812光の果てに5:42 on February 19, 2014.
In 2018, Hirano performed the song "Pride", which was used as a character song to the mobile game Granblue Fantasy.
On April 24, 2020, Hirano posted a video of herself dancing and teaching the choreography of "Hare Hare Yukai" on her social media accounts to motivate others during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, sparking the hashtag "#HareHareYukaiAtHomeWithAllYourMight" (#お家で全力ハレ晴レユカイ). This created a trend of cover dances of "Hare Hare Yukai" posted to the hashtag, participants of which included Tomokazu Sugita (the voice actor of Kyon) and Minoru Shiraishi (the voice actor of Taniguchi). This led "Hare Hare Yukai" to chart at no. 6 on the Billboard Japan Hot Animation in the same week.
On May 10, 2025, she released "Evolutions×evolutions10 May 2025 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1evolutions4:14", a single under the Lantis label.

Personal life

In November 2010, Hirano posted a message on her Twitter account that she has had a pituitary gland tumor since junior high school. While not malignant, the tumor exerts pressure on certain motor functions, resulting in temporary memory loss, loss of vision and slurring of speech. She decided against elective surgery because the surgery would alter her nasal cavity and permanently modify her voice.
On January 3, 2024, she announced her marriage to actor Masashi Taniguchi. On September 11 of the same year, Bungeishunjū published a report of an alleged domestic violence against Hirano. She responded to the report on social media that same day, that she and Taniguchi had separated and were currently in negotiations for a mutually-agreed divorce. The couple officially divorced on August 5, 2025.

Public image

Once The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya broadcast in 2006, Hirano received widespread media attention and popularity, which led her to be known as a "super idol" in the voice acting industry. In 2007, she was ranked No. 36 in Daitan Map's Top 50 Voice Actors. She also notably became a voice actor who was able to cross over to mainstream media, where she began appearing on variety shows since 2010. In 2011, Hirano was the 5th best-selling voice actress, making ¥120 million in total sales.
Beginning in 2010, Hirano drew criticism from her anime otaku fanbase when she openly discussed her dating and sex life on the variety show Goût Temps Nouveau, as well as the implication that she was abandoning voice acting in favor of a career in mainstream entertainment. In early 2011, an anonymous post on 2channel alleged from an acquaintance of a Lantis employee that Hirano had been dropped from the music label due to "excessively aggressive courting", in that she had sexual relations with three members from her back-up band. In August 2011, Japanese magazine Bubka published photos of the affair. The incidents caused several fans to destroy her merchandise, create petitions to remove her from her role in Kizumonogatari, and send death threats. Hirano stopped posting on Twitter beginning on May 18, 2013, allowing her team to use her account as an information channel. In December 2022, Hirano stated on Twitter that she still receives death threats whenever she does voice acting work for anime and cites it as a reason why she has largely stepped away from anime voice acting.

Dubbing roles

Hirano has had dubbing roles in localized versions of a number of foreign television series and films.