Rica Matsumoto

Rica Matsumoto

Rica Matsumoto (Japanese: 松本梨香 formerly 松本利香 Matsumoto Rika) is a Japanese voice actress for the Pokémon anime. She was born on November 30, 1968, in Yokohama, Japan. Her most famous role is that of the main protagonist, Ash Ketchum.

Biography

After getting into theater at a young age, Matsumoto discovered voice acting and singing.

In addition to being a solo artist, Matsumoto is a member of two singing groups:

• JAM (Japanese Animationsong Makers) Project, with Hironobu Kageyema, Masaki Endoh, Hiroshi Kitadani, Masami Okui, and Yoshiki Fukuyama
• Tricycle, with Yoshiyuki Ishikawa and Keīchi Kodo

Also, Matsumoto hosts or has hosted three radio shows:

• I'll Catch Your Heart (Japanese: 君のハートをGETだぜ)
• Rumors About Him (彼奴の噂)
• Saturday HOT Request

Pokémon roles

Ash is the most famous character Matsumoto has portrayed. In other anime, she is often cast as young boys.

Voices on Pokémon

• Ash
• Giovanni's Persian
• Chansey
• The wild Meowth (EP070)
• Poochyena Trainer's mother (AG061)
• Mirror Ash

Musical appearances in Pokémon

• Aim to Be a Pokémon Master (Japanese: めざせポケモンマスター)
• Goodnight, My Pikachu (Japanese: おやすみ　ぼくのピカチュウ)
• The Road to Being a Pokémon Master (Japanese: ポケモンマスターへの道)
• The Rivals (Japanese: ライバル！)
• Type: Wild (Japanese: タイプ：ワイルド)
• Everyone Walk Together (Japanese: みんなであるこう！)
• Because Everyone Was There (Japanese: みんながいたから)
• OK!
• Challenger!! (Japanese: チャレンジャー!!)
• Spurt* (Japanese: スパート！)
• High Touch!* (Japanese: ハイタッチ！)
• Best Wishes! (Japanese: ベストウイッシュ！)
• Be an Arrow! (Japanese: やじるしになって！)
• XY&Z*

* This song is credited in-character as Ash.

Famous non-Pokémon roles

Anime

• Aoi Futaba (You're Under Arrest)
• Ryo Bakura (Yu-Gi-Oh! second series anime) (Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters)
• Kiyoshi Mitarai (YuYu Hakusho)
• Nataku (X (movie))
• Sinunora (Gun Frontier)
• Reiko Kujou (Meitantei Conan)
• Chihiro Kawai (Pretty Sammy)
• Warren Trace, Haro (V Gundam)
• Kei (Dirty Pair Flash)
• Jim Hawking (Outlaw Star)
• Raishinshi (Soul Hunter)
• Kojirou Hyuuga (Captain Tsubasa: Road to 2002)
• Ricarla "Carla" Borgnine (Super Robot Taisen OG: The Inspector)
• Rumi (Perfect Blue)
• Seiji Takasugi (Densetsu no Yuusha Da-Gaan)

Movies dubbed from English into Japanese

• Bridget Jones (Bridget Jones's Diary)
• Selena Quintanilla-Pérez (Selena)
• Dylan (Charlie's Angels (movie))
• Cera (Land Before Time series, III: The Time of the Great Giving-present)
• Flounder (The Little Mermaid)
• Bessie the Cow (Barnyard)

Other

• Megara (Kingdom Hearts II)

Solo albums

• 花の園 Hana no En, Flower Garden
• Cluster
• Destiny
• Rough Love
• RICA the BEST

Group albums

JAM Project

• JAM Project LIVE 震撼～Return to the Chaos～
• JAM Project BEST COLLECTION II ～FREEDOM

Tricycle

• Desert, Grass and Forest

Trivia

• In Pokémon X and Y, Lass Anna's Japanese name is Rica, a reference to Rica Matsumoto. Like Ash, she uses a male Pikachu.

External links

• Rica Matsumoto's official website
• Rica Matsumoto's talent profile
• Rica Matsumoto's blog
• Rica Matsumoto on Twitter

This article is part of Project VA, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on voice actors in Pokémon animation and Pokémon games.