From auditionee to icon: the multi-hyphenate rise of Haruka Tomatsu
In short: How does a single performer become the definitive voice of multiple anime universes while simultaneously topping music charts? Haruka Tomatsu's career is a masterclass in versatility, balancing high-profile voice acting roles with a prolific music career that spans over a decade of major releases.
Born in Ichinomiya, Aichi, Haruka Tomatsu entered the entertainment industry through a rigorous audition process held by Music Ray'n between 2005 and 2006. She made her official voice acting debut in 2007 with a role in Gakuen Utopia Manabi Straight!, quickly securing her first starring role that same year in Shinkyoku Sōkai Polyphonica.
Tomatsu's career is defined by her ability to inhabit diverse archetypes. She is widely recognized for voicing main heroines such as Asuna Yuuki in Sword Art Online, Zero Two in Darling in the Franxx, and Haru Okumura in Persona 5. Her versatility is demonstrated through roles in Anohana, Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic, and Horimiya, which led to her winning the 9th Seiyu Awards Synergy Award and the 3rd Seiyu Awards Rookie of the Year title.
Parallel to her voice work, Tomatsu established herself as a significant musical artist. She began her singing career in 2008 and joined the music unit Sphere in 2009 alongside Aki Toyosaki, Minako Kotobuki, and Ayahi Takagaki. Her discography is extensive, featuring numerous singles and solo albums like Rainbow Road (2010) and Sunny Side Story (2013). Her single 'Courage' (2014) stands out as a commercial peak, reaching No. 4 on the Oricon weekly charts and remaining on the charts for eleven weeks.
Beyond the studio, Tomatsu has engaged in live-action performances, including the drama series Here Is Greenwood, and has performed internationally, notably making a North American live debut at Anime Expo in 2016. Her career trajectory illustrates the complex synergy between voice acting and idol-style music production in the Japanese media landscape.
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