Natsuki Hanae: "Cat Photo Maniac" Brings His Cats to the Spotlight

The explosive popularity of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba has not only boosted the show's fame, but has also rocketed the popularity of its voice cast. Natsuki Hanae, the voice behind protagonist Tanjiro Kamado, had already established himself as a beloved seiyuu, YouTuber, and gaming livestreamer. But what truly sets him apart online? His uncontainable love for sharing photos of his cats.

The Cat Stars: Kanpei and Miso

Despite being constantly in the public eye, Hanae's two orange cats, Kanpei and Miso, often steal the show—appearing on his social media more than 80% of the time compared to his own face! Nicknamed a "cat photo maniac" by fans, Hanae has now taken his feline obsession to the next level by releasing a dedicated photo book, "Kanpei & Miso: The Cats of the Hanae Family".

• Release Date: November 17, 2022
• Price: ¥1,550
• Photographer: All photos taken by Hanae himself
• Pages: 128 lovingly curated pages

Even before its official release, the photo book climbed the bestseller charts on Amazon Japan. According to reports, Hanae spent three years preparing and photographing for this project. The book features many exclusive images of his cats, not seen anywhere else on social media.

Cats More Famous Than Their Owner

On social networks, Hanae's feline companions have captivated an audience of over 2.21 million viewers. Both cats are of "foodie" pedigrees: Kanpei is a Munchkin, and Miso an American Shorthair. Their charm and appetite have made them fan favorites as much as their famous owner.

Voice Acting Fame and Social Stardom

Hanae isn't just about cute cat photos. Apart from voicing Tanjiro Kamado in "Demon Slayer", he's also the main voice in other hit anime such as "Tokyo Ghoul", "Your Lie in April", and "Odd Taxi". His YouTube channel has also amassed over 2.07 million subscribers, mainly sharing gaming livestreams and collaborations with other voice actors.

Trivia: The Cat Bot Incident

In a famous episode, Hanae's relentless cat postings on Twitter led to his account being mistaken for a bot by the platform's algorithms. He's since jokingly referred to himself as a "cat bot" (automatic cat photo account).

Achievements

• Debut: 2011 as a voice actor
• Seiyuu Newcomer Award: 2014
• Main Character Voice Actor Award: 2021
• Well-regarded in the voice acting industry for both popularity and performance

Recent Projects

• Theatre of Regretful Creatures (Movie): Koala Roy
• Roy's Home Tree: Roma
• Crayon Shin-chan the Movie: Mononoke Ninja Chinfuden: Hizoin Gomaemon

Amazonでの予約も開始しました！https://t.co/4hSUQa0AWV

— 花江 夏樹 (@hanae0626) September 22, 2022