Rica Matsumoto

Rica Matsumoto (松本 梨香, Matsumoto Rika, born November 30, 1968) is a Japanese actress, voice actress, and J-pop singer who was born in Yokohama, Japan. Her name is also sometimes romanized as Rika Matsumoto. She was a founding member of vocal supergroup JAM Project.
After early stage work, she began both voice acting and singing careers. The most popular role by Rica is Satoshi (Ash Ketchum in English translations), the main character of the anime series Pokémon. She also had a role in the Yu-Gi-Oh series as Ryo Bakura and Yami Bakura. As such, Matsumoto has taken on roles for young boys. Matsumoto also performs the songs for many of the openings for the Japanese Pokémon anime.
Matsumoto has had lead or supporting roles in dozens of series. She has also had a radio show in Japan and does some dubbing work for translations of American films and TV series into Japanese. Matsumoto was also a founding member of JAM Project in 2000. She announced in April 2008 she was taking time off from the group and her solo work.

Television animation

1988

Anpan Man - Rakugaki Kozō

Osomatsu-kun - Choromatsu (debut role)

Wowser - Blackie

1989

Obotchama-kun - Binbō

1990

Anpan Man - Piano Man

Heisei Tensai Bakabon - Nise Musuko, Kumada-kun, ryokan employee, lazy wife, multiple other roles

Magical Angel Sweet Mint - Aru, Gureamu

Pygmalion - Leon

1991

Anpan Man - Baby Donut

City Hunter '91 - Sonya

Jankenman - Soccer-kun

Magical Princess Minky Momo - kid B

Marude Dameo - Kanemochi Sugoi, young dinosaur, Prince, town girl

Matchless Raijin-Oh - Jin Hyuga (first leading role)

Moero! Top Striker - Julian

1992

Anpan Man - Natto Man, Shūmai Musume, Medamayaki-kun

The Brave Fighter of Legend Da-Garn - Seiji Takasugi

Calimero - Pankuratcho

Genki Bakuhatsu Ganbaruger - Jin Hyuga

My Patrasche - Jan

Tekkaman Blade - Rick

1993

Anpan Man - Tengu Boy

Mobile Suit Victory Gundam - Haro, Warren Trace, Renda de Paloma

Muka Muka Paradise - Hazuki

1994

Akazukin Chacha - Poppy-kun

Tonde Burin - Keiko Kuroha, Buta Session, Buta Session G

Yu Yu Hakusho - Kiyoshi Mitarai, Koashura

1995

Azuki-chan - Midori Kodama, Yōko's mom

Mama Loves the Poyopoyo-Saurus - Miki Poyota

Ninku - Fūsuke

1996

Ganba! Fly High - Mariko Sagara

Kaiketsu Zorro - Bernardo

Magical Girl Pretty Sammy - Chihiro

You're Under Arrest - Aoi Futaba

1997

Anpan Man - Kurukuru Okoma-chan

Pocket Monsters - Satoshi, Sakaki's Persian

1998

Bomberman B-Daman Bakugaiden - Shuringe

Dokkiri Doctor - Tomoko Asaoka

Hikarian - Hikarian Star Queen

If I See You in My Dreams - Namiko Isobe

The Kindaichi Case Files - Narumi Fuwa, Reiko Kitami

Let's Nupu Nupu - Kumi Kitamura-sensei, Tori Sushi

Master Keaton - Ilya

Outlaw Star - James "Jim" Hawking

Trigun - Kaite

Yoshimoto Muchikko Monogatari - Momoko Hanakamakiri

1999

Bomberman B-Daman Bakugaiden V - Witchy

Hoshin Engi - Raishinshi

Now and Then, Here and There - Sis

Pocket Monsters: Episode Orange Archipelago - Satoshi, Sakaki's Persian

Pocket Monsters: Episode Gold & Silver - Satoshi, Sakaki's Persian

2000

Case Closed - Ritsuko Usui

Hidamari no Ki - Okon

Lupin III: $1 Money Wars - Sandy Fishburne

Mon Colle Knights - Flame Angel

Mewtwo! I Am Here - Satoshi, Sakaki's Persian

Rerere no Tensai Bakabon - Momotarō, Non-chan

Vandread - Fanieta

2001

Captain Tsubasa - Kojirō Hyūga (as a boy)

Star Ocean EX - Opera Vectra

You're Under Arrest Second Season - Aoi Futaba

Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters - Ryo Bakura (Dark Bakura/Thief King Bakura)

2002

Bomberman Jetters - Misty

Case Closed - Reiko Kujō

Dragon Drive - Mukai

Fortune Dogs - Pochi

Gun Frontier - Sinunora

Hanada Shōnen Shi - Jiro, Yōhei, Madame Katherine, Satsuki Baa-san, Yoshiko's friend

Pocket Monsters Side Stories - Satoshi, Sakaki's Persian

Pocket Monsters: Advanced Generation - Satoshi, Sakaki's Persian

You're Under Arrest - Aoi Futaba

2003

Astro Boy - Rin

Case Closed - Jun Kataoka

Machine Robo Rescue - Chāmī Satō

Ninja Scroll - Nekome

2004

Gokusen - Shizuka Fujiyama

Gravion Zwei - Dr. Barnett

The Prince of Tennis - Hanna

2005

Black Jack - Jun, Satoru

Naruto - Suzume-bachi

Oku-sama wa Mahō Shōjo: Bewitched Agnes - Freya

Paradise Kiss - Koizumi-kun

2006

Majime ni Fumajime Kaiketsu Zorori - Mirai Saeda

The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon - Satoshi (TV special)

Pocket Monsters: Diamond and Pearl - Satoshi, Sakaki's Persian

2007

MapleStory - Puudou

Neuro: Supernatural Detective - Ayumi Kaku (Hysteria)

Sensō Dōwa: Futatsu no Kurumi - Shōkichi

Sgt. Frog - Yamato

You're Under Arrest: Full Throttle - Aoi Futaba

2008

Atashin'chi - Monta

2009

Chi's Sweet Home: Chi's New Address - Tora

Nelly & Caesar - Caesar

2010

Pocket Monsters: Best Wishes! - Satoshi, Sakaki's Persian

Stitch! ~ Best Friends Forever ~ - Zuruko (Tsuruko Sasuga)

Stitch! ~ The Mischievous Alien's Great Adventure ~ - Zuruko (Tsuruko Sasuga)

Super Robot Wars Original Generation: The Inspector - Carla Borgnine

2012

Humanity Has Declined - Doc

Pocket Monsters: Best Wishes! Season 2 - Satoshi, Sakaki's Persian

Stitch and the Planet of Sand - Zuruko (Tsuruko Sasuga)

2013

Pocket Monsters: Best Wishes! Season 2: Episode N - Satoshi, Sakaki's Persian

Pocket Monsters: Best Wishes! Season 2: Decolora Adventure - Satoshi, Sakaki's Persian

Pocket Monsters: XY - Satoshi

2014

Wasimo - Wasimo

2015

Panpaka Pants - Silky

Pocket Monsters: XY&Z - Satoshi

2016

Pocket Monsters: Sun & Moon - Satoshi

Original video animation (OVA)

• Fake (1996) - Bikky
• Shamanic Princess (1996-1998) - Japolo
• Miyuki-chan in Wonderland (1995) (Sumire-chan)
• Sol Bianca: The Legacy (1999-2000) - April
• Phantom Quest Corp (1994-1995) - Ayaka Kisaragi

Theatrical animation

• Metropolis (2001) (Female customer)
• Piano no Mori (2007 (Daigaku Kanehira)
• Roujin Z (1991) (Chie Satō)
• Taiho Shichauzo the Movie (1999) (Aoi Futaba)
• Hunter x Hunter (1998) (Gon Freecss)
• Perfect Blue (1998) (Rumi)
• Pocket Monsters films (1998-) (Satoshi)
• Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Dark Side of Dimensions (Bakura) (2016)

Video games

• Brave Fencer Musashi (1998) (Musashi)
• GeGeGe no Kitarō: Gyakushū! Yōma Dai Kessen (????) (Kitarō)
• GeGeGe no Kitarō: Ibun Yōkai Kitan (????) (Kitarō)
• GeGeGe no Kitarō: Kikiippotsu! Yōkai Rettō (????) (Kitarō)
• Kingdom Hearts II (2005) (Megara)
• Lunar 2: Eternal Blue (1994) (Nall)
• Maria 2: Jutaikokuchi no Nazo (1999) (Maria Kunitoma)
• Mario Kart Arcade GP DX (2013) (Announcer)
• Mobile Suit Gundam: Extreme Vs. Maxi Boost (2015) (Shiro Kyoda)
• Mobile Suit Gundam: Extreme Vs. Maxi Boost ON (2016) (Shiro Kyoda)
• Shinsetsu Samurai Spirits Bushido Retsuden (1997) (Rashojin Mizuki)
• Ricarla Borgnine - Super Robot Wars Alpha (2000, PlayStation), Super Robot Wars Original Generations (PlayStation 2)
• Haunted Junction (PlayStation, 1997) - Asahina Mutsuki

Tokusatsu

• Kousoku Sentai Turboranger (1989) (Suzunari Boma, Omamori Boma)
• Chikyuu Sentai Fiveman (1990) (Arthur G6)
• Choujin Sentai Jetman (1991) (Gomi Jigen)
• Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger (1992) (Dora Reiger)
• Engine Sentai Go-onger (2008) (Savage Land Barbaric Machine Beast Bōseki Banki)
• Unofficial Sentai Akibaranger (2012) (Masako "Miyabi" Yamada)

Dubbing roles

Live-action

• Patricia Arquette
  • True Romance (Alabama Whitman)
  • Holy Matrimony (Havana)
  • Flirting with Disaster (Nancy Coplin)
  • Nightwatch (Katherine)
  • Bringing Out the Dead (Mary Burke)
  • Little Nicky (Valerie Veran)
  • Human Nature (Lila Jute)
  • Holes (Katherine "Kissin' Kate" Barlow)
  • Medium (Allison Dubois)
  • Boyhood (Olivia Evans)
  • CSI: Cyber (Avery Ryan)
• Drew Barrymore
  • Bad Girls (1997 TV Asahi edition) (Lily Laronette)
  • Ever After (Danielle De Barbarac)
  • Never Been Kissed (Josie Geller)
  • Charlie's Angels (Dylan Sanders)
  • Riding in Cars with Boys (Beverly Ann "Bev" Donofrio)
  • Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (Dylan Sanders)
  • 50 First Dates (Lucy Whitmore)
  • Fever Pitch (Lindsey Meeks)
• Renée Zellweger
  • A Price Above Rubies (Sonia Horowitz)
  • The Bachelor (Anne Arden)
  • Bridget Jones's Diary (Bridget Jones)
  • Chicago (Roxanne "Roxie" Hart)
  • Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (Bridget Jones)
  • Cinderella Man (Mae Braddock)
  • Leatherheads (Lexie Littleton)
• Sandra Bullock
  • Demolition Man (1997 TV Asahi edition) (Lieutenant Lenina Huxley)
  • Speed (1998 TV Asahi edition) (Annie Porter)
  • The Net (TV Asahi edition) (Angela Bennett)
  • Miss Congeniality (2005 NTV edition) (Gracie Hart)
  • Crash (Jean Cabot)
  • Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous (2008 NTV edition) (Gracie Hart)
• Reese Witherspoon
  • Pleasantville (Jennifer)
  • Little Nicky (Holly)
  • Legally Blonde (Elle Woods)
  • Sweet Home Alabama (Melanie "Carmichael" Smooter Perry)
  • Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde (Elle Woods)
  • This Means War (Lauren Scott)
• Juliette Lewis
  • Cape Fear (Danielle Bowden)
  • The Basketball Diaries (Diane Moody)
  • From Dusk till Dawn (Kate Fuller)
  • The Way of the Gun (Robin)
• All the Right Moves (1991 NTV edition) (Lisa Lietzke (Lea Thompson))
• Big Eyes (Margaret Keane (Amy Adams))
• Bram Stoker's Dracula (1995 TV Asahi edition) (Mina Harker (Winona Ryder))
• E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial - E.T. (second dubbing)
• Father of the Bride (Annie Banks (Kimberly Williams-Paisley))
• Father of the Bride Part II (Annie Banks-Mackenzie (Kimberly Williams-Paisley))
• Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (J.J. (Saffron Henderson))
• Selena (Selena (Jennifer Lopez))
• Ted (Norah Jones)
• The Terminator (2003 TV Tokyo edition) (Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton))
• Beverly Hills, 90210 (Kelly Taylor (Jennie Garth))

Animation

• Adventure Time (Shelby, Sweet Pig-Trunks)
• Angela Anaconda (Angela Anaconda)
• Back at the Barnyard (Bessy the Cow)
• Dr. Dimensionpants! (Dragon Master Paul)
• The Fox and the Hound 2 (Dixie)
• Jetsons: The Movie (Judy Jetson)
• The Land Before Time series (Cera)
• Recess (Lawson)
• The Road to El Dorado (Chel)
• Stressed Eric (Liz Feeble)
• Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go! (Chiro)
• Thumbelina (Mrs. Toad)

• "Cast for Returning Characters". Anime News Network. October 15, 2015. 

Albums

Other songs

• "Get a Dream" (Opening of Sunrise Eiyuutan/Sunrise Eiyuutan R)
• "Alive A life" (Opening for Kamen Rider Ryuki, Remix tracks of Rider Chips' Song Attack Ride Vol.1)
• "Mezase Pokémon Master" (Opening for Pokémon)
• "Mezase Pokémon Master 2001" (Opening for Pokémon Movie 4: Serebii Toki wo Koeta Deai)
• "Mezase Pokémon Master 2002" (Opening for Pokémon Movie 5: Mizu no Miyako no Mamori Gami - Latias to Latios)
• "Pocket ni Fantasy" (Ending for Pokémon), sung with Mayumi Iizuka
• "Oyasumi, Boku no Pikachu" (from the Mezase Pokémon Master album)
• "Pokémon Master e no Michi" (from the Pokémon Rocket Gang! It's a White Tomorrow! CD drama)
• "Type: Wild" (Ending for Pokémon)
• "Rivals!" (Opening for Pokémon)
• "Minna de Aruko!" (from the Pokémon Riding on Lapras album)
• "Minna ga Itakara" (Insert song for Pokémon Movie 2: Maboroshi no Pokémon: Lugia Bakutan)
• "OK!" (Opening for Pokémon)
• "OK! 2000" (Opening for Pokémon Movie 3: Kesshou Tou no Teiou: Entei)
• "Challenger!" (Opening for Pokémon: Advanced Generation)
• "SPURT!" (Opening for Pokémon: Advanced Generation)
• "High Touch!" (Opening for Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, sung with Megumi Toyoguchi)
• "High Touch! 2009" (Opening song of Gekijouban Pocket Monsters Diamond and Pearl: Arceus Choukoku no Jikuu e)
• "Burning Soul" (Hyuga Kojiro image song for the Captain Tsubasa: Road to 2002 Song Of Kickers CD)
• "Chiisana Dai Bouken" (Opening for Chi's Sweet Home: Chi's New Address)
• "Best Wishes!" (Opening for Pokémon: Best Wishes!)
• "In Your Heart" (From Ultraman Neos), sung with Project DMM
• "Yajirushi ni Natte!" (Opening for Pokémon: Best Wishes! Season 2)
• "Yajirushi ni Natte! 2013" (Opening for Pokémon: Best Wishes! Season 2 Episode N)
• "V" (Alternate Version) (Opening for Pokémon XY)
• "XY&Z" (Opening for Pokémon XY&Z)

• 松本梨香の作品 アルバム [Rica Matsumoto Albums]. Oricon Style (in Japanese). Retrieved May 5, 2016. 
• "CLUSTER" (in Japanese). Oricon Style. Retrieved May 5, 2016. 
• "華の宴" [Flower Party] (in Japanese). Oricon Style. Retrieved May 5, 2016. 
• "Destiny" (in Japanese). Oricon Style. Retrieved May 5, 2016. 
• "RICA the BEST" (in Japanese). Oricon Style. Retrieved May 5, 2016. 
• "まんまる" (in Japanese). Oricon Style. Retrieved May 5, 2016. 
• "松本梨香が歌うポケモンソングベスト" [Rika Matsumoto Sings the Best Pokemon Songs] (in Japanese). Oricon Style. Retrieved May 5, 2016.