So, you’re diving back into the world of Sucker Punch, but things look a little different this time. No more Jin Sakai. No more Tsushima. Instead, we’ve got Mount Yotei, a 17th-century setting, and a brand-new Ghost named Atsu.
While the English voice acting often gets the most press in the West, let’s be real. A massive chunk of the Ghost of Tsushima community played the original with the Japanese track for that authentic Kurosawa vibe.
The pressure to get the Ghost of Yotei Japanese voice actor right was immense. You can’t just throw anyone into a ronin’s sandals and expect them to carry the weight of 1603 Japan.
Who is the voice behind Atsu?
The lead role of Atsu in the Japanese dub is voiced by the incredible Fairouz Ai.
If that name sounds familiar, it should. She is essentially royalty in the modern voice acting scene. You’ve likely heard her as Jolyne Cujoh in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean or Power in Chainsaw Man. She has this specific, gravelly energy that transitions perfectly from "shonen protagonist" to "vengeful mercenary."
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What makes her such a pick for the Ghost of Yotei Japanese voice actor is her range. Atsu isn’t Jin. She’s a mercenary on a revenge tour against the "Yotei Six." Fairouz Ai brings a rawer, more aggressive edge to the role than Daisuke Tsuji’s more measured, samurai-stoic performance in the first game.
It’s different. It’s supposed to be.
The supporting cast is stacked
Sucker Punch didn’t stop at the lead. The Japanese dub for Ghost of Yotei reads like a "who’s who" of Tokyo’s elite talent.
- Romi Park (Oyuki): You know her as Edward Elric from Fullmetal Alchemist. She plays Oyuki, a traveling shamisen performer. Park has this uncanny ability to sound both ancient and youthful, which fits a character with a mysterious past like Oyuki perfectly.
- Jun Fukuyama (The Kitsune): Yes, Lelouch from Code Geass. He’s playing a character literally called "The Kitsune." It’s a bit of a departure, and honestly, hearing his voice coming out of a character associated with folklore elements is a trip.
- Miou Tanaka (Lord Saito): He takes on the role of the primary antagonist, Lord Saito. If you played Judgment or Yakuza, you’ll recognize that authoritative, booming bass immediately.
Why the Japanese dub matters more this time
The setting of Ghost of Yotei is Ezo—modern-day Hokkaido. In 1603, this wasn't just "more Japan." It was a frontier. The linguistic nuances between the Matsumae clan (the samurai presence) and the local vibes are subtle, but the Japanese voice cast leans into it.
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Honestly, the English lead, Erika Ishii, is fantastic. They bring a lot of vulnerability to the English performance. But Fairouz Ai’s take in Japanese feels like a different beast altogether. It’s more "Onryo"—that vengeful spirit archetype.
A few things most people miss
There was a lot of chatter during the 2025 release about whether the Japanese lip-syncing would be better this time around. In the first game’s launch, it was famously a bit "off" because the facial capture was based on the English lines.
For Ghost of Yotei, they clearly put more work into the procedural lip-sync. When you watch Fairouz Ai’s lines hit, the character's face actually moves like a person speaking Japanese. It’s a small detail, but for the purists, it changes everything.
Also, worth noting: Fairouz Ai actually voiced both the adult and the young version of Atsu in the flashback sequences. Some fans thought they’d hired a child actor for the "Night of the Burning Tree" scenes, but no—that’s just her technical skill.
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How to get the best experience
If you’re starting your playthrough, here’s my advice:
- Try both: Play the prologue in English to appreciate Erika Ishii’s performance, then switch to Japanese for the open-world exploration.
- Kurosawa Mode: It’s still there. If you’re using the Japanese track, the black-and-white filter with film grain is the only way to play.
- Headphones are mandatory: The audio design won awards for a reason. The way the wind interacts with the dialogue is peak immersion.
The Ghost of Yotei Japanese voice actor lineup isn't just a localized secondary option; for many, it’s the definitive way to experience Atsu’s journey through the snows of the north.
To get the most out of the performance, make sure to check your audio settings in the main menu before you leave the first camp. You can actually toggle the "Japanese Audio" and "Japanese UI" separately if you want the full-blown historical immersion without losing your way in the menus.