Shigeru Chiba

Masaharu Maeda (前田 正治 , Maeda Masaharu , born February 4, 1954) , known by the stage name Shigeru Chiba (千葉 繁 , Chiba Shigeru ) , is a Japanese actor, voice actor, narrator, talent and sound director from Kikuchi, Kumamoto. He is affiliated with the talent management firm 81 Produce.

He is most known for the roles of Yoshihiro Kira from JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable, the narrator of Fist of the North Star, Megane from Urusei Yatsura, Rei Ichidō from High School! Kimengumi, Kazuma Kuwabara from YuYu Hakusho, Pilaf from Dragon Ball, Raditz and Garlic Jr. from Dragon Ball Z, Buggy the Clown from One Piece, Kefka Palazzo from Dissidia: Final Fantasy, and Kōichi Todome from Kerberos saga.

He was also the voice acting mentor to Megumi Hayashibara.

Originally a stunt actor, Chiba also appeared in the Nikkatsu Roman Porno series of movies. He starred in the "Let's Make a Chiba Shigeru Promotion Film" project movie Kurenai no Gankyō, as well as the Mamoru Oshii films Cerberus, Hell's Watchdog and Talking Head. He plays both serious and gag roles.