Is it common for seiyū's to also be singers?


While listening to the _Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha_ Openings I noticed that
the first 4 Opening songs (Original Series - StrikerS) were all sung by _Nana
Mizuki_ , the seiyū of _Fate Testarossa_. Looking at her [Wikipedia
Page](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nana_Mizuki) I've also noticed that she's
also been the seiyū for _Hinata Hyuga_ in the Naruto Movies.

Now the other groups I know of who did Openings/Endings are FLOW, ALI PROJECT,
ORANGE RANGE, Kalafina and ClariS, but I do not know if any singer of these
groups were also a seiyū for any series (particularly ones their music was in)
but I am wondering if it is common for a seiyū to also be a singer?

If so, is it also expected that if a singer sung the Opening/Ending Theme (or
Insert Songs) they will also score a character role in the series?




For the first question, the answer is yes. This is especially true with female
seiyuu. As you noted, Nana Mizuki is also a singer other than a seiyuu. You
can check her discography
[here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nana_Mizuki_discography). She even went
to a duet with T.M. Revolution. Other female seiyuu's that is worth noted:

  * Itou Kanae (Meat - Haganai)

[Albums](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanae_It%C5%8D) including Kokoro
Keshiki and Miageta Keshiki

  * Hayami Saori (Shiraishi Urara - Yamada-kun to 7-nin Majo)

Released her [first
single](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCoQFjABahUKEwin7Jmt68jHAhVIHI4KHWEmBnw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.crunchyroll.com%2Fanime-
news%2F2015%2F05%2F30-1%2Fvideo-voice-actress-saori-hayamis-solo-debut-single-
yasashii-kibou-
mv&ei=d8neVefUKci4uAThzJjgBw&usg=AFQjCNHbGMlnkuxuCpxG49OdS_dJkoMBSA&sig2=VyjnYaEUAWHOil0Pz1GZcQ)
August 2015

  * Kitamura Eri (Honoka Sisters - Sidonia no Kishi)

[Has lot of singles and
album.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eri_Kitamura#Discography)

  * Toyosaki Aki (Kanzaki Uiharu - Railgun)

Discography [here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aki_Toyosaki#Discography)

  * Tomatsu Haruka (Yuuki Asuna - SAO)

Discography [here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haruka_Tomatsu)

  * Uchida Maaya (Takanashi Rikka - Chuunibyou)

Discography [here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maaya_Uchida#Discography)

  * Nitta Emi (Kousaka Honoka - Love Live)

Discography [here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emi_Nitta)

  * PILE (Nishikino Maki - Love Live)

Was already a singer even before debut voicing as Maki.

  * Uchida Aya (Kotori - Love Live)

Example single is [Spicaterrible](http://love-
live.wikia.com/wiki/Spicaterrible)

  * Nanjo Yoshino (Ayase Eri - Love Live, fripSide's Nidaime-sama

She was chosen to as
[fripSide](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CB4QFjAAahUKEwjw463p6sjHAhVHUI4KHb75CmI&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FFripSide&ei=6cjeVbDLGMeguQS-86uQBg&usg=AFQjCNEWciumrwQ_xvAAC9b1CcVeS_O_Jg&sig2=HcVD6VPP-0jNIKLYZJFhxw)'s
main vocalist after the first quit the group and go solo. First vocalist was
nao who voiced 5pb in Hyperdimension Neptunia.
[She](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CEIQFjACahUKEwjD8Yz86sjHAhXTHI4KHeVMDvA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FYoshino_Nanj%25C5%258D&ei=EMneVcOpK9O5uATlmbmADw&usg=AFQjCNGEAd18Y4ePTR9ZBq_4uS-7DuNIsQ&sig2=2Nj8ieMZvhqUyD5-4KMeMg)
also released a mini-album and singles in ballad style which is different that
her usual trance fripSide singing style.

  * Hirano Aya

[She](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aya_Hirano) even own her own band with
whom she got caught in a sex scandal.

  * Hanazawa Kana

Discography [here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kana_Hanazawa#Discography)

  * Sato Satomi

Discography
[here](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CDIQFjABahUKEwjViIbH68jHAhUOcY4KHW75DX8&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSatomi_Sat%25C5%258D&ei=rcneVZX-
NY7iuQTu8rf4Bw&usg=AFQjCNHfmsDWeEoYfF2aU0WRZNnf1IWizw&sig2=rNT-
jeGAesMSzcnNcf2ytw)

  * Horie Yui

As pointed by Steven, Horie Yui also owned her own [singles and
albums](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yui_Horie#Discography).

It is more rare for male seiyuus to also be a singer although they do sing as
the characters they voiced. Some that I remember are:

  * Tetsuya Kakihara (Natsu Dragneel - Fairy Tail)

Other than singing as Natsu, also released [his own
singles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetsuya_Kakihara#Discography%20\(as%20a%20singer\)).

  * Ono Daisuke (Sebastian Michaelis - Kuroshitsuji)

Discography [here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daisuke_Ono#Discography).

  * Kenichi Suzumura (Zack Fair - Final Fantasy VII)

Discography [here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenichi_Suzumura#Music).

  * Morita Masakazu (Kurosaki Ichigo - Bleach)

His songs are mostly Bleach songs, that is he sang as Kurosaki Ichigo. As far
as I know, Morita doesn't own his own singles/albums.

  * Hayami Shou (Aizen Sousuke - Bleach)

Other than singing as Aizen, also released some [singles and
albums](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sh%C5%8D_Hayami).

For the second question, no. In fact, usually it is not. Only some anime have
the singer of OP or ED also fills a role in the anime. Like Kitamura Eri
(Honoka Sisters) sings Sidonia no Kishi's ED. But most of the time they don't.
This is because a lot of anime still have bands and people who's primary job
is singer perform the OP and ED. The anime Black Bullet's OP was performed by
fripSide, but Nanjo-sama didn't have any role in the anime, nor Satoshi
(fripSide's composer and part of the duo and he is also not a seiyuu).

As an extra, Hyde of L'Arc~en~Ciel and VAMPS also voiced an anime once as
himself. But his main profession is a singer and not a seiyuu.




For the first question, the answer is yes. This is especially true with female
seiyuu. As you noted, Nana Mizuki is also a singer other than a seiyuu. You
can check her discography
[here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nana_Mizuki_discography). She even went
to a duet with T.M. Revolution. Other female seiyuu's that is worth noted:

  * Itou Kanae (Meat - Haganai)

[Albums](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanae_It%C5%8D) including Kokoro
Keshiki and Miageta Keshiki

  * Hayami Saori (Shiraishi Urara - Yamada-kun to 7-nin Majo)

Released her [first
single](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCoQFjABahUKEwin7Jmt68jHAhVIHI4KHWEmBnw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.crunchyroll.com%2Fanime-
news%2F2015%2F05%2F30-1%2Fvideo-voice-actress-saori-hayamis-solo-debut-single-
yasashii-kibou-
mv&ei=d8neVefUKci4uAThzJjgBw&usg=AFQjCNHbGMlnkuxuCpxG49OdS_dJkoMBSA&sig2=VyjnYaEUAWHOil0Pz1GZcQ)
August 2015

  * Kitamura Eri (Honoka Sisters - Sidonia no Kishi)

[Has lot of singles and
album.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eri_Kitamura#Discography)

  * Toyosaki Aki (Kanzaki Uiharu - Railgun)

Discography [here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aki_Toyosaki#Discography)

  * Tomatsu Haruka (Yuuki Asuna - SAO)

Discography [here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haruka_Tomatsu)

  * Uchida Maaya (Takanashi Rikka - Chuunibyou)

Discography [here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maaya_Uchida#Discography)

  * Nitta Emi (Kousaka Honoka - Love Live)

Discography [here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emi_Nitta)

  * PILE (Nishikino Maki - Love Live)

Was already a singer even before debut voicing as Maki.

  * Uchida Aya (Kotori - Love Live)

Example single is [Spicaterrible](http://love-
live.wikia.com/wiki/Spicaterrible)

  * Nanjo Yoshino (Ayase Eri - Love Live, fripSide's Nidaime-sama

She was chosen to as
[fripSide](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CB4QFjAAahUKEwjw463p6sjHAhVHUI4KHb75CmI&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FFripSide&ei=6cjeVbDLGMeguQS-86uQBg&usg=AFQjCNEWciumrwQ_xvAAC9b1CcVeS_O_Jg&sig2=HcVD6VPP-0jNIKLYZJFhxw)'s
main vocalist after the first quit the group and go solo. First vocalist was
nao who voiced 5pb in Hyperdimension Neptunia.
[She](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CEIQFjACahUKEwjD8Yz86sjHAhXTHI4KHeVMDvA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FYoshino_Nanj%25C5%258D&ei=EMneVcOpK9O5uATlmbmADw&usg=AFQjCNGEAd18Y4ePTR9ZBq_4uS-7DuNIsQ&sig2=2Nj8ieMZvhqUyD5-4KMeMg)
also released a mini-album and singles in ballad style which is different that
her usual trance fripSide singing style.

  * Hirano Aya

[She](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aya_Hirano) even own her own band with
whom she got caught in a sex scandal.

  * Hanazawa Kana

Discography [here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kana_Hanazawa#Discography)

  * Sato Satomi

Discography
[here](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CDIQFjABahUKEwjViIbH68jHAhUOcY4KHW75DX8&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSatomi_Sat%25C5%258D&ei=rcneVZX-
NY7iuQTu8rf4Bw&usg=AFQjCNHfmsDWeEoYfF2aU0WRZNnf1IWizw&sig2=rNT-
jeGAesMSzcnNcf2ytw)

  * Horie Yui

As pointed by Steven, Horie Yui also owned her own [singles and
albums](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yui_Horie#Discography).

It is more rare for male seiyuus to also be a singer although they do sing as
the characters they voiced. Some that I remember are:

  * Tetsuya Kakihara (Natsu Dragneel - Fairy Tail)

Other than singing as Natsu, also released [his own
singles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetsuya_Kakihara#Discography%20\(as%20a%20singer\)).

  * Ono Daisuke (Sebastian Michaelis - Kuroshitsuji)

Discography [here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daisuke_Ono#Discography).

  * Kenichi Suzumura (Zack Fair - Final Fantasy VII)

Discography [here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenichi_Suzumura#Music).

  * Morita Masakazu (Kurosaki Ichigo - Bleach)

His songs are mostly Bleach songs, that is he sang as Kurosaki Ichigo. As far
as I know, Morita doesn't own his own singles/albums.

  * Hayami Shou (Aizen Sousuke - Bleach)

Other than singing as Aizen, also released some [singles and
albums](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sh%C5%8D_Hayami).

For the second question, no. In fact, usually it is not. Only some anime have
the singer of OP or ED also fills a role in the anime. Like Kitamura Eri
(Honoka Sisters) sings Sidonia no Kishi's ED. But most of the time they don't.
This is because a lot of anime still have bands and people who's primary job
is singer perform the OP and ED. The anime Black Bullet's OP was performed by
fripSide, but Nanjo-sama didn't have any role in the anime, nor Satoshi
(fripSide's composer and part of the duo and he is also not a seiyuu).

As an extra, Hyde of L'Arc~en~Ciel and VAMPS also voiced an anime once as
himself. But his main profession is a singer and not a seiyuu.

