2025 marks a major milestone forYu-Gi-Oh!—the franchise that has captivated fansfor 25 yearsthrough its anime, manga, and trading card game. To celebrate, new projects and events are underway, while key figures from the series are looking back on their experiences. Among them is Kenjiro Tsuda, the voice behind Seto Kaiba, whose career was shaped by the role. Reflecting on his journey ina new interview, Tsuda admits, “If it weren’t for this work, I don’t know if I would have been able to continue working as a voice actor.”
Today, Tsuda is a powerhouse in the voice acting industry, known for roles such as Kento Nanami inJujutsu Kaisenand the Japanese dub of Kylo Ren inStar Wars.But in 2000, he was just an aspiring voice actor with little recognition. His big break came withYu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters, where he was cast as Kaiba—a character known for his intense rivalry with Yugi Mutou and his obsession with theBlue-Eyes White Dragon.“Before being cast as Kaiba, I had only played minor guest roles in a few episodes.Duel Monsters truly challenged me and helped me grow,“Tsuda recalls.
Bringing Seto Kaiba to Life
Recording Challenges and the Energy Behind the Duels
Kaiba became Tsuda’s defining role, launching him into the mainstream and establishing his commanding voice as a signature in anime. Over the years, he reprised the role in numerous adaptations, includingYu-Gi-Oh! The Dark Side of Dimensionsand theDuel Linksmobile game. Tsuda’s portrayal of Kaiba, with his infamous catchphrase “Screw the rules, I have money!”, cemented the character as one of the most iconic in the series. Even after two decades, Kaiba’s competitive spirit and dramatic duels remain an essential part ofYu-Gi-Oh!history.
The voice actor fondly remembers the early days of recording, working alongside Shunsuke Kazama, who voiced Yugi. Both were relatively new to voice acting and poured their energy into the high-stakes duel scenes. “There were times when episodes were packed with consecutive duels, and the staff would ask us, ‘How many duels can you handle today?’ They were constantly testing our endurance!” he says with a laugh. The intense performances played a crucial role in bringing the drama and excitement ofYu-Gi-Oh!to life.
The Yu-Gi-Oh! Franchise Continues to Thrive
How Yu-Gi-Oh! Shaped Tsuda’s Career
Even 25 years later,Yu-Gi-Oh!continues to attract both old and new fans, something Tsuda has witnessed firsthand. “Many of the people who were students back then are now professionals. When I meet them, they’ll often tell me, ‘I was a duelist too!’ The continued success of the Duel Links game has also introduced new fans to the franchise, and I can really feel how much passion still surrounds this series.” The franchise’s longevity, he believes, speaks to its universal appeal and the nostalgia it holds for many.
I Wish I Liked One of Yu-Gi-Oh’s Most Iconic Scenes, But It Makes Absolutely No Sense
One of Kaiba’s most iconic scenes in the original Yu-Gi-Oh! anime makes little sense, a fact that makes it harder to enjoy for some fans.
As the 25th-anniversary celebrations unfold, Tsuda remains grateful for the opportunityYu-Gi-Oh!gave him. “It wasn’t the first anime I ever worked on, but when I look back on my career, Yu-Gi-Oh! was a significant starting point for me. Thanks to my experience with Kaiba, I found other battle anime much easier to record!”
WithYu-Gi-Oh!continuing to evolve, Tsuda is open to reprising his role if given the chance. “I’d love to have another opportunity to play Kaiba again. There are so many people who grew up alongside Yu-Gi-Oh!, and I’d love to hear their reactions firsthand. Not just in Japan—there are fans all over the world. I feel truly lucky to have been part of such an incredible series.” As the franchise moves forward, one thing remains clear:Kaiba’s legacy, and Tsuda’s iconic voice, will always be an integral part ofYu-Gi-Oh!history.
