Celebrating Pikachu Love at Pokemon Fest 2023 in Japan

Ikue Otani has been the official voice of Pikachu since 1997, beginning with the original Pokémon anime series. Her high-pitched, expressive delivery—especially the iconic “Pika pika!” and “Pika-chu!”—quickly became one of the most recognizable sounds in global pop culture. For nearly 30 years, Otani has voiced Pikachu across the franchise, including in movies, video games, and promotional material. Remarkably, even in international versions where other characters are dubbed, Pikachu’s voice alm