is a Japanese actor and voice artist from the Tokyo Metropolitan area.
MasudaâÂÂs breakthrough came with voice director Takayuki HamanaâÂÂs 2004 television adaptation of The Prince of Tennis. Cast as Masaharu Nià Â, a doubles specialist who âÂÂreads ten moves ahead,â he quickly became a fan favourite and has reprised the character in original-video animations, feature films and stage recordings.
Parallel to his anime work he joined the Sonic games, debuting in Sonic Heroes (2003). A 2024 casting survey by specialist outlet Siliconera lists Masuda among the returning Japanese leads for Sonic x Shadow Generations, underscoring EspioâÂÂs importance to the current franchise canon.
Other notable roles covered in the trade press include Ferb Fletcher in the Japanese dub of Phineas and Ferb, for which he supplied promotional comments during the Disney/Marvel crossover campaign.
MasudaâÂÂs highest-profile screen role remains Hiroshi Kuronaga, âÂÂBoy 9â of Class 3-B, in Kinji FukasakuâÂÂs dystopian thriller Battle Royale (2000). The Arrow Video archival booklet names him in the principal cast list for both the original theatrical cut and the directorâÂÂs edition.
On stage he has featured in several 2.5-dimensional musicals, among them the second Prince of Tennis live series, where reviewers singled out his chemistry with co-star Eiyà « Tsuda for sustaining the franchiseâÂÂs comedic âÂÂtrick playâ routines.