Ai Kayano

Ai Kayano (茅野 愛衣, Kayano Ai, born September 13, 1987 in Tokyo) is a Japanese voice actor affiliated with Office Osawa. Formerly affiliated with Pro-Fit until 2014, she is notable for being one of the few voice actors to gain recognition during their debut in the entertainment industry.

When she was young, Kayano developed an interest in expressing herself through artistic endeavors like ballet and piano. She later attended an all-girls middle school and became active in school festival events. However, she initially struggled with being more participative due to her tendency to do things at her own pace.

Kayano later took on various hospitality-related jobs to help pay for her beauty school tuition. Having enjoyed aiding customers, she relates how the hospitality business provides "healing" to people through service and interaction which made her wonder how to invoke a more lasting form of it. She found her answer after watching Aria the Animation for the first time. In Kayano's own words, the show had a cleansing effect on her heart and reminded her of the small pieces of happiness others tend to overlook.

On a whim, she decided to audition for a voice acting role and passed with flying colors. She considers her role as Anya Dostoyevskaya in Aria the Avvenire a miraculous opportunity to the point of shedding tears after seeing it completed. She went on to do more roles and even won Best New Actress award at the 6th Seiyu Awards in 2011.

Known for voicing soft spoken characters, Kayano sometimes plays against type by assuming roles that require a deeper vocal pitch. Some of her roles include include Mikan Tsumiki in Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair, Alice Zuberg in Sword Art Online, and Ophilia Clement in Octopath Traveler.

Works

 * Katya - Ken to Mahou to Gakuenmono. 3
 * Noi - The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails
 * Y'shtola Rhul - Dissidia Final Fantasy NT, Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia
 * Rika Yoshimura - Blue Reflection
 * Liliana Selphin - Nights of Azure 2: Bride of the New Moon
 * Kyoka - Fairy Tail; reprise of her role in the anime