Fairouz Ai has emerged as one of the most dynamic and versatile voice actresses in the Japanese anime industry. Best known for her electrifying performances as Jolyne Cujoh in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean and the chaotic Power in Chainsaw Man, this Japanese-Egyptian seiyuu has captivated audiences with her remarkable vocal range and authentic character portrayals. From energetic heroines to sinister villains, Fairouz Ai’s career represents a compelling story of determination, resilience, and artistic excellence that continues to inspire fans worldwide.
Biography & Personal Life
Early Life and Background
Born on July 6, 1993, in Tokyo, Japan, Fairouz Ai Kadota (ファイルーズ あい) comes from a unique multicultural background that has shaped both her identity and career. Her father is Egyptian, while her mother is Japanese, giving her a distinctive perspective that bridges two cultures. Her name pays tribute to the legendary Lebanese singer Fairuz, reflecting her family’s appreciation for Arabic culture and music.
Growing up in Tokyo, Fairouz developed a passion for anime from an early age. She has frequently mentioned that JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure was a formative influence during her childhood, making her eventual casting as Jolyne Cujoh particularly meaningful. Her multicultural upbringing also gave her fluency in both Japanese and Arabic, though she primarily works in Japanese for her voice acting career.
Path to Voice Acting
Fairouz Ai’s journey to becoming a professional voice actress was far from conventional. After graduating, she initially worked as a dental assistant, pursuing a stable career path that satisfied her family’s expectations. However, her passion for voice acting never waned, and she eventually made the difficult decision to pursue her dream despite initial parental disapproval.
She enrolled in a voice training school affiliated with Pro-Fit, one of Japan’s respected talent agencies. Through dedication and intensive training, she honed her craft and eventually made her professional debut in 2018. Her early work with Pro-Fit and later with Raccoon Dog agency helped establish her reputation in the industry. What makes her journey particularly inspiring is her willingness to leave a secure profession to chase an uncertain dream in the highly competitive voice acting industry.
Personal Resilience: Hiatus and Recovery
In late 2024, Fairouz Ai demonstrated remarkable courage by publicly announcing a temporary hiatus from her voice acting activities to focus on recovering from PTSD. Her transparency about mental health challenges resonated deeply with fans and fellow industry professionals, sparking widespread support across social media platforms.
The announcement came at the height of her career, following breakthrough roles in major franchises. Rather than hiding her struggles, she chose to address them openly, setting an important example in an industry where mental health discussions are often taboo. During this period, her fanbase rallied around her with overwhelming encouragement and patience.
Her recovery journey proved successful, and she made a triumphant return to voice acting. In March 2025, she also announced a significant career move, transferring from her previous agency to Mausu Promotion, one of the industry’s most prestigious talent agencies. This transition marked not just a professional milestone but also symbolized her renewed commitment to her craft after overcoming personal challenges.
Signature Roles & Vocal Artistry
Breakout and Defining Anime Roles
Hibiki Sakura (How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift?)
Fairouz Ai’s breakout role came in 2019 when she was cast as Hibiki Sakura in How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift? This energetic comedy about fitness and muscle training became the perfect showcase for her enthusiastic vocal delivery and natural comedic timing. What made this performance particularly memorable was Fairouz’s commitment to the role—she actually began weight training herself to better understand and portray her character.
The role established several hallmarks of her performance style: boundless energy, authentic emotional delivery, and the ability to balance comedy with genuine character growth. Her portrayal of Hibiki’s journey from fitness novice to dedicated gym-goer resonated with audiences and set the stage for increasingly prominent roles.
Jolyne Cujoh (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean)
For many fans and critics, Fairouz Ai’s casting as Jolyne Cujoh represents the pinnacle of fan-dream-come-true stories. As a lifelong JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure enthusiast, she brought not just technical skill but genuine passion and understanding to the role of the series’ first female protagonist.
Her performance as Jolyne showcased a different dimension of her abilities—toughness, determination, and emotional depth. She captured Jolyne’s defiant spirit, her moments of vulnerability, and her evolution from an angry young woman into a heroic Stand user. The role required her to deliver the series’ signature dramatic poses and battle cries while maintaining the character’s emotional authenticity, a balance she struck perfectly.
The casting decision was celebrated by the JoJo community, and Fairouz’s performance lived up to the immense expectations. Her iconic delivery of Jolyne’s catchphrases and her chemistry with the rest of the Stone Ocean cast demonstrated her growth as a voice actress in just a few short years.
Power (Chainsaw Man)
Perhaps no role better demonstrates Fairouz Ai’s versatility than her portrayal of Power, the Blood Fiend in Chainsaw Man. Her performance as this chaotic, self-centered, and utterly lovable character became an instant fan favorite and showcased her ability to fully commit to bizarre, unhinged characters.
Power’s maniacal laugh, her pompous declarations (“It is I, Power!”), and her unexpected moments of loyalty required a voice actress who could navigate rapid emotional shifts while maintaining character consistency. Fairouz delivered a performance that was simultaneously hilarious and heartbreaking, particularly in Power’s final arc.
Her active engagement with fans on social media regarding the role, including sharing her own fan art (such as the beloved “rat devil” illustrations), demonstrated her genuine affection for the character. With the announcement of Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc set for 2025, fans eagerly anticipate her return to this iconic role.
Kikoru Shinomiya (Kaiju No. 8)
In 2024, Fairouz Ai took on the role of Kikoru Shinomiya in Kaiju No. 8, one of the year’s most anticipated anime adaptations. As the daughter of the Defense Force’s director general, Kikoru is a prodigious kaiju killer with exceptional combat skills and a complex relationship with expectations and legacy.
This role allowed Fairouz to demonstrate her growth in portraying competent, serious characters while still incorporating moments of vulnerability and youth. Kikoru’s precision, determination, and occasional tsundere moments required a nuanced performance that balanced strength with the character’s underlying insecurities. The role further cemented her position as a go-to voice actress for strong female protagonists in major shonen franchises.
Notable Video Game Characters
Fuuka Aikiyo (Blue Archive) & Sei Shōnagon (Fate/Grand Order)
Fairouz Ai’s prominence extends significantly into the gaming world, particularly in popular gacha games. As Fuuka Aikiyo in Blue Archive, she voices a cheerful student with a love for adventure, bringing warmth and enthusiasm to the character. In Fate/Grand Order, she portrays Sei Shōnagon, the Heian-period poet reimagined as an energetic, gyaru-style servant. Both roles showcase her ability to create distinct, memorable characters in games where voice acting plays a crucial role in player attachment.
These performances have made her a recognized name in the mobile gaming community, where character popularity often directly correlates with voice acting quality. Her work in these titles demonstrates her understanding of how to create engaging performances for gacha game characters, who must maintain appeal through limited screen time and repeated voice lines.
Ayre (Armored Core VI) & Yunaka (Fire Emblem Engage)
In the console gaming space, Fairouz has tackled diverse roles that showcase her range. As Ayre in Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon, she voiced the mysterious AI companion with a calm, ethereal quality that contrasted sharply with her more energetic anime roles. This performance required subtlety and emotional restraint, proving she could excel in understated, atmospheric roles.
Her portrayal of Yunaka in Fire Emblem Engage presented another facet of her abilities—a seemingly cheerful thief with a dark past. The character’s dual nature of bubbly exterior hiding trauma allowed Fairouz to explore complex emotional territory within the tactical RPG format. Additional notable game roles include Xilonen in Genshin Impact, further expanding her presence in major gaming franchises.
Filmography & Career Timeline
Anime Filmography Highlights (2019-Present)
Fairouz Ai’s anime career has been marked by consistent work across diverse genres:
2019-2020:
- How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift? (Hibiki Sakura) – Debut leading role
- Tropical-Rouge! Pretty Cure (Manatsu Natsuumi/Cure Summer) – First magical girl protagonist
2021-2022:
- JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean (Jolyne Cujoh)
- The Eminence in Shadow (Delta)
- Chainsaw Man (Power)
2023-2024:
- Kaiju No. 8 (Kikoru Shinomiya)
- Villainess Level 99 (Yumiella Dolkness)
- Chained Soldier (Tenka Izumo)
Upcoming Projects (2025-2026):
- Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc (Power)
- Chained Soldier Season 2 (Tenka Izumo)
- Re:Zero Season 4 (continuing role)
- Four Knights of the Apocalypse (continuing role)
Video Game Roles
Fairouz has built an impressive portfolio across mobile and console gaming:
Major Mobile Games:
- Blue Archive (Fuuka Aikiyo)
- Fate/Grand Order (Sei Shōnagon)
- Genshin Impact (Xilonen)
- Epic Seven (Landy)
- Path to Nowhere (EMP)
Console & PC Games:
- Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon (Ayre)
- Fire Emblem Engage (Yunaka)
- Touhou series (Reimu Hakurei in various titles)
Live-Action Dubbing Work
Expanding beyond anime and games, Fairouz has also contributed to Japanese dubs of major Hollywood productions and international series. Notable dubbing work includes voicing Mae in Star Wars: The Acolyte and appearing in the Japanese dub of Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. This mainstream dubbing work has helped introduce her talent to audiences who might not typically watch anime, broadening her recognition and demonstrating her versatility across different types of voice acting work.
Fairouz Ai’s Voice and Legacy
Analyzing Her Vocal Range and Style
What distinguishes Fairouz Ai from her contemporaries is her exceptional versatility across character archetypes. Her vocal range spans from the high-energy enthusiasm of Hibiki Sakura and Cure Summer to the deep, menacing tones she employs for villainous or mature characters like Delta from The Eminence in Shadow.
Her signature strengths include:
Energy and Authenticity: Whether voicing optimistic protagonists or chaotic antiheroes, Fairouz brings genuine enthusiasm to her performances. Her energetic voice work never feels forced or exaggerated; instead, it comes across as natural and believable.
Emotional Depth: Beyond comedy and action, she excels at conveying complex emotions. Her work as Jolyne demonstrated her ability to navigate trauma, defiance, love, and determination within a single character arc.
Character Commitment: Fairouz fully inhabits her characters, from Power’s unhinged laugh to Ayre’s ethereal calmness. She doesn’t simply read lines—she transforms into the character, making each role distinctly her own.
Tonal Flexibility: She seamlessly transitions between genres, equally comfortable in magical girl shows, dark fantasy, shonen battle anime, and science fiction. This flexibility has made her one of the most in-demand voice actresses in the industry.
Her ability to voice both deep-voiced, mature characters and high-pitched, youthful ones without either feeling unnatural speaks to her technical training and natural talent. This versatility has allowed her to avoid typecasting, a common challenge in the voice acting industry.
Awards and Recognition
Fairouz Ai’s talent was officially recognized when she received the Best New Actress Award at the Seiyu Awards, one of the Japanese voice acting industry’s most prestigious honors. This award, coming early in her career, validated her rapid rise and exceptional performances.
Beyond formal awards, her recognition manifests in consistently high character popularity rankings. Power regularly tops fan polls for favorite Chainsaw Man characters, and Jolyne’s portrayal is frequently cited as one of the best in JoJo’s anime history. Such fan recognition, combined with industry awards, demonstrates that her appeal spans both popular and critical dimensions.
Fan Interaction and Social Media Presence
Fairouz Ai maintains an active and engaging social media presence, particularly on Instagram (@fairouz_ai) and Twitter/X (@fairouzzzzzz). Unlike some voice actors who maintain professional distance, she regularly shares personal illustrations, workout updates, behind-the-scenes glimpses of recording sessions, and genuine interactions with fans.
Her artistic skills are notable—she frequently posts her own fan art of characters she’s voiced, including the beloved “rat devil” illustrations related to Chainsaw Man. This creative engagement demonstrates her multifaceted talents and genuine love for the characters she portrays.
During her hiatus, the outpouring of fan support on social media was overwhelming, with thousands of messages encouraging her recovery. Her openness about mental health challenges and her appreciation for fan support has created a particularly strong bond between Fairouz and her audience.
She also participates actively in promotional events, game collaborations, and anime conventions when her schedule permits, maintaining visibility and connection with the community that has supported her rise to prominence.
Looking Forward
As Fairouz Ai enters the next phase of her career with Mausu Promotion, her trajectory continues upward. With major roles confirmed for 2025-2026, including the highly anticipated Chainsaw Man movie, her star shows no signs of dimming.
Her journey from dental assistant to award-winning voice actress, through personal challenges and triumphant return, embodies the resilience and passion that defines the best performers in any medium. For fans of anime, gaming, and voice acting artistry, Fairouz Ai represents not just a talented performer but an inspiring figure whose best work may still lie ahead.
Last Updated: January 2026
Adrian Cole is a technology researcher and AI content specialist with more than seven years of experience studying automation, machine learning models, and digital innovation. He has worked with multiple tech startups as a consultant, helping them adopt smarter tools and build data-driven systems. Adrian writes simple, clear, and practical explanations of complex tech topics so readers can easily understand the future of AI.