Below are profiles for the cast of Patlabor. I have also including the names of the Japanese actors who voice them and some of the previous roles that they have played. I haven't included the names of the English voice actors because with four different companies owing a slice of Patlabor since 1995, in some cases there are four different voice actors for one role.

Main Cast

Noa Izumi Born in Tomakomai, Hokkaido in 1978, she is the pilot of the first Ingram in Unit 2 (first forward of Division 2). She loves Labors (to the point of obsession) and nicknames her Ingram "Alphonse" after her deceased pet dog and cat. A dedicated police officer, very easy going and cheerful, she never loses her cool. That is unless somebody damages her beloved Alphonse. Character designer Akemi Takada says she named Noa after a sales woman from a securities company who visited her. Noa appears in all the anime versions of Patlabor. She is voiced by Miina Tominaga. Miina has previously played Karin Aoi in "DNA²", Princess Rastel in "Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind" and Yahiko Myoujin in "Rurouni Kenshin".

Asuma Shinohara Asuma was born in Maebashi in Gunma Prefecture and is 21 years old at the start of the series. Asuma is the son of the owner of Shinohara Heavy Industries, the makers of the Ingram. So why is he a public servant? Apparently his father forced him into being one. A member of Unit 2, he provides backup for Noa's Ingram and is her partner. He can be quite short tempered and sometimes gives the impression he would rather be somewhere else. Still he is quite a competent police officer. Character designer Akemi Takada says she got the inspiration for the character's name Asuma after seeing the name on a patent card for an old man in a hospital. Asuma appears in all the anime versions of Patlabor. He is voiced by Toshio Furukawa. Toshio has also played Leon McNichol in "Bubblegum Crisis", Ataru Moroboshi in "Urusei Yatsura", and Piccolo in "Dragonball Z".

Kiichi Gotoh Gotoh is the Captain of Unit 2 and was born in the Taito Ward in Tokyo. Although he may seem very laidback and even apathetic, but is quite a strategist, and knows how to get the best out of his team even if it means tricking them. He has gained the reputation of being very sharp and rumour has it he was purposely sent out to the SV2 so he wouldn't cause any trouble. He still manages to do so anyway. Gotoh has a crush on Shinobu, which is completely unrequited (poor Gotoh...). Gotoh is a heavy smoker, has athlete's foot and can often be seen wearing traditional Japanese wooden sandals around the office. Character designer Akemi Takada based Gotoh's appearance on Japanese actor Tatsuya Nakagai's physical appearance in the Akira Kurosawa film "High and Low". Gotoh appears in all versions of the anime. He is voiced by Ryunosuke Ohbayashi who also played Excedol Folmo in the "Macross" TV series and Soun Tendo in "Ranma ½".

Isao Ota Ota is the 2nd forward of Division 2. He was born in Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture and is 26 at the beginning of the series. He is a complete gun maniac and will almost always try to use force over all other options when solving a dispute. Though he is reckless and violent, he is an integral part of the team, and actually manages to end situations quicker than Noa. Kazunori Ito said in an interview that he named the character after a scuba diving instructor he once knew. Ota appears in all versions of the anime. He is voiced by Michihiro Ikemizu who also played Jonathan Washington in "Gunsmith Cats", Takuma Zaizen in "Witch Hunter Robin" and Onsen-mark in "Urusei Yatsura".

Kanuka Clancy Kanuka is a Police Officer on loan from the New York Police Department and was born in Oahu, Hawaii. She is 21 at the beginning of the series. She is half Japanese-American, and yes it has been noted by western fans that she is the most Asian looking of the cast. She is a competent officer who does everything by the book and is often disgusted by the tactics used by the SV2. In Division 2 she acts as Ota's backup. Though among the SV2 there is a rumour that the NYPD sent her to them because she was a problem officer. According to her profile in the booklet accompanying the 2004 Japanese Limited Edition movie sets, she is the daughter of a millionaire. It has been said that Kanuka Clancy after novelist Tom Clancy, but in an interview Kazunori Ito said that he took the name Kanuka from the name of a girl in a TV drama he once saw. Kanuka appears in all versions of the anime except the second and third movies. She is voiced by You Inoue. She has also played Sayla Mass in "Mobile Suit Gundam" and Gepelnich in "Macross 7". You Inoue passed away at the age of 56 from lung cancer on 28 February 2003.

Shinobu Nagumo Shinobu is the Captain of Division 1 and was born in in Setagaya Ward in Tokyo. She is a professional, competent police officer. Basically the exact opposite of Captain Gotoh. She always keeps her mind on the job and never loses her cool. Often she talks back to her superiors when she disagrees with an order, and this is probably why she remains at the SV2 rather being promoted to another job more worthy of her skills. She is often slightly jealous of Division 2's successes and the equipment they get, but she never really lets on. She appears in all of the anime except the third movie. She is voiced by Yoshiko Sakakibara who played Silia Stingray in "Bubblegum Crisis," Integra Hellsing in "Hellsing" and Feb in "Sol Bianca".

Takeo Kumagami Kumagami is Ota's backup. She is Kanuka's replacement after she returns to New York. She was top of her class, and is an exceptional police officer. She was courted by several police agencies, but eventually chose the SV2 because of the challenge. Kumagami seems to be very level headed and nothing seems to faze her, though the antics of her workmates sometimes annoys her. Kumagami has an irrational fear of the supernatural, especially ghosts as her father was interested in the topic and she heard many ghost stories when she was a child. She appears in the TV series and New OVA Series and is voiced by Keiko Yokozawa who played Sheeta in "Laputa Castle in the Sky", and Annin from "Dragonball".

Mikiyasu Shinshi Shinshi is the driver for the second carrier. He was born Fujieda, Shizuoka Prefecture and is 29 at the start of the series. He was originally Ota's backup in the TV series and original OVA series until Kanuka replaced him. He is a quite introverted man, but can become surprisingly violent if provoked enough. He is also the rather henpecked husband of Tamiko, who is rather possessive of him. Shinshi is the only married member of the team. Kazunori Ito said in an interview he named the character after a friend he goes scuba diving with. He appears in all versions of the anime and is played by Issei Futamata who has also played Dongo in "Crusher Joe", Yusaku Godai in "Maison Ikkoku", and Ootaki in "Oh! My Goddess".

Hiromi Yamazaki Hiromi is the quite giant amongst the members of the SV2, in fact the tallest member of the team, at two metres tall. He was born on Ishigaki Island, Okinawa Prefecture and is 23 at the start of the series. Even though he looks rather intimidating, he is quite gentle and hardly ever speaks. He tends the tomatoes in the greenhouse and looks after the henhouse at the SV2 in his spare time. These duties actually provide a substantial amount food for the officers. His main duty in Division 2 is driving the first Labor carrier. Hiromi appears in all versions of the anime. He is voiced by Daisuke Gohri who has also played George Black in "Gunsmith Cats", Dozle Zabi in "Mobile Suit Gundam", and Mari in "Project A-Ko". Daisuke died on 17 January 2010 in an apparent suicide.

Seitaroh Sakaki Sakaki is the head mechanic of the SV2. His training was was in mechanics, and he doesn't really understand the electronics and computers in the Labors. Even though he's only the head mechanic he only seems to order a lot of the other staff around, including members of Division 2, and not do any of the 'grunt' work. A very respected member of the SV2 (though some would say feared rather than respected). Sasaki appears in all versions of the anime except the third movie. He is voiced by Osamu Saka.

Shigeo Shiba Shigeo or just plain Shige, is second in command of the mechanics at the SV2. He is a man that is truly dedicated to his work, though sometimes he can go overboard. He is a proud member of the SV2, and makes sure the Labors work perfectly. He will most likely take over from Sakaki when he retires. Shige appears in all version of the anime except the third movie. Shige is voiced by Shigeru Chiba who played Garlic Jr. in "Dragonball Z" and has also stared in Mamoru Oshii's first three live action films.

Supporting Cast

Detective Matsui A detective with the Tokyo Metropolitan Police, Matsui once asked Gotoh for his help in strange case, but now is often called upon by Captain Gotoh for help on crimes which involve specialist investigation. In the Patlabor films, his character has more of an expanded role unlike his TV and OVA appearances where he plays a very minor supporting role. Matsui appears in the original OVA series (aka Early Days), the TV series, and the first two movies. He is voiced by Tomomitchi Nishimura. Tomomitchi has also played the narrator in "Yu Yu Hakusho", Richard Mardukas in "Full Metal Panic" and Yuuichi Tachibana in "Initial D".

Bud Renard Harchand Bud is a very young Indian boy (about 12 years old) who is the pilot of the experimental Griffin Labor. A very competitive young man, his main aim seems to be beating Noa and her Patlabor rather than actually testing the Griffin. He can be very very short tempered, and thinks his work for Schaft is just a game rather than actual work. Bud appears in the TV series and second OVA series. He is voiced by Takuma Gouno.

Utsumi (aka Richard Wong) A very mysterious man who works at Schaft Japan. He is in charge of the Griffin project. He seems to smile all the time and gives off the impression he's happy-go-lucky, but in fact he is very calculating, eccentric and cunning, and will stop at nothing to get the desired result. Utsumi is an alias. His real name is Richard Wong and he is from Hong Kong division of Schaft. Utsumi appears in the TV series and New OVA Series. He is voiced by Hirotaka Suzuoki who also played Lin Kaifun in the "Macross" TV series, Dragon Shiryu in "Saint Seiya", Hajime Saitou in "Rurouni Kenshin" and Bright Noa in "Mobile Suit Gundam". Hirotaka passed away at the age of 56 from lung cancer on 6 August 2006.

Kurosaki Kurosaki is head of the Phantom labor project, and later second in command of the Griffin project. He seems to be a rather cold man and like Utsumi will do what ever it takes to get the result he wants. Kurosaki appears in the TV series and the New OVA Series. He is voiced by Takaya Haji.

Shinichiro Hata Hata is a young and bright detective from the Jounan Division of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. He is Takashi Kusumi's partner. They are both assigned to a labor case involving some homicides and destruction of Labor equipment in "WXIII Patlabor the movie 3". During the investigation, he becomes involved with Saeko Misaki. His character only appears in "WXIII Patlabor the movie 3". He is voiced by Hiroaki Hirata who has also played Jack Hefner in "L/R: Licensed by Royalty", Sanji in "One Piece" and Sha Gojyo in "Saiyuki".

Saeko Misaki Saeko Misaki is a genetic research scientist at Toto Bio Medical Laboratory and teaches part-time as a university professor. She has a relationship with a detective named, Shinichiro Hata, but his partner Takashi Kusumi believes she is a suspect in the case they are currently working on. She is very dedicated to her work, but seems very distant and somewhat depressed at times. Saeko only appears in "WXIII Patlabor the movie 3". She is voiced by Atsuko Tanaka. Atsuko has also played Nena Hargen in "Aika" and Major Motoko Kusanagi in all versions of "Ghost in the Shell".

Takashi Kusumi Takashi Kusumi is a senior detective from the Jounan Division of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. He is Shinichiro Hata's partner. Kusumi is assigned to a labor case involving some homicides and destruction of Labor equipment in "WXIII Patlabor the movie 3". He is currently recovering from a leg wound and uses a crutch which makes it difficult for him to move about. His character only appears in "WXIII Patlabor the movie 3" He is voiced by Katsuhiko Watabiki.

Tamiko Shinshi Tamiko is the overbearing but loving wife of Mikiyasu Shinshi. She seems like the perfect housewife, but under her sweetness and light persona she can be a she-demon. Somewhat possessive of her husband, she can turn frightingly mean if she thinks he has been hard done by. Strangely Tamako and Mikiyasu seem made for each other. She appears in all the Patlabor anime except the first and third movies and "Minipato". She is voiced by TARAKO, who has also played Altena in "Noir".

Gomika Tsutomu Gomika Tustomo is the first forward in Division 1 of the SV2. He is an incredibly competent officer and Labor pilot. Not a great deal is known about him and not much information is presented in the anime versions about him. Gomika appears in the TV series and New OVA Series of the anime versions of Patlabor He is voiced by Akio Ohtsuka who played Damaru in "Dragon Half", and Curtis in "Porco Rosso".

Jitsuyama Jitsuyama is head of the Shinohara Labor factory. His career in mechanics began when he started a business up with Asuma's father. To Asuma he is kind of like a substitute father and he often comes to him when he needs advice concerning Labors. Jitsuyama appears in the Original OVA series (aka Early Days), the first movie and the TV series. He is voiced by Mahito Tsujimura.

Momoko Sakurayama Momoko Sakurayama is a tabloid Television journalist who always seems to be there at the right time to get that scoop. After following the SV2 to get several scoops, she later helps them in their Griffin Labor case. Momoko appears in the TV series and New OVA Series. She is voiced by the very popular voice actress and pop idol Megumi Hayashibara, who has played Rei Ayanami in "Evangelion", Lina Inverse in "Slayers", Faye Valentine in "Cowboy Bebop" and girl-type Ranma in "Ranma ½" amongst others. Most recently she played Dr Atsuko Chiba and the title character in the movie "Paprika".

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