On her birthday, Megumi Hayashibara gives fans a reason to celebrate too.
There are a lot of anime voice actresses, but there’s only one Megumi Hayashibara. After making her debut by voicing an unseen (and upset) neighbor in Maison Ikkoku in 1986, Hayashibara has been working in the industry non-stop with no ebb in her popularity, currently enthralling viewers of Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time as the voice of Rei Ayanami. What’s more, since 1991 she’s also been providing opening and ending themes for several of the series she stars in.
Last Tuesday was Hayashibara’s birthday, and with this year marking the 30th anniversary of her professional singing debut, she decided to celebrate by announcing that she’s made her music catalog available on multiple online music subscription services. The collection includes all 14 of her albums, from Half and, Half (released in 1991) to Fifty~Fifty (2018), plus all 41 of her singles released between “Nijiiro no Sneaker” (1991) and “Imawa no Shinigami” (2017) and various best-of and compilation albums.
▼ Hayashibara’s newest song, “Denim,” from her latest compilation album Vintage Denim
The decades-spanning selection includes a number of themes from hit franchises such as Slayers, Shaman King, Blue Seed, and even Evangelion, as Hayashibara’s jazz-style “Ayanami Rei covers” of both Cruel Angel’s Thesis and Fly Me to the Moon are part of her seventh album, Bertemu.
▼ “Soul Salvation,” Hayashibara’s new theme for Shaman King, will also be available.
Hayashibara’s catalogue is available for audio streaming now on Apple Music, Spotify, Line Music, Amazon Music, AWA, KKBox, RecMusic, and d Hits, with links to individual services here.
Source: Ongaku Natalie via Hachima Kiko, Megumi Hayashibara official blog
● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Follow Casey on Twitter, where he’s still thankful to his brother for buying him Bertemu for his birthday and mailing it across the Pacific.

Legendary anime voice actress Megumi Hayashibara wins Japan’s Best Jeanist Award【Video】
Anime voice actress Megumi Hayashibara’s Lina Inverse will hold virtual VTuber concert
After 33 years, Hello Kitty’s voice actress, the legendary Hayashibara Megumi, is being replaced
Japan’s greatest anime voice actress, one of its most popular bands team up in beautiful ramen ad
New Japanese overnight train coming to connect Tokyo with Tohoku in sleep-travel style
Japan’s cheap beef bowl chain goes upscale with Matsuya Premium, but is it worth the higher price?
7-Eleven Japan joins the craze for Korean Gamja Cheese Balls
Lawson transforms convenience store food with massive katsu burger and an insane curry bread
Starbucks Japan releases special limited-edition summer drinks… at only 30 stores
Two of Kyoto’s famous temples tackle streetside trash with solar-powered trash cans
Anne Hathaway creates PR frenzy in Japan after mentioning Tottori in Devil Wears Prada interview
East Japan Railway announces plans to abolish magnetic-strip tickets
Luxury houseplant fraud leads to arrest of Takamatsu man
Super Mario Galaxy Happy Meal toys now available at McDonald’s Japan
Even at twice regular Daiso price, this handy item is still great for summer travel in Japan
New Square Enix Cafe reveals Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Nier, and Fullmetal Alchemist menu items
Ghibli’s No Face continues to demonstrate his generous character growth by dispensing soy sauce
Japanese rice cooker recipe gives us a tasty new way to enjoy vegetables and wieners
Family Mart commits “reverse fraud” in new Giant All-Star Festival, and we couldn’t be happier
New Tokyo sweets shop offers 648 different mochi ice cream dumpling combinations
Colour Hunting: The hot new street photography trend changing how we see Japan
Body of missing American college student found in Kyoto mountains
Tokyo’s life-size Gundam anime mecha statue will be removed this summer
Ichiraku Ramen-inspired ramen sets from Naruto anime pay homage to Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura
Kanji ice cream becomes a sell-out hit in Japan
Uniqlo reveals third round of massive 100-year-anniversary manga T-shirts for Jump’s Shueisha
New official Ghibli anime food cookbook will teach you how to make Ponyo’s ramen and more
Japanese convenience store Lawson launches new “mini supermarket” chain, L Minimart
Japan’s real-world Pokémon hot spring’s first photos are here![Photos]
Kyoto public junior high school becomes first in Japan with a hoodie school uniform
Japanese convenience store shows us how to dress for the rainy season
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Japanese Twitter users shocked to learn how much The Simpsons voice actors get paid
Hello Kitty sings official cover of Sailor Moon theme song “Moonlight Densetsu”【Video】
“Come to me quickly, Sailor Moon. This will be your grave” – Cosmos trailer goes dark, sounds awesome
New Ranma 1/2 anime preview reveals Netflix streaming, returning all-star voice cast【Video】
After 10 years of secrecy, anime song duo ClariS finally remove their masks and show their faces
Japanese fans react to full trailer for Netflix live-action Cowboy Bebop with original voice cast
Evangelion welcomes back Utada Hikaru for final movie’s theme song, vinyl collected release