Anime Expo 2012 Welcomes “Dragon Ball Z" Voice Actor Ryo Horikawa As An Official Guest of Honor

LOS ANGELES (June 4, 2012) – Anime Expo (AX), North America's largest anime, manga, and Japanese pop culture celebration, today announced legendary voice actor Ryō Horikawa as an Official Guest of Honor when it returns to the Los Angeles Convention Center from June 29 – July 2, 2012.

Best known for the voice of Vegeta in “Dragon Ball Z,” Ryō Horikawa has been performing in movie and TV dramas since grade-school. He has over 28 years experience as an voice actor and over 45 years experience as an actor. His other credits include, “Saint Seiya” (Andromeda Shun); “Detective Conan” (Hattori Heiji); “Legend of Galactic Heroes” (Reinhard); “Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory” (Kou Uraki( and “Yū Yū Hakusho” (Karasu).
In addition to using his acting talents in animation, Horikawa frequently works on stage, in voice drama, games and other mediums. He is also a singer and his latest tune is the theme song “Saiyan Brad” of Dragon Ball kai. As an AX Guest of Honor, he will participate in a meet-and-greet, autograph signing and focus panel.

Ryō Horikawa joins the previously announced Anime Expo 2012 line-up that includes composer Yuki Kajiura/”FictionJunction;” anime-inspired heavy metal band ANIMETAL USA; Culture Japan's Danny Choo; Fate/Zero” creative team Hikaru Konda, Ei Aoki and Rikiya Koyama; animation director Tatsuo Satō; voice actors Nobuhiko Okamoto, Jamie Marchi, Monica Rial and Steve Blum; Japanese pop star LiSA, Lolita fashion designer Cyril Lumboy, Lolita model Misako Aoki and the Gallery of Fantastic Art.

About Anime Expo

Now in its 21st year, Anime Expo is North America's larges celebration of anime, manga and Japanese pop culture. Anime Expo gives fans the rare opportunity to meet and hear from some of the most famous anime, manga, musical, game, and fashion artitsts from Japan. AX 2012 will feature and exciting schedule of exclusive screenings; artists' panels; live concerts; cosplay; dance parties, karaoke, and video competitions; non-stop video gaming and unsurpassed shopping from more than 3,000 vendors. AX 2012 takes place June 29-July 2, 2012 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. To register or for more information, please visit www.anime-expo.org. Connect with Anime Expo on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.

About The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation

The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to popularize and educate the America public about anime and manga, as well as provide a forum to facilitate communication between professionals and fans. This organization is more popularly known by its entertainment property, Anime Expo®. For more information, please visit www.spja.org