Ikue Ōtani has voiced Pikachu in the Japanese Pokémon media since 1997.
Ōtani provides Pikachu’s distinctive Japanese voice in the animated series and many related productions. Pikachu generally speaks through its name rather than ordinary human dialogue, making the vocal performance especially recognizable across episodes, films, games, and promotional appearances.
The choice of Pikachu as Ash’s partner helped turn the character into Pokémon’s international mascot. The production team selected Pikachu partly because it was considered appealing to both boys and girls, rather than tying the lead character to one of the three game starters.
English-language Pokémon productions use different voice performers. That distinction is why the Japanese performer should not be confused with the actors who voice Pikachu in English dubs or live-action adaptations.