Rica Matsumoto

Rica Matsumoto (Japanese: 松本梨香 formerly 松本利香 Matsumoto Rika) is a Japanese seiyū for the Pokémon anime.

Biography
Matsumoto was born on November 30, 1968, in,. Her most famous role is that of the main protagonist of the main Pokémon anime, Ash Ketchum. After getting into theater at a young age, Matsumoto discovered voice acting and singing. She has since been typecast as young boys in Japanese anime series.

In addition to being a solo artist, Matsumoto is a member of two singing groups:
 * JAM (Japanese Animationsong Makers) Project, with Hironobu Kageyema, Masaki Endoh, Hiroshi Kitadani, Masami Okui, and Yoshiki Fukuyama
 * Tricycle, with Yoshiyuki Ishikawa and Keīchi Kodo

Also, Matsumoto hosts or has hosted three radio shows:
 * I'll Catch Your Heart (Japanese: 君のハートをGETだぜ)
 * Rumors About Him (彼奴の噂)
 * Saturday HOT Request

Major

 * Mirror Ash
 * Mirror Ash

Minor

 * Mother (AG061)

Major

 * Giovanni's Persian

Minor

 * (EP070)
 * (EP070)

Musical appearances

 * Aim to Be a Pokémon Master (Japanese: めざせポケモンマスター)
 * Goodnight, My Pikachu (Japanese: おやすみ　ぼくのピカチュウ)
 * The Road to Being a Pokémon Master (Japanese: ポケモンマスターへの道)
 * The Rivals (Japanese: ライバル！)
 * Type: Wild (Japanese: タイプ：ワイルド)
 * Everyone Walk Together (Japanese: みんなであるこう！)
 * Because Everyone Was There (Japanese: みんながいたから)
 * OK!
 * Challenger!! (Japanese: チャレンジャー!!)
 * Spurt* (Japanese: スパート！)
 * High Touch!* (Japanese: ハイタッチ！)
 * (Japanese: ベストウイッシュ！)
 * Be an Arrow! (Japanese: やじるしになって！)
 * Alola!!* (Japanese: アローラ!!)
 * Alola!!* (Japanese: アローラ!!)

* This song is credited in-character as Ash.

Anime series

 * Choromatsu Matsuno ( - debut)
 * Aoi Futaba ()
 * Arthur G6 ()
 * (, replacing )
 * Kiyoshi Mitarai ()
 * Nataku ()
 * Sinunora ()
 * Reiko Kujou ()
 * Chihiro Kawai ()
 * Warren Trace, Haro ()
 * Kei ()
 * Jim Hawking ()
 * Raishinshi ()
 * Kojirou Hyuuga ()
 * Ricarla "Carla" Borgnine ()
 * Rumi ()
 * Seiji Takasugi ()

Dubbing roles

 * Herself ()
 * Dylan ()
 * Bessy the Cow ()
 * Chiro ()
 * Bessy the Cow ()
 * Chiro ()
 * Chiro ()

Video game roles

 * Announcer ()
 * Announcer ()

Solo albums

 * 花の園 Hana no En, Flower Garden
 * Cluster
 * Destiny
 * Rough Love
 * RICA the BEST
 * Alive A life
 * Go! Now! Alive A Life Neo

JAM Project

 * JAM Project LIVE 震撼～Return to the Chaos～
 * JAM Project BEST COLLECTION II ～FREEDOM

Tricycle

 * Desert, Grass and Forest

Trivia

 * In Pokémon X and Y, Anna's Japanese name is Rica, a reference to Rica Matsumoto. Like Ash, she uses a male.