林原めぐみ (Megumi Hayashibara), born March 30, 1967, is a very popular voice ac… Read Full Bio ↴林原めぐみ (Megumi Hayashibara), born March 30, 1967, is a very popular voice actress (seiyū) and singer from Tokyo, Japan. She began her voice acting career while training for her original career option as a registered nurse and since played many of anime's most beloved characters, including Faye Valentine, Lime, Rei Ayanami, Anna Kyōyama, Tira Misu, Musashi/Jessie, Lina Inverse, Ai Amano, Aki Kisaragi and the female form of Ranma Saotome.

According to the Internet Movie Database and as of First Quarter 2006, Hayashibara is the most prolific female seiyū with 190 credits to her name (though only behind Takehito Koyasu and Shinichirou Miki, but closely tied in rank with Kappei Yamaguchi). [1], [2] She is arguably the best known anime seiyū outside Japan, and is considered by some anime fans to be the "queen" of the seiyū, due mostly to the prolific nature of her voice in major roles. In addition to her voice acting career, she occasionally puts out solo musical albums, although she is virtually unknown in the music industry outside of Japan save for the recognition of television theme songs that she has performed.

In Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG in 2004, Hayashibara potrayed one episode before her maternity leave and another episode after her return from her maternity leave. In 2005, while continuing portray her regular roles in "Pokemon" and "Detective Conan" and Playstation games, Hayashibara didn't appear in any new anime shows for 2005 (except for "Law of ueki") for unknown reasons. In 2006, she returned to her state starting her guest role in "Inukami".

She also writes her own Manga. Megumi-Toons is the popular English title for an autobiographical manga series written by voice actress Megumi Hayashibara. The art for the series was done by Asagi Sakura.
You can read some here: http://nnanime.com/megumi-toon/

Official Webpage: http://www.starchild.co.jp/artist/hayashi/index.html

Some stats:
Family name (in kanji): 林原
Given name (in kanji): めぐみ
Date of birth: 1967-03-30
Hometown: Kita, Tokyo, Japan
Chronology:
(1998-03-30) Married
(2004-06-28) Gave birth to first daughter.
Blood type: O
Favorites: Dogs (especially Snoopy),Dolphins ,Sharks
Hobbies: Aromatherapy, Collecting telephone cards
Skills & Abilities: She's a fully qualified and registered nurse

Melody
林原めぐみ Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

街が奏でるリズムとメロディー
瞳(め)を閉じて
陽溜まりへと溶けたら
あの日のさよならと手を振る君
虹と涙のリグレット

通り雨過ぎた街角は
硝子と雫のブリズムさ

[Pause]を外して滑り出す
雑踏(noise)は懐かしいレコード
ささやきあう恋人たちで
賑わう Cafe 巻き戻る時間に
よみかえる記憶幻に笑う君がいる
街が奏でるリズムとメロディー
木漏れ日の並木道を歩いた
見上げれば変わらぬブルーの空
消えた天使のシルエット

鳴らない目覚時計とか
ラッシュで踏まれたヒールとか
仕事でしくじるトラブルも
いまはみんなアスピリンの代わり
君を失ったこの胸の痛み消すために
街が奏でるリズムとメロディー
ポケットの中出せない手のひら
あの日のさよならと手を振る君
虹と涙のリグレット

街が奏でるリズムとメロディー
すれ違う髪の香り振り向く

銀色の雨傘微笑む君
消えた天使のシルエット

Overall Meaning

"Megumi Hayashibara’s Melody" is a powerful song that takes me back to happy times. The lyrics speak of how the rhythm and melody of the city can transport the listener to another time, and the imagery portrayed is breathtaking. The song begins with the singer closing her eyes and melting into the sunny spots, but then she sees the person she said goodbye to long ago waving at her. The rainbow and tears of regret in her memories cause her to look back in time. The passing storm has left glass and droplets on the corners of the streets, and sliding out of a break in the music is the noise of the crowd, reminiscent of an old record. She remembers the bustling cafe, with lovers whispering to each other, and time rewinds, revealing a memory of her laughing with the person she said goodbye to.

Line by Line Meaning

街が奏でるリズムとメロディー
The rhythm and melody played by the city

瞳(め)を閉じて
Closing my eyes

陽溜まりへと溶けたら
Melting into the pool of sunshine

あの日のさよならと手を振る君
You who waved goodbye that day

虹と涙のリグレット
A regret of rainbows and tears

通り雨過ぎた街角は
The city corner that the passing shower has touched

硝子と雫のブリズムさ
The rhythm of glass and drops

[Pause]を外して滑り出す
Starting to slide after taking off the pause

雑踏(noise)は懐かしいレコード
The noise of the crowd is a nostalgic record

ささやきあう恋人たちで
Whispering lovers

賑わう Cafe 巻き戻る時間に
In the rewinding time at the bustling cafe