The inept branch manager of the Nereids Kamchatka branch. He gets pushed around by his female co-workers. Hanaoka has a wife and a daughter Yukari.

In the future, water has covered much of the Earth due to the effects of global warming. The orphaned Maia Mizuki, 15, just graduated from middle school and has already applied for employment in the elite paramilitary Ocean Agency, part of the futuristic world government. Only the best, most intelligent, and physically fit students are eligible for admission. Maia, the series' protagonist, is set to become one of the few. 
But her ideal life quickly falls apart. To her disappointment, Maia unexpectedly fails her entrance exams. Making matters worse, she promptly gets evicted from her house, pick pocketed, taken hostage, then shot. She is "saved" by two women (Rena and Shizuka) that are part of an unorthodox help-for-hire organization called Nereids (inspired by the Greek mythological Nereids ). With nowhere to go, Maia joins up with Nereids, taking jobs from capturing wanted criminals to chasing stray cats, often with unexpected results. Gloria and Yu later join up with Nereids. 
"Daphne" in the title refers to a subplot that starts midway into the series and eventually become important to Maia. "Brilliant Blue" refers to the fact that this is a world covered by water with almost no land. The world consists of vast oceans, a few islands, and floating cities. 
(Source: Wikipedia)

__Height:__165 cm  

[Profile (Aoni)](https://www.aoni.co.jp/search/iwata-mitsuo.html) | [Official blog](https://ameblo.jp/i-kanata/) | [Twitter](https://twitter.com/mitsuo_iwata_77) | [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/mitsuo.iwata.77/) | [Wiki (en)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsuo_Iwata) | [Wiki (jp)](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/岩田光央)

Older brother of [AKIKO](https://anilist.co/staff/105271/), uncle of voice actress [Haruki Iwata](https://anilist.co/staff/126658/Haruki-Iwata), formerly married to voice actress [Rikako Aikawa](https://anilist.co/staff/96840/).

On March 28, 2025, he and Rikako Aikawa announced their divorce via a [joint announcement](https://x.com/mitsuo_iwata_77/status/1905817258972295680) on Twitter.

Non-anime roles:~!• Itsuki Takeuchi in "Initial D Arcade Stage 4" (VG)
• Itsuki Takeuchi in "Initial D: Special Stage" (VG)
• Kusanagi in "The King of Fighters 2002" (VG)
• Kusanagi in "The King of Fighters 2003" (VG)
• Kyle Bean in "Super Robot Wars Original Generations" (VG/PS2)
• Mike Sounders XIII in "Super Robot Wars Alpha 3"
• Negimaru in ".hack//G.U. Vol.1 Saitan" (VG)
• Peter Pan in "Kingdom Hearts" (VG)
• Peter Pan in "Peter Pan" (Disney animated movie)
• Sean in "Street Fighter III 3rd Strike"
• Silverbolt in "Beast Wars" (Japanese Dub)
• Syo Kirishima in "The King of Fighters '99 Evolution" (VG)
• Syo Kirishima in "The King of Fighters 2000" (VG)
• Yeager in "Tales of Vesperia" (VG)
• Takeuchi Itsuki in "Initial D Kuroi Inazuma: Aratanaru Fuhai Densetsu " (Drama CD)
• Zephel in "Angelique Duet" (VG)
• Zephel in "Angelique Etoile" (VG)
• Zephel in "Angelique Special 2" (VG)
• Zephel in "Angelique Special" (VG)
• Zephel in "Angelique Trois" (VG)
• Zephel in "Angelique" (VG)
• Zephel in "Angelique: Tenkuu no Requiem" (VG)
• Zephel in "Fushigi no Kuni no Angelique" (VG)!~

Tsutomu Hanaoka