Nobuyo Oyama, the voice actor who brought to life the beloved Japanese cartoon character Doraemon, has died aged 90.
Oyama, whose distinctive raspy voice defined the robotic cat for a generation of children across Asia, died of natural causes on 29 September, her agency Actors Seven announced on Friday.
“We would like to express our sincere gratitude for the kindness you extended to the deceased during her lifetime,” the agency said in a statement.
Oyama voiced Doraemon from the show’s debut in 1979 until 2005. Created by cartoonist Fujiko F. Fujio in 1970, Doraemon tells the story of a robotic cat who travels back in time from the 22nd century to help a young boy named Nobita Nobi.
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The series, which has been translated into dozens of languages, follows Doraemon and Nobita as they navigate everyday life and embark on fantastical adventures, often with the help of gadgets from the future such as the “anywhere door” and “take-copter”.
Born in Tokyo in 1933, Oyama began her voice acting career in 1957, dubbing the TV series Lassie in Japanese. She went on to voice a variety of characters in anime and children’s programmes, including one of the three piglets in a popular puppet show and the teenage boy Katsuo in the family anime series Sazaesan.
But it was her role as Doraemon that cemented her place in Japanese popular culture. The 1979 show is sometimes referred to as the “Oyama edition” to distinguish it from other adaptations.
“When I think of Doraemon, Nobuyo Oyama’s voice plays in my mind,” one fan wrote on social media.
Oyama retired as Doraemon in 2005, saying at the time: “I hope Doraemon will still be a beloved character in the distant future.”
Her death comes just months after the passing of Noriko Ohara, the voice of Nobita, in July.
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“Ms Nobuyo Ōyama… She was someone who supported me from the very beginning of my career,” tweeted Kazuhiko Inoue, a fellow voice actor known for his roles in popular anime series such as Naruto, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure and Demon Slayer. “Thank you so much for all your hard work over the years. I truly appreciate it.”
Oyama’s agency said her funeral was held privately by her relatives.
Tomita Kosei, the original voice of Japanese anime Doraemon died at the age of 84 after suffering from a stroke on 27 September 2020.
Read more: ‘Doraemon’ voice actor Tomita Kosei dies aged 84 from stroke
