TOKYO – Nobuyo Oyama, the iconic voice actress known for her portrayal of Doraemon, has died at the age of 90, her agency announced on Friday (Oct 11). A native of Tokyo, Oyama had a prolific career in voice acting, becoming widely recognized for bringing some of Japan’s most beloved anime characters to life.
After graduating from the Haiyuza acting school, Oyama began her career dubbing foreign dramas before moving into anime, where she voiced Katsuo Isono in the long-running series Sazae-san. However, it was her role as Doraemon in the TV Asahi series from 1979 to 2005 that defined her legacy. Her distinct voice and delivery made the character instantly recognizable and adored by fans.
In addition to her voice acting, Oyama appeared in live-action dramas and coauthored a best-selling cookbook with her late husband, actor Keisuke Sagawa. She also served as the principal of a voice acting school in 2007. Despite battling colorectal cancer, a stroke, and later dementia, she remained an influential figure in the industry until her passing.
According to the agency, Oyama died of natural causes on September 29 at a hospital in Tokyo. Her passing follows the death of her Doraemon co-star, Noriko Ohara, who voiced Nobita Nobi, earlier this year. The network that aired Doraemon acknowledged her immense impact on generations of children and anime enthusiasts. (NNT)
