Japanese PokeAni voice actor Unshō Ishizuka dies aged 68
https://bulbanews.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Voice_actor_Unshō_Ishizuka_passes_away
Long-time narrator and voice actor for the Japanese version of the Pokemon anime, Unshou Ishizuka, has passed away earlier this week from esophageal cancer. He was 68 years old.
Ishizuka was best known as the narrator of the anime, as well as voicing characters such as Professor Oak, Samson Oak, Gurkinn, Alder, and several Pokemon, including three of Ash's Pokemon (Boldore, Muk, Swellow), Dawn's Mamoswine, Paul's Torterra and Ursaring, Brock's Steelix and Forretress, James' Weezing and Amoonguss, Gary's Blastoise, Misty's Gyarados, and most recently, Tapu Bulu and Sophocles' Charjabug.
Ishizuka was hinted to have been in poor health lately, due to Keichii Nakagawa (Kukui's Japanese VA) recently replacing him as narrator, with said change of narration happening in the recent Stakataka episode (SM085). Since SM is still ongoing, Charjabug and Samson Oak will likely have to be recast in the Japanese version as well.
https://bulbanews.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Voice_actor_Unshō_Ishizuka_passes_away
Long-time narrator and voice actor for the Japanese version of the Pokemon anime, Unshou Ishizuka, has passed away earlier this week from esophageal cancer. He was 68 years old.
Ishizuka was best known as the narrator of the anime, as well as voicing characters such as Professor Oak, Samson Oak, Gurkinn, Alder, and several Pokemon, including three of Ash's Pokemon (Boldore, Muk, Swellow), Dawn's Mamoswine, Paul's Torterra and Ursaring, Brock's Steelix and Forretress, James' Weezing and Amoonguss, Gary's Blastoise, Misty's Gyarados, and most recently, Tapu Bulu and Sophocles' Charjabug.
Ishizuka was hinted to have been in poor health lately, due to Keichii Nakagawa (Kukui's Japanese VA) recently replacing him as narrator, with said change of narration happening in the recent Stakataka episode (SM085). Since SM is still ongoing, Charjabug and Samson Oak will likely have to be recast in the Japanese version as well.
Last edited: