The Japanese voice actor Noburo Yamashita also goes by the name Nobuyo Oyama, sadly passes away from old age at the age of 90. Known for her radiant laughter, she shaped millions of hearts worldwide with her iconic role in the form of a titular robot cat in Doraemon.
She died on September 29, her agency broke this news later on Friday. The Actors 7 agency apologized for the delay in its statement, adding, “We would like to express our sincere gratitude for the kindness you extended to the deceased during her lifetime.”
The agency said that a private funeral attended by relatives, was held for Oyama.
“Ms. Nobuyo Oyama‘s gentle and comforting voice touched the hearts of children around the world, delivering dreams and hope. We express our deep gratitude for her immense contributions and offer our sincere prayers that she will rest in peace,” the television network said in a statement.
Noburo wasn’t just a voice actor in one of the longest-running shows in Japan and beyond, her iconic voice and talent were what made the show so successful. She voiced Doraemon for an impressive 26 years, from 1979 to 2005. She’s also well-known for her roles as Monokuma in the Danganronpa series and Katsuo Isono in the Sazae-San anime, among other characters.
Fujiko F. Fujio, the original creator of Doraemon, praised her as “exactly how Doraemon should sound.” Her famous line, “Boku Doraemon,” meaning “I’m Doraemon,” has been mimicked by children across generations. In 2006, she released an autobiography titled “Boku Doraemon deshita” (I was Doraemon), which received massive attention from fans.
Overall, Oyama had a remarkable career that began with her professional voice-acting debut in 1957. She made a lasting impact on the anime industry, and our heartfelt condolences go out to her family, friends, colleagues, and fans.
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