Nobuyo Oyama, the voice behind 'Doraemon', passes away at 89

Nobuyo Oyama, the beloved voice behind the iconic character Doraemon, has passed away at the age of 89. The legendary Japanese voice artist, who brought the blue robot-cat to life for generations of fans, died on September 29, 2024, due to natural causes. Reports of her death surfaced on Friday, October 11, leaving fans heartbroken across the world.

A long career in voice acting

Born in Tokyo in 1933, Nobuyo Oyama began her career in voice acting in 1957, voicing various characters over the decades. She initially gained recognition as the voice of Lassie, but her most famous role came in 1979 when she started voicing Doraemon. Oyama continued to voice the character until 2005, marking over two decades as the face or rather, voice of the beloved robot from the future.

In addition to Doraemon, Oyama lent her voice to other notable characters, such as Punch in 'Hustle Punch' (1965-1966) and Kappei Jin in 'Invincible Super Man Zambot 3'. 

Retirement and health struggles

In 2001, Nobuyo Oyama was diagnosed with rectal cancer, but she continued to voice Doraemon despite her health challenges. However, in 2005, she retired from voicing the character, saying she hoped Doraemon would continue to be loved for many years to come.

She briefly returned to voice acting in 2010, taking on the role of Monokuma in the popular 'Danganronpa' video game series, showing her passion for the craft even in her later years.

Personal life and legacy

Nobuyo Oyama married actor and TV personality Keisuke Sagawa in 1964. Her husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2012 and passed away in 2017. Oyama herself remained a cherished figure in the voice acting community until her passing.

A private funeral was held for Oyama, attended by her relatives. Her agency, Actors 7, expressed their gratitude for the love and support shown to Oyama throughout her life and career. 

Fans continue to mourn the loss of Nobuyo Oyama, whose voice left a lasting impact on anime and pop culture, especially through her timeless portrayal of Doraemon.