Interest

Colleagues Offer Tributes to Late Voice Actor Ichirô Nagai

As word spread about the voice actor Ichirô Nagai on Monday, tributes and accolades poured in from colleagues and fans alike:

dub for the entire Harry Potter film series.

声優の永井一郎さんがお亡くなりになったと聞き、とてつもないショックを受けています…『ハリー・ポッター』シリーズ全編を通してダンブルドア先生としてご活躍頂きました。心より、ご冥福をお祈り致します。 pic.twitter.com/9ccAMh6ZjS

— ワーナー エンターテイメント ジャパン (@warnerjp) January 27, 2014

The staff at the Sosen Book Market in Tokyo's Kanda district posted a message, saying that the people of Japan came to know Nagai thanks to the many father figures and grandfatherly characters he played.

サザエさんの波平さんなどの声で知られる永井一郎さんが本日お亡くなりになったそうです。ご冥福をお祈りします。当店のスタッフが特にお気に入りだというキャラと、ガンダムコーナーの為にはギレン・ザビを描いてくれました。 pic.twitter.com/SYfrAVRXG0

— 書泉ブックマート (@SHOSEN_BM_ALL) January 27, 2014

Anime director ed away last March.

永井一郎さん ご冥福をお祈りいたします。 富山敬さん 納谷悟朗さんと 酒盛りしてるかな。・・・合掌。 pic.twitter.com/T6mLSSRKpU

— 難波日登志(三條なみみ) (@namimi_sanjyo) January 27, 2014

Anime director Masaaki Yuasa also drew a picture of Dr. Sado in a final salute:

波平さん!! pic.twitter.com/fjhnvjI9UV

— 湯浅政明 (@masaakiyuasa) January 27, 2014

Fellow voice actor Toshio Furukawa noted that he was in shock over the news, having just talked to Nagai at a New Year's party.

同じ事務所の大先輩、永井一郎さんの訃報に接し、驚いています。謹んで哀悼の意を表します、幾重にも……幾重にもショックです。新年会でお話したばかりなのに…そんな…

— 古川登志夫 (@TOSHIO_FURUKAWA) January 27, 2014

Voice actor Akira Kamiya also offered his prayers for Nagai and thanked his mentor for his kindness.

たった今、永井一郎さんの訃報に接しました。謹んで、ご冥福をお祈りするとともに、今までのご厚情に感謝申し上げます。

— 神谷明 (@kamiyaakira29) January 27, 2014

Voice actor Knight of the Iron Dragon."

そんな。。。 ダスだ。 立ち上がれない。。。

— 山口勝平 (@ENma_Dororon) January 27, 2014

Yamaguchi explained this anime is his favorite one in which he acted with Nagai.

鉄の竜騎兵を見とるダス。 永井さんとご一緒させて頂いた中で一番好きな作品。 物心ついた頃から聞いてた声ダスからかな〜、スタジオをご一緒する度に自分が声優をやっている事が不思議で不思議でたまらなくて、可笑しな気持ちがしとったんダスよ。

弱音は吐きたくないダスな。 頑張らなきゃ☆

— 山口勝平 (@ENma_Dororon) January 27, 2014

Voice actor Wataru Hatano said that he was simply stunned by the news. He thanked Nagai for giving so many dreams and hopes to us through his works and characters.

永井一郎さんのニュースにただただ驚いています。 作品やキャラクターを通して、僕たちに沢山の夢と希望をありがとうございました‼ ご冥福をお祈り致します。

— 羽多野渉 公式 (@hatano_official) January 27, 2014

Voice actress Ai Maeda recalled his gentle smile, which she saw as recently as this year's New Year's party. She said she cannot express her true feelings yet, but she wants to see his gentle smile again.

永井さん…。思い出すのは優しい笑顔。新年会でお逢いした時も優しい笑顔でした。まだ全然実感がわきませんが…また、笑顔でお逢いしましょう。ご冥福を心よりお祈り申し上げます。本当にありがとうございました。

— 前田 愛 / AiM (@ai_max) January 27, 2014

Voice actor and celebrity talent Chōjin Sentai Barattack (Mizushima's first role in the main cast of a regular series), and he thanked Nagai for teaching him many lessons.

Mina Tominaga, the voice of Namihei's son Katsuo, said that his sudden ing was a terrible shock that simply left her disconsolate.

Source: Oricon via Yaraon!

Update:

Voice actress Junko Iwao said that to think that we won't be able to hear that splendid voice anymore is a terribly lonely feeling.

、、、たった今、永井一郎さんの訃報に接しました、、、。

もうあの素敵なお声が聞けなくなると思うと、とても寂しいです、、、。

謹んで、ご冥福をお祈りいたします。

— 岩男潤子*2/8.9鶴ヶ島ハレ (@iwaojunko) January 27, 2014

Thanks, Daniel Zelter and mrsatan

Update 2: Midori Katō, the voice actress of Sazae-san's title character since it premiered in 1969, mourned, "Since I heard about the ing of Nagai-san with whom I have worked for 45 years, I am missing him so much." She expressed her condolences, "Nagai-san was the leader who actually played very important roles behind the scenes, such as taking initiative and bringing together everyone to complete the scene. Also, it will greatly impact the show to have lost Nagai-san, who has a lot of scenes and lines to play. More than that, personally, I miss him so much." Source: Oricon