The Japan Academy, presenters of the annual awards for cinema achievement, have announced the Special Awards recipients for the 48th Japan Academy Film Prizes.
Among this year’s honorees are two esteemed voice actors who passed away in 2024, Nobuyo Ōyama and Noriko Ohara, who both starred for many years in the globally beloved Doraemon franchise. Both are being honored with the Chairman’s Prize, which recognizes “deceased individuals who have made outstanding contributions and achieved outstanding results in the film industry over many years.”
Nobuyo Ōyama (Oct. 16, 1933 – Sept. 29, 2024; 90 years old) is known to generations of fans for portraying the raspy-voiced robot cat from the future, Doraemon, from 1979 to 2005. In addition to her long anime career, she also worked on radio dramas.
Born in Tokyo’s Shibuya district, Ōyama began her voice acting career in 1965 as Punch the bear in Toei’s Hustle Punch. She went on to star in the manga adaptations Norakuro (1970) and Hazedon (1972) before landing her iconic role as Doraemon, whom she voice in both the perennial series and dozens of theatrical feature films, as well as video games. Several years after stepping down due to health issues, Ōyama found anime fame again as the villain Monokuma in Danganronpa (2013).
Ōyama was predeceased by her husband, actor/entertainer Keisuke Sagawa, in 2017.
Noriko Ohara (Oct. 2 1935 – July 12, 2024; 88 years old) was a prolific voice over artist who brought to life Nobita in the Doraemon universe for 26 years. The lackadaisical young boy is the target of Doraemon’s mission, having been sent from the future by Nobita’s descendants in hopes of improving his lot (and theirs). Ohara had initially portrayed the character’s mother from the show’s launch in 1973 until ’79.
Born in Tokyo, Ohara had her first major anime role as the title hero in Marine Boy (1965), with other early roles including Chiro in Horus: Prince of the Sun (1968), Peter in Heidi, Girl of the Alps (1974), Conchetta in 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother (1976) and Wansa in Little Wansa (1973). She went on to play many notable roles through her long career, including Conan in the Hayao Miyazaki-directed Future Boy Conan (1977), Oyuki in Urusei Yatsura (1981), Claudia in Super Dimension Fortress Macross (1982) and all the lead female villains in the Time Bokan series, including Doronjo in Yatterman. She also provided the Japanese voices of Valerie in Josie and the Pussycats, Penelope Pitstop in Wacky Races and Miss Bianca in The Rescuers.
Ohara was presented with the Achievement Award at the first ever Seiyu Awards for voice acting in 2007, and was later honored with the Synergy Award for maximizing the appeal of voice acting in 2013. She is survived by her husband, Shinichi Tobe, and her son, animator Atsuo Tobe.
Nominations for the 48th Japan Academy Film Prize categories, including animated features, will be announced on January 21. The ceremony will be held March 14 in Tokyo.
