Masako Nozawa

Masako Nozawa, born on October twenty-fifth, nineteen thirty-six, is a celebrated Japanese actress and voice actor, renowned for her pioneering contributions to the field of voice acting. She began her career as a child actress at the tender age of three, and as she transitioned into adulthood, voice acting naturally became her primary focus. Over the years, Nozawa has been associated with several prestigious organizations, including Production Baobab, 81 Produce, her own Office Nozawa, and Aoni Production.

She is perhaps best known for her iconic role as Son Goku in the Dragon Ball franchise, a character she has voiced since the series' first animated adaptation in nineteen eighty-six. In addition to Goku, Nozawa lends her voice to several of the character's male relatives, including Son Gohan, Son Goten, and Bardock. Her extensive repertoire also features notable roles such as Kitarō and Medama-oyaji in GeGeGe no Kitarō across various adaptations, Doraemon in the nineteen seventy-three anime, and Tetsurō Hoshino in Galaxy Express nine hundred ninety-nine.

A true trailblazer in the voice acting industry, Nozawa holds the distinction of being the first voice actor to be recognized as a Person of Cultural Merit by the Japanese government, as well as the inaugural recipient of the Kikuchi Kan Prize. Her impressive list of accolades includes the Animation Kobe Award, Tokyo Anime Award, Seiyu Award, Japanese Movie Critics Award, and Japan Academy Film Prize. Notably, her work voicing Goku in Dragon Ball video games has earned her two Guinness World Records, including recognition for the longest video game voice acting career.

In addition to her artistic achievements, Nozawa serves as the vice president of the Japan Actors Union, advocating for the rights and recognition of her fellow performers. She was married to fellow voice actor Masaaki Tsukada, further intertwining her life with the world of voice acting.