Shunji Fujimura was a Japanese actor and voice actor born on December 8, 1934, in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture. He passed away on January 25, 2017, at the age of 82. His career in the performing arts began after he left Waseda University to study dance at the TOHO School of Performing Arts. He further expanded his skills by studying pantomime in France before making his acting debut in the 1960s. Beyond acting, Fujimura worked as a choreographer, notably creating the famous YeYe commercial for Renown in 1967 and serving as choreographer for the popular TBS program 8-ji da yo! Zen'in Shūgō! starting in 1971.

While Fujimura was a familiar face in numerous live-action television dramas and films, his voice acting career, though more select, left a distinct mark. His first venture into voicing anime characters came in 1977 with the film The Mouse and His Child, where he provided the voice for the character Ralphie. However, his most iconic and enduring role in anime was that of Tanaka, the elderly and seemingly perpetually tea-drinking butler of the Phantomhive household in the Black Butler series. He first voiced the character in the 2008 anime adaptation and continued in the role across subsequent series, including Black Butler II, Black Butler: Book of Circus, and Black Butler: Book of Murder. His portrayal of Tanaka, a character whose appearance was modeled after Fujimura himself, became a beloved element of the franchise. He also lent his voice to the character Parakeke in the 2009 animated film Yona Yona Penguin.

In addition to his work in animation, Fujimura had a significant live-action career. He was widely recognized for his role as Watari, the gentle and brilliant assistant to L, in the popular live-action Death Note films, including Death Note, Death Note: The Last Name, and L change the WorLd. His filmography also includes roles in Welcome Back, Mr. McDonald and Ultraman Cosmos: The First Contact, among many others. Shunji Fujimura's contributions to Japanese entertainment spanned several decades, leaving a legacy of memorable performances in both live-action and voice acting.