Mahito Tsujimura

Description
Mahito Tsujimura was a highly respected Japanese voice actor and actor, born on April 14, 1930, in Tokyo. A graduate of Waseda University, he began his entertainment career in 1947, initially working in radio dramas and theatre with prominent troupes such as Theatre Echo. He was active in the industry for over seven decades until his death on November 27, 2018, at the age of 88. At the time of his passing, he was affiliated with the talent agency 81 Produce.

Tsujimura was known for his distinctive, husky voice, a quality that reportedly developed from vocal strain during his youth in the theatre. This unique timbre made him a frequent choice for elderly, quirky, or villainous characters across a wide range of media. His prolific career spanned anime, tokusatsu, video games, and the dubbing of foreign films.

Among his most iconic voice roles in anime is King Jihl in the 1984 Studio Ghibli film Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. He also voiced the Grand Supreme Kai in the Dragon Ball Z series and the School Principal in the long-running series Nintama Rantaro, a role he performed until 2011. His other notable anime credits include King Raimon in Beast King GoLion, Dr. Garuman Thomas in Armored Trooper Votoms: Big Battle, Taida in Matchless Raijin-Oh, Dr. Aomori in Miss Machiko, Aladdin in Sindbad the Sailor, and Konoemon Konoe in the Negima! series. He also contributed to the original Lupin the Third series and provided voices for characters in One Piece and Patlabor.

Beyond anime, Tsujimura was widely recognized as the Japanese dubbing voice of Yoda in the Star Wars films The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. In the realm of tokusatsu, he lent his voice to numerous villains and creatures in the Kamen Rider and Ultraman franchises. His work also extended to video games, with roles such as Shun Di in the Virtua Fighter series and Gogen in the Arc the Lad series.

Throughout his long career, Tsujimura was regarded as a mentor figure by younger colleagues, who affectionately called him "Tsuu-sama". He was known for his professionalism and skill, often impressing directors with his ability to perfectly match his dialogue to animated performances in a single take. His extensive body of work, ranging from classic anime to international blockbusters, solidified his status as a legendary figure in the Japanese voice acting industry.