Reizō Nomoto was a Japanese actor and voice actor born on September 17, 1930, in Tokyo. A veteran performer whose career spanned from the 1950s until his passing in 2006, he was best known for his distinctive work voicing elderly characters in numerous anime series and films. He was affiliated with the talent management firm ARTSVISION at the time of his death on July 7, 2006.

Nomoto's career in voice acting began during the 1960s, a period in which he quickly became recognized for his portrayals of older men. One of his earliest and most enduring roles was that of Mr. Kenari, the grumpy neighbor in the 1965 anime adaptation of Obake no Q-Taro. He would reprise this role in later iterations of the series, including Shin Obake no Q-Taro, demonstrating his long-term association with the character. During this decade, he also took on other significant roles, such as Zenoroy in the 1965 series Prince Planet.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Nomoto remained a prolific presence in Japanese animation, lending his voice to a vast array of characters. In the sports anime Dokaben, he voiced Coach Ieyasu Tokugawa, a role notable for his use of a rough and cheerful tone. He also contributed to the mecha genre, playing Officer Daim in Kōsoku Denjin Albegas. Another recurring role from this era was Professor Shinobino in the popular series Ninja Hattori-kun, a character he voiced in both the TV series and the film Ninja Hattori-kun + Perman Chō-Nōryoku Wars. His film work during this time included a role in the 1994 historical epic Sangokushi [3] Harukanaru Taichi, where he voiced the character Zuo Ci. He also appeared in acclaimed films for Studio Ghibli, such as Porco Rosso (1992), where he voiced the leader of the Mamma Aiuto pirate gang.

Nomoto's most celebrated and iconic role came later in his career as the Old Kai in the monumental anime series Dragon Ball Z. He was known for injecting the character with a unique personality through improvisation, most famously the bizarre dance ritual performed to unlock Gohan's potential. This performance became a signature part of the character and a highlight of the series for many fans. He continued to voice the Old Kai in the sequel series Dragon Ball GT and various video games until his death.

Throughout his long career, Nomoto collaborated frequently with other notable voice actors of his era, including Tesshō Genda and Banjō Ginga. His filmography includes appearances in over 50 anime productions, with notable roles in series such as City Hunter, Urusei Yatsura, Ninja Hattori-kun, Chimpui, and Nintama Rantarō. He also contributed his voice to numerous foreign film and television series dubs, including providing the Japanese voice for Popeye's father in the animated Popeye series.