Joji Yanami was a distinguished Japanese actor, voice actor, and narrator born Shigemitsu Shirato on August 30, 1931. He was active in the entertainment industry from 1963 until 2015 and was affiliated with the talent agency Aoni Production throughout much of his career. Yanami passed away on December 3, 2021, at the age of 90.

Yanami is best known internationally for his extensive and multifaceted work on the Dragon Ball franchise, where he served as the narrator for Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT, and Dragon Ball Kai. In addition to his narration duties, he voiced several iconic characters within the same universe, including the wise and comedic King Kai (also known as Kaiō-sama or North Kaio), the brilliant but eccentric Dr. Briefs, and the villainous wizard Babidi. Due to health reasons, Yanami took a medical leave of absence from Dragon Ball Super in September 2015, and his roles as narrator and King Kai were subsequently taken over by fellow voice actor Naoki Tatsuta.

Beyond the Dragon Ball series, Yanami amassed a vast and varied filmography spanning over five decades. He frequently voiced mentor figures, scientists, and quirky older characters. Notable roles include the benevolent Dr. Isaac Gilmore in the Cyborg 009 franchise, Professor Gennosuke Yumi in the classic mecha series Mazinger Z, Ittan Momen in multiple iterations of GeGeGe no Kitarō, and the helpful elder Gennai in Digimon Adventure.

His career was also marked by significant recurring collaborations. He was a regular presence in the long-running Time Bokan franchise, providing the voice for the memorable villain Boyacky in Yatterman. He contributed his voice to other major series such as One Piece, where he voiced the Skypiea former god Gan Fall, and Inuyasha, where he played the swordsmith Totosai. Other notable credits from his extensive career include Chūta Ban in Kyojin no Hoshi, Emperor Burai in Getter Robo G, Dr. Genzō Umon in UFO Robo Grendizer, and roles in Lupin the Third, Kinnikuman, and The Irresponsible Captain Tylor. Through his distinctive voice and remarkable range, Joji Yanami left an enduring legacy as one of anime's most prolific and beloved supporting voice actors.