Ichirō Zaitsu was a Japanese actor known for his work in film, television, and voice acting for anime dubs. He was born on February 22, 1934, in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, and passed away on October 14, 2023. His career spanned several decades, during which he appeared in numerous live-action productions and took on significant roles in animated features.

In the realm of voice acting, Zaitsu is recognized for his work in Japanese-dubbed versions of international animated specials and films. He provided the Japanese voice for Manny the Rat in the 1977 animated film The Mouse and His Child. That same year, he voiced Ebenezer Scrooge in the Japanese dub of the 1978 animated musical television special The Stingiest Man in Town, a role performed in English by Walter Matthau.

Beyond his voice roles in these animated productions, Zaitsu had a prolific career as a live-action actor. He was a regular in Japanese television dramas, including appearances in the long-running series Kinpachi Sensei. He was also nominated for the Japan Academy Prize for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the 1984 film The Funeral. In 2007, he demonstrated his connection to anime by recording a duet song for the theme of the popular series Sergeant Keroro.