Unshō Ishizuka was a highly respected Japanese actor, voice actor, and narrator, renowned for his deep, resonant voice and his portrayal of authoritative and mature characters. Born Yukinori Ishizuka on May 16, 1951, in Katsuyama, Fukui, he began his entertainment career in theatre before transitioning to voice acting in the 1980s. At the time of his passing on August 13, 2018, he was affiliated with Aoni Production.

Ishizuka's extensive career was marked by a powerful vocal presence that brought gravitas to a wide range of roles. He was particularly celebrated for his work as the narrator and as Professor Oak in the long-running Pokémon franchise, a role that made him a beloved figure to audiences worldwide. In addition to his iconic work in Pokémon, he voiced many other memorable characters, such as the pragmatic bounty hunter Jet Black in Cowboy Bebop, the drifting tofu shop owner and racing mentor Bunta Fujiwara in Initial D, the stoic Van Hohenheim in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, the fearsome Zabuza Momochi in Naruto, the legendary Joseph Joestar in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders, and the lazy Admiral Kizaru in One Piece. He also took over the roles of Heihachi Mishima in the Tekken game series and Mr. Satan in the Dragon Ball franchise following the death of Daisuke Gōri.

His filmography includes many of the titles specified, demonstrating his versatility across genres. These roles include Dr. Ned Friedman in Ninja Ryūkenden, Aster in Maze, Hayakawa in Bakuon!!, Kizaru in One Piece 3D2Y: Overcoming Ace's Death! Luffy's Pledge to His Friends, Desmond Rutaganda in Psycho-Pass, Manmuu and Narration in Pokémon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life, Ryuuzou Takehara in Xam'd: Lost Memories, Narration in Pokémon Zoroark: Master of Illusions, Fedok Wockam in Armored Trooper Votoms: Pailsen Files, Cao Da Hen in Fighting Beauty Wulong, Shuujirou Hongou in Yomigaeru Sora - RESCUE WINGS, Bertoz in Beet the Vandel Buster Excellion, Oswald A. Lisker/Guyver II in Guyver: The Bioboosted Armor, Sanga in New Fist of the North Star, Ozaki in Sanctuary, David in In The Beginning - The Bible Stories, Okabe in The Place Promised in Our Early Days, Raizou in Kenyū Densetsu Yaiba, Kagami-Jijii in Gegege no Kitarō: Nippon Bakuretsu!!, Ginzo Nakamori in Detective Conan: Conan Edogawa & Heiji Hattori versus Kid the Phantom Thief, Katoran in Time of Eve, Narrator in Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai, Shio Sakaki in KenIchi the Mightiest Disciple, Keiichi Akagi in Flag, Bogie in The Third: The Girl with the Blue Eye, Colonel Volton in Redline, Doc in Highlander: The Search for Vengeance, Sōga in various Shin Kyūseishu Densetsu Hokuto no Ken installments, Don Wei in Oban Star-Racers, Kei Munakata in éX-D: Danger Zone, Violence Jack in Violence Jack 3, Karl Haushofer in Spirit Warrior, Gento Kuraku in Najica Blitz Tactics, Guld Goa Bowman in Macross Plus Movie Edition, Red Impulse in Gatchaman, Salo in Lupin III Italian Game, the Elder in Popin Q, Ryū Hijikata in Uchū Senkan Yamato 2199: Hoshi-Meguru Hakobune, Admiral Red in Submarine 707R, Sanda in Neppu Kairiku Bushi Road, Ohno in Megumi no Daigo, and Fedine in Gin Rei. His involvement in such a diverse array of projects cemented his status as a leading figure in the industry.

Beyond anime, Ishizuka was the go-to Japanese dubbing voice for several major Hollywood actors, including Liam Neeson, Laurence Fishburne, and Kevin Spacey, and he provided the voice of Captain Gantu in all Japanese versions of the Lilo & Stitch franchise. Throughout his career, he frequently collaborated with a wide circle of fellow voice actors. Data indicates his most frequent collaborations were with Shinichiro Miki, Koichi Yamadera, and Ikue Ōtani, among many others, reflecting his deep integration into the voice acting community.

In recognition of his lifetime of contributions and his lasting impact on the anime industry, Ishizuka was posthumously awarded a Special Achievement Award at the 14th Seiyu Awards in 2020. His legacy endures through the many iconic characters he brought to life and the profound influence he had on his peers and fans.