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Masako Nozawa

のざわ まさこ

Nozawa Masako

Pen Names: Mako-chan（Nickname used by close acquaintances）

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1936-10-25 （Nippori, Arakawa-ku, Tokyo, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Nippori, Arakawa-ku, Tokyo, Japan → Tone District, Gunma Prefecture (now Numata City) → Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture

Career

Occupations
Voice actress, Actress, Singer
Active Years
1950-
Affiliations
Aoni Production, Production Baobab, 81 Produce
Memberships
Vice Chairperson of Japan Actors Union

Education

Gunma Prefectural Numata Girls' High School
Country: Japan
Went full-time into acting after high school
Togei Theatre Company
Research Student
Period: 高校生時代後期
Country: Japan
Joined by special recommendation of NHK producer

Awards

Tokyo Anime Award Merit Award - Voice Actor Category
2012
Organization: Tokyo Anime Award Festival Executive Committee
Result: 受賞
Seiyu Awards Achievement Award
2013
Organization: Seiyu Awards Committee
Result: 受賞
Higashikuni-no-miya Prize
2014
Organization: Higashikuni-no-miya Memorial Association
Result: 受賞
Guinness World Record (Longest career as a voice actor for a video game character)
2017
Work: Dragon Ball as Son Goku
Organization: Guinness World Records
Result: 認定
Japan Movie Critics Award - Animation Voice Actor Award
2017
Work: Like the Wind
Organization: Japan Movie Critics Award Committee
Result: 受賞
Special Category of the Child Welfare Culture Award
2018
Organization: Foundation for the Promotion of Juvenile Welfare
Result: 受賞
Kikuchi Kan Prize
2023
Organization: Kikuchi Kan Prize Selection Committee
Result: 受賞
Mainichi Art Award Special Prize
2024
Work: Dragon Ball as Son Goku and others
Organization: Mainichi Newspaper Company
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

GeGeGe no Kitaro

1968 TV Anime

One of Masako Nozawa's representative works. A popular series adapted several times into anime, she voiced the first generation Kitaro.

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Adaptations
  • [Stage] GeGeGe no Kitaro (2022)

Galaxy Express 999

1978 TV Anime

Sci-fi anime based on the manga by Leiji Matsumoto. Nozawa voiced the protagonist Tetsuro Hoshino.

sci-fiadventuregrowth

Dragon Ball

1986 TV Anime

A major hit series by Akira Toriyama. Nozawa voiced the protagonist Son Goku and his sons, becoming internationally famous.

adventuremartial artsgrowth

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Versatile vocal techniqueWide range of roles from boys to elderly characters
Recurring Motifs
obligation and human feelingchild growthjustice and courage

Legacy

Masako Nozawa is a significant figure in the Japanese voice acting industry, contributing for many years to its development. She holds Guinness records and is highly regarded domestically and internationally.

In Popular Culture

  • Featured in Dragon Ball related advertisements and events
  • Revered as a legend in the anime industry

Quotes

  • I will continue until I appear in the Guinness Book.
    Source: Interview (2012) (2012)
  • I take pride in being called a 'voice actress'.
    Source: Interview (2007) (2007)

Trivia

  • Debuted as a child actor at age 3.
  • Holds Guinness World Record for voicing Son Goku in Dragon Ball.
  • Pioneer female voice actress for young male characters.