Masako Nozawa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Masako Nozawa
野沢 雅子
Nozawa in 1962
Born	(1936-10-25) October 25, 1936 (age 88) Arakawa, Tokyo, Tokyo Prefecture, Empire of Japan
Other names	Masako Tsukada (塚田 雅子)
Occupation	Actress voice actress narrator
Years active	1939–present
Agent	Aoni Production
Notable work	Dragon Ball series as Son Goku, Son Gohan, Son Goten, Turles, Bardock, and Goku Black GeGeGe no Kitarō as Kitarō (1968–1971) Galaxy Express 999 as Tetsurō Hoshino Digimon Tamers as Guilmon
Spouse(s)	Masaaki Tsukada

Masako Nozawa (Japanese: 野沢 雅子, Hepburn: Nozawa Masako, born October 25, 1936) is a Japanese voice actress and narrator. Throughout her career, Nozawa has been affiliated with Production Baobab, 81 Produce, the self-owned Office Nozawa and Aoni Production. She is best known as the voice of Son Goku in the Dragon Ball franchise, which had its first animated adaptation in 1986. She also voices most of the character's male relatives, namely Son Gohan and Son Goten. Nozawa's other roles include Kitarō in GeGeGe no Kitarō (1968, 1971 and 2008), Doraemon in the 1973 anime, and Tetsurō Hoshino in Galaxy Express 999 (1978).

Credited as a pioneer of voice acting in Japan, Nozawa has received awards from the Seiyu Awards, the Japan Academy Film Prize, and the Kikuchi Kan Prize. Her work voicing Goku in Dragon Ball video games has earned her two Guinness World Records. Nozawa is a vice president of the Japan Actors Union. Her husband was fellow voice actor Masaaki Tsukada.

Early life

Masako Nozawa was born in the Nippori area of Arakawa, Tokyo as the only child of painter Ryoshu Nozawa. Due to the influence of her aunt, Shochiku actress Kiyono Sasaki, Masako became a child actress at the age of three. In 1944, the family moved to Numata, Gunma to avoid the air raids of World War II. Nozawa lived in the city from the third grade of elementary school until she graduated high school.

Career

In junior high school, Nozawa joined a theater company and worked as an actress in Tokyo during school holidays. She began voice acting in her late teens. After graduating, she moved to Tokyo. Although she did not plan on it, voice acting saw a boom and became Nozawa's main occupation. She explained, "It was the early days of television, and many foreign dramas were broadcast. At the time, voice dubbing was also done live, so using children to play boy roles was a concern. But adult men's voices have already changed, so women were chosen for child roles."

After handling a guest role on Astro Boy (1963), Nozawa voiced brothers Tonkichi and Kanta Hanamura in Sally, the Witch (1966). Her first lead role was Kitarō in GeGeGe no Kitarō (1968). For the 1973 adaptation of Doraemon, Nozawa took over the role of the title character from Kōsei Tomita, who had voiced the character for the first 13 episodes. She went on to voice Tetsurō Hoshino [jp] in Galaxy Express 999 (1978). Although she had reprised the role of Kitarō for the 1971 adaptation of GeGeGe no Kitarō, Nozawa could not do the same for its 1985 adaptation, due to a rule that voice actors could not simultaneously play more than one main character on the same television station. However, she noted that this eventually resulted in her landing the role of Son Goku in Dragon Ball (1986). She was chosen to play Goku by Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama, who later stated that he would hear Nozawa's voice in his head when writing the original manga.

Nozawa led a lawsuit by 361 voice actors against Nippon Animation in demand of royalties on home video releases of anime series. On August 25, 2004, the Tokyo High Court ruled in the plaintiffs' favor. On April 1, 2006, Nozawa left 81 Produce to establish Office Nozawa. In 2012, she closed the self-owned talent agency. A number of voice actors who were affiliated with her agency went on to affiliate with Media Force.

In 2017, Guinness World Records presented Nozawa with two world records related to her voicing Son Goku in Dragon Ball video games for 23 years and 218 days; "voice actor who voiced the same character in a video game for the longest period" and "longest video game voice acting career".

Filmography

Anime television series

1960s

• Astro Boy (1963)
• Obake no Q-tarō (1965) (Shin'ichi Ōhara)
• Sally, the Witch (1966) (Tonkichi Hanamura, Kanta Hanamura)
• GeGeGe no Kitarō (1968) (Kitaro)
• Star of the Giants (1968) (Baseball boy)
• Cyborg 009 (1968)
• Sabu to Ichi Torimono Hikae (1968)
• Attack No.1 (1969) (Tonan high school captain Higaki)
• Tiger Mask (1969) (Kenta)
• Marine Boy (1969)

1970s

• Inakappe Taishō (1970) (Daizaemon Kaze)
• Andersen Stories (1971) (Marco)
• Ge Ge Ge no Kitaro (1971) (Kitaro)
• The Gutsy Frog (1972) (Hiroshi)
• Casshan (1973) (Māru)
• Dororon Enma-kun (1973) (Enma-kun)
• Doraemon (Doraemon, Botako)
• Calimero (1974) (Buta)
• Hoshi no Ko Poron (1974) (All Roles)
• Gamba no Bōken (1975) (Gamba)
• La Seine no Hoshi (1975) (Danton)
• Maya the Bee (1975) (Willy)
• Combattler V (1976) (Ropet, Oreana, Kinta Ichinoki)
• Piccolino no Bōken (1976) (Pinocchio)
• Araiguma Rascal (1977) (Rascal)
• Ore wa Teppei (1977) (Teppei Uesugi)
• Galaxy Express 999 (1978) (Tetsurō Hoshino)

1980s

• The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1980) (Tom Sawyer)
• The Monster Kid (1980) (Tarō Kaibutsu)
• Tsurikichi Sampei (1980) (Sampei)
• Beast King GoLion (1981) (Hiroshi Suzuishi, Honerva)
• Miss Machiko (1981) (Kenta Ikegami)
• Shin The Gutsy Frog (1981) (Hiroshi)
• Urusei Yatsura (1981) (Kintarō)
• The Mysterious Cities of Gold (1982) (Esteban)
• Ginga Hyōryū Vifam series (1983) (Kentsu Norton)
• Igano Kabamaru (1983) (Sū Matsuno, young Kabamaru Igano)
• Bumpety Boo (1986) (Bumbo)
• Dragon Ball (1986) (Son Goku)
• The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1986) (Princess Ozma)
• Ai Shōjo Pollyanna Monogatari (1986) (Polly Harrington)
• Kamen no Ninja Akakage (1987) (Aokage)
• Soreike! Anpanman (1988) (Shichū Obasan)
• Aoi Blink (1989) (Kakeru)
• Dash! Yonkuro (1989) (Yonkuro Hinomaru)
• Dragon Ball Z (1989) (Son Goku, Son Gohan, Bardock, Son Goten, Gotenks, Vegetto)

1990s

• Jungle Emperor (1990) (Gibo)
• Dragon Ball Z: Bardock – The Father of Goku (1990) (Bardock, Son Goku)
• Honō no Tōkyūji: Dodge Danpei (1991) (Chin'nen Kobotoke)
• Dragon Ball Z: The History of Trunks (1993) (Son Gohan)
• Dragon Ball GT (1996) (Son Goku, Son Gohan, Son Goten, Gogeta, Son Goku Jr.)
• Dual! Parallel Trouble Adventure (1999) (Urara Nanjōin)
• Alice SOS (1999)

2000s

• Hamtaro (2000) (Ohamuba-san [Auntie Viv], Roko-chan's ["Laura"'s] Grandma)
• Love Hina (2000) (Hina Urashima)
• Kindaichi Case Files (2000) (Tomoyo Konta)
• One Piece (2001) (Doctor Kureha)
• Digimon Tamers (2001) (Guilmon, Dukemon, Narrator)
• A Little Snow Fairy Sugar (2001) (Regina Bergman)
• Case Closed (2001) (Furuyo Senma)
• Rockman EXE Beast+ (2002) (Electel Mama)
• Mirmo! (2003) (Kinta)
• Digital Monster X-Evolution (2005) (Dukemon)
• Pokémon: Advanced (2005) (Masamune)
• Tsubasa Chronicle (2005) (Kaigyo)
• Kirarin Revolution (2006) (Grandmother)
• Love Get Chu (2006) (Takemiya-sensei)
• Naruto (2006) (Old Woman) episode 187–188
• Digimon Data Squad (2007) (Dukemon)
• Hatara Kizzu Maihamu Gumi (2007) (Gaudi)
• Hakaba Kitaro (2008) (Kitaro)
• Cross Game (2009) (Nomo)
• Dragon Ball Kai (2009) (Son Goku, Son Gohan, Bardock, Son Goten, Gotenks, Vegetto)
• Marie & Gali (2009) (Marie Curie)
• Shugo Chara! Shugo Chara!! Doki- Episode 75 (2009) (Maruyama Haruki)

2010s

• Yumeiro Patissiere (2010) (French Chairwoman)
• Keroro Gunso (2011) (Orara)
• Nichijou (2011) (Frill-necked lizard in episode 10)
• Tanken Driland (2012) (Bonny)
• One Piece (2013) (Goku, Gohan, Goten)
• Toriko (2013) (Goku, Gohan, Goten)
• Ping Pong (2014) (Obaba)
• Dragon Ball Super (2015) (Son Goku, Son Gohan, Son Goten, Gotenks, Goku Black, Vegetto)
• Seiyu's Life! (2015) (Herself)
• Rage of Bahamut (TV series) (2017) (Ryuuzoku Zokuchou)
• Overlord (2018) Rigrit - Episode 01 - Season 2
• GeGeGe no Kitarō (2018) (Medama-oyaji)
• Mr. Tonegawa: Middle Management Blues (2018) Zawa Voice (001) - Episode 24
• Shinya! Tensai Bakabon (2018) Herself - Episode 01

2020s

• Digimon Adventure (2020) (Narrator, YukimiBotamon)
• The Foolish Angel Dances with the Devil (2024) (Joe)
• Mysterious Disappearances (2024) (Station Attendant)
• Go! Go! Loser Ranger! (2024) (Draggie-kun)
• Dragon Ball Daima (2024) (Son Goku, Son Goten)

Original video animation (OVA)

• The Hakkenden (1990) (Kamezasa)
• Plan to Eradicate the Saiyans (1990) (Goku, Gohan, Turles)
• Iczer Girl Iczelion (1995) (Iczel)
• Dragon Ball: Yo! Son Goku and His Friends Return!! (2008) (Son Goku, Son Gohan, Son Goten, Gotenks)
• Plan to Eradicate the Super Saiyans (2010) (Goku, Gohan, Turles)
• Dragon Ball: Episode of Bardock (2011) (Bardock)

Original net animation (ONA)

• Super Dragon Ball Heroes (2018) (Son Goku, Son Goku (Xeno))
• Star Wars: Visions (2021) (T0-B1)

Theatrical animation

• Flying Phantom Ship (1969) (Hayato)
• 30,000 Miles Under the Sea (1970) (Isamu)
• Galaxy Express 999 (1979) (Tetsurō Hoshino)
• Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies (1986) (Son Goku)
• Dragon Ball: Sleeping Princess in Devil's Castle (1987) (Son Goku)
• Dragon Ball: Mystical Adventure (1988) (Son Goku)
• Hare Tokidoki Buta (1988) (Yamada-san)
• Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone (1989) (Son Goku, Son Gohan)
• Kiki's Delivery Service (1989) (Tombo's friend with pink shirt and red jacket)
• Dragon Ball Z: The World's Strongest (1990) (Son Goku, Son Gohan)
• Dragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might (1990) (Son Goku, Son Gohan, Tullece)
• Kim's Cross (1990) (Kim Sae-Fan)
• Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug (1991) (Son Goku, Son Gohan)
• Dragon Ball Z: Cooler's Revenge (1991) (Son Goku, Son Gohan, Bardock)
• Dragon Ball Z: The Return of Cooler (1992) (Son Goku, Son Gohan)
• Dragon Ball Z: Super Android 13! (1992) (Son Goku, Son Gohan)
• Dragon Ball Z: Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan (1993) (Son Goku, Son Gohan)
• Dragon Ball Z: Bojack Unbound (1993) (Son Goku, Son Gohan)
• Dragon Ball Z: Broly – Second Coming (1994) (Son Goku, Son Gohan, Son Goten)
• Dragon Ball Z: Bio-Broly (1994) (Son Goku, Son Goten)
• Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn (1995) (Son Goku, Son Gohan, Son Goten, Gogeta, Gotenks)
• Dragon Ball Z: Wrath of the Dragon (1995) (Son Goku, Son Gohan, Son Goten, Gotenks)
• Dragon Ball: The Path to Power (1996) (Son Goku)
• Doraemon: Nobita Drifts in the Universe (1999) (Rogu)
• Ojarumaru (2000) (Semira)
• Digimon Tamers: Battle of Adventurers (2001) (Guilmon)
• Digimon Tamers: Runaway Locomon (2002) (Guilmon)
• Doraemon: Nobita in the Robot Kingdom (2002) (Kururimpa)
• Oshare Majo Love and Berry: Shiawase no Mahou (2007) (Headmistress Izabera)
• Asura (2012) (Asura)
• Doraemon: Nobita and the Island of Miracles—Animal Adventure (2012) (Nobisuke)
• Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods (2013) (Son Goku, Son Gohan, Son Goten, Gotenks)
• Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F' (2015) (Son Goku, Son Gohan)
• GAMBA (2015) (Tsuburi)
• Kaze no Yō ni (2016) (Sanpei)
• Kimi no Koe wo Todoketai (2017) (Nagisa's grandmother)
• Yo-kai Watch Shadowside: Oni-ō no Fukkatsu (2017) (Kitaro)
• Pokémon the Movie: Everyone's Story (2018) (Hisui)
• Dragon Ball Super: Broly (2018) (Son Goku, Son Goten, Gogeta, Bardock)
• Weathering with You (2019) (Fortune-teller)
• Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero (2022) (Son Goku, Son Gohan, Son Goten, Gotenks)
• Birth of Kitarō: The Mystery of GeGeGe (2023) (Medama-oyaji)

Computer and video games

• Battle Stadium D.O.N (Son Goku, Son Gohan)
• Super Robot Wars series (Oreana, Ropet, Cyclaminos)
• Digimon Park (Guilmon)
• Digimon Tamers Battle Evolution (Guilmon)
• Digimon Racing (Guilmon)
• Digimon Battle Chronicle (Guilmon)
• Dragon Ball series (Son Goku, Son Gohan, Bardock, Son Goten, Turles, Vegetto, Gotenks, Gogeta, Goku Black)
• Egg Monster Hero 4 (Four-Dimensional Empress)
• Final Fantasy Type-0 (Commissar, Eumgyeong)
• Kingdom Hearts series (Merryweather)
• League of Legends (Wukong)
• The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Old Woman)
• PoPoRoGue (Gilda)
• J-Stars Victory VS (Son Goku)
• Jump Force (Son Goku)

Puppet shows

• Nobi Nobi Non-chan (1990–1996) (Tame-kun, Ana-chan's mother, Kitsune's granny)
• Zawa Zawa Mori no Ganko-chan (1996–) (Kero-chan)

Dubbing roles

Live-action

• Babe (2002 NTV edition) (Esmé Hoggett (Magda Szubanski))
• Babe: Pig in the City (2004 NTV edition) (Esmé Hoggett (Magda Szubanski))
• End of Days (2001 TV Asahi edition) (Mabel (Miriam Margolyes))
• The Goonies (1988 TBS edition) (Clark, a.k.a., "Mouth" (Corey Feldman))
• Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (Short Round (Ke Huy Quan))
• Last Action Hero (1996 Fuji TV edition) (Danny Madigan (Austin O'Brien))
• Little Fockers (Dina Byrnes (Blythe Danner))
• Meet the Fockers (Dina Byrnes (Blythe Danner))
• Meet the Parents (Dina Byrnes (Blythe Danner))
• Ordinary People (Beth Jarrett (Mary Tyler Moore))
• The Poseidon Adventure (Robin Shelby (Eric Shea))
• Richie Rich (Richie (Macaulay Culkin))
• Switch (Maggie Philbin (Sharon Gless))
• To Kill a Mockingbird (1972 NET edition) (Jem Finch (Phillip Alford))
• Vanishing on 7th Street (James Leary (Jacob Latimore))

Animation

• Sleeping Beauty (1995 Buena Vista edition) (Merryweather)
• Maya the Bee (Willy) (2014 movie)
• Maya the Bee: The Honey Games (Willy)
• The Croods (Gran Crood)
• The Croods: A New Age (Gran Crood)
• Migration (Erin)

Live-action

• Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths (2007, TV) (Kitarō's voice)
• Super Voice World: Yume to Jiyū to Happening (????, DVD)
• Sono Koe no Anata e (2022, Film) (Herself)
• Let's Talk About the Old Times (2022, Film) (Herself)

Tokusatsu

• Ambassador Magma (1967) (Gam's voice in episodes 41 and 42)
• Robot 110-Ban (1977) (Gan-chan's voice)
• Ultraman Story (1984) (young Ultraman Taro's voice)

Audio

• Seishun Adventure: Fūshin Engi (NHK-FM) (Nataku)
• CD Theater: Dragon Quest (Merusera)
• Doraemon Ondō (King Records cover)

Others

• Law of Ueki commercial for Shōnen Sunday (Kousuke Ueki)
• Naruhodo! The World (narration)
• NHK Kyōiku: Kagaku Daisukishi you Jaku (narration)
• Dream 9 Toriko & One Piece & Dragon Ball Z Super Collaboration Special!! (Goku, Gohan and Goten)
• Wakasa Seikatsu commercial (narration)
• The Wide Friday Ranking (narration)

Awards

See also

In Spanish: Masako Nozawa para niños