Obuyo Oyama, the voice of the beloved Japanese anime “Doraemon,” has passed away at the age of 90, reports CNN. According to the agency which represented her, Actors 7, Oyama died on September 29 due to old age.
A private funeral attended by relatives was held for Oyama, the agency added.
Oyama was famous globally for voicing the titular character in the “Doraemon” television series, which ran from 1979 to 2005. This show was one of three in the broader Doraemon franchise, which gained immense popularity worldwide, particularly in regions like Hong Kong and Vietnam. The franchise includes dozens of animated films, video games, music albums and manga series.
The series follows the adventures of Doraemon, a robotic cat from the 22nd century who comes to the present to assist a young boy named Nobita, described on the franchise’s official website as “terrible at everything.” The charming blue-and-white character frequently saves Nobita by retrieving futuristic gadgets from the pocket in his stomach.
Oyama was born in Tokyo, according to Japan’s public broadcaster NHK. Before voicing Doraemon, she also played a role in NHK’s puppet show “Boo Foo Woo,” which ran from 1960 to 1967.
News of Oyama’s passing prompted an outpouring of tributes on social media, as fans globally shared their condolences and memories of her as a familiar voice from their childhoods.
