Mahito Tsujimura

Born in Tokyo in 1930, Mahito Tsujimura was originally from the Setagaya area, which is now part of Tokyo's Setagaya Ward.

He graduated from Waseda University, a notable academic achievement.

His early artistic pursuits included joining several prominent theater troupes, such as Theatre Piccolo, Komadori Theatre, and Theatre Echo.

He later moved on to major voice acting agencies including Production Baobab and finally made his mark with 81 Produce, where he remained until his death.

Tsujimura debuted in 1947 as a radio drama actor, with his first role in "The Little Mermaid."

Soon after, he appeared in films and became a familiar face and voice in Japanese cinema and television throughout the 1950s and 1960s.

He is best remembered as a legendary voice actor—his high baritone and signature croaky timbre made him the go-to performer for elderly or quirky roles.

Notable anime credits include the original "Lupin the Third" series, "Dragon Ball" (as the Grand Supreme Kai), "Nintama Rantarō" (as the School Principal), and iconic Studio Ghibli titles such as "Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind."

He also lent his voice to the Japanese dub for major foreign movies and TV shows, most memorably as Yoda in "Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi."

In tokusatsu (special effects) series, he voiced a parade of villains and monsters across numerous "Kamen Rider" and "Ultraman" franchises.

Later in life, he voiced characters in well-known video games such as "Virtua Fighter" (as Shun Di), and the "Arc the Lad" series (as Gogen).

As his age advanced, he gradually stepped away from lead roles and began passing the torch to younger voice actors, especially after 2013.

Tsujimura was affectionately called "Tsuu-sama" by junior colleagues such as Yuu Mizushima and Mika Kanai, exemplifying his respected mentor status within the voice acting community.

In his youth, Tsujimura's voice was famously beautiful and clear, likened to a boy soprano.

He humorously claimed his signature rasp emerged after repeatedly practicing traditional performance poetry loudly at acting camp, which strained his vocal cords.

Colleagues admired his professionalism and ability to synchronize perfectly with animation, even impressing directors by matching dubbing tracks in a single take without rehearsal.

He passed away in 2018 at the age of 88 due to natural causes, leaving behind an extensive legacy.

Tsujimura’s distinct voice often resulted in young fans and even his own children instantly recognizing him as villains or monsters from their favorite shows—even when he tried to disguise it.

Unlike many, he admitted that he barely remembered most of the monsters he played in "Kamen Rider," except for his very first: the Mantis Man.

He was also known for carefully mentoring young voice actors, giving them specific advice on breath control and line delivery.

Throughout his career, he was often chosen to play characters with unusual dialects, drawing on his talent for both Kansai and Tohoku regional accents.

Tsujimura’s work extended outside anime and tokusatsu into narration for documentaries, radio dramas, and the Japanese voices for theme park attractions like Tokyo Disneyland's "Pinocchio's Daring Journey" (Coachman) and "Pooh's Hunny Hunt" (Gopher).

Following his retirement and passing, many of his most famous roles—such as the school principal in "Nintama Rantarō" and Gopher in "Winnie the Pooh"—were continued by a new generation of voice actors, solidifying his impact on the industry for years to come.