Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
One Piece’s longevity has always been one of the strong points of the franchise. For the past 25 years, Eiichiro Oda has been constantly delivering top-notch arcs with no signs of stopping. There are ups and downs in everyone’s life, butOne Piecehas only seen ups since 1999. However, it may not be the same for the artists who are involved with the franchise.
While Eiichiro Oda will soon turn 50, there are others who have crossed the 60-year mark. One of the popular voice artists, Kazuki Yao, is currently 65 years old. He gives voice to Cyborg Franky and recently opted out due to some health issues. WhileOne Piece’s longevity is unmatched, Oda sensei can no longer rule out the age factor in his magnum opus.
Franky Voice Actor Steps Down Due To Health Issues In The LatestOne PieceEpisode
Kazuki Yao, the voice actor of Franky, has been a part ofOne Piecesince 2000. Apart from voicing Franky, he is the voice of hypnotist Jango and fan-favorite Bon Clay. He made hisOne Piecedebut as the voice artist of Jango, who was the first mate of Captain Kuro and a member of the Black Cat Pirates. Then, he returned as Bon Clay during the Alabasta arc.
10月6日（日）朝9:30より放送されるアニメ「#ONEPIECE」第1121話「ガープとクザン 衝突する師弟の正義」にジャンゴが登場します。ジャンゴ役 矢尾一樹さんの体調不良により高木渉さんが代役をつとめることになりました。引き続きアニメ「ONE PIECE」をよろしくお願いいたします。…pic.twitter.com/N4Mdxeiiei
Finally, he voiced Franky during the Water 7 arc and since then, has become an active member. However, recently, the official X (formerly Twitter) account ofOne Pieceposted that the upcomingOne Pieceepisode 1121 won’t feature Yao. Wataru Takagi will take his place as the voice artist of Jango, who made a return in the latest episode.
The health issue will be a major problem for the manga artist since most of the original voice artists are pretty old. Even thoughOne Pieceis in its Final Saga, it might be a few years until the anime officially concludes.Mayumi Tanakais almost 70, and the other are not much behind. Eiichiro Oda will have to be careful regarding this aspect since the fans are habituated to these voices.
One Piece: Eiichiro Oda’s Harmless World War 2 Joke Turned Into a PR Nightmare Forcing Him to Issue a Public Apology to Japan
Suddenly, changing them might create a negative impact on the fans. However, with old age, they might suffer from different issues and not be able to perform regularly.Eiichiro Odahas a habit of stretching his magnum opus so that he does not miss any details. Often, it creates a pacing issue. Considering Kazuki Yao’s problem, all the voice actors might face the same problem due to elongated episodes.
Kazuki Yao’s Problem Was Quite Visible In The Earlier Episodes
Kazuki Yao’s problem was something that was not new. The fans noticed problems with his speech in one of the earlier episodes. DuringOne Pieceepisode 1090, Franky’s speech was not clearly heard by the fans, but in the manga, his speech was quite clearly written. Many people suffer from vocal articulation problems during old age, and Yao might be a victim. The issue might take a massive shape in the upcoming days due to WIT Studios’The One Piece.
One Piece Meets Harry Potter in Eiichiro Oda’s Latest Colorspread as Luffy Becomes a Gryffindor Wizard
There has been no mention of who would voice the Straw Hats in the remake. If the old voice actors are signed, they might not be able to do so for long. The prolonged plot might be a massive issue and the voice actors have to stand for hours while recording. It might lead to more health issues. Also, they sometimes change their voices which can create vocal problems.
One Pieceis currently available to stream on Crunchyroll.
Priyanko Chakraborty
Anime Content Writer
Articles Published :883
Priyanko is an aspiring economists who is a secret member of the anime world. Unfortunately, he is a Manchester United fan. He has watched multiple anime only to leave them halfway between. His day goes by playing video games, scrolling through reels, watching anime, and rarely opening his books.
More from Priyanko Chakraborty
No, Mihawk’s Observation Haki is Not That Advanced- One Piece Fans Are Getting the Wrong Idea About Mihawk’s Hidden Powers
Oshi no Ko Never Meant to Kill Its Most Important Character Until She Became “too strong for a manga character”
“Protagonist that isn’t there just to be with the girl”: My Dress-Up Darling’s Fan Service Overshadows a Major Element of Why the Series is So Good
Recommended
What Did Justin Baldoni Say to Isabela Ferrer? Alarming Revelation in Blake Lively’s Lawsuit
‘Gintama’ Creator Admits New Movie Is “A tool for dirty adults to make a quick buck”
Nice’s Return Just Gave ‘To Be Hero X’ Its Highest-Rated Episode of the Season
Sakamoto Days Part 2 Episode 8: Release Date, Spoilers and What to Expect
All LinkedIn Games Solutions for Today (June 10, 2025)
Every Breaking Bad Villain, Ranked by How Badly They Underestimated Walter White
