Kazuya Tatekabe

Until 1977, he performed under his birth name . His ancestors were pyrethrum farmers. He once said, "I might have worked for an agricultural cooperative, gotten married, had grandchildren, watched Doraemon by the stove, and listened to the voice of Gian, who was probably played by someone else, and wondered, 'Who is that nasty voice?'" One of his university classmates and friends was Kiyoshi Kobayashi.

After Tatekabe graduated from high school, he wanted to join a professional theater company as soon as possible and become a trainee. However, when he saw his parents' faces, he could not bring himself to tell them. As an only child, he had previously thought that he would become a businessman someday and take care of his parents. He also did not like studying very much, and had the impression that he would be able to just have fun in the theater department, so he went to the university. Even after entering university, he did not study, but participated in many theater productions, including "The Bottom". Around this time, Tatekabe began to become interested in producing, and for a while focused on studying as a production staff member.

After Tatekabe graduated from the university, he went around applying to various broadcasting companies with hopes of becoming a television producer, but ended up failing at all of the job interviews he had to do in order to proceed. While working as a stagehand at Nippon Television, he teamed up with university classmate Yasuo Tanaka to form the theater company Engeki-za and performed "Poison and Old Lady" in Sapporo, Hokkaido. Kobayashi asked Tatekabe to join his Izumiza theater company, which Tatekabe agreed to it. He had no memory of the first dub he partook in, other than being told that it would be "profitable". Tatekabe's television drama debut was in Dial 110. Tatekabe was a member of the theater company Mitou, Tokyo Actor's Consumer's Cooperative Society and Ezaki Productions throughout his career.

He originally performed using under his real name Kazuya Tatekabe (立壁 和也), but after appearing in Time Bokan, he changed his name to Kazuya Tatekabe (たてかべ和也) so that children could easily understand it.

There was a slight misunderstanding between Tatekabe and his manager at the agency, and he initially thought it was a mismatch, but soon realized that there were other people around him who had similar doubts. Having decided to do it himself, in 1979, Tatekabe officially founded Office Chuo, serving as both its president and as a voice actor. He tried to sell everyone by acting as a manager, but in the end, he was the only popular one, so he had no desire to be actor and manager at the same time. He had no choice but to do it because of Time Bokan and Doraemon, though in reality he wanted to sell everyone. During his time at Office Chuo, he met Kenyu Horiuchi. The people who had been with him despite the opposition of the agency members said, "Let's keep going like this," because they had been working hard for five years. However, as pressure came on the agency, they realized that things would be hard if they went on as is, so they decided to merge in 1984 and absorbed into Production Baobab. After Horiuchi ended up leaving Baobab to establish Kenyu Office, Tatekabe also decided to leave with him in order to work for the same agency, serving as director.

Awards In 2005, Tatekabe, along his Doraemon co-stars Nobuyo Ōyama, Noriko Ohara, Michiko Nomura, and Kaneta Kimotsuki, received the Rikiya Tayama Award at the 14th Japan Movie Critics Awards. In November 2006, they received the Special Award at the 11th Animation Kobe and in March 2007, they received the 3rd Lifetime Achievement Award at the Tokyo International Anime Fair.

Final years and death In 2009, Tatekabe was diagnosed with gastric cancer and had to have his entire stomach removed. During his medical treatment, he was determined to complete his role as Tonzura in the Yatterman series, as before the cancer diagnosis, he never got a serious illness, therefore having never been hospitalized.

Tatekabe died from acute respiratory failure in Tokyo on June 18, 2015, at 80 years old. He was single all his life, and was said to have been attended by his relatives and staff at his agency during his final moments. After undergoing gastrectomy in 2009, he did not suffer from a recurrence of cancer, but his health declined until his final years, and he died of senility, with his final voice acting role being Max Tennyson in the Japanese version of Ben 10.

Tributes

A memorial caption for Tatekabe was shown at the beginning of the Doraemon anime episode broadcast on June 19, 2015.

Upon the announcement of Tatekabe's death, close family, fans, TV Asahi and former partner Horiuchi mourned his death, as well as his Doraemon successor Subaru Kimura, current Doraemon voice actress Wasabi Mizuta, Akira Kamiya, Shigeru Chiba, and Kazuhiko Inoue on social media, with the Fujiko F. Fujio Museum also sharing a memorial message in condolence.

Tatekabe's wake was held at the Aoyama Funeral Hall on June 23, and was attended by around 900 people, including Subaru Kimura, Wasabi Mizuta, Noriko Ohara, Michiko Nomura, Kaneta Kimotsuki, Keiko Yokozawa, Masako Nozawa, Mika Kanai, Koichi Yamadera, and Keiko Toda. Many voice actors and related parties sent flowers during the event.

At the wake, Horiuchi, as the funeral committee chairman, gave a speech for Tatekabe, and Kimotsuki gave a eulogy. Kimotsuki, a very close friend of Tatekabe, prayed for the Hanshin Tigers' victory for Tatekabe, as he was a Hanshin Tigers fan, saying, "Hanshin is in the running to win. I hope they win", and ended by crying out in Doraemon character Suneo's voice, "Gian, why did you go before me, even though you're Gian?".

Inside his coffin, Tatekabe was wearing a Gian T-shirt with a microphone resembling Gian's recital mic, with many stuffed plushies of the character by his side. At the funeral procession, 80 balloons in the shape of white birds were released at the office's request and Tatekabe's body was cremated at Kirigaya Funeral Hall in Shinagawa Ward.

The funeral was organized by Kenyu Office, whom Tatekabe was affiliated up until his death.

Kenyu Office has kept Tatekabe's profile up after his death, treating him as a "permanently affiliated" employee of the company.

Personality

As a voice actor, Tatekabe's most recognized voice acting roles were as Gorilla-Imo from The Gutsy Frog, Dotechin from Giatrus, Tonzura from Yatterman, Warusa from Time Bokan, and Takeshi "Gian" Gōda from Doraemon.

His voice range was baritone and he was known for playing tough, gorilla-like characters. Tatekabe himself stated that he enjoyed playing generally arrogant characters.

During his time with Haikyo, in addition to providing voice-over work, Tatekabe also did work as an actor and in radio voice over as minor roles without a credited name. His acting jobs for those often required him to stay tied for days despite scenes for him coming few and far between. However, the voice acting work he did never got cancelled, so Tatekabe felt that if he did minor roles, then voice acting was better off for his career.

In the Japanese dub of Ben 10, Tatekabe voiced the role of Max Tennyson. When he originally auditioned, the Japanese dub's production staff were very reluctant to hire Tatekabe for the role. However, when Tatekabe sent his audition over to the United States, the company asked him to be the voice of Max, and therefore he was chosen for the dubbing role.

Interpersonal relationships While at Production Baobab, Tatekabe did not want the merger to fail. He was told, "I can't quit Doraemon, but you don't have to do any other work." He also worked as a manager and a senior managing director. With his position in the former, he was responsible for scouting and discovering voice acting talent such as Aki Uechi, Yuko Mizutani, and Wasabi Mizuta, the voice actress of Doraemon since the 2005 series.

He arranged for Uechi to star in Idol Densetsu Eriko from her debut, and also arranged her to audition for the role of Shinnosuke in Crayon Shin-chan. He also had highly recommended Mizutani despite the fact that they were in different agencies at the time.

When a sound director had criticized actress Yūko Gotō, claiming she had an "evil voice", Tatekabe advised her, "The drawback of having a voice that stands out in a bad way can also become a weapon in anime. Poison can also be a medicine."

Gian in Doraemon Tatekabe posing with an official Gian mascot costume for the release of Doraemon: Nobita in the Wan-Nyan Spacetime Odyssey in 2004.

In the Doraemon anime television series, Tatekabe famously voiced the character Takeshi Gōda, known by the nickname of "Gian", for 26 years from 1979 to 2005. When he was originally offered the role, Tatekabe had no idea what Doraemon was or who the character of Gian was, wondering, "What is Doraemon?" He had already been familiar with Obake no Q-Tarō, but he did not know about Fujiko Fujio much then.

When he was interviewed upon his departure from the role, Tatekabe said that playing the role of Gian required a lot of energy, as to prepare for recording, he smoked 20 cigarettes a day and drank alcohol six days a week. By late 2004, with his final recording scheduled to occur in about three months, Tatekabe reflected on his time, "I wonder how I'll feel on the last recording day, looking back on 26 years. I might even cry." He also expressed hope that the next voice actor for Gian would be "someone with a kind heart".

Tatekabe wanted to have a drink with the person who would take over the role of voicing Gian in the 2005 series, but was greatly disappointed when he found out that the selected successor for the role of Gian, Subaru Kimura, was 14 years old and a junior high school student at the time of casting. He hoped to live for another five years and then be able to drink with him. Kimura's high school happened to be close to the house Tatekabe lived at, so Tatekabe would often go to see Kimura whenever a school festival or an event was held during the wait. Tatekabe's wish eventually came true, as Kimura turned 20 years old in 2010 and they were able to go out drinking together, which became a trending topic online in Japan in 2014 when Kimura shared two photos from the time on Twitter.

According to Tsutomu Shibayama, director of the Doraemon anime television series and feature films from 1983 to 2005, "The voice actors have a deep understanding of the characters, so I don't have to say anything." Shibayama gave an example through Tatekabe with Gian, as he was extremely conscious of using foul language. Whenever lines like "You idiot!" or "Damn it" were written in the scripts, he would end up receiving complaints from Tatekabe about how "Gian wouldn't say such things." Tatekabe also wrote the lyrics for Gian's signature character song in the 1979 anime, "Ore wa Jaian-sama".

Successors With Tatekabe stepping down due to his advanced aging, the following other voice actors have taken over some of his roles.

SuccessorCharacterWorkDebut Kōji Ishii Big Hand The Monster Kid CR The Monster Kid: The Demon's Sword Shinpachi Tsuji Max Tennyson Ben 10 Ben 10 Kenta Miyake Strongman of the Villainous Trio Time Bokan CR Yatterman

Filmography Television animation + List of voice performances in television animation Year Title Role Notes Source 1964 Wolf Boy Ken Additional voice Astro Boy Additional voice Big X Additional voice 1966 Kaizoku Ouji Bud 1967 The Golden Bat Daleo Thunder Boy Pikkari-B Additional voice 1968 The Monster Kid Dr. Yes Star of the Giants Takashi Yoshida Sabu to Ichi Torimono Hikae Mamushi, Hachigoru, Genji, Ginji, Gonji, Rokusuke, Chief Denhachi, Daigoro, Suganoku, Yasuke, Ryutatsu, Genta, Gosuke, Fusazo, Kisuke, Tensen, Viper, Person Fight Da!! Pyuta Thief Cat, Tipster, Doctor 1969 Umeboshi Denka Additional voice Judo Boy Additional voice Dororo The Monster Donburibara Ninpu Kamui Gaiden Dodo, Ronin, Man, Peasant, Samurai, Sengoku, Roku, Jo, Ryu, Samurai, Magistrate, Village Chief, Ninja The Genie Family Gejigon Moomin Antlion, Octave, Coachman 1970 Ashita no Joe Additional voice Attack No. 1 Additional voice The Adventures of Hutch the Honeybee Spider, Ninja Bug Tiger Mask Daigo Daimon / Mister Fudo, Hans Schleger, Leonard, Scarfy Rodziński, Seiji Sakaguchi Norakuro Additional voice Bakuhatsu Taishō Additional voice 1971 Animentary: The Decision Additional voice Kunimatsu-sama no Otoridai Kunisada Chūji, Kida, Shushō, additional voice Golgo 13 Additional voice Sazae-san Anago-san first voice GeGeGe no Kitarō Additional voice The Gutsy Frog Imotarō Gorira / Gorilla-Imo 1973 Karate Master Henchman, additional voice Samurai Giants Togashi, Audience Jungle Kurobe Additional voice Casshan Barashin, Robot A, DDH Dororon Enma-kun Additional voice Little Wansa Midori's Brother, Police Chief 1974 Vicky the Viking Hjalmar the Seal, additional voice The Song of Tentomushi Mr. Bear, Karabei Tamageta-kun Next Door Bulldog First Human Giatrus Dotechin Hurricane Polymar Baron (Danshaku) Hoshi no Ko Chobin Radar Bat New Honeybee Hutch Tentaro Zero Tester Bankichi Kōya no Shōnen Isamu Additional voice 1975 Time Bokan Warusa Maya the Honey Bee Guards, Bumblebee, Ant, Flower Spider, Spider, additional voice Raideen Thunders, Basutodon, Kōkatsu, Rēzaru, Sandāsu, Girumorā 1976 Gowappa 5 Gōdam Captain Combattler V Daisaku Nishikawa, Narua Blocker Gundan 4 Machine Blaster Goliath, Investigator A Paul's Miraculous Adventure Tornado Cactus, Subordinate, Spirit of the Snow, Paper Animal Dog, Pliers, Damper, Lion Knight Manga Hana no Kakarichō Additional voice UFO Warrior Dai Apolon Rikimaru Robokko Beeton Buriki 1977 Attack on Tomorrow! Arashi Sankichi Arrow Emblem: Hawk of the Grand Prix Hassan Ikkyū-san Additional voice Ippatsu Kanta-kun Tanuki, Koyama's father Ganso Tensai Bakabon Additional voice New Star of Giants Additional voice Voltes V Beast Warrior Dokaben Audience Member A Tobidase! Machine Hiryū President Gapporin Yatterman Tonzura 1978 Nobody's Boy: Remi Additional voice Ikkyū-san Kuro Kuro Song of Baseball Enthusiasts Sarumata, Kimata Tōshō Daimos Georiya Haikara-San: Here Comes Miss Modern Sentry, Subordinate One Million-Year Trip: Bandar Book Additional voice Television film The Adventures of the Little Prince Additional voice Invincible Steel Man Daitarn 3 Dobin 1979 Galaxy Express 999 Gizorl episode 53 New Star of the Giants II Additional voice Zenderman Donjuro, Jūrō Donno Gordian Warrior Barubadasu Doraemon Takeshi "Gian" Gōda, Yasashi Gōda, Muku, Truck Driver, additional voice Lupin the 3rd Part II Benson Donkonjo Jr. episode 128 1980 The Monster Kid Gang, Shishizō with Fresh Wounds, Acneen, Fly Man, One of the Piranha Boys, Kojira, Big Hand, Gerun, Gururun Otasukeman Dowarusuki The New Adventures of Gigantor Staff Officer, additional voice Astro Boy Shibugaki, Sultan's secretary Muteking, The Dashing Warrior Demon Bear, Hijacker A Fumoon Tabasco Television film Hoero! Bun Bun Additional voice 1981 Golden Warrior Gold Lightan Ibaruda-Daiou, Mr. Mech X Mr. Mech X appears in episode 50 Saikyo Robo Daioja 1 Warubada, Gouhara Warubada appears in episode 19, Gouhara appears in episodes 40-41 Ninja Hattori-kun Gorilla, Sumo Wrestler Yattodetaman Alan Sukadon, Tonzura, Photographer Koyama 1982 Little Pollon Helios Ippatsuman Kyokanchin, Kumagoro Game Center Arashi Monster episode 14 Robby the Rascal Kusaku, Nozoki, Matsuo Ikura Dash Kappei Judge Tokimeki Tonight Frankenstein Ninjaman Ippei Left Eye, Principal Boku Patalliro! Chief Chin Magical Princess Minky Momo Guard, Harry, Walbur, Number One, Neil, Surmetch, Gang A, Broker 1983 Itadakiman Tonmentan Psycho Armor Govarian Zeku Alba Fuku-chan The Driver 1984 Special Armored Battalion Dorvack Middle-aged Man, Bogotá Creamy Mami, the Magic Angel Former Actor 1986 Doteraman Whisky Oni debuts in episode 4 1988 Topo Gigio Dracula the 102nd episode 18 Mister Ajikko Come On Tatekabe also handling casting assistance 1990 PEACH COMMAND: Shin Momotarō Densetsu King Tatekabe 1998 Ojarumaru Chuntaro 1999 The Legend of the End of the Era: Wonderful Tatsunoko Land - The Flying Saucer Alien UBO - Tonzura 2000 Time Bokan 2000: Kaitou Kiramekiman Ondore, Tonzura, Walsa 2001 Let's Go! Anpanman Red Steel Horrorman episode 612 2002 The Twelve Kingdoms Hō-Rōshi episode 22 Hanada Shōnen Shi Enkiri-dera no Osho-san 2003 Cinderella Boy Bob Peacemaker Kurogane Nakayama Tank Knights Portriss Pappalardi 2004 Let's Go! The Farcical Three Kotetsu Tsukioka debuts in episode 11 2005 Patalliro Saiyuki! The Buddha Monster Old Man Yakitate!! Japan Schweinlinch The Snow Queen Thomas 2006 Ergo Proxy Empty Person Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - Solid State Society Tonoda Television film Magikano Aijan Majime ni Fumajime Kaiketsu Zorori Jackpot 2008 Kimi ga Aruji de Shitsuji ga Ore de De Niro Glass Maiden Homeless Slayers Revolution Council Member B Yatterman Tonzura, Alan Sukadon, Donjuro RoboDz Kazagumo Hen Boss Jellyfish 2009 Nyan Koi! Chatora 2011 Fairy Tail Roubaul 2012 Ozuma Roksanda Umai 2015 I Can't Understand What My Husband Is Saying A-ta

Theatrical animation + List of voice performances in theatrical animation Year Title Role Notes Source Jungle Emperor Additional voice The Golden Bat Additional voice Do It!! Yasuji’s Pornorama Additional voice First Human Giatrus Additional voice Time Bokan Additional voice New Star of the Giants Additional voice Ganbare!! Tabuchi-kun!! Additional voice 1980 Doraemon: Nobita's Dinosaur Takeshi "Gian" Gōda Zenderman: The Mysterious Box of the Pyramid! Zenderman Additional voice Ganbare!! Tabuchi-kun!! 2nd Gekitō Pennant Race Additional voice Makoto-chan Dry Cleaner's Ganbare!! Tabuchi-kun!! Hatsu Warai 3rd Aa Tsuppari Jinsei Additional voice 1981 Doraemon: The Record of Nobita, Spaceblazer Takeshi "Gian" Gōda Time Patrol Team Otasukeman: Atasha's Wedding Reception!? Dowarusuki What Am I for Momotaro? Takeshi "Gian" Gōda Short film Doraemon: Nobita and the Haunts of Evil Takeshi "Gian" Gōda Doraemon: Nobita and the Castle of the Undersea Devil Takeshi "Gian" Gōda Doraemon: Nobita's Great Adventure into the Underworld Takeshi "Gian" Gōda Doraemon: Nobita's Little Star Wars Takeshi "Gian" Gōda Doraemon: Nobita and the Steel Troops Takeshi "Gian" Gōda Doraemon: Nobita and the Knights on Dinosaurs Takeshi "Gian" Gōda Doraemon: The Record of Nobita's Parallel Visit to the West Takeshi "Gian" Gōda Doraemon: Nobita and the Birth of Japan Takeshi "Gian" Gōda Dorami-chan: Mini Dora SOS!!! Yasashiku "Giachibi" Gōda, Future Takeshi "Gian" Gōda Short film Doraemon: Nobita and the Animal Planet Takeshi "Gian" Gōda Doraemon: Nobita's Dorabian Nights Takeshi "Gian" Gōda Dorami-chan: Wow, The Kid Gang of Bandits! Takezō Short film Doraemon: Nobita and the Kingdom of Clouds Takeshi "Gian" Gōda Doraemon: Nobita and the Tin Labyrinth Takeshi "Gian" Gōda Doraemon: Nobita's Three Visionary Swordsmen Takeshi "Gian" Gōda, Gitos Doraemon: Nobita's Diary of the Creation of the World Takeshi "Gian" Gōda 2112: The Birth of Doraemon Jaibee Short film Doraemon: Nobita and the Galaxy Super-express Takeshi "Gian" Gōda Doraemon: Nobita and the Spiral City Takeshi "Gian" Gōda 1998 Doraemon: Nobita's Great Adventure in the South Seas Takeshi "Gian" Gōda Doraemon Comes Back Takeshi "Gian" Gōda Short film Galaxy Express 999: Eternal Fantasy Easel's father Doraemon: Nobita Drifts in the Universe Takeshi "Gian" Gōda Nobita's the Night Before A Wedding Future Takeshi "Gian" Gōda Short film Doraemon: Nobita and the Legend of the Sun King Takeshi "Gian" Gōda A Grandmother's Recollections Takeshi "Gian" Gōda Short film 2001 Doraemon: Nobita and the Winged Braves Takeshi "Gian" Gōda Good Luck! Gian!! Takeshi "Gian" Gōda Short film Mōtto! Ojamajo Doremi: The Secret of the Frog Stone Yuusuke Harukaze Short film Doraemon: Nobita in the Robot Kingdom Takeshi "Gian" Gōda The Day When I Was Born Takeshi "Gian" Gōda Short film Doraemon: Nobita and the Windmasters Takeshi "Gian" Gōda Doraemon: Nobita in the Wan-Nyan Spacetime Odyssey Takeshi "Gian" Gōda Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle the Movie: The Princess in the Birdcage Kingdom Additional voice Animal Forest: The Movie Alan Gekijō-ban Yattāman Shin Yattāmeka dai Shūgō! Omocha no Kuni de Daisakusenda Koron! Tonzura Duel Masters: Blazing Bonds XX!! Diabolos Zeta, Annihilation Awakened Final film role

Original video animation (OVA) + List of voice performances in original video animation Year Title Role Notes Source –1994 Time Bokan: Royal Revival Walther, Tonzura, Donjuro, Dowarusuki, Alan Sukadon, Kyokanchin, Tonmentan Legend of the Galactic Heroes Gaiden: Spiral Labyrinth Chan Tao

Video games Gunbird (Valnus, Claude) Gunbird 2 (Valpiro, Blade) Tatsunoko vs. Capcom (Tonzura) Project X Zone (Drei Belanos)

Dubbing roles Live-action Everybody Loves Raymond (Frank Barone: Peter Boyle) Frankenstein's Army (Robert Gwilym: Novikov) The Man from Hong Kong (Win Chan: Sammo Hung) Seed of Chucky (Pete Peters: John Waters)

Animation Alice in Wonderland (Carpenter) Ben 10 (Max Tennyson) Popeye's Voyage: The Quest for Pappy (Pappy) Wacky Races (Little Gruesome)

Television Robot Detective (Dennetsuman) Choujin Bibyun (Bagdard)

Awards Year Award Category Result 2005 Japanese Movie Critics Awards Rikiya Tayama Award 2006 11th Animation Kobe Special Award 2007 Tokyo International Anime Fair 2007 3rd Achievement Award