The voice behind Nobita passed away

Noriko Ohara, a renowned Japanese voice actress known for her role as Nobita in the Doraemon series, has passed away at 88.

Her agency, 81 Produce, announced her death yesterday.

“Our company’s actor, Noriko Ohara (real name Noriko Tobe), passed away on Jul 12, 2024, at the age of 88, after undergoing treatment for an illness that was ineffective.

“The funeral was held only with relatives, in accordance with the wishes of the family.

“We would like to express our deepest gratitude for the kindness shown to us during her lifetime and to inform you of her passing,” the agency said via a statement, reported CNA.

Ohara’s portrayal of Nobita in the Doraemon franchise spanned from 1979 to 2005, making her version the most recognizable to fans around the world.

Ohara also voiced Peter in the classic animated series Heidi, Girl of the Alps and Claudia LaSalle in the Macross franchise.

In a 2017 interview with Cinema Today, Ohara described the intense recording process for Doraemon.

“Everyone got along well. (Working on) Doraemon is like (being) an athlete…We recorded seven to eight episodes at a time, and Gian [the bully in Doraemon] was always chasing us. We had to build up our stamina,” she said.