For the first time, the Japanese government has honored a voice actress, Masako Nozawa (Son Goku from “Dragon Ball”), as a Person of Cultural Merit. We summarize.
First voice actress
Since 1951, the Japanese government has annually honored people who have made outstanding contributions to Japanese culture in various areas such as art, literature, science and sport with the prestigious “Person of Cultural Merit” award – and this year there was a novelty.
For the first time in over seven decades, a voice actress has received this award – and unsurprisingly, it is Masako Nozawa.
After all, hardly any other voice has shaped the anime industry as much as that of Son Goku (“Dragon Ball”) and Kitaro (“Gegege no Kitaro”), who made their debut in 1963 in the original “Astro Boy” series.
The 21 award winners also include the manga artist Keiko Takemiya (“To Terra” and “Kaze to Ki no Uta”), who is considered a pioneer of modern shojo and science fiction manga, the dancer and actor Min Tanaka (known from the live-action films of “Rurouni Kenshin”) and the playwright and actor Hideki Noda, who took on a speaking role in the anime short film “Tokatonton”.
Via Yomiuri
©Bird Studio/Shueisha, Toei Animation
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