was a Japanese actor, voice actor and narrator from Taitō, Tokyo. He was best known for voicing Medama Oyaji in nearly every adaptation of Shigeru Mizuki's '' GeGeGe no Kitarō'' made during his lifetime.

Career

During his life he had been attached to Gekidan Tōgei and then Theatre Echo; he was attached to Aoni Production at the time of his death. He had a naturally deep voice but became famous for voicing characters with a high pitched voice. In addition to '' GeGeGe no Kitarō'', he also had prominent roles in '' Tensai Bakabon'' (as the first voice of Honkan-san), '' Mazinger Z'' (as Mucha), '' Paul's Miraculous Adventure'' (as Doppe), '' Magical Princess Minky Momo'' (as Sindbook), '' Akuma-kun'' (as Youaltepuztli), '' Dr. Slump & Arale-chan'' (as Gara and

Akira Toriyama was a Japanese manga artist and character designer. He came to be regarded as one of the most influential and important authors in the history of manga, authoring highly influential and popular series, particularly Dragon Ball (manga), ''Dra ...

), '' Dragon Quest: Dai no Daibōken'' (as Brass), and the ''

Persona A persona (plural personae or personas) is a strategic mask of identity in public, the public image of one's personality, the social role that one adopts, or simply a fictional Character (arts), character. It is also considered "an intermediary ...

'' series (as Igor).

Medama Oyaji

In 1968, he was cast in the first '' GeGeGe no Kitarō'' anime as the title character's father Medama Oyaji, an anthropomorphic eyeball. He reprised the role, alongside co-stars Masako Nozawa (Kitarō) and Chikao Ōtsuka (Nezumi-Otoko), in the 1971 follow up

color Color (or colour in English in the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth English; American and British English spelling differences#-our, -or, see spelling differences) is the visual perception based on the electromagnetic spectrum. Though co ...

series. When it came time for the 1980s series the producers decided to go with an all new voice cast, but auditions for Medama Oyaji came up short so Tanonaka was asked to reprise the role yet again. From there he continued to voice the character in practically every adaptation made during his lifetime, the sole exception being the

PlayStation 2 The PlayStation 2 (PS2) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on 4 March 2000, in North America on 26 October, in Europe on 24 Novembe ...

games from the early 2000s, in which the role was given to Kazuo Kumakura, and a single episode of the '71 series where Hiroshi Ōtake filled in for him. Tanonaka even performed the voice of Medama Oyaji for the live action adaptations, and also appeared on many variety shows and in many commercials as the character. In 2008, he reunited with Nozawa and Ōtsuka to reprise their respective roles for the darker Kitarō adaptation ''Hakaba Kitarō''. As Medama Oyaji is actually the reanimated form of Kitarō's deceased father, the character was voiced by Daisuke Gōri when he appeared alive in the first episode.

Death

On January 13, 2010, he suffered a heart attack in his Tokyo home and was found dead by family members. He was 77 years old at the time of his death. His final performance was in '' Marie & Gali'' as the voice of

Leonardo da Vinci Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci (15 April 1452 - 2 May 1519) was an Italian polymath of the High Renaissance who was active as a painter, draughtsman, engineer, scientist, theorist, sculptor, and architect. While his fame initially rested o ...

. Memorial services were held in Tokyo Memolead Hall on January 19, 2010. He is survived by his older brother Hiroshi.

Roles

Television

;1964 *'' Zero Sen Hayato'' (Ichihisō Hosokawa) ;1965 *'' Kaitō Pride'' (Scope) *'' Obake no Q-tarō'' (TBS edition) (Shōta's Papa) ;1967 *'' Punpunmaru'' (Gatekeeper, Narrator) ;1968 *'' Akane-chan'' (Kadomatsu) *'' Animal 1'' (Tōgorō) *'' GeGeGe no Kitarō'' (Medama Oyaji) ;1969 *''

Hakushon Daimaō is a Japanese anime television series produced by Tatsunoko Production. It aired from October 5. 1969 to September 27, 1970, with a total of 52 episodes on Fuji TV. It tells the story of a boy who finds a bottle with a mysterious power - ea ...

'' (Kan-chan's Papa) *'' Sazae-san'' (Ceiling Mouse) ;1970 *'' Ashita no Joe'' (Miss Oyama (episode 35)) ;1971 *''GeGeGe no Kitarō'' (second series) (Medama Oyaji) *'' Kunimatsu-sama no Otōridai'' (Odeko) *'' Tensai Bakabon'' (Honkan-san) ;1972 *'' Mazinger Z'' (Mucha) ;1973 *''

Cutie Honey is a Japanese Shōnen manga, shōnen manga series written and illustrated by Go Nagai. First appearing in ''Weekly Shōnen Champion''s 41st issue of 1973, the series ran until April 1974. It follows an android girl named Honey Kisara ...

'' (Saint Chapel Academy Principal) *'' Wansa-kun'' (Roro) ;1975 *'' UFO Robo Grendizer'' (Mucha) *'' Maya the Honey Bee'' (Max) ;1976 *'' Paul no Miracle Daisakusen'' (Doppe) ;1978 *'' Ginga Tetsudō 999'' (President Derumukade (episode 38)) *'' Majokko Tickle'' (Ago) ;1979 *'' Cyborg 009'' (Loki, Doctor Rōson) *'' Ginga Tetsudō 999'' (Kokku (episode 53)) ;1980 *'' Haero Bun Bun'' (Big) *'' Moero Arthur Hakuba no Ōji'' (Sandee) ;1981 *'' Dr. Slump & Arale-chan'' (Gara, Toriyama (Tori Robo), Annai Obake, Dodongadon, Villager, Crow Leader) *'' Shin Taketori Monogatari: Sennen Joō'' (Ramen-monger's uncle) *'' Yattodetaman'' (Chairman) ;1982 *'' Gyakuten! Ippatsuman'' (Urashima) *'' Mahō no Princess Minky Momo'' (Sindbook) *'' Ochamegami Monogatari Korokoro Poron'' (Beauty Artist) ;1983 *'' Itadakiman'' (Nika) *'' Manga Nihonshi'' ( Sesshū) ;1985 *''GeGeGe no Kitarō'' (third series) (Medama Oyaji) ;1987 *'' Dragon Ball'' (Gara) ;1989 *'' Akuma-kun'' (Youaltepuztli) *'' Dragon Ball Z'' (Raichi (episodes 40-44)) *'' Gakiden'' (Father) *'' Peter Pan no Bōken'' (Ton Chihōte) *'' Ranma ½: Nettōhen'' (Nikuman #2) ;1990 *'' Moomin'' (Thingumy) ;1991 *'' Dragon Quest: Dai no Daibōken'' (Brass) *'' Getter Robo Gō'' (Doctor Tama) ;1992 *''

Crayon Shin-chan is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yoshito Usui. ''Crayon Shin-chan'' made its first appearance in 1990 in a Japanese weekly magazine called ''Weekly Manga Action'', which was published by Futabasha. Due to the death of ...

'' (Saint) ;1993 *'' Kenyū Densetsu Yaiba'' (Obaba) ;1995 *'' Bonobono'' (Kuzuri-kun's Father) *''Dragon Ball Z'' (Bibidi (episode 277)) ;1996 *'' Elf wo Karumono-tachi'' (Jii-chan Elf) *''GeGeGe no Kitarō'' (fourth series) (Medama Oyaji) ;1999 *'' Digimon Adventure'' (Pikkoromon) ;2000 *'' Pocket Monsters'' (Old Man Tsubo) ;2002 *'' Final Fantasy: Unlimited'' (Frog Hermit (episode 17)) ;2003 *''

One Piece ''One Piece'' (stylized in all caps) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. It follows the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy and his crew, the Straw Hat Pirates, as he explores the Grand Line in search of the myt ...

'' (Shōjō) ;2007 *''GeGeGe no Kitarō'' (fifth series) (Medama Oyaji) ;2008 *'' Hakaba Kitarō'' (Medama Oyaji) *'' Negibōsu no Asatarō'' (Jii-san) *'' Persona: Trinity Soul'' (Igor) ;2009 *'' Marie & Gali'' (

) ;2011 *'' Persona 4: The Animation'' (Igor, archived audio) ;2014 *'' Persona 4: The Golden Animation'' (Igor, archived audio)

OVA

*'' Bokuha Ōsama'' series (Cabinet Minister Wan) *'' Haja Taisei Dangaiō'' (Shoulder Clown) *'' Tengai Makyō: Jiraiya Oboro Hen'' (Oboke)

Theatrical animation

*'' One Piece: Clockwork Island Adventure'' (2001) (Boo Jack) *'' Palme no Ki'' (2002) (Zakuro) *'' Persona 3 The Movie: No. 1, Spring of Birth'' (2013) (Igor, archived audio) *'' Persona 3 The Movie: No. 2, Midsummer Knight's Dream'' (2014) (Igor, archived audio) *'' Persona 3 The Movie: No. 3, Falling Down'' (2015) (Igor, archived audio) *'' Persona 3 The Movie: No. 4, Winter of Rebirth'' (2016) (Igor, archived audio) unknown date *'' Dr. Slump'' (Gara) *'' GeGeGe no Kitarō'' (Medama Oyaji) *'' GeGeGe no Kitarō: Daikaijū'' (Medama Oyaji) *'' GeGeGe no Kitarō: Gekitotsu!! Ijigen Yōkai no Daihanran'' (Medama Oyaji) *'' GeGeGe no Kitarō: Obake Nighter'' (Medama Oyaji) *'' GeGeGe no Kitarō: Saikyō Yōkai Gundan! Nippon Jōriku!!'' (Medama Oyaji) *'' GeGeGe no Kitarō: Yōkai Daisensō'' (Medama Oyaji) *'' GeGeGe no Kitarō: Yōkai Tokkyū! Maboroshi no Kishu'' (Medama Oyaji) *'' Gekijōban: GeGeGe no Kitarō: Nippon Bakuretsu'' (Medama Oyaji) *'' Mazinger Z tai Ankoku Daishōgun'' (Mucha) *'' Mazinger Z tai Devilman'' (Mucha) *'' Nagagutsu o Haita Neko'' (Killer B) *'' Nagagutsu Sanjūshi'' (Killer B) *'' Nagagutsu o Haita Neko: Hachijū Nichi-kan Sekaiisshū'' (Killer B) *'' Ultraman USA'' (Ulysses) *'' Urusei Yatsura: Itsudatte My Darling'' (Commanding Officer)

Video games

*'' Dragon Ball: Raging Blast'' (Rō Kaiōshin) *'' Dragon Ball Z 3'' (Rō Kaiōshin) *'' Dragon Ball Z Sparking!'' (Rō Kaiōshin) *''

Dragon Ball Z Sparking! Meteor ''Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi'', released in Japan as , is a series of fighting games developed by Spike (company), Spike based on the Dragon Ball (franchise), ''Dragon Ball'' franchise by Akira Toriyama. The series was published by Bandai Na ...

'' (Rō Kaiōshin) *'' Dragon Knight II'' (Pharmacist) *'' GeGeGe no Kitarō'' (Medama Oyaji) *'' GeGeGe no Kitarō: Yōkai Daiundōkai'' (Medama Oyaji) *'' Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy'' (Farmer) *'' One Piece Grand Battle! 3'' (Shōjō) *''

Persona 3 is a 2006 role-playing video game developed by Atlus that is the fourth main installment in the ''Persona (series), Persona'' series, which is part of the larger ''Megami Tensei'' franchise. It was originally released for the PlayStation 2 in ...

'' (Igor, Mister Ekoda) *''

Persona 4 is a 2008 role-playing video game by Atlus. It is chronologically the fifth installment in the ''Persona (series), Persona'' series, itself a part of the larger ''Megami Tensei'' franchise, and was released for the PlayStation 2 in Japan in Ju ...

'' (Igor) *'' Persona 4 Arena'' (Igor, archived audio) *'' Persona 4 Arena Ultimax'' (Igor, archived audio) *'' Persona 5'' (Igor, archived audio)

Tokusatsu

*'' Chouriki Sentai Ohranger'' (''Bara Baby'')

Dubbing roles

Live action

*'' Bewitched'' ("Daddy Comes for a Visit", "Darrin the Warlock") (Silas Bliss Junior) *'' The NeverEnding Story'' (Nighthob ( Tilo Prückner)) *'' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' (Grand Nagus Zek (

Wallace Shawn Wallace Michael Shawn (born November 12, 1943) is an American actor, essayist, playwright, and screenwriter. He is known for playing Vizzini in '' The Princess Bride'' (1987), Mr. Hall in '' Clueless'' (1995), Dr. John Sturgis in '' Young Sheldo ...

)) *'' Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace'' ( Jar Jar Binks) *'' Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones'' (Jar Jar Binks)

Animation

*'' Alice in Wonderland'' (TBS edition) (The King of Hearts, The Dormouse) *'' Aladdin (TV series)'' ( Aziz) *''

The Flintstones ''The Flintstones'' is an American animated sitcom produced by Hanna-Barbera, Hanna-Barbera Productions, which takes place in a romanticized Stone Age setting and follows the titular family, the Flintstones, and their next-door neighbors, the R ...

'' ( Barney Rubble) *'' The Mask: Animated Series'' (Mayor Mortimer Tilton) *'' One Hundred and One Dalmatians'' (Old edition) (Pongo) *''

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' (''TMNT'') is an American media franchise created by comic book artists Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. It follows Leonardo (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Leonardo, Donatello (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), D ...

'' (Video edition) (Krang) *''

Top Cat ''Top Cat'' is an American animated sitcom produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions and originally broadcast in prime time on the ABC network. It aired in a weekly evening time slot from September 27, 1961, to April 18, 1962, for a single season ...

'' (Officer Dibble)

Film

*'' GeGeGe no Kitarō'' (Medama Oyaji (voice)) *'' GeGeGe no Kitarō: Sennen Noroi Uta'' (Medama Oyaji (voice))

Radio

*'' Seishun Adventure'' (" Fengshen Yanyi") ( NHK-FM) (Yúnzhōngzǐ)

Other

*'' Gakkō no Kaidan'' (Trailer voice-over) * '' Kitaro ga Mita Gyokusai - Mizuki Shigeru no Senso'' (2007) (Medama Oyaji's voice) * Masudaya Corporation Mōrā commercial (1975) (Mōrā (voice)) *'' Nep League'' (May 7, 2007) (Medama Oyaji's voice)

References

External links

Official agency profile
* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Tanonaka, Isamu 1932 births 2010 deaths Japanese male video game actors Male voice actors from Tokyo People from Taitō Aoni Production voice actors