A farewell gathering was held in Tokyo on October 30 for iconic voice actress Noriko Ohara, who passed away on July 12 at age 88. Friends, colleagues, and fans came together to pay tribute to Ohara’s legacy, which includes unforgettable roles such as Conan from Future Boy Conan, Doronjo from Yatterman, and Nobita from Doraemon.

The ceremony included a video honoring Ohara’s career, with scenes and recordings of her most memorable characters. Attendees shared warm memories, highlighting her exceptional talent and ability to voice both mischievous boys and captivating female characters.

In his address, Ohara’s son, Atsuo Tobe, expressed gratitude to attendees, remarking, “While my mother was just a mother to me, as Noriko Ohara the voice actress, she held deep connections with so many people here.” Representatives from the animation industry, including Kazuko Ishikawa (President of Nippon Animation), expressed their admiration and fondness for Ohara’s warmth on set, describing working with her as a “priceless treasure.”

Michiyoshi Minamisawa, President of 81 Produce, fondly recalled Ohara’s kindness during her recent hospital visits, remembering her as a mentor with “genius talent” for roles ranging from young boys to femme fatales. He also noted the recent passing of fellow Doraemon voice actress Nobuyo Oyama, sharing, “It’s a remarkable coincidence; Doraemon and Nobita were always inseparable, and now perhaps they’re reuniting with Fujiko F. Fujio in the heavens.”

The altar was adorned with 2,500 red and pink roses, along with panels displaying her characters, surrounding a photograph of Ohara with a gentle smile. Attendees also viewed displays of Ohara’s personal memorabilia, including her first episode script from Future Boy Conan and her book Falling in Love with Voice Acting.

Led by Atsuo Tobe and Michiyoshi Minamisawa, the farewell event welcomed around 250 guests from the industry, with an earlier public memorial attended by around 100 fans.

Source : ORICON NEWS