Voice Actress Michiko Nomura Reflects on Memories with Noriko Ohara and Nobuyo Oyama: "I’m the Only One Left Now"
On October 30, voice actress Michiko Nomura attended a farewell ceremony in Tokyo for her late friend and colleague Noriko Ohara, who passed away on July 12 at age 88. Nomura, who voiced Shizuka in the classic Doraemon anime, reminisced about her many travels and memories with Ohara and Nobuyo Oyama, who also passed away recently on September 29.
Nomura recalled with a smile, “The three of us traveled a lot together. Ohara handled all the arrangements, speaking English for us, Oyama took care of the food, and I just had to decide which way to go.” Laughing, she shared a particularly funny memory from their time abroad: “We once argued about whether to see the Manneken Pis statue or eat waffles. In the end, we did both.”
Reflecting on being the last of the original Doraemon cast members, she expressed a bittersweet sentiment: “I’m the only one left now. It made me feel a bit rushed, so I plan to enjoy the rest of my time as much as I can.”
Speaking about Doraemon, Nomura said, “It’s the most impactful work in my life. People recognize me as Shizuka, and it’s always brought me joy. I feel incredibly lucky to have been part of such a wonderful series.” She shared how she, Ohara, Oyama, and other cast members of the original show bonded over their shared experiences, recalling topics like wartime memories and the foods they enjoyed in their youth.
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