Kazuki Yao Bids Farewell to Franky After 19 Years

The ONE PIECE event at Jump Festa 2025, held on December 22 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, became a touching farewell for Kazuki Yao, who has voiced Franky since the character’s anime debut in May 2005. Yao, who announced his departure earlier this month, joined the stage with the voice cast of the Straw Hat Pirates for a heartfelt graduation ceremony, leaving Luffy’s voice actor, Mayumi Tanaka, in tears.

A Celebration of Franky’s Legacy

The event featured a live reading of the manga, showcasing Yao’s iconic Franky voice, met with roaring applause from fans. A special "Franky’s Memorable Scenes" segment highlighted key moments from the anime and manga, eliciting cheers of "Franky!!!" from both the audience and the voice cast.

A message of gratitude from series creator Eiichiro Oda was read by Tanaka, who playfully imitated Franky’s signature phrases:

“Suuuper!!! Yao-san, I’ll never forget the time you took me to that Kamabakka-style bar! Thank you for being Franky for so many years! No matter where you go, you’re always a crewmate!”

A Tearful Goodbye and a Fitting Finale

One by one, the Straw Hat voice actors shared personal messages for Yao, culminating in an emotional moment as Tanaka wiped away tears with a handkerchief. The event closed with a moving performance of the song Family 7 Members of the Straw Hat Pirates Version, with the cast and audience singing, “We are family!” while striking Franky’s iconic pose.

The Legacy of ONE PIECE

Based on Eiichiro Oda’s manga, which began serialization in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1997, ONE PIECE follows the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy and his Straw Hat Pirates as they search for the legendary treasure “One Piece.” The series has sold over 510 million copies worldwide, with its anime adaptation airing since 1999. The 2022 film ONE PIECE FILM RED became a cultural phenomenon, grossing ¥203.4 billion domestically.

Source : ORICON NEWS