One Piece: Franky’s Voice Actor To Step Down From His Role

One Piece: Franky's Voice Actor To Step Down From His Role

Key Takeaways

  • Kazuki Yao steps down from voicing Jango for health reasons, Wataru Takagi to take over.
  • No news of Kazuki Yao leaving role as Franky, but potential for change if health declines.
  • One Piece anime to release One Piece Fan Letter project for its 25th anniversary directed by Megumi Ishitani.

As a long-time fan of One Piece and someone who has grown up with the series, this latest development leaves me both saddened and hopeful. Kazuki Yao, the voice behind Franky, stepping down from Jango is undoubtedly a blow to the community, but seeing Wataru Takagi step into the role brings a sense of comfort knowing that the character will still be in good hands.


Boasting more than 1100 episodes, One Piece stands as one of the longest-lasting anime series out there. Given its longevity, the voice actors, particularly those voicing the Straw Hat Pirates, have accumulated decades of experience in their roles. Kazuki Yao is among these dedicated voices, lending his talent to Franky, the shipwright of the Straw Hat Pirates. Additionally, he provides the voices for Jango and Bon Clay as well.

Regrettably, it has been announced by the official account of X (previously known as Twitter), which handles the One Piece anime, that Kazuki Yao will no longer play the character Jango. This decision was made with the voice actor’s wellbeing in consideration.

The New Voice Actor For Jango

As stated in the recent announcement, it’s Wataru Takagi who is set to assume Kazuki Yao’s responsibilities. Notably, Wataru Takagi is a seasoned artist known for lending his voice to many popular anime character roles.

  • Onizuka from Great Teacher Onizuka
  • Okuyasu from Diamond Is Unbreakable
  • Obito Uchiha from Naruto
  • Knuckle from Hunter x Hunter
  • Caiman from Dorohedoro

In Episode 1121, Wataru Takagi temporarily replaces Kazuki Yao in the voice acting for Jango, due to Yao’s current health issues. The question remains: will Yao relinquish his other roles as well? As of now, there are no reports indicating that Yao is stepping down from playing Franky. However, if his condition deteriorates further, a change may be imminent.

In case it occurs, it wouldn’t be unprecedented for a famous character to have a new voice actor. Just like Whitebeard and Sengoku, who had to get new voice actors due to their original ones passing away. The health news about Kazuki Yao is undoubtedly worrying, but fans will cross their fingers for his full recovery, so he can continue voicing Franky and other characters.

The Future Of One Piece

The Series Is Announcing New Projects At A Steady Pace

One Piece: Franky's Voice Actor To Step Down From His Role

Separately, it was announced that the One Piece anime is launching a new venture titled “One Piece Fan Letter” as part of its 25th anniversary celebrations. With Megumi Ishitani at the helm, fans can expect this project to be nothing short of amazing.

In the upcoming adaptation, Four Tales from the “One Piece Novel: Straw Hat Stories” will be featured. This book provides an intriguing glimpse into the everyday lives of characters within the world of One Piece. For example, one story allows fans to view Luffy’s heroic actions during the Marineford arc through the perspective of a Marine officer.

​​​​​​One Piece Fan Letter is set to be released on October 20th, 2024.

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2024-10-06 01:36