Voice actor Junichi Suwabe goes on hiatus due to health concerns | Photo: Animate
On Friday, December 8, Junichi Suwabe announced via his agency’s official website that he will be going on a temporary hiatus at the beginning of the year for roughly 2-3 weeks due to health concerns.
He apologized, saying, “I’m deeply sorry for the inconvenience and to cause concern for everyone involved in my works, including my fans.” His agency added that they will inform the public upon any future developments.
Suwabe, who is known for such roles as Ryomen Sukuna in Jujutsu Kaisen, Van Hellsing in Code:Realise, and Siete in Granblue Fantasy,
Suwabe went on to report on his personal blog that he’s “currently not having any problems with work or daily life (eating, drinking, exercise, etc.),” but his doctor recommended that he deal with his health sooner than later, to which he may need to undergo surgery although it’s not a serious disease.
Other notable roles that Suwabe has played include the following:
As I was discussing on Twitter, I’d like to showcase my favorite voice actors, or seiyuu, here as well! So, let’s take a look at the first voice actor on my list (it’s not a ranking, though!) with Hiroshi Kamiya!
He loves cats and has a Russian Blue cat named “Nyako-sensei”.
▶︎ Traffic Accident
While reading a little more into his biography, I discovered that he had a serious traffic accident back in 2006. This may not seem like very pertinent information to discuss here, but I think it could very much play a role in his terrific career as a voice actor. In fact, I feel like I can appreciate his work much more knowing he went through this very difficult time in his life.
According to Wikipedia, on August 7, 2006, he was hospitalized following a traffic accident while riding a motorcycle; however, details about the accident were never disclosed by his agency. He was in a coma for nearly a month, during which time he also faced life-threatening moments, including cardiopulmonary arrest. Nevertheless, he made an amazing recovery and was discharged from the hospital on September 29th of the same year.
He continued rehabilitation after leaving the hospital and eventually made a comeback as Thelma Kamioka in the final episode of “Bakukyu Hit! Crash B-Daman,” which aired on December 25th. During his hospitalization, friends gave him a cross necklace as a symbol of hope for his recovery. He wore it almost every day after leaving the hospital and still keeps it in his bag to prevent damage.
▶︎ Favorite Role
Towa no Quon Quon
Towa no Quon is a Japanese animated supernatural film series from 2011, consisting of six films directed by Umanosuke Iida. The series began with the release of its first film in theaters on June 18, 2011, and concluded with the last installment on November 26, 2011. Sentai Filmworks holds the North American licensing rights for the film series, which features character designs by Toshihiro Kawamoto (Wolf’s Rain, Blood Blockade Battlefront, Jyu Oh Sei), animation by BONES, music by Kenji Kawai, and ending theme “Reckless” by LAZY (Hironobu Kageyama).
This is my favorite role of Kamiya’s because because Quon is such a sweet and caring leader who willingly puts himself on the line for others, time and time again. He also silently carries quite a bit of sorrow and regret from his past that makes him a really admirable character.
▶︎ Story Synopsis
In the not-so-distant future, there are individuals, both boys and girls, known as “gifts.” They’ve involuntarily awakened to supernatural abilities, all while remaining hidden from the general public. However, there exist a group of people known as “Attractors” who offer support and protection to these gifted individuals.
At the center of the story is a young man named Quon, who possesses the unique ability to transform his body into a mysterious entity known as “Insania.” Quon’s mission is to continue his fight against the clandestine organization known as the “Order.” This organization labels those with abilities as “Vestia,” holds them in contempt, captures them, and seeks their extermination. Quon also contends with the cyborg unit “Custos”.
The protagonist, Quon, has lived for over a millennium. He was born in a village that harbored the first Attractors, and Quon’s extraordinary abilities became evident when he witnessed the brutal massacre of his family and village. Fueled by rage, he sought vengeance but soon realized that his fury led to the unintentional killing of innocent people as well. From that point on, Quon has dedicated himself to paving the path toward a future of peace and acceptance.
What sets Quon apart from other Attractors is his ability to demonstrate multiple powers, which include a transforming into a mysterious combat form, which Custos have labeled as Insania. In this state, Quon exhibits exceptional speed and strength, the ability to manipulate water, metal, including mechanical objects, and possibly even control over nature itself, all while possessing self-regenerative capabilities.
There are some aspects of the story that resemble that of the TV series HEROES, but I thoroughly enjoyed the show. I especially remember how horrible of a cliffhanger part 4 had at the end. I will never forget almost verbally moaning in the theater out of complete shock and horror.
If anyone is interested in checking out the films, it was released in English by Sentai Filmworks.
Masako Nozawa, a distinguished voice actor and actress, is renowned for her iconic roles as Goku in Dragon Ball and Kitaro in GeGeGe no Kitaro. She stands out as a fresh and highly creative talent in literature, movies, theater, newspapers, broadcasting, publishing, and the broader cultural landscape. Her exceptional achievements have earned her the 71st Hiroshi Kikuchi Award, which recognizes individuals and organizations that have demonstrated outstanding accomplishments.
Nozawa has brought to life various notable characters throughout her illustrious career, including Kitaro in GeGeGe no Kitaro, Hiroshi in Dogutsu Gaeru, Doraemon in the Nippon TV rendition of Doraemon, and Gamba in The Adventures of Gamba, spanning the entire history of Japanese animation to the present day. Her contributions as a national legend in the world of voice acting extend to a multitude of works, with characters such as Rascal in “Rascal the Raccoon” and Tetsuro Hoshino in Galaxy Express 999. In recent years, she has also been actively involved in a variety of television shows.
The Hiroshi Kikuchi Award bestowed upon Nozawa serves as a tribute to the remarkable achievements of the Bungeishunju founder, Hiroshi Kikuchi, across various facets of Japanese culture. The Japan Public Interest Incorporated Foundation recognizes individuals or organizations that have demonstrated the utmost creativity and innovation in fields such as literature, film/theatre, journalism, broadcasting, publishing, and cultural activities in general, throughout the period from September to August of the preceding year. This prestigious award is presented by the Literature Promotion Association.
On October 11, 2023, the official Twitter account for Aoni Productions announced Nozawa as the recipient of the 71st Hiroshi Kikuchi Award:
In response to the news, Aoni Productions stated, “Masako Nozawa has been honored with the 71st Hiroshi Kikuchi Award. We extend our deepest appreciation for the wonderful works and characters she has contributed to, as well as for the support of all those involved, and to her dedicated fans.” Enthusiastic fans also expressed their congratulations, with messages such as “Congratulations on your well-deserved award!” and “This remarkable individual truly deserves the Hiroshi Kikuchi award.”
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