On Friday, July 12, 2024, Noriko Ohara, the voice actress of Doraemon’s Nobita Nobi, passed away at the age of 88. The official website of 81 Produce announced the news on Tuesday, July 23, 2024.
Ohara, the renowned voice behind the much-loved character Nobita Nobi, was a trailblazer in the Japanese voice acting field. While seemingly recovering from an illness, the Japanese voice actress sadly passed away in July. The talent management company has not disclosed the reason for her unexpected passing.
Noriko Ohara who voiced Nobita in Doraemon has sadly passed away on July 12, 2024. pic.twitter.com/Rtvx8js0p7
— Anime News And Facts (@AniNewsAndFacts) July 23, 2024
After her passing, the voice actress’ relatives held a funeral service as requested by the bereaved family. Along with this, 81 Produce conveyed their sincere respect and condolences to the voice actress, acknowledging the kindness she had displayed towards them throughout her life.
Ohara’s Works and Career
Noriko Ohara, also known by her other name Noriko Tobe, had a successful career as a voice actress that lasted over 26 years. Born in Tokyo, she provided the voice for Nobita, a carefree but optimistic boy who was taken care of by the robotic and earless cat Doraemon, from 1979 until the end of her career. She also portrayed memorable roles like Conan in Future Boy Conan, and Tsuyoshi Hiyoshi in Voltes V.
In addition to her roles as all of the female lead villains in the Time Bokan series and Oyuki in Urusei Yatsura, she is also known for her dubbing work in various Western films and cartoons. She lent her voice to characters such as Valerie Brown in Josie and the Pussycats, Penelope Pitstop in The Perils of Penelope Pitstop, and Miss Bianca in The Rescuers.
Ohara’s role in ‘Doraemon’ was crucial. She not only lent her voice to Nobita Nobi in the TV Asahi version that premiered in 1979, but also portrayed the character’s mother, Tamako, in the 1973 Nippon Television version. Alongside other skilled voice actors, her contributions were integral in shaping the iconic characters we have grown to love. Through this role, she gained recognition from multiple generations.
In addition to her career as a voice actress, Noriko Ohara was deeply involved in giving lectures and readings. She had a strong passion for spreading her love for literature and storytelling to others. As a testament to her dedication and skill, she even released a reading CD that she produced and narrated, highlighting her versatility and commitment to her craft.
About Noriko Ohara
As announced by her agency 81 Produce, Obara Noriko passed away on July 12th. https://t.co/iOo7ExdN3M We would like to thank all the fans who have supported us so warmly over the years, and the staff and cast who have worked with us on creative endeavors. Thank you very much.
— Noriko Obara appearance information (@voice_nohara) July 23, 2024
Translation:
As announced by her agency, 81 Produce, Obara Noriko passed away on July 12th. We would like to thank all the fans who have shown us their warm support over the years, and to the staff and cast members who have worked with us on creative projects. Thank you very much.
Noriko Ohara, who was born on October 2, 1935, worked as a voice actress and was represented by Production Baobab. Her foray into the world of entertainment started during her elementary school years when she became a member of Niji no Hashi, a children’s theater group.
After starting college, she temporarily stepped away from the entertainment industry but remained active in acting. She eventually returned to her roots by appearing in early commercial TV dramas. Additionally, she ventured into the field of dubbing, a new venture for her. However, after getting married, she faced challenges in traveling for work in rural areas, prompting her to focus more on dubbing projects.
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