After admitting to a four-and-a-half-year-long affair with a fan, voice actor Tōru Furuya has stepped down from his roles in the popular anime franchises One Piece and Detective Conan.
On June 22, Tōru and talent agency Aoni Production jointly announced that he would be resigning from his roles as Sabo in One Piece and Tōru Amuro in Detective Conan. According to a statement on Mantan Web, Aoni Production had requested for Tōru to step down from these characters, and he had agreed to do so.
Aoni Production stated that the actor’s affair had a direct and significant negative impact on the image of the work and the character in both situations, leading to the need for immediate action. In his statement, Tōru recognizes this decision as the only way to make up for the harm caused to those involved in the series, his dedicated fans, and the works and characters.
In May, the performer, known for portraying characters in Dragon Ball Z, Gundam, and Sailor Moon, confessed to engaging in a four-year affair with a female fan. Throughout the affair, there were instances of physical abuse, and Tōru confessed to pressuring the woman to undergo an abortion.
With a career spanning nearly six decades, Tōru has established himself as a prominent figure in the industry. His first credited roles date back to his teenage years and he has become closely associated with iconic characters like Yamcha in Dragon Ball Z and Amuro Ray in Gundam, lending his voice to them in multiple installments.
On June 11, it was revealed that he would be replaced in the role of Metaphor: ReFantasio. The replacements for either franchise have not been announced, and his involvement in any other projects remains uncertain.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, you can access a list of resources for the US here, and a list of resources for the UK here.
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