Kazuki Yao, a well-known voice actor from the One Piece anime, will not appear in an upcoming episode due to health concerns.
Yao, who voices the characters Franky and Jango, will be temporarily replaced by Wataru Takagi for the role of Jango.
This change was announced by the official One Piece website on their social media platform, X (formerly Twitter). Episode 1121, titled Garp and Kuzan: Master and Student’s Conflict of Justice, will air on October 6, 2024.
It’s still unclear how serious Yao’s condition is and whether he will return to voice Jango or if this replacement is permanent.
Yao has been struggling with health and vocal issues, which have affected his performance as Franky in recent episodes.
Fans and viewers have noticed that his articulation has been declining, making it difficult to hear his lines clearly.
Concerns about his vocal performance were first raised after Episode 1090, where his portrayal of Franky seemed less clear than usual.
While some fans expressed their worries about his health, others speculated that age might be a factor, as Yao turned 65 this year.
Yao has been a part of One Piece since 2000, voicing both Jango and the fan-favorite character Franky. He also provides the voice for Bon Clay in the series.
His role as Franky, being a core member of the Straw Hat Pirates, holds significant importance. However, it remains uncertain if Yao will continue voicing Franky while stepping back from Jango, or if he will need to take a break from both roles due to his health concerns.
For now, Yao has asked fans to enjoy Takagi’s portrayal of Jango and expressed optimism about the temporary change.
Wataru Takagi, who will take over the role of Jango, is an experienced voice actor with a long career dating back to 1987.
He is well-known for his roles in various anime series, including Detective Conan, Naruto Shippuden, and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners.
This year, he also returned to voice Tokageroh in the sequel series Shaman King: Flowers. With his extensive background in anime, Takagi is expected to bring his own unique style to the role of Jango while Yao focuses on his health.
