Anime NYC 2024: Toshio Furukawa Talks With Anime Herald

Note: Due to the time-sensitive nature of our coverage, this article will debut on the main Anime Herald site on November 25. We apologize for the inconvenience.

• Interview Date: 8/24/2024

• Interview Location: Anime NYC 2024

• Interviewer: Seth Burn

• Editor: Samantha Ferreira

Unknown Outlet: What made you decide to become a voice actor?

Toshio Furukawa: I was a stage actor at the start of my career. My boss suggested I do voice acting. He was also a voice actor. That’s how it started.

He was voicing the main character in the show “The F.B.I.” He took me to a recording session. The director asked me to voice a different character. That’s how it started.

My first role was in a show called “ChiPs.” I did the voice for Erik Estrada.

Manga Mavericks: Sadly, Akira Toriyama passed away earlier this year. What was your relationship with Toriyama-sensei like? Can you share one of your favorite experiences or interactions with him?

Toshio Furukawa: We didn’t get to see each other often, because he didn’t come to the recording sessions. We would often meet at the industry parties. He would say things to me like, “The next movie will be very tough” and wish me the best. He would cheer me on. Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero. That was one of the more memorable works for me.

Anime Corner: Piccolo was recently given some time in the spotlight during the last Dragon Ball Super movie. What was it like, taking center stage with that character?

Toshio Furukawa: I’ve been acting in the Piccolo role for a long time. He doesn’t really transform into some other form. But in this film, Piccolo got to transform into Orange Piccolo. I was very excited because that was something I was wishing for.

The Natural Aristocrat: When it comes to acting technique, what do you hope fans remember about your approach to Piccolo?

Toshio Furukawa: My vocal range is fairly higher-pitched. It’s A to F. During auditions, I would do a line, and the sound director would say “Can you try a little lower pitched.” I’d try again. “Can you try to get it a little lower?” “Lower.” “Even lower.” 

(Editor’s note: Mr. Furukawa then started speaking in a voice that I would best describe as a Batman whisper.)

They said “That’s it!” That was kind of a tough moment.

Anime Herald: Do you have a favorite Popeye episode from growing up?

Toshio Furukawa: My senpais were in the show. That’s one of the reasons I started this career.

When Popeye becomes stronger from eating spinach, first he crushes the spinach can. As a little kid, I always wondered, if he was strong enough to crush the can, why did he need the spinach? That was one of the questions I had as a kid. I used to sing the song “Popeye, The Sailor Man.”

Unknown Outlet: How does it feel to return to the role of Ataru Moroboshi in Urusei Yatsura after so long?

Toshio Furukawa: The new voice actor for Ataru Moroboshi is Hiroshi Kamiya. He’s part of the same agency as me. As his senpai, I was very glad that he got the role. We have a very close relationship as senpai and kōhai. Before the series started, we had a “Good luck, let’s do our best” special moment together.

Unknown Outlet: Piccolo and Ace (Portgas D. Ace) have such a cultural and worldwide impact. Did you have an idea of the kind of impact they would have before taking the roles?

Toshio Furukawa: When I took the role (of Piccolo), I wasn’t expecting the character to last long. I thought he would be killed soon enough and be gone. I was very surprised he survived through all of the episodes. I am so happy to live as this character for so long.

Unknown Outlet: In Dragon Ball and One Piece you play strong, brave characters. What is it like playing weaker, more cowardly characters like Inspector Yamamura from Detective Conan?

Toshio Furukawa: Both stronger characters and softer characters broaden my ability to play all kinds of roles. I appreciate all of the characters that I play.

Unknown Outlet: How has your experience interacting with fans in the USA been different from Japan?

Toshio Furukawa: Every time I come on stage in America, the audience shouts. They’re very excited. They show their emotions. In Japan, they’re quiet. It’s really interesting to see those differences.

Back in the day, the legendary voice actress Masako Nozawa, she voiced Son Goku, we went to an anime convention in America. Masako-san asked me, “Should we do the Goku line?” Then she did “Kamehameha” to the American audience. Then, 3,000 people in the audience stood up and did “Kamehameha” back to us. I was very surprised. It’s a great memory.

I thought I could try my line too. I did Makankosappo to the audience. They hit me back with the special beam. That was very funny.

Unknown Outlet: You’ve done a lot of voice acting, and many different roles. Do you have a favorite role, and why?

Toshio Furukawa: Piccolo first appeared in Dragon Ball as a villain. Later on in the series, he became friends and fought alongside Goku. He has a gentle part of his personality, and the strength to protect his peers. He has both elements within him. That’s why I love him so much. Nowadays, Piccolo has become a housekeeper. (Laughs)

Manga Mavericks: In Urusei Yatsura, Ataru’s personality would often change from episode to episode, depending on the director. How did you get into character for Ataru?

Toshio Furukawa: First off, Ataru Moroboshi’s character has a very complex personality, with many different aspects. He can be very serious one moment, and then very dramatic the next. For example, there’s a beautiful lady to his left. “He’ll say “I love you” in a very ikémen voice. On the right side, there’s another beautiful lady, and he’ll be touching her butt. A bit of sexual harassment. It happened at the same time in the same scene. At the time it was very challenging, but it was also a lot of fun to play.

Anime Corner: Looking back on your work as Ataru, are there any moments or episodes that stand out as your favorite or most memorable.

Toshio Furukawa: There’s an episode where the only two characters are Ataru and Shutaro Mendo. The director said to me and the voice actor for Mendo (Akira Kamiya), “You guys know each other very well, so I guess the two of you can just wing it.” And we did. The first thirteen minutes. And then the second 13 minutes. No rehearsals. No discussions. We just did it. We got it right on the first try. That day I got to go home very early. That’s my memorable moment for Ataru.

ESG Gaming Network: As the voice of Ace was it sad to see that character go?

Toshio Furukawa: The day of the recording session of the episode, I really didn’t want to go to the recording studio, because I knew what was going to happen. Before the recording day, I asked the producer “Hey, is Ace going to die…?” He didn’t tell me of course. But I read the manga, so I knew what was going to happen.

The Natural Aristocrat: What role are you most proud of performing in your career?

Toshio Furukawa: Any of the characters that I play have their challenges. None were easy. But two roles that were particularly difficult were Hawk’s Eye from Sailor Moon and General Blue from Dragon Ball. Hawk’s Eye was a very feminine role.

In the swordsman arc from Demon Slayer (Swordsmith Village arc), I played the demon Hantengu. It was quite hard for me. He was scared throughout multiple episodes. I had to vocalize that. Then one day, I just had one word in the recording session. Then I went home. It was hard to express everything in just one word.

I went to the recording session, recording my word, and then said “Good luck guys,” and went home. It took one minute. (Laughs)

Anime Herald: When you started in the industry, you were recording for a Japanese audience. Now that anime is a worldwide industry, how has your job changed?

Toshio Furukawa: When I started my career, I thought I loved my job. But I found out, there’s more than that. Now there’s a worldwide popular anime culture. I’m invited to conventions all over the world, throughout the year. One time I was invited to a high level government party.

I was invited to an ambassador’s official residence. He explained that there are a lot of things that are dealt with via power. Sometimes, it’s through war. He said that what I am doing, what we are doing, through anime, takes away barriers. Cultural, ethnic, and language barriers. Anime cuts through that. I thought “This isn’t just my favorite job. It’s a mission I can pursue.” My life sense shifted, in a good way.

(Editor’s note: Great answer.)

Unknown Outlet: What was your most memorable moment for Piccolo?

Toshio Furukawa: There’s a moment when Piccolo stands in front of Gohan to protect him. In his final words he tells Gohan that he’s a friend and this is the best moment he’s had.

Unknown Outlet: What went through your mind when you found out Urusei Yatsura was being rebooted?

Toshio Furukawa: I was at the agency office and my manager kindly mentioned that it was going to be rebooted, and he kindly asked if I would be interested in the role of Ataru’s father. That’s how I found out about that.

Michael Tom: What are some of your favorite anime and manga of all time?

Toshio Furukawa: That I’ve been in? Dragon Ball. One Piece. Patlabor, directed by Mamoru Oshii. The character I played, Asuma Shinohara, was the character that was most similar to my natural voice range. We discussed this before we began the recording sessions.

Director Oshii asked me to be natural as much as possible. Some of the characters I play have to overact. Oshii said, “No, that’s too much.” He wanted natural human face-to-face conversation. That was my characterization in that series.

The Natural Aristocrat: I’ve heard from voice actors that working on video games often strains their voice. What has been your experience of working on games?

Toshio Furukawa: In terms of video game recording sessions, they’ve been fairly quick. We record three different types of every line. For example, there’s a recording of soft damage, medium damage, and heavy damage. It was quite difficult to vocalize three different types of every line.

It’s only me in the recording booth, so it’s just “Boom, boom, boom.” They are very productive recording sessions. Pretty much every time, I get it right in the first recording session.

I normally record 300 words in half an hour. I never really experienced taking an hour to do 300 words. The fastest case is maybe ten minutes to do 300 words.

There was one line for laughing. Depending on the situation, my character might laugh “Ha!” or “Ha ha!” or “Ha ha ha!” or more.

The longer it gets, the harder it is to count all the laughs. There are shorter versions of the villain laughs, and medium versions, and longer versions.

(Editor’s note: Mr. Furukawa then demonstrated some incredibly long and complex laughs. It was a fun way to end the session.)