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Voice Actor Hiroshi Masuoka Retires From Sazae-san, Anpanman Roles
posted on by Jennifer Sherman
Voice actor Hiroshi Masuoka has retired from his roles of Sazae-san's Masuo Fuguta and Soreike! Anpanman's Jam Ojisan. Hideyuki Tanaka will take over the role of Masuo, and Kōichi Yamadera will take over the role of Jam Ojisan.
Masuoka began playing Masuo in June 1978. Masuoka himself proposed retiring from the role due to his age, and staff agreed to the decision after discussions. Masuoka's final performance as Masuo will air in the episode of Sazae-san premiering on August 18. Tanaka will debut as Masuo in the next episode on August 25.
Masuoka began performing the role of Jam Ojisan on Soreike! Anpanman when the show premiered in 1988. Masuoka himself also proposed his retirement from the role. His final performance of the character will premiere in the anime's episode 1,464 on August 9.
Other characters Masuoka has played include Cyborg 009's 005, Dragon Ball Z's Kame Sennin, and Minami's father in Touch.
Sources: Comic Natalie (link 2