Veteran voice actress Mayumi Tanaka has been the iconic voice of Monkey D. Luffy for over two decades, bringing the beloved character to life in Eiichiro Oda’s long-running series A pieceAt the age of 64, Tanaka reflected on the character’s future, especially since there are no signs that the series is nearing its conclusion.
During a Japanese talk show, Tanaka casually admitted that she might not be around to see the series through to the end. When asked who could possibly replace her as Luffy’s voice, a famous name was hilariously mentioned – namely Masako Nozawa, the voice of Son Goku from Dragon Ball.
Mayumi Tanaka’s legacy in A piece
Mayumi Tanaka’s portrayal of Monkey D. Luffy is inseparable from the character himself. Her youthful, energetic voice perfectly captures the spirit of the Straw Hat captain whose journey has captivated audiences ever since. A piece First broadcast in 1999.
As A piece continues to evolve, as do the questions about the future of the iconic characters and their voices. Since the series still has a long run, Tanaka speculates about whether or not she will be able to play Luffy for much longer. In 2019, she reflected on her journey through the legendary series in a Japanese talk show. “Bokura no Jidai”. In their own words:
Maybe I won’t be alive at all. When the time comes, I hope One Piece fans can accept the person I choose as my successor.
While this statement is humorous, it shows how much Tanaka cares about the character and that he recognizes Luffy’s voice, along with Eiichiro Oda’s masterful storytelling, as one of the key factors in the series’ success.
The suitable successor for Mayumi Tanaka According to her son
The conversation about Mayumi Tanaka’s possible successor came up when her son, who was also a guest on the show, suggested who could replace his mother in the role of Luffy. And his answer was Masako Nozawa, the legendary voice actress who is best known for her voice of Son Goku from Dragon Ball. However, Tanaka quickly dismissed this idea with a cheeky but pointed reply:
What’s the point if it’s someone older than me?
Born in 1936, Nozawa has voiced Goku for over 35 years, a role that has made her a household name both in Japan and around the world. Despite this, Nozawa seems to have no intention of retiring just yet, as she jokingly noted:
I can continue acting until I’m at least 100. I think I could do it until I’m 128.
While the idea of Masako Nozawa taking over the role of Luffy was clearly a joke, the discussion surrounding succession planning in the anime world is anything but. There are many cases where the original voice actors were replaced due to unforeseen events, even after many years of dubbing.
Over the years and A piece As the anime approaches its final saga, Mayumi Tanaka’s voice will undoubtedly remain connected to Luffy in the hearts of fans. But the show must go on, even if the voices behind the characters move on to other adventures.
A piece is currently available on Crunchyroll.
