One Piece is a hugely popular and beloved anime, and that’s thanks to the dedication of everyone who works on it, carefully crafting the adventures of the Straw Hat Pirates. While not a main character, voice actor Wakana Yamazaki played a vital role in telling the story of Nami’s past as Nojiko. Sadly, Yamazaki has passed away at the age of 61, and both the anime world and fans are deeply saddened by the loss.
Aoni Productions announced with sadness that actress Wakana Yamazaki passed away on April 18, 2026, at the age of 61. She had been receiving medical care for an illness for some time, but unfortunately did not recover. The agency expressed gratitude for the support she received during her life and stated that a private wake and funeral were held with family, respecting the family’s wishes. Yamazaki had a long and successful career in anime, including her well-known role in One Piece.
Remembering Wakana Yamazaki
The voice actor for Nojiko in One Piece had an incredibly extensive career, appearing in numerous popular anime series. Beyond her role in One Piece, she voiced characters in franchises like Dragon Ball, Case Closed, Mobile Suit Gundam, Sailor Moon, and Lupin the 3rd, among many others. Following her recent passing, Gosho Aoyama, the creator of Detective Conan, expressed his sadness, saying he would greatly miss her kind and comforting voice, which felt like a constant, natural presence.
Like many anime voice actors, Wakana’s work extended beyond animation. She was also well-known for her roles in several video games, including Dead or Alive, Battle Arena Toshinden, Xenosaga, Dragon Force, and Ninja Gaiden. Following the news of Wakana Yamazaki’s passing, Team Ninja, along with Aoni Productions, released a statement expressing their sadness and offering condolences. They remembered her portrayal of Ayane in the DEAD OR ALIVE and NINJA GAIDEN series, noting her long-standing contribution and wishing her peace.
Our thoughts are with the friends and loved ones of Wakana Yamazaki during this difficult time.
Via Aoni Productions
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2026-05-15 16:39