Noriko Ohara, best known for voicing Nobita in Doraemon, passes away at 88 years old

Voice actress Noriko Ohara, best known for her long-standing role as Nobita in the anime Doraemon, passed away on the 12th of this month. Ohara’s agency said that she had been undergoing treatment for an unspecified illness. She was 88 years old. 

Born in Tokyo, Ohara began her acting career in the early years of television. She later found success as a voice actor for an animated character, taking the role of Nobita Nobi in the popular Doraemon series starting in 1979. Her portrayal of Nobita, a clumsy boy who would often rely on the robot cat from the future, Doraemon, whenever he was in trouble, is characterized by a high-pitched, endearing voice well loved by audiences throughout the years. 

Ohara also voiced a wide range of characters in different shows, such as the lead character in the 1978 NHK anime series “Future Boy Conan” and dubbed others in foreign movies released in the Japanese market.

She received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the inaugural Seiyu Awards in 2007 in recognition of her outstanding achievement and contributions to the field of voice acting. 

In 2007, she was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the inaugural Seiyu Awards, recognizing her significant contributions to the field of voice acting.

Source: NHK