Toshio Furukawa: Movies & Box Office

Toshio Furukawa (born July 16, 1946 in Ōhira, Shimotsuga District, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan) is a veteran Japanese actor, voice actor and narrator affiliated with Aoni Production. He began his career in the early 1970s, making his debut as a soldier in the classic mecha series Brave Raideen, and quickly established himself as a versatile talent capable of covering a wide range of vocal styles. Over the decades Furukawa has become renowned for iconic roles such as Kai Shiden in Mobile Suit Gundam, the mischievous Ataru Moroboshi in Urusei Yatsura, the stoic Shin in Fist of the North Star, and the iconic Piccolo in the globally beloved Dragon Ball franchise. His ability to shift from comedic characters like Ataru to serious, brooding figures such as Piccolo demonstrates a rare vocal flexibility that has kept him in demand for both television animation and theatrical releases. In addition to anime, Furukawa has lent his voice to major video game titles, portraying Piccolo and General Blue in the Dragon Ball series, as well as Taizo Hori in the Mr. Driller saga. He also contributed to the Dead or Alive series as Jann Lee and voiced Portgas D. Ace in One Piece, further cementing his status as a prolific voice actor. Beyond voice work, Furukawa has appeared in live‑action tokusatsu productions such as Kamen Rider Wizard and Dekaranger, and has performed as a narrator for various television programs. A talented musician, he was a member of the rock band Slapstick alongside fellow voice actors Tōru Furuya, Kazuyuki Sogabe, Yūji Mitsuya and Akio Nojima, and participated in reunion concerts in 2007 to honor former members. Furukawa’s personal life is marked by his marriage to fellow voice actress Shino Kakinuma, and he is known for his affection for Shih Tzu dogs, naming his pets after beloved characters like Asuma Shinohara and Ataru Moroboshi. With a career spanning more than five decades, Furukawa remains an influential figure in Japanese entertainment, praised for his professionalism, distinctive voice, and enduring contributions to some of the most beloved series in anime history.