Thanks for everything, Mr. Yanami.

[Tian]

Six years after we heard his last performances in Dragon Ball Super...

On the past December 3, our beloved Joji Yanami (King Kai, Narrator) has passed away.

https://kotaku.com/dragon-ball-voice-ac ... 211342/amp

R.I.P. Mr. Yanami.

[Dragon Ball Ireland]

Rest in peace Yoji Yanami. His style of narration was both captivating and inspirational. Truly made Dragon Ball feel like the old folk tale Toriyama envisioned. Casting Yanami as Kaio-Sama was a wonderful decision too as the gravitas he brought was perfect for the lord of the north 7th universe. 90 was a great age. The work he did on the franchise will never be forgotten.

[theoriginalbilis]

Very sad. I'm feeling for his family and loved ones right now. I remember hearing that he was going through health issues which forced him to retire, but I'm glad he was able to live a good quality of life and make it all the way to a very distinguished 90 years old, which most people don't ever make it to.

His voiceover work, especially in Dragon Ball, is so iconic and will never be forgotten. His voice and narration-style were warm and inviting, while being epic at the same time, and I always look forward to hearing it whenever I watch an episode.

R.I.P., and thanks for everything, Mr. Yanami.

[coola]

Only familiar with his Narrator/Kaio, and what a memorable performance it was

[OmegaRockman]

What a legend among legends. His voice was there alongside Nozawa and Tsuru as our introduction to the animated version of this world and characters. For many, his was the first voice they ever heard in Dragon Ball. That voice carried us through four TV series before he had to retire, and I was grateful for every second he was part of it. I already grieved on a sense when he had to step down in Super, but that doesn't make this not hurt. After all, a person is more than the voices they provided for a cartoon, even if that's all I ever knew him for or could ever know him for. Still, I'm saddened that we lost our Narrator, our Kaio-sama. Yanami-san is and always will be the best.

Thank you for everything, Yanami-san. My heart goes out to your family and friends and I hope you rest well.

[SuperSaiyaManZ94]

Loved his voice as the narrator, Kaio (plus others like King Furry and Dr. Briefs) and even though he was ultimately forced to retire from voice acting partway into Super for health reasons he still lived a long and accomplished life. RIP Mr. Yanami, you will always be known as the voice of Dragon Ball!!!!

[PurestEvil]

Kaio-sama dies for real...
May he be remembered forever by his iconic narration and voice work.

[Jord]

I loved his narrator and Kaio voice and liked his Babidi but I do prefer the newer Japanese voice for Babidi.

[PremiumSalt]

In the same way that you knew you were watching a Star Wars film when you heard the iconic theme and saw a crawl, you knew you were watching an episode of Dragon Ball when you heard Joji Yanami's narration. An absolutely iconic performance, both in that role, and the many others he gave over the years in the DB franchise. The opening narrations of Super never felt the same without him, and he will be very missed.

[Yuji]

Really sad that we have to get one of these threads every few months due to the age of the people working on the series. RIP.

[Lord Beerus]

A phenomenal voice actor whose fantastic narration of Dragon Ball's stories always elevated the intrigue of the scenario that was going to unfold.

Kaio-sama truly has passed now.

[Adamant]

Fuck man, this hurts. A lot of people here primarily know him for his Dragonball narration and Kaio voice, but he was also absolutely LEGENDARY in his roles in the Time Bokan franchise, and it's absolutely impossible to separate Glocky, Bojacky etc from his voice.

Man was a legend.

[TrunksTrevelyan0064]

Been sort of expecting it ever since his health declined to the point where he stopped doing voice work, but he still managed to hang on for quite a while.

Doesn't take away the fact that this news still stings. I am now imagining him narrating his own departure, closing out his final episode... Goodbye and rest in peace, dear sir.

[MyVisionity]

Yanami Jōji IS Dragon Ball. The anime is inseparable from his voice.

I always felt like Toriyama was somehow speaking through Yanami and his characters.

I think that Briefs may have been my favorite out of them.

[Shiyonasan]

Loved his narration for Dragon Ball and his role as North Kaio. He also did great as Totosai in Inuyasha.

Rest in peace Yanami-san, and thank you for giving many people lots of great memories. 90 is a good long lived life.

[ABED]

Wow, what a voice. Sad to hear of his passing

RIP

[Cursed Lemon]

It's getting to be about that time when we're going to keep hearing about this. RIP

[DragonBallFoodie]

Thank you Mr Yanami, for being the Narrator, Dr Briefs and King Kai. And than you for your memorable performance as Boyacky.

Rest in peace sir.

[MyVisionity]

Also his Bobbidi is a nice villainous turn from his other characters. I particularly enjoy how he conveys that Bobbidi, unlike prior DB antagonists, is *truly* evil. He also gives the character a childish streak which overall creates a memorable performance.

[Kuririn-sama]

Yanami-san was one of my favorites. I'm glad he was able to have such a successful and long life and career.

And he seemed like such a kind person as well. I've met a lot of my favorite voice actors, Japanese and English, but Yanami-san was always towards the top of that list.

I'm sad I wasn't able to.

ご冥福をお祈りします。