Olympic gold-medalist jūdō-ka Kaori Matsumoto and voice actress/singer/TV-personality Shōko Nakagawa will both be providing voices to the upcoming Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods theatrical film, due out nationwide in Japan on 30 March 2013.

Matsumoto will play a female motorcycle police officer modeled on her appearance who appears during a party scene, while Nakagawa will play the “oracle fish” (予言魚) that first brings the God of Destruction “Birusu” to seek out Son Goku. Both provided statements of excitement to Japanese entertainment site Natalie regarding their contributions.

Matusmoto’s remarks are as follows:

今回、「ドラゴンボールZ～神と神～」の白バイの女性隊員役にキャスティングしていただき本当にありがとうございます。子供の頃から大好きなアニメ作品に出演できることはとても嬉しいですし、一生忘れることのできない宝物になります。でも、人生で初めての経験で、多分柔道よりも緊張しますし、ちゃんとできるのか不安だったりでまだ夢なんじゃないかと思っています。今回の出演をキッカケに孫悟空に少し近づくことができるので、一生懸命役に入り込んで、楽しみつつ頑張りたいと思います。

---

I am truly grateful to have been cast as a member of the police motorcycle squad for Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods. I am very glad to be able to perform in an animated work I’ve loved since I was a child; it will be a treasure I’ll never forget as long as I’m alive. However, it’s my first such experience in my life, and I’m probably even more nervous than with Judo, so I’m unsure whether I’ll be able to do it properly, and still wondering whether this is a dream. Through this performance, I’ll be able to get a little closer to Son Goku, so I’ll throw myself into the role earnestly, and do my best while also enjoying myself.

Meanwhile, “Shoko-tan” (as she is “cutely” referred to as by her fans) stated:

ドラゴンボール新作映画の予告をジャンプで見て感動にうち震えていたら、まさかのゲスト出演決定の知らせが！ 生涯最大のミラクルキターー！アルティメット感激です。ありがとうございます！全ての全世界・宇宙が待ち望んでいた待望の新作ということで、ドラゴンボールへの溢れる気持ちをこめて、全身全霊で挑みました。トランクスや悟空、ベジータたちにまた会えると思うと、ここまで生きていてよかったと心から思います。本当に、どんな言葉を持ってしてもこの嬉しさと感激を表せません！

---

When I saw the preview of the new Dragon Ball movie in Jump, and trembled with excitement, I had no idea that news would come of me being set to do a guest role! The greatest miracle in my life is here — ! I’m ULTIMATE moved. Thank you so much! It’s the long-anticipated new work everybody in the whole world, and universe, has been waiting for, so I took my overflowing passion for Dragon Ball, and tackled it with my whole body and soul. When I think I’ll be able to see Trunks, Goku, Vegeta and the others again, I feel from the heart that I’m glad to have lived this long. Really, whatever words I use, they can’t express my happiness and deep emotion!

Nakagawa is no stranger to Dragon Ball — the personality began a series of anime song cover albums back in 2007, and kicked things off with a full rendition and music video for the opening theme to the first TV series (“Romantikku Ageru yo”). A few years later she continued with the franchise on her third cover songs release with the first closing theme to the Dragon Ball Z TV series (“Detekoi Tobikiri ZENKAI Pawā”) and a TV-sized version of the Dragon Ball GT opening theme (“DAN DAN Kokoro Hikarete ‘ku”).

Thanks to forumite DragonBoxZTheMovies for the heads-up!