Goku's Japanese voice

[Piccolo Daimaoh]

His point is that Masako Nozawa is perfect for Goku;

You're only saying that because you haven't heard another Japanese Adult Gokū voice. What if Nozawa got replaced as him in Z? Then you'd be saying that person is perfect for Adult Gokū.

they can't be seperated.

The producers of the Japanese dub of Evolution, thought otherwise.

Toriyama even said as much!

He said the Nozawa was perfect as Kid Gokū. It is unknown what he thinks about her Adult Gokū. Maybe he wanted her replaced in Z? Maybe he didn't? Who knows.

[Kingdom Heartless]

The producers of the Japanese dub of Evolution, thought otherwise.

Or maybe they were trying to keep Goku separate from whatever was in that movie.

Anyway, I hear all this complaining about Adult Goku, but never anything about Adult Kuririn. He was voiced by the same woman as he was as a child...

I can only imagine how miffed Japanese fans would have been if any of them were recast just because they were female.

Loads of male characters are voiced by female voice actors. Just one from the top of my head:

[Chibi Mystic Gohan]

You're only saying that because you haven't heard another Japanese Adult Gokū voice. What if Nozawa got replaced as him in Z? Then you'd be saying that person is perfect for Adult Gokū.

I'm not saying that Goku literally couldn't be done by another actor, but that there are no flaws in Nozawa's portrayal.

And no, not anybody would be perfect for adult Goiu. What if the replacement was a bad actor? Or what if it was Norio Wakamoto or something? (Now that would be an unfitting voice for Goku...)

The producers of the Japanese dub of Evolution, thought otherwise.

Uh, everybody was voiced by different actors. What's your point? It's not like Toei Animation was doing the dubbing. (And that would be strange as hell. Justin Chatwin isn't exactly a cartoon character...)

He said the Nozawa was perfect as Kid Gokū.

Did he? He was asked about the casting of kid Goku, but I think he was saying, in general, he now hears Nozawa's voice in his head when he draws Goku. He didn't say, "Well, when Goku became an adult, I thought Goku sounded a little silly with that voice. I imagine Goku would have a deeper voice."

Maybe he wanted her replaced in Z?

I dunno, I think English-speaking people are the only ones who have a problem with the voice. Japan seems to accept it.

Toriyama didn't exactly say, "Nozawa and Goku can't be seperated; well, only when he's a child."

[Piccolo Daimaoh]

I'm not saying that Goku literally couldn't be done by another actor, but that there are no flaws in Nozawa's portrayal..

But somebody else could portray Gokū flawlessly, right?

And no, not anybody would be perfect for adult Goiu.

I never once said that anybody could. He's a unique character.

What if the replacement was a bad actor? Or what if it was Norio Wakamoto or something? (Now that would be an unfitting voice for Goku...)

Not much more unfitting than Nozawa's Adult Gokū.

Uh, everybody was voiced by different actors. What's your point?

My point is that they can be separated. Contrary to what you said earlier.

He was asked about the casting of kid Goku, but I think he was saying, in general, he now hears Nozawa's voice in his head when he draws Goku.

Please stop playing the Toriyama card. Okay then, let's hypothetically say that Toriyama thought that Nozawa fits Gokū in all stages of his life. Would that somehow vaildate your arguement?

He didn't say, "Well, when Goku became an adult, I thought Goku sounded a little silly with that voice. I imagine Goku would have a deeper voice."

Yes, he didn't go on record saying that. But maybe he actually felt that way and didn't want to make it public, out of respect to Nozawa. That seems plausible to me.

I dunno, I think English-speaking people are the only ones who have a problem with the voice. Japan seems to accept it.

Really? Have you heard what the majority of the Japanese fans think of Nozawa's Adult Gokū? I sure haven't.

[Chibi Mystic Gohan]

But somebody else could portray Gokū flawlessly, right?

Sure.

I never once said that anybody could. He's a unique character.

You said that, if adult Goku had been recast, I'd be saying that voice was perfect for Goku. So, yeah, that's actually what you said.

My point is that they can be separated. Contrary to what you said earlier.

You have a problem with being overly literal. Yeah, they can literally be seperated, if, say, an American live action adaptation of the manga, starring a boring dude named Justin Chatwin, who is completely devoid of emotion (the complete opposite of the energetic Goku from the manga/anime), gets dubbed into Japanese.

Or if Masako Nozawa dies.

Please stop playing the Toriyama card. Okay then, let's hypothetically say that Toriyama thought that Nozawa fits Gokū in all stages of his life. Would that somehow vaildate your arguement?

Yeah, completely. Son Goku is his character. What could validate it more? If Goku walked out of your comic book and started speaking to you in Masako Nozawa's voice?!

Really? Have you heard what the majority of the Japanese fans think of Nozawa's Adult Gokū? I sure haven't.

Nope, but I've never seen any negative comments. I used to browse 2ch a couple of years ago, and they're a pretty negative bunch...

Our international visitors on this site don't seem to complain either. Then again, most international visitors seem to hate the dub in their language... Only the English dub seems to have rabid fanboys.

[Piccolo Daimaoh]

You said that, if adult Goku had been recast, I'd be saying that voice was perfect for Goku. So, yeah, that's actually what you said.

I didn't seriously mean anyone. As in, some random guy off the street. I meant an experienced VA, with a voice more suited for a forty-year-old. I think you have a problem with being overly literal.

Yeah, completely. Son Goku is his character. What could validate it more? If Goku walked out of your comic book and started speaking to you in Masako Nozawa's voice?!

If that validates your opinion, fine. Think whatever Toriyama thinks. But the fact of the matter is, he hasn't explicitly said whether or not Nozawa's voice fits Adult Gokū.

Nope, but I've never seen any negative comments. I used to browse 2ch a couple of years ago, and they're a pretty negative bunch...

If you haven't seen any negative comments and you haven't seen any positive comments, then you can't really say whether or not Japanese people like the voice or not.

[TripleRach]

His point is that Masako Nozawa is perfect for Goku;

You're only saying that because you haven't heard another Japanese Adult Gokū voice. What if Nozawa got replaced as him in Z? Then you'd be saying that person is perfect for Adult Gokū.

Well of course it would be hard to defend her as Adult Gokuu if we'd never gotten to hear it before. Just like it would be hard for dub fans to defend Schemmel's Gokuu if he'd never gotten to voice the character either.

But that doesn't necessarily mean people would have liked the separate adult voice better anyway. I'm a much bigger fan of DB than DBZ, and I can easily see myself hating Nozawa's replacement and wishing she'd gotten to stick around for the adult years. I already dislike a lot of the recasts that happened during the original run (including Baba, whom I actually liked better when she was voiced by a man).

[Chibi Mystic Gohan]

I didn't seriously mean anyone. As in, some random guy off the street. I meant an experienced VA

Yeah, I know exactly what you meant. Obviously, we're talking about seiyuu, here. I'm just saying that I wouldn't automatically have to like a different adult Goku voice. I'm sure I could, with the right kind of voice. Obviously, a deep, booming voice like Norio Wakamoto wouldn't have worked when Goku showed up at the 23rd Tenkaichi-Budokai.

I guess we'll have to see what they do with the character when Nozawa retires.

with a voice more suited for a forty-year-old.

That's the problem, though. According to your standards, the recast should have happened when Goku's body matured, at the 23rd Tenkaichi-Budokai, when he was 18. Then, he should have been recast again when he was an old man later in the series (despite never looking any older). Gotta be realistic, correct?

If that validates your opinion, fine. Think whatever Toriyama thinks.

It's not like it's because Toriyama likes the voice, that I do as well. It just helps me sleep at night.

But the fact of the matter is, he hasn't explicitly said whether or not Nozawa's voice fits Adult Gokū.

"I went 'Goku has this sort of voice, doesn't he?' From then on, when I was drawing the manga, the characters' voices would somehow drift up in my mind. Whenever that happened, Goku's voice would be just like Nozawa-san's, and I'd think 'Geez, she's good'. Now it's impossible to separate Goku from Nozawa-san." (Bolded emphasis mine.)

That's from Daizenshuu 10, which was created after the manga was finished. He doesn't say, "Oh, but that was just when he was a kid." Does he really have to say, "By the way, this applies to even forty-year-old Goku"? You're just being difficult...

If you haven't seen any negative comments and you haven't seen any positive comments, then you can't really say whether or not Japanese people like the voice or not.

The point is, it's a non-issue to Japanese people; it isn't even a topic for discussion, whether Goku should have had a different voice when he grew up. Nozawa just is Goku. You won't find Japanese people saying, "lol Goku's voice is so gay, he sounds like a little girl" like the kids on YouTube.

Perhaps Herms, much better at reading Japanese than I, could try to Google some discussions on the voice (if they exist). Either way, all the praise in the world for Nozawa won't do anything for you anyway, right?

[EnmaDaiou]

I live in Japan.
And iI can speak japanese.

Sometimes I talk about db with japanese people of all ages.
And I never saw a japanese saying something bad about adult goku's voice.

To dub is more than voice tune.
It's interpretation. And Nozawa made a incredible work with kid Goku.
So incredible and people liked so much..
That made virtually impossible to find someone who could dub goku with the same "soul" Nozawa created.
If they change the voice actor Goku could not be Goku anymore.

And different of almost all of other countries, people in japan wached goku weekly starting by the beginning.
It was 4 years of kid goku before dbz.

[Herms]

That's from Daizenshuu 10, which was created after the manga was finished.

That's from Daizenshuu 3 actually, although that also came out after the manga finished, so same difference.

Perhaps Herms, much better at reading Japanese than I, could try to Google some discussions on the voice (if they exist). Either way, all the praise in the world for Nozawa won't do anything for you anyway, right?

Hmmm...well maybe later. I have spent a decent amount of time going through Japanese DB sites though, and haven't seen any debates on whether it was appropriate for Nozawa to voice adult Goku.

It's notable that in the various anime guidebooks, they discuss some of the struggles they had in deciding who would voice certain characters. They say they weren't initially sure if Nozawa would voice Gohan or Goten, if Kusao would voice kid Trunks, if Minaguchi would voice Pan, etc. But I've never seen any mention of them struggling over whether Nozawa should voice adult Goku. It just doesn't seem to have been an issue.

[Bura]

Another good example is Edward Elric from FullMetal Alchemist.

We see him ranging from 11-18 years in the anime, always keeping the same voice (voiced by the great voiceactress Romi Paku) and I never heard a single soul complain about it o_O
Not to mention his little brother who doesn't sound manly AT ALL

So why do people give Masako Nozawa such a hard time I wonder?

[TheGreatness25]

Child Goku was played by Nozawa because most child roles are played by females (look at the US dub of DB/Z/GT for that one). And Nozawa's voice was so unique that nobody could have replaced her. However, she does make the voice a bit deeper as an adult. Playing a child, her voice makes the character sound very cute, but when she's playing adult Goku, she depends her voice. However, Goku is still supposed to be very pure and child-like, so that's probably why the voice was kept. I really like it, I don't know.

[Piccolo Daimaoh]

Yeah, I know exactly what you meant. Obviously, we're talking about seiyuu, here. I'm just saying that I wouldn't automatically have to like a different adult Goku voice. I'm sure I could, with the right kind of voice. Obviously, a deep, booming voice like Norio Wakamoto wouldn't have worked when Goku showed up at the 23rd Tenkaichi-Budokai.

Okay, gotcha.

That's the problem, though. According to your standards, the recast should have happened when Goku's body matured, at the 23rd Tenkaichi-Budokai, when he was 18. Then, he should have been recast again when he was an old man later in the series (despite never looking any older). Gotta be realistic, correct?

To an extent, yes. Just because Gokū is a cartoon character, doesn't mean he has to have a cartoony voice. He only needed one VA switch, in my opinion.

"I went 'Goku has this sort of voice, doesn't he?' From then on, when I was drawing the manga, the characters' voices would somehow drift up in my mind. Whenever that happened, Goku's voice would be just like Nozawa-san's, and I'd think 'Geez, she's good'. Now it's impossible to separate Goku from Nozawa-san." (Bolded emphasis mine.)

That's from Daizenshuu 10, which was created after the manga was finished. He doesn't say, "Oh, but that was just when he was a kid." Does he really have to say, "By the way, this applies to even forty-year-old Goku"? You're just being difficult...

Okay. I guess you win there......? It doesn't really discredit my arguement, though.

The point is, it's a non-issue to Japanese people; it isn't even a topic for discussion, whether Goku should have had a different voice when he grew up. Nozawa just is Goku.

But that just proves they're indifferent about it. As in, they don't like it, but they don't hate it either. Sort of like me; Masako Nozawa's Adult Gokū is by no means fitting, but I can deal/have dealt with it.

You won't find Japanese people saying, "lol Goku's voice is so gay, he sounds like a little girl" like the kids on YouTube.

I agree with you. You won't.

Either way, all the praise in the world for Nozawa won't do anything for you anyway, right?

Yes, because I don't base my likes and dislikes on other peoples'.

[Raven]

Another good example is Edward Elric from FullMetal Alchemist.

We see him ranging from 11-18 years in the anime, always keeping the same voice (voiced by the great voiceactress Romi Paku) and I never heard a single soul complain about it o_O
Not to mention his little brother who doesn't sound manly AT ALL

So why do people give Masako Nozawa such a hard time I wonder?

Years ago when I was so used to Schemmel's Goku, I too thought it was incredibly inappropriate for him to have such a girly voice in Japanese. Untill I watched the original Dragonball where it sounded more natural to me because he was still a kid, and as he got older I was just getting so used to the great voice of Nozawa that it stopped being awkward to hear that same voice from adult Goku.

I'd say that 80 % of the people that really hate Goku's japanese voice have never watched the Japanese version of Dragonball and only heard adult Goku in some clips on Youtube. It's easy to give up on it if you don't give it the time, and don't want to get used to it when you already have your beloved american version. I can't say that I blame em though, it's just.. they don't know what they're missing

[JulieYBM]

Can I run back to the Naruto and Luffy examples real quick? Thanks.

Naruto is currently sixteen. The same age Gokû was when he beat Daimaô. Is he going to instantly have a new voice when he grows two or three years older? No. It wouldn't make sense. He's a head short of being his full adult height as it is. Luffy spends the first sixty volumes of the manga primarily seventeen (with flashbacks to him being seven, ten, and fourteen). He's going to be nineteen in chapter #598. Is he going to need a new voice actor? What about Chopper? He'll be seventeen and still voiced by Ikue 'Pikachû' Ôtani. I don't see how Gokû is somehow in a completely different boat when he aged from sixteen to nineteen. The only change was that he was taller. That is all that was ever made note of when he appeared. He was still Son Gokû, and Son Gokû is voiced by Masako Nozawa.

[Piccolo Daimao]

*bangs head against wall*

Seriously, guys. This again? Hadn't you already settled it in the gazillion threads about this before?

[DB_Fan1991]

What I mainly hate about Nozawa's Adult Goku is her screams. They drive me up a wall or whenever Goku is in pain like when Oozaru Vegeta crushes him for an example she makes him sound like a baby when he's a pain. I'm glad Schemmel and no other dub voice ever did that.

[jjgp1112]

They should've recasted him as an adult, but the fanboys would've RAAAAAAAGED like how they do with any change involving Goku (like him dying in the Cell saga). And I wouldn't have to be subjected to the abominable hairball scream from episode 69.

[nathantheguitarist]

Normally, I stay away from these threads... but.. my god.

People.

If Masako Nozawa was going to be recast, it would've been like 20 years. 20. YEARS.

Is it really... reeeeally that much of a tick that you have to make a pointless thread about to state that she should've been recast or something? It's not going to happen. And there are alternatives to her voice, which you guys obviously think are superior.

So... what's the point? This is a thread that's sole purpose is to bitch.


I suppose you could have some morbid sort of hope that in another 20 years (or sooner, whenever she calls it quits) you will get some ultra-new Kai thingy happen to the series where they HAVE to cast a new Goku. But dammit, leave it be.

*bangs head against wall*