Veteran Voice Actor Kozo Shioya, Voice of Majin Buu, Passes Away at 71

Veteran voice actor Kozo Shioya, best known to fans worldwide as the iconic voice of Majin Buu across the Dragon Ball franchise, has died. His agency, Aoni Production, confirmed the news this week, stating Shioya passed away on January 20, 2026, at the age of 71 due to a cerebral hemorrhage. The loss marks the end of an extensive career defined by versatility and signature character voices.

Shioya’s tenure as Buu was comprehensive, covering every major iteration of the character from the terrifying Kid Buu to the later, more heroic forms throughout Dragon Ball Z, GT, Kai, and Super. Aoni Production specifically recognized the lasting impact of his versatile growls and signature laughs on generations of viewers.

While the pink antagonist was his most famous role, Shioya maintained a deep catalog dating back to the 1980s. Fans also recognized his work in One Piece as Genzo, Pappag, and Weevil, as well as Jigumo in Naruto and Motokichi Kinuta in World Trigger.

His early career included roles in classic mecha series like Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam and Gundam ZZ, alongside work on Ranma 1/2. Shioya’s presence extended into major video game franchises such as Kingdom Hearts II, Metal Gear Solid II and III, and various Sengoku Basara titles. His versatility also saw him provide Japanese voices for Western properties, including The Muppets, Transformers, Mulan, and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.

The agency noted that the funeral was kept private, held only with close relatives per the family's wishes. Shioya was born on August 18, 1955, in Kagoshima Prefecture, and shared his profession with his younger brother, fellow voice actor Yoku Shioya. It was noted that Shioya did not voice Mini Buu in the recent Dragon Ball Daima, where a new actor took over the role.