Kazuki Yao Resigns as the Voice of Franky One Piece After 25 Years

Kapanlagi.com - A shocking news has come for the nakama, or fans, of the One Piece anime. Kazuki Yao, the voice actor of the character Franky, has officially decided to resign from his role. The news was announced by Yao himself through his official X account on Sunday (8/12).

Yao has been the voice of the super iconic Franky for 25 years. During that time, we have all become very familiar with his voice character that is so full of spirit and has its own uniqueness.

It turns out, this decision was not made suddenly, but through long discussions with the team. But why? Read more below..

1. Deteriorating Health Condition

Although he has not shared the details, it is known that Yao is experiencing health issues, so he must focus on healing. In his statement, Yao expressed his sadness about this decision.

"The sad farewell has come, parting with someone who has accompanied me for almost a quarter of a century," he wrote, referring to his role as Franky.

He explained that there is now a gap between himself and the 'ideal figure of Franky' that he imagined. Therefore, he decided to 'temporarily part from Thousand Sunny' (the name of the Straw Hat Pirates' ship).

Despite feeling frustrated and sad, Yao apologized to the fans and stated that a 'super' replacement is being prepared by the team.

2. Kazuki Yao's Replacement Will Be Announced Soon

For those who don't know, besides voicing Franky, Yao also voices Bon Clay and Jango in the One Piece series. Losing such a vital figure certainly makes the team work hard to find a suitable replacement.

The new voice actor will be announced at the Jump Festa '25 event on December 22, 2024. This event will also serve as a 'graduation ceremony' for Kazuki Yao.

This news undoubtedly brings a deep sense of sadness to loyal One Piece fans. Many lament his departure, but there are also those who try to understand his health condition. What do you KLovers think?

(kpl/gtr)