Fans of the iconic series One Piece have been on the edge of their seats since Kazuki Yao announced his departure as the voice of Franky. At Jump Festa 2024, the highly anticipated news regarding Yao’s replacement finally emerged, sparking excitement and curiosity about Franky’s new voice.
Here’s what you need to know about the new voice actor stepping into the role.
Meet the New Voice of Franky in One Piece
The role of Franky in One Piece will now be voiced by Subaru Kimura.
The official announcement regarding Kimura’s new role was made during the Jump Festa 2024 event, confirmed shortly thereafter.
Subaru Kimura is a seasoned voice actor with a wealth of experience in the anime industry. His impressive portfolio includes notable characters such as Aoi Todo from Jujutsu Kaisen, Haruki Hayashida from Tokyo Revengers, Ryouma Terasaka from Assassination Classroom, Satori Tendo from Haikyuu!!!, and Sakuragi from The First Slam Dunk.
Kazuki Yao expressed his feelings about stepping down from the role, describing the decision as “sad” and “frustrating.” He indicated that health issues and the challenge of delivering an ideal portrayal of Franky contributed to his choice. Yao had also previously lost another voice role, that of Jango, to Wataru Takagi.
Yao’s exit is part of a larger trend, as earlier this year, Tessho Genda, the voice of Kaido, also announced his departure from the franchise, with his agency suggesting it was only temporary. Additionally, Toru Furuya, who voiced Sabo, left following public criticism related to personal matters.
