Fans are heartbroken as voice actor Takahiro Fujiwara, renowned for his roles as Kurogiri in "My Hero Academia," King Baum in "ONE PIECE," and Kengyoku Oniiwa in "BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War," has passed away. His agency, Ken Production, updated its official website on May 21st to announce that Fujiwara-san peacefully departed on May 14th at the age of 43. His untimely passing has left many fans of his work deeply saddened.
While Takahiro Fujiwara often lent his voice to burly characters throughout his career, he initially started with many minor, background roles. He began to gain significant attention after voicing Eikichi Nebuya in "Kuroko's Basketball," with his role as Kurogiri in "My Hero Academia" solidifying his place in the hearts of many.
His agency profile was famously quirky and endearing. It read: "Still an old man who can't quit video games, often playing to the point of forgetting to eat and sleep." "A complete homebody, constantly striving to avoid going out." He even humorously added: "Perhaps due to my appearance and voice, I'm often mistaken for a villain rather than just a bad guy, but I actually think I'm quite cute."
Ken Production's official announcement stated:
"Our affiliated actor, Takahiro Fujiwara (43), passed away peacefully on May 14th. We express our deepest gratitude for the immense kindness and support he received during his lifetime."
The company also noted that the funeral services were held privately by close relatives, in accordance with the family's wishes, and requested understanding from the public.
via： 賢プロダクションの公式サイト