Isamu Tanonaka (田の中 勇, Tanonaka Isamu; July 19, 1932 – January 13, 2010) was a Japanese actor, voice actor and narrator from Taitō, Tokyo. He was best known for voicing Medama Oyaji in nearly every adaptation of Shigeru Mizuki's GeGeGe no Kitarō made during his lifetime.
Contents
Career
During his life he had been attached to Gekidan Tōgei and then Theatre Echo; he was attached to Aoni Production at the time of his death. He had a naturally deep voice but became famous for voicing characters with a high pitched voice. In addition to GeGeGe no Kitarō, he also had prominent roles in Tensai Bakabon (as the first voice of Honkan-san), Mazinger Z (as Mucha), Paul's Miraculous Adventure (as Doppe), Magical Princess Minky Momo (as Sindbook), Akuma-kun (as Youaltepuztli), Dr. Slump & Arale-chan (as Gara and Akira Toriyama), Dragon Quest: Dai no Daibōken (as Brass), and the Persona series (as Igor).
Medama Oyaji
In 1968, he was cast in the first GeGeGe no Kitarō anime as the title character's father Medama Oyaji, an anthropomorphic eyeball. He reprised the role, alongside co-stars Masako Nozawa (Kitarō) and Chikao Ōtsuka (Nezumi-Otoko), in the 1971 follow up color series. When it came time for the 1980s series the producers decided to go with an all new voice cast, but auditions for Medama Oyaji came up short so Tanonaka was asked to reprise the role yet again. From there he continued to voice the character in practically every adaptation made during his lifetime, the sole exception being the PlayStation 2 games from the early 2000s, in which the role was given to Kazuo Kumakura, and a single episode of the 1971 series, where Hiroshi Ōtake filled in for him. Tanonaka performed the voice of Medama Oyaji for the live action adaptations, and also appeared on many variety shows and in many commercials as the character. In 2008, he reunited with Nozawa and Ōtsuka to reprise their respective roles for the darker Kitarō adaptation Hakaba Kitarō. As Medama Oyaji is actually the reanimated form of Kitarō's deceased father, the character was voiced by Daisuke Gōri when he appeared alive in the first episode.
Death
On January 13, 2010, Tanonaka suffered a heart attack in his Tokyo home and was found dead by family members. He was 77 years old at the time of his death. His final performance was in Marie & Gali as the voice of Leonardo da Vinci. Memorial services were held in Tokyo Memolead Hall on January 19, 2010. He is survived by his older brother Hiroshi.
Roles
Television
1964
Zero Sen Hayato (Ichihisō Hosokawa)
1965
Kaitō Pride (Scope)
Obake no Q-tarō (TBS edition) (Shōta's Papa)
1967
Punpunmaru (Gatekeeper, Narrator)
1968
Akane-chan (Kadomatsu)
Animal 1 (Tōgorō)
GeGeGe no Kitarō (Medama Oyaji)
1969
Hakushon Daimaō (Kan-chan's Papa)
Sazae-san (Ceiling Mouse)
1970
Ashita no Joe (Miss Oyama (episode 35))
1971
GeGeGe no Kitarō (second series) (Medama Oyaji)
Kunimatsu-sama no Otōridai (Odeko)
Tensai Bakabon (Honkan-san)
1972
Mazinger Z (Mucha)
1973
Cutie Honey (Saint Chapel Academy Principal)
Wansa-kun (Roro)
1975
UFO Robo Grendizer (Mucha)
OVA
Bokuha Ōsama series (Cabinet Minister Wan)
Haja Taisei Dangaiō (Shoulder Clown)
Tengai Makyō: Jiraiya Oboro Hen (Oboke)
Theatrical animation
One Piece: Clockwork Island Adventure (2001) (Boo Jack)
Palme no Ki (2002) (Zakuro)
Persona 3 The Movie: No. 1, Spring of Birth (2013) (Igor, archived audio)
Persona 3 The Movie: No. 2, Midsummer Knight's Dream (2014) (Igor, archived audio)
Persona 3 The Movie: No. 3, Falling Down (2015) (Igor, archived audio)
Persona 3 The Movie: No. 4, Winter of Rebirth (2016) (Igor, archived audio)
unknown date
Dr. Slump (Gara)
GeGeGe no Kitarō (Medama Oyaji)
GeGeGe no Kitarō: Daikaijū (Medama Oyaji)
GeGeGe no Kitarō: Gekitotsu!! Ijigen Yōkai no Daihanran (Medama Oyaji)
GeGeGe no Kitarō: Obake Nighter (Medama Oyaji)
GeGeGe no Kitarō: Saikyō Yōkai Gundan! Nippon Jōriku!! (Medama Oyaji)
GeGeGe no Kitarō: Yōkai Daisensō (Medama Oyaji)
GeGeGe no Kitarō: Yōkai Tokkyū! Maboroshi no Kishu (Medama Oyaji)
Gekijōban: GeGeGe no Kitarō: Nippon Bakuretsu (Medama Oyaji)
Mazinger Z tai Ankoku Daishōgun (Mucha)
Video games
Dragon Ball: Raging Blast (Rō Kaiōshin)
Dragon Ball Z 3 (Rō Kaiōshin)
Dragon Ball Z Sparking! (Rō Kaiōshin)
Dragon Ball Z Sparking! Meteor (Rō Kaiōshin)
Dragon Knight II (Pharmacist)
GeGeGe no Kitarō (Medama Oyaji)
GeGeGe no Kitarō: Yōkai Daiundōkai (Medama Oyaji)
Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy (Farmer)
One Piece Grand Battle! 3 (Shōjō)
Persona 3 (Igor, Mister Ekoda)
Persona 4 (Igor)
Persona 4 Arena (Igor, archived audio)
Persona 4 Arena Ultimax (Igor, archived audio)
Persona 5 (Igor, archived audio)
Tokusatsu
Chouriki Sentai Ohranger (Bara Baby)
Dubbing roles
Bewitched ("Daddy Comes for a Visit", "Darrin the Warlock") (Silas Bliss Junior)
The NeverEnding Story (Nighthob (Tilo Prückner))
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (Grand Nagus Zek (Wallace Shawn))
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (Jar Jar Binks)
Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (Jar Jar Binks)
Alice in Wonderland (TBS edition) (King of Hearts, Dormouse)
Aladdin (Aziz)
The Flintstones (Barney Rubble)
The Mask: Animated Series (Mayor Mortimer Tilton)
One Hundred and One Dalmatians (Old edition) (Pongo)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Video edition) (Krang)
Top Cat (Officer Dibble)
Film
GeGeGe no Kitarō (Medama Oyaji (voice))
GeGeGe no Kitarō: Sennen Noroi Uta (Medama Oyaji (voice))
Radio
Seishun Adventure ("Fengshen Yanyi") (NHK-FM) (Yúnzhōngzǐ)
Other
Gakkō no Kaidan (Trailer voice-over)
Kitaro ga Mita Gyokusai - Mizuki Shigeru no Senso (2007) (Medama Oyaji's voice)
Masudaya Corporation Mōrā commercial (1975) (Mōrā (voice))
Nep League (May 7, 2007) (Medama Oyaji's voice)
