Amin Abbas

DUBAI: Famous voice actor Kiyoshi Kobayashi passed away on July 30 at the age of 89 due to pneumonia. He debuted his career as voice actor in Space Patrol Hopper (1965) anime series.

The official Lupin III anime series page on Twitter mentioned: “Voice actor Kiyoshi Kobayashi passed away on July 30th. In ‘Lupin III’, he was in charge of the voice of Daisuke Jigen until 2021, including the pilot version, TV and movies. We would like to express our deepest condolences along with our gratitude for your success over half a century. Thank you very much.”

声優の小林清志さんが、7月30日にご逝去されました。
「ルパン三世」ではパイロット版をはじめTV、映画と2021年まで次元大介の声をご担当いただきました。
半世紀以上にわたるご活躍への感謝と共に、お悔やみを申し上げます。
ありがとうございました。 pic.twitter.com/RZmVAjWc0N

— アニメ「ルパン三世」公式 (@lupin_anime) August 8, 2022

Hirotaka Marufuji, character designer and animation director for Lupin III part 6 anime series said on Twitter: “Kiyoshi Kobayashi, thank you for your hard work! ! I pray for your soul from the bottom of my heart.”

小林清志さん、お疲れ様でした！！
心よりご冥福をお祈りします。 pic.twitter.com/iurbC1wcfa

— 丸藤 広貴 Hirotaka Marufuji (@MARUfujiya) August 8, 2022

Legendary Japanese voice actor Toshio Furukawa (Piccolo in Dragon Ball, Portgas D. Ace in One Piece & Ataru Moroboshi in Urusei Yatsura) said on Twitter: “I am surprised to hear the news of Kiyoshi Kobayashi’s passing. I’m a senior in the industry as well as a university student, and I’ll never forget the excitement I felt when I heard James Coburn’s voice for the first time in the same studio when I made my dubbing debut as a voice actor. Kobayashi-senpai was a multi-talented man who also translated English. I would like to express my deepest condolences.”

■大先達、小林清志さんの訃報に接し驚いています。業界は元より大学の先輩でもあり、僕が声優として吹き替えデビューした頃、初めてジェームズ・コバーンの声を同じスタジオで拝聴した時の感動は、忘れられません。英語の翻訳などもされ多才だった小林先輩。謹んで哀悼の意を表します。

— 声優・古川登志夫（青二プロダクション） (@TOSHIO_FURUKAWA) August 8, 2022

Kobayashi was known for her his long-time and iconic role as Daisuke Jigen in the Lupin III franchise for 52 years. Kobayashi announced his retirement from voicing the character last September and his final voice for Daisuke Jigen was for “Episode 0” titled ‘Jidai’ or ‘Historical Period’ in Lupin III part 6 anime series (Akio Ohtsuka replaced him in the role for the Lupin the 3rd Part 6 anime). Kobayashi had voiced the character since 1969 and was the only remaining original first-generation cast member in the Lupin III franchise just prior to his retirement from the role.

Kobayashi was also known for his roles in many anime series such as: Bem in the Yokai Ningen Bem series, Crystal Bowie in Space Adventure Cobra, Aguille Delaz and the Narrator in Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory, Avdol in the 1993 JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure OVA, and Watari in Death Note.

Kobayashi also voiced the Japanese dub over for James Coburn movies and for his narration work in multiple TV shows and drama.