TOKYO: The global anime and video game communities are mourning the loss of veteran Japanese actor Hiroshi Tsuchida, who passed away on Oct 11 from heart failure. He was 54 years old.
According to various Japanese media, his talent agency, 81 Produce, confirmed the news on Oct 20.
They announced that his family had already held a private funeral service, as per their wishes, while thanking fans for their decades of support.
Born in Tokyo on Feb 8, 1972, Tsuchida enjoyed a rich career spanning over thirty years.
His work included live-action television, hit anime series, major video games, and high-profile international dubbing.
Fans of tokusatsu (Japanese live-action superhero shows) first knew him on screen as Saizou (Ninja Blue) in the 1994 series Ninja Sentai Kakuranger.
He later returned to the genre as the voice of HANE2 in Ultraman Decker.
Globally, Tsuchida earned widespread acclaim for playing Grisha Yeager—the father of main character Eren Yeager—in the smash-hit anime Attack on Titan.
His vast anime credits also included roles in major series like Naruto, One Piece, and Steins;Gate.
In video games, he delivered memorable voice performances as Feng Wei in Tekken, Zasalamel in Soulcalibur, and Kuroda Nagamasa in Nioh.
His longest-running role was in Sega's Yakuza (Like a Dragon) series.
He also voiced host club manager Kazuki from the 2005 original right through to Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties in February 2026.
On top of this, Tsuchida was the official Japanese dub voice for Hollywood stars such as Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Sean Gunn, as well as Pixar's Lightning McQueen.
Tributes flooded in after the announcement. Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio released a statement offering their deepest condolences and praying for his peace.
The director of Yakuza Kiwami 3 fondly remembered Tsuchida's kindness during his own early days in the industry, writing: "I'll never forget that we got to work together. That you gave me your passionate performance. Tsuchida-san, thank you so much."
Fans around the world have also praised his rare ability to bring deep emotion to every role, ensuring his work will be remembered for generations to come.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd